Grammy nominee 'embarrassed' as tour cancelled after plea to fans over gigs

Singer-songwriter JP Saxe has announced that his tour has now been cancelled. The Grammy-nominated artist was due to embark on a series of headline shows next month but has told fans that they will no longer be going ahead.

JP, 32, whose song If the World Was Ending, which featured his ex-partner Julia Michaels, received acclaim following its release in 2019, had announced the Make Yourself at Home tour in June. He was scheduled to visit a host of cities in his home country of Canada, the US, Brazil and several other countries on the tour in September and October.

He however announced yesterday that the tour was cancelled and has said that he "didn't sell enough tickets," after sharing concern over the prospect. It comes after Taylor Swift sparks engagement rumours as fans spot Travis Kelce's lock screen.

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JP has told fans earlier this week that the tour was at risk of being cancelled. In a video on social media, he said: "I'm extremely embarrassed to tell you this but I'm going to tell you anyway. If I don't sell twenty or so thousand tickets to my tour in the next 48 hours, it's going to be cancelled."

He continued: "If we're just not in a place yet to sell out these 2 or 3k cap venues, that's fine. It's always been my goal to connect deeply not widely and I stand by that."

In a message to fans, JP said that "just in case" they were waiting until closer to the gigs to buy tickets "that approach" wouldn't work because there wouldn't be a show. He said: "Whether that happens or not, I'm grateful to you for caring about my songs and I hold on to a sliver of hope that I will see you in the fall."

The singer said in the caption of the video, which was shared on platforms like TikTok, that he didn't want to cancel the tour. JP told his followers at the time in the post: "48 hrs… f*** being cool about it, I don't wanna cancel this s**t."

He later shared that his friends had told him to "ask for help" from fans and issued another update yesterday. He said the more recent video: "Over the last few days we sold a few thousand extra tickets and I am beyond grateful to everyone of you who bought one. Those few thousand tickets are a reminder that being transparent in failure sometimes can be more powerful than the facade of success."

The performer said that the reaction was also a reminder of how "wonderful" it can be to ask other people for help. He also wrote about watching a "community come together" and said it was the "nicest the internet has ever been" to him.

JP, who confirmed that the tour won't be going ahead, continued: "But what those few thousand tickets are not is enough to save this tour. I'm really sorry. I'm so sorry. Every ticket purchase will be fully refunded with a small side of immense gratitude from a dorky ginger Canadian."

He added: "I'm still a little embarrassed. I'm also feeling a lot of ambition to make sure this never happens again and just to make the most honest music I possibly can and the squad can grow and we can just have these full rooms but until then, I love you and I'm grateful to each one of you who bought a ticket and I'm really sorry."

JP apologised again in the caption and said that he was "so grateful" for the way that fans have "shown up" for him lately. He said: "Thank you for giving a s**t about my music, I've certainly still got lots in me to share with you."

In a guest column for Variety, published yesterday, JP said that his team were told last week that ticket sales "weren't where they needed to be". He said that it was suggested that he cancel the tour and then "try again next year".

He said that it had felt "more embarrassing" before he publicly shared that the tour was at risk and suggested that he had "aimed too high" whilst recalling his initial post. JP said that once he had told his fans it felt "weirdly empowering" and he has suggested the experience will be better for his "growth".

JP wrote in the recent article: "Applause for success is great. But there is something more interesting about being applauded for honesty in failure." He added: "It's not as good for my ego - but maybe it's better for my growth."

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