"dismal year for the touring industry" - Reuters
Rushgedlife
Sun Dec 26, 2004 11:34 AM ET
By Dean Goodman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In a dismal year for the touring industry, with ticket
prices soaring and seats going unsold, music fans in North America partied like
it was 1989 as Prince and Madonna topped the concert box office.
According to freshly tabulated estimates provided by concert trade publication
Pollstar, Prince sold $87.4 million in tickets in 2004, while Madonna earned
$79.5 million. Prince also worked a bit harder for his payday, playing 96
shows, compared with 39 for Madonna.
Canadian pop singer Celine Dion actually topped Madonna by about $900,000, but
her haul came exclusively from 154 dates performed at Caesars Palace in Las
Vegas as part of a four-year engagement at the casino.
Next on Pollstar's list were hard rock warriors Metallica ($60.5 million),
singer-comedienne Bette Midler ($59.4 million), reunited rock band Van Halen
($54.3 million) and country singer Kenny Chesney ($50.8 million).
Among all-time tours, Prince's "Musicology" road show ranks eighth. The Rolling
Stones, expected to return to the road in the summer, top the list with sales
of $121.2 million from their 1994 tour.
It was a good year for Prince, 46, whose idiosyncratic ways had taken him out
of the mainstream for a decade. In February, he performed at the Grammys; in
March, he stole the show at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
and hit the road to play sold-out arenas.
But most musicians found the going tough. "With few exceptions, every act had
some places where they didn't do well," Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni told
Reuters.
Higher ticket prices did not help. Pollstar calculated that average prices rose
3.5 percent to $52.06 in 2004. By contrast, core consumer prices rose 2.2
percent in the year to November, according to the U.S. Labor Dept.
ELTON'S $158 TICKET
Average prices were actually higher at mid-year -- $58.71 -- before rampant
discounting by promoters faced with poorly attended venues during the key
summer touring season.
Honors for the highest average price went to Elton John (No. 10, $43.3
million), who charged $158.22 for the average ticket, followed by Madonna at
$143.59 a pop. An average Prince ticket cost just $61.04.
Overall, Pollstar estimated gross sales rose almost one percent to $1.96
billion in 2004, with the number of tickets sold down by nearly three percent
to 37.6 million. Prince accounted for 1.43 million of those tickets, followed
by Chesney (1.14 million) and Metallica (1.05 million).
Apportioning the blame for the downturn depends on who you ask. Promoters say
the artists demand too much money, forcing them, in turn, to charge higher
ticket prices. Artists say promoters keep offering more lucrative deals, which
they can hardly reject, especially when CD sales are weak.
Either way, more and more fans decided to stay home, especially if their
favorite artists had already passed through recently.
"Some acts have toured too much," said Bongiovanni, citing Rod Stewart (No. 11
with $42.5 million) and Aerosmith (No. 21, $25.6 million) as examples.
Among the high-profile disasters was Lollapalooza, the annual rock touring
festival, which was canceled before the first show. Jazz pianist Norah Jones
also found the going tough when she upgraded to amphitheaters from more cozy
venues.
Besides the Rolling Stones, who are working on an album but have not announced
a tour yet, Irish rockers U2 are set to begin a 10-month world tour next March
in Florida.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=musicNews&storyID=7179710
Mike Lattin
I am curious, these groups/performers that maid more $$$ than VH, while I do
not care that they did or didn't, what are the ticket price comparisons and
what is the quantity of tickets sold. Total money made doesn't tell me
anything. Elton John could have sold fewer tickets at much higher price per
ticket and made more money than VH or vice versa for that matter?
Curious
-ML
Rushgedlife
>what are the ticket price comparisons and
>what is the quantity of tickets sold. Total money made doesn't tell me
>anything.
Pollstar rankings include detailed information such as Gross, Average Ticket
Price, Average Tickets Sold, Total Tickets, Average Gross, Cities/Shows, etc.
That information is not yet available.
p.s. The list below now includes the total number of shows for the Top 10 acts.
