Young country artist Maddox Batson is running away and joining the circus. Or at least his music is.
Starting Jan. 2, a special video mix of the 15-year old’s music will soundtrack a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey gravity-defying unicycle act. It marks the first time in the circus’ 150-year history that it has integrated a music artist into a segment with a custom remix, song debut and video.
“Because music powers every moment, we set out to find an artist who truly connects with Gen Alpha and brings a fresh energy to the experience. That led us to Maddox,” Juliette Feld Grossman, CEO of Feld Entertainment and circus producer, tells Billboard. “Maddox was the perfect fit for this collaboration because his music reflects the experiences of today’s young fans and feels instantly relatable. His playful, high-energy personality aligns with the spirit of the modern Ringling, and his catchy, sing-along tracks bring a fresh new element to The Greatest Show on Earth. Integrating his sound into the show allows us to connect with a new generation in a way that feels authentic, fun, and uniquely Ringling.”
The segment features exclusive video footage of the Warner Records artist performing new single “If I See Her Again,” in a medley that features high-energy remixes of his songs “Girl in Green” and “No More.” It’s part of a reimagined Ringling experience that includes beat drops, live drumming, live DJs, dance battles and popular hits. Maddox was the youngest male artist on Billboard‘s “21 Under 21” list this year.
“I grew up going to the circus, so this collab with Ringling is like a dream coming full-circle,” Batson said in a statement. “Seeing my music become part of The Greatest Show on Earth is just awesome. Getting to go behind the scenes, bounce on the trampoline, climb on the rocket that shoots a performer 110 feet in the air, and even try the unicycle — it was one of the coolest days of my life. Now I get why they call it The Greatest Show on Earth!”
Circusgoers can go behind the scenes and watch footage of Batson and his time with Ringling during a pre-show celebration that starts one hour before showtime. The collaboration also includes a line of Ringling and Batson merchandise and digital content across Ringling’s social media platforms.
For the duration of the 16-month circus tour, which will travel to more than 60 cities, Batson fans can get $10 off each ticket by using the code Maddox at Ringling.com/Maddox. Batson will also hit the road next year with North American and European dates.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.billboard.com ’
