Jay-Z

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Lore & Background

The tour’s development was remarkably swift, taking only about one month from conception to launch according to Live Nation, compared to the typical year-plus planning for such events. Omar Al-Joulani of Live Nation North America noted the timeline: "It came together quite quickly, around mid-March," with everything ready by April and three weeks remaining before the announcement. The concept revolved around being "on the run" from the media, haters, and even clichés, rather than a literal Bonnie and Clyde story. Jay-Z explained this nuance in a phone call to director Dikayal Rimmasch: "We're not trying to do this literally... We're on the run from everything. On the run from becoming a cliché." The show featured video interludes filled with cop chases and violent outbursts, splitting the performance into Beyoncé’s solo sets, duets, and Jay-Z’s rap segments.

In Their Own Story

The tour faced logistical hurdles before hitting the road, such as the Pasadena City Council meeting on August 2, 2014, to approve a Rose Bowl show due to strict event limits. Despite high demand causing tickets to sell out in minutes across multiple locations, extra dates were added. The July 11, 2014, East Rutherford show was particularly delayed due to New Jersey legislation requiring 95% of tickets be available to the public, finally going on sale June 4, 2014. Commercially, the tour grossed $96 million in its first 19 North American shows and reached a total of $109.7 million with an attendance of 979,781, ranking as the fifth highest-grossing tour of 2014 per Pollstar. The run concluded with two concerts in Paris, France, which were taped for a full broadcast on HBO on September 20, 2014.

Reader's Guide

Jay-Z’s role during the On the Run Tour was distinct from his solo performances; he often held the stage for multiple songs without assistance or backing dancers, though he collaborated with Beyoncé’s musicians for most of the show. His outfit choices included a "bondage body suit" designed by Alexander Wang and pieces by Nicola Formichetti for Diesel. The duo's chemistry was generally praised by critics for its extravagant setlist and dynamic storytelling, although some reviewers felt it lacked potential depth. Throughout the performances, both artists cycled through numerous designer outfits, with Jay-Z’s presence anchoring the "cops and robbers" aesthetic alongside Beyoncé’s elaborate costumes, such as the 16.4-foot American flag train designed by Riccardo Tisci.

Did You Know?

• Jay-Z accompanied Beyoncé on all six nights of her O2 Arena stint in London during her solo tour prior to the joint venture.
• The denim jumpsuit worn by Beyoncé for "Run the World (Girls)" was made from Diesel's patented Jogg Jean material and accented with hand-applied hardware.
• The American flag train designed by Riccardo Tisci weighed only around 500 grams despite being 16.4 feet long, allowing it to fly in the wind.
• The tour was the first to be part of "Official Events," a collaboration between Facebook and Live Nation that imported events directly to Artist Pages with verified Ticketmaster links.