Morgan Wallen, the popular American country music singer, has developed a strong fanbase in New Zealand over the past few years. His hit songs like “Whiskey Glasses” and “Up Down” have resonated with Kiwi fans, and his albums have sold well in the country. This has led some to wonder if Wallen might tour New Zealand sometime soon.
Wallen’s Popularity in New Zealand
While country music has traditionally been more popular in the United States, Morgan Wallen is one of a few contemporary country artists that have managed to attract a sizable following in New Zealand. His 2018 album “If I Know Me” reached #6 on the New Zealand album charts. His 2020 album “Dangerous: The Double Album” was an even bigger success, hitting #1 on the New Zealand album charts and remaining in the top 40 for over a year.
Several of Wallen’s hit singles have also performed well in New Zealand. “Whiskey Glasses” reached the New Zealand Hot Singles top 20 in 2018. “More Than My Hometown” and “7 Summers” both reached the New Zealand Hot Singles top 40 in 2020. His catchy, pop-influenced brand of country music has clearly struck a chord with New Zealand listeners.
Wallen also has about 120,000 monthly listeners on Spotify in New Zealand as of October 2022. This may not seem like a huge figure, but it is quite substantial considering New Zealand’s relatively small population size of only around 5 million people. For context, that amount of listeners would rank him in the top 150 artists overall on Spotify in New Zealand.
Wallen’s Global Tour Plans
In 2022 and early 2023, Morgan Wallen is embarking on a massive world tour to support his “Dangerous” album. The tour kicked off in the US in February 2022. After covering dates across North America through the end of 2022, the tour is scheduled to visit Europe in early 2023.
As of right now, there are no announced dates for the tour in New Zealand or Australia. Wallen is scheduled to perform in the UK and Ireland in March 2023. He is also slated to do shows in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands during the European leg of the tour.
Key European Tour Dates
- March 5, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland
- March 9, 2023 in Glasgow, UK
- March 11, 2023 in London, UK
- March 15, 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands
- March 18, 2023 in Berlin, Germany
It’s worth noting that additional dates could still potentially be added in any country. But as of now, there are no shows announced “down under” in Australia or New Zealand as part of the global tour.
Could New Zealand Be Added to Wallen’s Tour?
Given Wallen’s popularity in New Zealand, many fans have been vocal on social media about hoping some New Zealand dates will be added to the tour. There certainly appears to be substantial demand for Morgan Wallen concerts in cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
In recent interviews, Wallen has expressed how thrilled he is by the fan response and turnouts at his shows so far on the Dangerous tour. The European leg, in particular, will mark his first time performing in many of those markets. It’s possible that after he gets a taste of the enthusiasm from international crowds, he may opt to tack on some further dates in countries like New Zealand where he knows he has an eager fanbase.
However, the primary focus for now appears to be on covering major markets in North America and Europe. Touring all the way to New Zealand would involve a lengthy flight from the US and shipping lots of heavy production equipment. If New Zealand does eventually get added, it may not be until late 2023 or 2024.
Factors That Could Help Bring Wallen to New Zealand
Here are some of the key factors that could potentially help convince Wallen to add tour dates in New Zealand:
- ProvenPopularity – With a #1 album and over 100,000 monthly listeners, the demand is clearly there.
- Preexisting Tour Stops in Australia – If dates in nearby Australia get added, a short NZ tour would be logical.
- Available Venues – Major stadiums like Eden Park and indoor arenas are capable of hosting large shows.
- Support Act Opportunities – Pairing with popular NZ country acts could further boost interest.
By demonstrating that New Zealand would be an extremely viable market for his tour, fans may be able to help sway Wallen to make the trip down under. However, given the current scope of the tour, Kiwi fans probably shouldn’t get their hopes up about seeing Wallen live in 2023.
How Quickly Could Dates Get Added for New Zealand?
If Morgan Wallen did decide to extend his Dangerous tour to include stops in New Zealand, how quickly could that happen? Here is an overview of the timeline:
Announcement Lead Time
For a major tour, New Zealand concert dates would likely be announced 4-6 months ahead of time. That gives enough runway for marketing and promotions. If announced in mid-2023, December 2023 or early 2024 dates seem plausible.
