In the wake of his exploding record in “Kamikaze” (Atlantic), Twista will tour U.S. theaters this spring, before heading overseas. “Kamikaze” has sold more than 700,000 units in four weeks, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The artist, booked by Monterey Peninsula Artists, will begin a run of 1,500- to 2,500-seat venues beginning April 13 in New York. The tour, which will run through May, follows a run of 500-seaters in January/February.
“The interest from buyers [on Twista] is phenomenal,” says Stephanie Mahler, hip-hop/R&B agent for Monterey in New York. “90% of the people we’re working with are mainstream buyers, like HOB, Clear Channel and AEG Live.”
Mahler says booking Twista into theaters is a deliberate strategy to stimulate demand. “We want to sell out and build him as a touring entity,” she says. “We want the places to be packed, with people waiting outside.”
In other Monterey news, Motown artist Kem, who has been touring since last July in support of “Kemistry,” has added more dates. “We have confirmed dates [for Kem] with Ruben Studdard in April, and with Boney James later this year,” says Mahler, adding that Kem will also hit the festival circuit. Kem will release a new album this fall.
Monterey’s Calvin Richardson will also be playing dates with Studdard in March, Mahler says, and will be touring in April and May. Other acts on Monterey’s New York roster include Petey Pablo, Carl Thomas, Bubba Sparxxx and new Warner Bros. artist Leela James.
Additionally, Monterey has hired booking agent Fleurette Vincent, who formerly worked with urban agent Cara Lewis at William Morris Agency in the New York office.
