The Mars machine revs up again in 2014. His world tour resumes Feb. 28 with 10 dates in Australia and New Zealand. Then it’s on to Asia, beginning March 20 in Bangkok before heading to Mexico City on Sept. 2. Another North American leg, which starts this summer, will be announced shortly. But in the meantime, Mars has several other engagements to fulfill.
First up, his two-day residency at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Dec. 29 and Dec. 31. Next it’s on to the 56th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. While he didn’t earn an album of the year nod, he is vying for four gramophones: Besides the nominations for “Locked Out of Heaven,” he is up for pop solo performance for “When I Was Your Man” and best pop vocal album. Then there’s the icing on the cake for the 28-year-old: playing the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show on Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Between the timeless quality of his music and the precision spectacle of his TV and stage performances, Mars is on track to become that seemingly rare industry entity: a career artist.
“It’s been an incredible year,” says manager Brandon Creed when asked about Mars’ ascension in the last 14 months. “We definitely had goals going into this project to support the artist, his music and performance. But we tried to do everything for a purpose, nothing gratuitous. And we’re continuing to lay and build the foundation for him to evolve musically and continue to connect with the audience.”
“No one is handing Bruno Mars a record to make,” Atlantic Records Group chairman/COO Julie Greenwald says of Mars’ career drive. “He’s writing, producing with collaborative partners, singing, playing, choreographing-a quintuple threat who’s great at executing his vision.”