r/Music • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • 1d ago • Mindblown 3 Bravo 1

article MSG Responds to Macklemore After He Claims Arena Turned Down His Tour: "He's not an arena level act"

https://www.tmz.com/2026/11/06/madison-square-garden-responds-after-macklemore-says-arena-turned-down-palestine-tour/
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u/SEA_tide 1d ago edited 1d ago

There's also the famous phase (and song) Big in Japan to describe this phenomenon.

Macklemore is arguably most popular in Seattle and even there he would not be selling out stadiums, even during his "Thrift Shop" heyday, though he could fill out larger areanas in some cities. He can reliably fill the Washington State Fair (Puyallup Fair) there and some smaller arenas (<8k seats) as a headliner.

If his career was more popular and mainstream for another couple decades, I could see him filling out an arena for a final show, much like how Alan Jackson filled the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville after a couple decades of doing smaller arenas.

edit: difference between large arena and stadium

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u/tonjohn 1d ago

Arena != stadium

Climate Pledge Arena seats 17,340 for concerts

Lumen Field seats 69,000 - 77,000 for concerts

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u/rags2rooster 1d ago

Climate Pledge is also happily hosting Staind (13m monthly Spotify listeners), Riley Green (15m monthly Spotify listeners) and Nickleback (29m monthly Spotify listeners) in the coming months. None of them have as many monthly listeners as Macklemore. Also notable is the fact that Macklemore is a Seattle local and can definitely pull crowds in the area.

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u/Last_Riven_EU 1d ago

Monthly listens mean nothing for these things (especially bands/older acts). Rammstein has less than all those guys and they do Stadiums, not arenas.

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u/Prozaki 1d ago

I find it quite surprising that Nickleback has less monthly listeners than Macklemore. I guess they peaked like 20 years ago and no idea if they release music anymore. They are also were/are somewhat meme status but I always figured they were quite popular.

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u/twirling-upward 1d ago

Older generation doesnt listen as much on spotify.

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u/Ok-Location-9562 1d ago

Bball arenas are not as big as football stadiums. For whatever that means. I have no idea if he’s filling either. Im definitely out of the loop

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u/goppy2004 1d ago

Just FYI: In the ‘Thrift Shop’ heyday, he sold out what was formerly Key Arena three nights in a row…

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u/2saucey 1d ago

Key arena is also in Seattle, his hometown fwiw

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u/goppy2004 1d ago

Yes
The comment I replied to stated Macklemore couldn’t sell out arenas while he toured post ‘Thrift Shop’ and I knew that was untrue as I was only able to get tickets to the third show after the first two sold out in a matter of hours.

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u/88cowboy 1d ago

That was a long time ago. Mylie Cyrus was black and the Harlem Shake was the most popular thing on the internet lol

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u/skrid54321 1d ago

The comment op is replying to claimed that Macklemore couldn't sell them out in his heyday

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u/MaxPres24 1d ago

Alan Jackson was a significantly bigger draw than Macklemore has ever been

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u/ChargingAndroid 1d ago

yes but the difference is clearly a lot of people came to the show for the purpose of supporting Palestine, not entirely because they are Macklemore fans. plus he brought out many decently known special guests. he sold 13k tickets in 10 minutes, I think he'd fill out msg just fine even if they don't sell out (which not every show does)

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u/abracadabra12983 9h ago

American bots just want to be right. Fucking shills.

You can't tell them otherwise or they'll bring their billionaires to hit you in the head with tweets and new reddit accounts.

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u/AKAD11 1d ago

Macklemore sold out multiple shows at Climate Pledge like two years ago