=====
Top-grossing tours of 2004:
1. Prince, $87.4 million (96 shows)
2. Celine Dion, $80.4 million (154 shows)
3. Madonna, $79.5 million (39 shows)
4. Metallica, $60.5 million (83 shows)
5. Bette Midler, $59.4 million (66 shows)
6. Van Halen, $54.3 million (79 shows)
7. Kenny Chesney, $50.8 million (77 shows)
8. Sting, $50.1 million (83 shows)
9. Toby Keith, $43.7 million (75 shows)
10. Elton John, 43.3 million (60 shows)
11. Rod Stewart, $42.5 million
12. Dave Matthews Band, $41.2 million
13. Tim McGraw, $40.1 million
14. Jimmy Buffett, $34.6 million
15. Shania Twain, $34.5 million
16. Alan Jackson/Martina McBride, $34 million
17. Cher, $29.1 million
18. Usher, $29.1 million
19. Eric Clapton, $29 million
20. Josh Groban, $28 million
21. Aerosmith, $25.6 million
22. George Strait, $24.8 million
23. Phil Collins, $23.8 million
24. Kid Rock, $23.7 million
25. John Mayer, $23.6 million
Source: Pollstar
9:13
Mumsdawordy
the tour a bust? If the VH tour was a bust then Steven Tyler and company must
be washing dishes by now ;)
Mike Lattin
like to fill in the blanks, but indeed VH did twice as much as Aerosmith
(and VH tour was thrown together, Aerosmith well planned I am sure).
Average per concert is what is interesting...
Artist Shows Gross Avg
Prince 96 $87,400,000 $910,417
Celine Dion 154 $80,400,000 $522,078
Madonna 39 $79,500,000 $2,038,462
Metallica 83 $60,500,000 $728,916
Bette Midler 66 $59,400,000 $900,000
Van Halen 79 $54,300,000 $687,342
Kenny Chesney 77 $50,800,000 $659,740
Sting 83 $50,100,000 $603,614
Toby Keith 75 $43,700,000 $582,667
Elton John 60 $43,300,000 $721,667
Rod Stewart $42,500,000
Dave Matthews $41,200,000
Tim McGraw $40,100,000
Jimmy Buffett $34,600,000
Shania Twain $34,500,000
Jackson/McBride $34,000,000
Cher $29,100,000
Usher $29,100,000
Eric Clapton $29,000,000
Josh Groban $28,000,000
Aerosmith $25,600,000
George Strait $24,800,000
Phil Collins $23,800,000
Kid Rock $23,700,000
John Mayer $23,600,000
Mike Lattin
VH did more than Aerosmith and Kid Rock combined
"Mike Lattin" <mlatt...@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:QpCdnRnYX6j...@adelphia.com...
Tattoo Vampire
> If the VH tour was a bust then Steven Tyler and company must
> be washing dishes by now ;)
Or begging Dave to allow them to join his next Vegas show.
--
Every time I make ends meet someone moves the ends
Rushgedlife
p.s. This is the same report where VH was ranked #41 at the time and were being
bashed in this newsgroup because they were ranked behind acts such as Yanni,
etc.
=====
Pollstar 2004 Mid-Year Top 100 Tours
Rank / Gross / Artist / Avg Price / Avg Tks / Total Tks / Avg Grs / Ctys/Shws
/ Agency
1 45.7 Prince 61.59 16,752 737,097 1,038,636 44/54 Concerts West
2 44.9 Madonna 174.17 36,864 258,046 6,414,286 7/21 Creative Artists Agency
3 40.8 Celine Dion 137.65 4,060 295,652 558,904 1/73 United Talent Agency
4 33.7 Bette Midler 101.29 11,488 333,164 1,162,069 29/31 Creative Artists
Agency
5 32.7 Rod Stewart 76.68 9,652 424,675 743,182 44/45 Writers & Artists Grp.
Int’l
6 27.6 Shania Twain 64.76 13,704 424,833 890,323 31/32 Creative Artists Agency
7 27.0 Kenny Chesney 47.98 12,784 562,500 613,636 44/44 Dale Morris & Assoc.
