Behind the Scenes of Usher & Chris Brown’s R&B Tour: ‘This Is a Real Brotherhood Coming Together’

Imagine a concert bill co-headlined by Michael Jackson and Prince. That’s one example of how principals involved with Usher and Chris Brown’s The R&B Tour (aka Raymond & Brown) are describing the upcoming trek’s level of impact.

The superstar duo initially revealed their North America stadium tour via an X post on April 10. Four days later, Live Nation announced a 33-date itinerary. That number has since increased to 51 — and counting, according to a spokesperson. Now, after rehearsals in St. Louis, Usher and Brown will kick off the hotly anticipated tour in Denver on Friday (June 26).

“Rarely do we see these kinds of combinations,” says Usher’s manager Ron Laffitte, one of the principals whom Billboard spoke to ahead of the tour’s anticipated launch. “We can point to Jay-Z and Kanye ‘Ye’ West’s Watch the Throne or Elton John and Billy Joel coming together. What would Michael Jackson and Prince have looked like? Unfortunately, we never had the blessing of seeing those two share the stage.”

He adds, “Bringing these icons of R&B together elevates the entire concert experience, showcasing their singing, performance athleticism and the most incredible song catalogs. The love and respect that Usher and Chris share for one another made the idea this tour would one day happen inevitable. That’s why we’re here now.”

Laffitte also cites the “relentless” efforts of record industry veteran Mark Pitts and Live Nation’s Colin Lewis in finally being able to pull off a feat that’s been gestating for the last several years. According to Lewis — who serves as Live Nation’s senior vp of global touring and is a longtime tour collaborator to both Usher and Brown on their prior individual tours — the idea for this “natural pairing has been discussed for years. The challenge was never whether it should happen,” Lewis adds. “It was finding the right moment” between the stars’ packed schedules and commitments.

Pitts also worked closely with Usher and Brown during his lengthy tenure at RCA Records, most recently as the label’s president. Under the banner of Cofvnders, his new multimedia management firm, Pitts is producing the tour. “For years, I’ve been trying to make this happen,” says Pitts. He notes the pair has been holding dress rehearsals at a stadium in St. Louis. “You need somewhere that’s big and available,” he explains. “And there aren’t too many places where you can do that.”

It’s all in pursuit of achieving “a goal that’s even bigger than them,” Pitts continues. “It’s about the celebration of music, of R&B. This is going to be the cardio tour. There will be no time to sit — and don’t go to the bathroom.”

Advancing that moment-in-time sentiment to ticket buyers is Sasha Rincon-Camacho, Live Nation’s vp of tour marketing. Beginning with Usher and Brown’s video reveal, Camacho — a member of Lewis’ team — has been overseeing various messaging touch points, such as creating a landing page for the tour and a specific R&B Tour social handle. That’s where fans can go to get all of the associated content and information about the tour.

“That’s been hugely impactful to not just the diehard fans but the overall fan base,” says Rincon-Camacho. “Because we’ve worked with both artists and their teams in the past, we know how to be in lock step with each other.”

According to Rincon-Camacho, most of the tour markets are getting double or triple nights in some cases. “We have just under about 2 million seats for this run, and we’re already 90% sold,” she says.

That assessment is in lock step with ticket sales for Usher and Brown’s previous solo tours. According to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore, the two artists have grossed a combined $934 million and sold 8.1 million tickets over more than 650 reported shows. Both artists have shown renewed, career-best Boxscore strength in the post-pandemic era.

Breaking that down, Usher has grossed $422.6 million and sold 3.3 million tickets over 334 reported shows. His Past Present Future (2024-25) trek grossed $183.9 million and sold 1.1 million tickets over 80 shows to become the highest-grossing and best-selling tour of his career so far.

Brown has grossed $511.4 million and sold 4.9 million tickets over 322 reported shows. Earnings for his 11:11 Tour (2024) improved upon the Under the Influence Tour (2023) by 139%. The following year, Brown’s 2025 Breezy Bowl XX, his first stadium tour, grossed $295.5 million and sold just under 2 million tickets over 49 shows — marking another 259% jump in grosses.

The R&B Tour is happening in collaboration with several philanthropic initiatives. Through its partnership with Global Citizen, $1 from every ticket sold is being donated directly to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Usher also announced in May that his nonprofit Usher’s New Look (UNL) has teamed with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit to launch Entertainment Industry Club: Live Touring Edition. Under that initiative, the entertainment workforce development program selected a cohort of 10 interns (18+) from Detroit and Atlanta to travel with the tour the entire summer, with pay. Additionally, the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) — in partnership with Live Nation’s School of Live — is giving five to 10 aspiring music industry professionals the opportunity to take part in an immersive, behind-the-scenes learning experience, plus concert admission, in select markets, including Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City.

As of this writing, no official announcement has been made about potential supporting acts or surprise guests, given past precedents on Usher and Brown’s own tours. “You just have to stay tuned,” says Rincon-Camacho.

Given their extensive catalogs, the duo will undoubtedly have no trouble filling the allotted time slot. Which could be a challenge in itself, as Brown’s manager, Anthony Wilson, notes with a laugh. “Managing the time might be the hardest thing. Each could do three hours by himself,” he says. “This is a real brotherhood coming together, both of whom just want to please the fans. That’s the biggest thing.”

When asked about taking the tour overseas, Pitts teases only that “the conversation definitely has started.”

Right now, however, all attention is focused on the tour’s opening night in Denver — including seeing how all the involved parties have met the challenge of “seamlessly blending two distinct creative visions into one cohesive experience,” says Lewis.

Further summing up the sentiments of those interviewed when it comes to the tour’s impact, Lewis adds, “This is a rare moment where two generational talents come together on one stage. R&B has re-emerged as one of the most exciting and influential forces in music. For Usher and Chris, it’s an opportunity to introduce their music to new audiences while strengthening their connection with longtime fans. For the genre, it’s a statement that R&B is not only thriving — it’s leading the conversation.”

Additional reporting by Eric Frankenberg