Hit singles such as “Smack That,” “I Wanna Love You” and “Don’t Matter” is what students will hear April 9 as the University Program Council is proud to announce Akon as its spring 2008 concert headline.
Akon rose to fame in 2004 following the release of his single “Locked Up” from his debut album “Trouble.”
His second album, “Konvicted,” earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the single “Smack That.”
“The reason we chose to bring an urban artist to campus is from the campus surveys and student feedback,” said Michael Roeder, UPC director of major entertainment and a senior in zoology. “It’s been two years since Ludacris has been here.”
The spring concert will be held in the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.
The time is to be determined, and a contract is in process for the opening act.
“I’m excited for the concert to be in the Coliseum,” said Suresh Mudragada, treasurer of UPC and a senior in finance and international business.
“We haven’t had one there since my freshman year in spring 2005.”
Akon is costing the University’s student activities fund more than $76,000, which falls under UPC’s major entertainment budget.
Admission to the concert is free to all Auburn University students, and there will be no outside admission.
Tickets will be available starting a week before the concert on the Concourse and also April 4 at UPC’s Tiger Nights.
There will be a one-ticket-per-student policy at a first-come, first-serve basis.
Students must present a current TigerCard with Banner ID number when getting tickets and also at the entrance to the concert.
“What we’ve been told thus far is the maximum number of tickets we can hand out is approximately 7,000,” Roeder said. “But the nice thing is that since it’s in the Coliseum, the concert is a guaranteed rain or shine event.”
Virginia Dawson, president of UPC and a senior in psychology, urges students to call the UPC office at 844-5292 or come by the office in Foy 316 if they have any questions or concerns.
Students can also keep looking for updates on UPC’s Web site at www.auburn.edu/upc/.
“UPC is excited to bring such a big name to campus,” Dawson said. “It’s the direction the student body wanted us to go in. We’ve been bursting at the seams to announce Akon.”
Dawson also said security and EMT will be on site as always at UPC events.
Akon is well known for 21 Billboard Hot 100 songs.
He is the only artist to ever accomplish holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.
In 2006, Akon started his new record label Kon Live Distribution under Interscope Records.