8 26.1 Metallica 57.29 13,825 456,239 790,909 33/35 Writers & Artists Grp.
Int’l
9 25.2 Aerosmith 58.69 9,492 427,119 560,905 45/45 Monterey Peninsula Artists
10 24.9 Alan Jackson / Martina McBride 51.28 12,418 484,314 638,462 39/39
Creative Artists Agency
11 19.8 Beyonce 68.43 11,199 291,176 761,538 26/28 Creative Artists Agency
12 19.1 Elton John 147.56 18,482 129,379 2,728,571 7/25 The Howard Rose Agency
13 18.9 Britney Spears 63.28 11,957 298,930 756,672 25/25 Evolution Talent
Agency
14 18.0 Luis Miguel 53.71 47,691 333,333 2,571,429 7/34 William Morris Agency
15 17.4 George Strait 62.22 12,757 280,643 790,909 22/22 The Erv Woolsey Agency
16 16.4 David Bowie 62.55 5,785 260,317 364,444 45/70 Clear Channel
Entertainment
17 16.3 Kid Rock 33.53 8,126 479,412 276,271 59/60 Creative Artists Agency
18 15.4 Fleetwood Mac 67.61 9,847 226,471 669,565 23/23 Agency For The Perf.
Arts
19 14.9 Sarah Brightman 63.35 5,472 235,292 346,512 43/43 Evolution Talent
Agency
20 14.5 Linkin Park 33.29 12,445 435,577 414,286 35/35 Writers & Artists Group
21 14.0 Jimmy Buffett 67.26 13,060 208,955 875,420 16/18 The Howard Rose Agency
22 13.9 Eagles 110.64 9,676 125,798 1,069,231 13/13 William Morris Agency
23 12.2 Simon & Garfunkel 103.62 8,384 117,380 871,428 14//14 William Morris
Agency
24 10.9 Josh Groban 58.38 4,242 186,634 247,727 44/46 William Morris Agency
25 10.7 Kelly Clarkson / Clay Aiken 45.04 7,926 237,778 356,667 30/30 Creative
Artists Agency
26 10.6 No Doubt / Blink-182 43.75 16,146 242,197 706,667 15/16 MOB
Agency/Creative Artists
27 10.5 Eric Clapton 59.34 13,690 177,966 807,692 13/15 Creative Artists Agency
28 10.2 Michael Flatley’s “Lord Of The Dance” 45.70 2,997 223,244 136,942
75/130 The Road Company
29 10.2 Phish 44.46 45,723 228,613 2,040,420 5/10 Monterey Peninsula Artists
30 9.4 Chris Rock 47.19 5,691 199,194 268,571 35/53 Creative Artists Agency
31 9.3 Jerry Seinfeld 75.39 4,010 124,050 300,900 31/46 United Talent Agency
32 9.2 Dave Matthews Band 44.64 25,857 206,858 1,150,650 8/11 Monterey
Peninsula Artists
33 9.2 Alabama 48.43 4,005 192,253 368,606 25/25 William Morris Agency
34 9.0 Bill Gaither & Friends “Homecoming” 23.99 8,152 375,000 195,652
46/50 Clear Channel Entertainment
35 8.7 David Copperfield 43.56 4,598 197,727 202,326 43/143 The Road Company
36 8.5 Nickelback 29.34 6,914 290,373 202,381 42/43 The Agency Group
37 8.4 A Perfect Circle 28.66 5,172 289,655 150,789 56/57 William Morris Agency
38 8.1 Toby Keith 48.25 10,417 177,083 476,471 17/18 Monterey Peninsula Artists
39 7.3 John Mayer 33.82 6,710 214,706 228,125 32/32 Creative Artists Agency
40 7.2 Yanni 52.89 5,224 135,835 276,923 26/26 Concerts West
41 6.8 Van Halen 74.00 9,189 91,892 680,020 10/13 EvolutionTalent/WilliamMorris
42 6.7 Sting 69.92 4,161 95,714 291,304 23/24 Creative Artists Agency
43 6.1 Blink-182 28.44 8,207 213,386 234,615 26/28 Creative Artists Agency