Venue Booking
The main venues able to accommodate a concert of this size would be Mt Smart Stadium, Eden Park, or Spark Arena in Auckland. These venues tend to book up months in advance, but promoters could likely secure a booking with 2-3 months’ notice if need be.
Ticket Sales Ramp-Up
Once announced, it would take 6-8 weeks of active promotions and sales for ticket inventory to sell out for a major artist like Wallen. Tickets would probably move extremely quickly given the pent-up demand.
Total Lead Time Estimate
Realistically, if Wallen wanted to add even just a 2-3 stop quick New Zealand tour, it would take roughly 4 months from announcement to hitting the stage. But with sufficient planning and preparation on the promoter side, shows could absolutely be turned around in that timeframe to capitalize on Wallen’s popularity.
Wallen’s Chances of Actually Touring New Zealand
Assessing all the factors, what are the actual odds Morgan Wallen will bring his tour to New Zealand in 2023 or 2024? Let’s run through a quick SWOT analysis:
Strengths
- Proven interest and fanbase in NZ
- Good timing with recently released album
- Strong tour production and finances
Weaknesses
- Geographic distance from US creates tour fatigue
- Would require customs clearances and equipment shipping
- Lack of announced Australia dates makes NZ tour less likely
Opportunities
- Ability to tap into the enthusiastic NZ fanbase
- Potential for quick sellouts and financial upside
- Could pair with popular Australian country acts
Threats
- Uncertainty around COVID-19 impacts on live music
- Economic conditions may influence appetite for pricey concerts
- Competition from other major tours announced for late 2023
Considering all these factors, I would estimate there is around a 35% chance Morgan Wallen announces a New Zealand tour leg for late 2023 or 2024. The demand is clearly there, but the geographic logistics and lack of other Australia dates may make New Zealand a lower priority market for this particular global tour. However, if Wallen really wants to capitalize on his Kiwi fans, a New Zealand extension certainly remains possible.
Potential Setlist if Wallen Tours New Zealand
If Morgan Wallen does eventually bring his show to New Zealand, what songs could Kiwi fans expect to hear? Based on the setlists from his recent US tour dates, here is a hypothetical 20-song setlist he could perform on a New Zealand tour:
Song | Album |
---|---|
Up Down | If I Know Me (2018) |
Wasted on You | Dangerous (2020) |
Chasin’ You | If I Know Me (2018) |
Whiskey Glasses | If I Know Me (2018) |
7 Summers | Dangerous (2020) |
More Than My Hometown | Dangerous (2020) |
Cover Me Up | Non-album Single (2022) |
This Bar | Non-album Single (2022) |
Thought You Should Know | Dangerous (2020) |
Wasted on Me | The Way I Talk EP (2016) |
Sand in My Boots | Dangerous (2020) |
Heartless | If I Know Me (2018) |
Still Goin’ Down | If I Know Me (2018) |
silverado for sale | If I Know Me (2018) |
Dangerous | Dangerous (2020) |
Somethin’ Country | If I Know Me (2018) |
Matter of Time | The Way I Talk EP (2016) |
Talkin’ Tennessee | If I Know Me (2018) |
Livin’ the Dream | If I Know Me (2018) |
The Way I Talk | The Way I Talk EP (2016) |
Encore: Wallen’s Creek | The Way I Talk EP (2016) |
This setlist includes a mix of his beloved party anthems like “Up Down,” romantic ballads like “7 Summers,” and covers that showcase his traditional country roots. Kiwi fans would undoubtedly sing along loud and proud to hits like “Whiskey Glasses” and “More Than My Hometown.” It also samples tracks spanning his entire discography from 2016 onward. Of course, the actual NZ setlist could include substitutions or variations depending on the circumstances.
The Bottom Line
While nothing is confirmed yet, Morgan Wallen extending his Dangerous tour to include New Zealand remains a distinct possibility. His popularity in the country has been clearly demonstrated through streaming numbers, album sales, and fan demand. However, fans will likely need to wait until late 2023 at the earliest to potentially see Wallen perform live in New Zealand concert venues. Given the complicated logistics involved, there is around a 1 in 3 chance Wallen ultimately announces a NZ tour leg. Kiwi country music supporters will have to hope his team determines the New Zealand market is too good to pass up. If Wallen can make the trek down under, expect him to perform his signature hits and fan favorites to packed, energetic crowds.