Madonna will be queen of the road this summer.
With last year's top touring acts — the Rolling Stones, U2 and Paul McCartney — touring Europe or taking a break, Madonna's 15-week disco-themed Confessions Tour is likely to be the season's biggest-grossing and most heavily attended concert. It will also be among the priciest, with regular tickets going for as much as $375.
Several other headliners are expected to do blockbuster business, including Bruce Springsteen; Tim McGraw and Faith Hill; Red Hot Chili Peppers; Jimmy Buffett; Dave Matthews Band; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Paul Simon. Mariah Carey just announced her 31-city Adventures of Mimi: The Voice, the Hits, the Tour. Billboard's Ray Waddell says that while Carey has never been a huge draw, that could change on the heels of her triple-Grammy-winning album, "The Emancipation of Mimi."
Another act that promoters will be closely watching is the Dixie Chicks, who are hitting the road for the first time since lead singer Natalie Maines' criticism of President Bush three years ago sparked a backlash. Other country stars such as Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley are surefire winners.
There will be plenty to satisfy fans of hard rock (Ozzfest, Slayer's Unholy Alliance Tour) and jam bands (Matthews, Phil Lesh & Friends).
Urban-music fans, on the other hand, will have a hard time finding live music. R&B sensation Chris Brown will headline an amphitheater package. Not much else is scheduled so far. "There really aren't too many strong-enough headliners in hip-hop to carry a major tour," says Jeremiah "Ice" Younossi of A-List Talent Agency.
The industry hopes to rebound after two years of decline. The first quarter saw North American grosses of $375 million, a 28 percent jump from last year, according to Billboard. Those numbers were boosted by Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Coldplay and Aerosmith. But with high prices and heavy traffic, not every summer tour can win. "Ticket prices eliminate the casual concertgoer," says Waddell. "Somebody who wants to experiment isn't going to do it for $50."
Average ticket prices jumped from about $25 in 1995 to $57 in 2005, according to Pollstar.
Some tours offer a lot of bang for the buck. The Korn-led Family Values Tour gives concertgoers dozens of acts with lawn seats for $9.99. The Vans Warped Tour offers nearly 60 acts.
High gas prices are a concern, but they could wind up helping the concert business. "People will be taking fewer trips and staying closer to home," Waddell says. "They may rather spend $100 going to a concert than spend $300 going to the beach."
Source: http://greenbaypressgazette.com
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