44 6.0 Barenaked Ladies 37.25 5,355 160,652 199,192 30/30 Little Big Man
Booking
45 5.7 Larry “The Cable Guy” 25.52 3,358 225,001 85,075 67/90 Agency For
The Perf. Arts
46 5.4 Tim Conway / Harvey Korman - Together Again 53.57 3,330 106,585 168,750
32/53 Marty Klein Enterprises
47 5.3 Neil Young 60.65 5,469 87,506 331,250 16/19 MVO. Ltd
48 5.2 Harry Connick Jr 54,89 2,781 94,545 152,941 34/36 Creative Artists
Agency
49 4.8 Brooks & Dunn 35.23 4,898 137,143 171,429 28/28 William Morris Agency
50 4.7 Bob Dylan 48.83 3,426 95,918 167,857 28/36 Creative Artists Agency
51 4.4 The Dead 47.71 10,303 92,728 488,889 9/11 Monterey Peninsula Artists
52 4.3 Yes 51.27 4,414 83,869 226,316 19/19 Writers & Artists Grp. Int’l
53 4.3 Hilary Duff 36.18 8,489 118,850 307,143 14/15 Evolution Talent Agency
54 4.2 Lynyrd Skynyrd 29.80 3,203 140,939 95,455 44/48 William Morris Agency
55 3.8 Alejandro Sanz 58.03 3,858 65,587 223,529 17/17 Creative Artists Agency
56 3.8 Mary J. Blige 54.42 3,485 69,705 190,064 20/23 Creative Artists Agency
57 3.7 Diana Krall 59.85 4,121 61,821 246,667 15/19 William Morris Agency
58 3.7 George Lopez 43.89 4,683 84,301 205,556 18/24 Gersh Agency
59 3.6 Erykah Badu 44.33 2,706 81,209 120,330 30/31 William Morris Agency
60 3.6 Rascal Flatts 31.49 5,126 112,776 163,636 22/22 William Morris Agency
61 3.4 3 Doors Down 27.56 4,733 123,367 130,769 26/26 The Agency Group
62 3.4 Ludacris 34.19 2,616 99,444 89,474 38/38 William Morris Agency
63 3.3 Ron White 27.40 3,057 122,308 76,744 43/68 Agency For The Perf. Arts
64 3.2 Dashboard Confessional 21.53 3,811 148,629 82,051 39/41 Ellis Industries
65 3.2 “Great High Mountain Tour” 50.12 2,455 63,846 123,077 26/26 Keith
Case & Associates
66 3.1 Chicago / Earth Wind & Fire 29.41 6,283 113,097 172,222 18/18 Howard
Rose/Creative Artists
67 2.8 50 Cent 41.61 8,411 67,291 350,212 8/8 William Morris Agency
68 2.8 Dave Matthews & Friends 50.81 13,553 54,215 688,758 4/4 Monterey
Peninsula Artists
69 2.6 Ginuwine 47.36 3,431 54,898 162,500 16/17 Universal Attractions
70 2.6 Styx / Peter Frampton 18.96 5,274 137,130 106,655 26/26 Creative
Artists/William Morris
71 2.5 “Jagermeister Music Tour” / Slipknot 27.01 2,880 91,758 75,758 33/33
Writers & Artists Grp. Int’l
72 2.5 The Who 91.19 13,074 26,148 1,231,468 2/2 International Talent Booking
73 2.4 Primus 31.66 2,449 75,949 77,419 31/31 Creative Artists Agency
74 2.4 The Strokes 26.10 2,627 91,954 68,571 35/35 MVO Ltd.
75 2.4 MercyMe 26.60 3,600 90,225 96,000 25/25 Third Coast Artists Agency
76 2.4 Jewel 46.69 1,318 51,402 61,538 39/42 Creative Artists Agency
77 2.3 Moody Blues 38.81 3,292 59,263 127,778 18/18 Creative Artists Agency
78 2.3 Third Day 25.75 5,546 88,748 143,750 16/17 Creative Artists Agency
79 2.3 Indigo Girls 32.27 1,696 71,272 54,762 42/45 High Road Touring
80 2.3 Bill Cosby 47.25 4,425 48,677 209,091 11/19 William Morris Agency
81 2.2 Van Morrison 82.19 3,881 27,171 314,286 7/8 MVO Ltd.
