CBS is celebrating a major milestone in music history, as they announced their plans to stream Billy Joel's 100th concert at Madison Square Garden. This two-hour special, titled 'The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Run Of All Time,' will air on Sunday, April 14 at 9 pm ET/PT, making it the first time a Billy Joel concert will be broadcasted on a network television. Fans who can't catch the live broadcast can also stream the concert live or on demand on Paramount+.
The concert, filmed during his March 28 show, comes as Joel is preparing to wrap up his residency at MSG in July with his 150th career performance at the iconic New York venue. It all began back in late 1978 when Joel, touring for his album '52nd Street,' headlined Madison Square Garden for the first time. Then, in early 2014, he embarked on a monthly residency, becoming MSG's inaugural 'music franchise.' Since then, every single show he's performed has been a sold-out success, with Joel impressively altering his setlist each time and inviting special guests like Tony Bennett, Bruce Springsteen, and Olivia Rodrigo.
Joel expressed his astonishment at the staying power of his MSG residency, stating at a press conference last year, 'I'm kind of flabbergasted that it lasted as long as it did... 10 years, 150 shows — all right already!' This record-setting residency is expected to gross over $250 million, according to Pollstar. However, despite bidding farewell to MSG, Joel has no intentions of retiring any time soon. In fact, he has plans to tour the country, headlining baseball stadiums with opening acts such as Stevie Nicks, Sting, and Rod Stewart later this year.
The announcement of the televised concert comes just a week after Joel premiered his new single, 'Turn the Lights Back On,' live at the Grammy Awards, also aired on CBS. This romantic ballad, produced by Freddy Wexler, marked Joel's first original song in 17 years. The lyrics capture sentiments of being fashionably late but present in the moment, searching for that magical spark. Joel's last release of new music was back in 2007 when he unveiled the heartfelt love song 'All My Life' and the protest track 'Christmas in Fallujah.'
'The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Run Of All Time' is a co-production of Sony Music Entertainment and Enliven Entertainment, distributed by Sony Music Vision. The executive producers of the concert special are Steve Cohen, Barry Ehrmann, and Paul Dugdale, with Dugdale also set to direct. This broadcast adds to the list of popular televised concert events, featuring renowned artists such as Elton John, Adele, and Taylor Swift.
Billy Joel fans and music enthusiasts alike have much to look forward to with the airing of this historic concert. It reflects Joel's undeniable talent, legacy, and enduring appeal, capturing the essence of his incredible journey at Madison Square Garden.
