NEW YORK, Apr 28, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) — It was announced today that international superstar Shakira will bring her “Oral Fixation” arena tour to 23 North American cities this summer. Beginning August 9 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas and culminating on September 25 with a performance at the Dodge Arena in McCallen, this highly anticipated tour is being produced by Live Nation (NYSE:LYV) and presented by Verizon Wireless. Tickets go on sale beginning on Saturday, April 29.
Shakira is well known for using wireless technology to reach her fans. She was among the first music artists to introduce exclusive content to Verizon Wireless V CAST customers last year. To ensure that as many fans as possible can participate in the “Oral Fixation” tour, Shakira and Verizon Wireless are taking their relationship to the next level by bringing unprecedented interactivity between Shakira and her fans. Details of these initiatives will be announced by Verizon later this week.
Singer/songwriter, five time Grammy-winner Shakira is without a doubt one of the most galvanizing live performers onstage today. A self-taught musician who speaks five languages, Shakira signed her first recording deal in 1991 and has gone on to sell 33 Million albums worldwide. Her U.S. career took off in 2001 with the release of “Laundry Service,” an album that sold more than 13 Million copies worldwide. In 2005, Shakira won three Billboard Music Awards (Hot Latin Song, Best Latin Pop Artist and Best Latin Pop Album), an American Music Award for Favorite Latin Artist and took home the trophy for Best Female Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Her latest work, “Oral Fixation Vol. 2,” debuted on the charts at #4, the third Top Five debut in Shakira’s career, which after the stunning debut earlier in the year of “Fijacion Oral Volume 1,” made her the only artist ever to debut in the top 5 albums in English and Spanish in the same calendar year. Energized by her Top Ten hit “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Oral Fixation Vol. 2” is firmly planted in the Top Ten of the album charts and has already sold well over a million copies in the United States alone.
Not one to rest on her success, Shakira is driven to give back to her homeland, starting her own foundation Pies Descalzos (www.fundacionpiesdescalzos.com) in 1994. Shakira and her foundation have donated over 2000 school kits to the children of her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia. In addition, she has served as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 2003. In keeping with her pioneering spirit, Shakira has taken the unprecedented step of offering a number of tickets to her U.S. “Oral Fixation” Tour at $19.50, a decision she made to put her show within financial reach of all of her fans.
SHAKIRA
ORAL FIXATION NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2006
DATE CITY VENUE
Wed 8/9 EL PASO, TX DON HASKINS CENTER
Fri 8/11 PHOENIX, AZ US AIRWAYS CENTER
Sat 8/12 LAS VEGAS, NV MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER
Tue 8/15 LOS ANGELES, CA STAPLES CENTER
Wed 8/16 SAN DIEGO, CA IPAYONE CENTER
Fri 8/18 ANAHEIM, CA ARROWHEAD POND
Sat 8/19 SAN JOSE, CA HP PAVILION
Tue 8/22 DENVER, CO PEPSI CENTER
Fri 8/25 CHICAGO, IL UNITED CENTER
Sun 8/27 TORONTO AIR CANADA CENTRE
Sun 8/29 WASHINGTON, DC VERIZON CENTER
Fri 9/1 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ TAJ MAHAL -- MARK G. ETESS ARENA
Mon 9/4 UNCASVILLE, CT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
Tue 9/5 BOSTON, MA TD BANKNORTH GARDEN
Thu 9/7 NEW YORK, NY MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
Tue 9/12 ATLANTA, GA PHILIPS ARENA
Wed 9/13 ORLANDO, FL TD WATERHOUSE CENTRE
Fri 9/15 MIAMI, FL AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA
Tue 9/19 HOUSTON, TX TOYOTA CENTER
Wed 9/20 CORPUS CHRISTI, TX AMERICAN BANK CENTER
Fri 9/22 SAN ANTONIO, TX AT&T CENTER
Sat 9/23 DALLAS, TX AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA
Mon 9/25 MCCALLEN, TX DODGE ARENA
About Live Nation
Live Nation is a leading live content and venue management company focused on creating superior experiences for artists, performers, corporations and fans. Live Nation owns, operates or has booking rights for 150 venues worldwide and promoted or produced over 28,500 events in 2005. Live Nation is headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Live Nation is listed on The New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” For more information regarding Live Nation and its businesses, please visit the company’s web site at www.livenation.com.
SOURCE: Live Nation
M Relations Michele Schweitzer, 212-661-9411 [email protected]