82 2.2 George Carlin 44.46 2,479 49,596 110,234 20/24 International Creative
Mgt
83 2.1 Jann Arden 37.42 2,267 56,681 84,000 25/31 S. L. Feldman & Assoc.
84 2.0 Godsmack 28.01 3,560 71,207 99,730 20/20 William Morris Agency
85 2.0 Jessica Simpson 36.67 4,195 54,540 153,846 13/13 Creative Artists Agency
86 2.0 Enrique Iglesias 51.09 2,609 39,149 133,333 15/15 Creative Artists
Agency
87 2.0 Melissa Etheridge 57.07 2,333 35,000 133,145 15/25 Creative Artists
Agency
88 1.9 Rodney Carrington 33.01 1,849 57,347 61,290 31/32 PMG Entertainment Grp.
89 1.9 The Allman Brothers Band 66.65 28,394 28,394 1,892,614 1/9 Evolution
Talent Agency
90 1.8 Iron Maiden 47.72 9,231 36,925 440,574 4/7 Creative Artists Agency
91 1.8 Dave Chappelle 35.07 4,554 50,100 163,636 11/21 Gersh Agency
92 1.7 Dream Theatre 35.50 2,030 48,725 70,833 24/24 The Agency Group
93 1.7 Kanye West 22.21 4,225 76,052 94,444 18/24 William Morris Agency
94 1.6 O.A.R. 24.27 2,124 65,870 51,613 31/33 Monterey Peninsula Artists
95 1.6 B.B. King 46.00 1,901 34,235 88,889 18/20 Associated Booking Corp.
96 1.5 Jeff Foxworthy 22.16 5,623 67,479 125,022 12/21 Buddy Lee Attractions
97 1.5 Lewis Black 25.04 1,431 58,684 36,585 41/45 Agency For The Perf. Arts
98 1.5 Newsboys 21.00 3,871 69,686 78,947 19/20 H20 Artists Agency
99 1.5 Keb’ Mo’ 29.22 1,047 51,334 30,612 49/51 Monterey Peninsula Artists
100 1.5 Something Corporate / Yellowcard 16.88 2,115 88,862 35,714 42/44 Agency
For The Perf. Arts/ Fierce Talent
Rushgedlife
>VH did twice as much as Aerosmith
>(and VH tour was thrown together, Aerosmith well planned I am sure).
Aerosmith was also giving up a bigger slice of their gross to their opening
act, Cheap Trick.
VH basically had a bunch of inexpensive nobodies opening (Jonas, Rose Hill
Drive, Mr. North, Laidlaw, Viva Nativa, Silvertide, Shinedown).
Sting was actually a co-headliner with Annie Lennox (along with a third support
act).
Metallica had Godsmack.
Kenny Chesney's tour included Uncle Kracker and Rascal Flatts on the bill.
p.s. Toby Keith & Ted Nugent are touring together in 2005. Five dates already
set and 20 more are planned for first quarter of year. Wasn't Sammy rumored to
be going out on tour with Terrible Ted in '05?
Tattoo Vampire
> p.s. Toby Keith & Ted Nugent are touring together in 2005.
I'd pay to see Ted shoot Toby with a flaming arrow.
Rushgedlife
I believe that the September 13, 2004 Van Halen concert in Puerto Rico
($1,022,666 Gross) was not included in the Pollstar list.
U2BonoLife
wrote:
>For those keeping score at home.
>I believe that the September 13, 2004 Van Halen concert in Puerto Rico
>($1,022,666 Gross) was not included in the Pollstar list.
Really? Is this what you "believe" or are you going to post some kind
of facts to back it up? Are you also going to research all the other
bands on the list to see if they got "shorted" as well or are you
going to continue to have a bias on your VH 'reporting'?
