For a number of years now, those in the higher echelons of the music business have worried about a lack of upcoming superstars who might be able to sell out stadiums for decades to come after the current legends stop touring. Of course, there may not ever be another Rolling Stones or Eagles, but one still wonders if recent big hit recording artists like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry or Kenny Chesney have the long-term longevity that the concert industry needs to sustain into the future.
Perhaps the one with the brightest future is Bruno Mars, who just capped off a winning Superbowl half-time concert that brought him a level of exposure that could hasten his already accelerated race to the top. In a scintillating performance, Mars showed the craft and confidence that could well cement him as a superstar for years to come.
To some degree, Mars (real name Peter Gene Hernandez) was a both a stretch and a risk for the National Football League. After years of presenting well-established stars like Paul McCartney, Prince, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Madonna and Beyonce (who graced the stage last year) for their Superbowl half-time shows, having someone who hasn’t quite attained such legendary status caused some to question the wisdom of the NFL’s choice. In order to hedge their bet, the league added California funk-rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers to the bill for one song. This actually turned out to be a fit since Mars has credited them as a major influence in the past, and their music, while more agressive in nature, meshed well with Mars.
Still, Bruno could have easily carried the show by himself, as he proved with his excellent high-powered performance. After selling 10 million albums in just a three year period (quite a feat in this new music business we currently live in), with four #1 records, 18 Grammy nominations (!!), more than a billion YouTube views, and a well-earned reputation as an spectacular performer, the NFL should have stuck to their initial plan and let the man do his thing sans guests. Read more on Forbes.
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