MNEK cancels album tour over ticket sales and production costs

MNEK, the 31-year-old Grammy-nominated artist, canceled his planned Bulldozer!! tour in an Instagram statement reported by BBC Newsbeat on Oct. 21, citing weak ticket demand and production pressures.

The move affects UK and European dates for his second album, released after an eight-year gap, with tickets starting at about £30, and adds to strain around live-music economics.

MNEK, whose real name is Uzoechi Emenike, said he had been “really looking forward” to performing Bulldozer!! but had “no interest in doing this tour if I can't do it right.”

He said the show was not “ready to the standard” he wanted, pointing to “high production costs” and “over-ambitious planning.” Ticket holders will be refunded soon, he said, and he would try to tour the album when he could deliver a show fans “deserve.”

The cancellation follows other recent setbacks in live music. The Pussycat Dolls called off nearly all of the US leg of their reunion tour earlier this year after poor ticket sales, according to the BBC.

The BBC article also cited broader concern among artists over rising touring costs. David Rowntree, chair of the Featured Artists Coalition and Blur drummer, told the BBC earlier this year that it was “virtually impossible now to make touring pay for itself.”

MNEK has two Grammy nominations and has written or produced for artists including Beyoncé, Zara Larsson and Madonna. Bulldozer!! was released last month, following his 2018 debut album Language.

Source: BBC Entertainment & Arts article, Oct. 21, 2026; Instagram statement cited by BBC.