Billboard
Top ten grossing tours of 2004
1 - Madonna
2 - Prince
3 - Shania Twain
4 - Simon & Garfunkel
5 - Metallica
6 - Bette Midler
7 - Sting
8 - Kenny Chesney
9 - David Bowie
10 - Toby Keith
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=7080220
Rushgedlife
>On 28 Dec 2004 23:47:17 GMT, rushg...@aol.com2112st (Rushgedlife)
>wrote:
>
>>For those keeping score at home.
>>I believe that the September 13, 2004 Van Halen concert in Puerto Rico
>>($1,022,666 Gross) was not included in the Pollstar list.
>
>
>Really? Is this what you "believe" or are you going to post some kind
>of facts to back it up?
Van Halen
Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jos Miguel Agrelot
Hato Rey, P.R.
Sept. 13, 2004
$1,022,666 Gross
10,993 / 14,935
$125, $62.50
Jose Dueo Concerts/Jack Utsick Presents
Source: BILLBOARD
U2BonoLife
wrote:
That's great, but where is the proof this wasn't included in
Pollstar's numbers as you originally asserted? Funny how you choose
Billboard again to bolster Pollstar's numbers.
Rushgedlife
>>>On 28 Dec 2004 23:47:17 GMT, rushg...@aol.com2112st (Rushgedlife)
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>For those keeping score at home.
>>>>I believe that the September 13, 2004 Van Halen concert in Puerto Rico
>>>>($1,022,666 Gross) was not included in the Pollstar list.
>>>
>>>
>>>Really? Is this what you "believe" or are you going to post some kind
>>>of facts to back it up?
>>
>>Van Halen
>>Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jos Miguel Agrelot
>>Hato Rey, P.R.
>>Sept. 13, 2004
>>$1,022,666 Gross
>>10,993 / 14,935
>>$125, $62.50
>>Jose Dueo Concerts/Jack Utsick Presents
>>
>>Source: BILLBOARD
>
>
>
>That's great, but where is the proof this wasn't included in
>Pollstar's numbers as you originally asserted?
Relax. Don't hyperventilate. Breath into a paper bag.
I didn't say it *was* not included in the Pollstar list.
I said I *believe* it was not included (maybe it was).
Based on:
a) The Pollstar rankings listing 79 VH shows (I thought I recalled them playing
80 this tour, I could be wrong since I haven't gone back and counted them all).
b) Pollstar only includes North American dates.
U2BonoLife
wrote:
>"Rip Tide" wrote:
>
>>>>On 28 Dec 2004 23:47:17 GMT, rushg...@aol.com2112st (Rushgedlife)
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>For those keeping score at home.
>>>>>I believe that the September 13, 2004 Van Halen concert in Puerto Rico
>>>>>($1,022,666 Gross) was not included in the Pollstar list.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Really? Is this what you "believe" or are you going to post some kind
>>>>of facts to back it up?
>>>
>>>Van Halen
>>>Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jos Miguel Agrelot
>>>Hato Rey, P.R.
>>>Sept. 13, 2004
>>>$1,022,666 Gross
>>>10,993 / 14,935
>>>$125, $62.50
>>>Jose Dueo Concerts/Jack Utsick Presents
>>>
>>>Source: BILLBOARD
>>
>>
>>
>>That's great, but where is the proof this wasn't included in
>>Pollstar's numbers as you originally asserted?
>
>Relax. Don't hyperventilate. Breath into a paper bag.
>I didn't say it *was* not included in the Pollstar list.
>I said I *believe* it was not included (maybe it was).
>
No shit, sherlock. Why do you think I even went out of my to quote the
word "believe". Look at "my" quote.
Are you really this much of an idiot?
Relax, Rush, I only do this because I know your life revolves around
it. I will only be here a little while longer. My life doesn't revolve
around a washed up band on usenet and as soon as I decide I wasted
enough of my time here I'll be gone for another year.
Rushgedlife
>I will only be here a little while longer.
> I'll be gone for another year.
Yeah, I see that you and Mick are going to be busy next year.
ksta...@cox.net
lover.