Their CD sales prove that. I can honestly say that tracks 1,2,3,5,6,14 are some of my favorite songs that I have heard produced in the last year or so. They a fabulous musicians and I typically can't stand to listen to country music (except Neil Young, he's about the only country artist that I care for).

The problem with the dixie chicks tour is simple. The cost of tickets is too high. I won't pay $75 plus fees to see them. I would really love to see them too. But clearly clear channel and Ticketmaster have destroyed the concert going experience in the USA. I am surprised anyone in the country is so damned music crazy that they would spend $200 (two tickets plus extras) for a 2 hour experience with nothing but memories and maybe a tee shirt to show for it.

Give me a $30 ticket price and I'd have been first in line for my dixie chick tickets

The truth, as they say, probably lies somewhere in between our arguments.

But then you are a Bush man right? Yur either for us or against us...

Oh, the hell with it.

Your argument is not really valid. Its like saying that if the average of the top 10 batters in the major leauges come out to .345, it is proof that major leauge hitters are having a great year in general. The Stones and Paul McCartney sell out quickly, but that is not the rule.

The chicks have not toured for what, four years? Long time in the music industry. Hootie and the Blowfish went from unknown to mega-act to washed up in that time.

And I disagree with you about county music fans being anti free speech. Most of the county fans I know are pretty cool people.

Something tells me you allready have the "something limp" angle covered.

As for "inane questions" they are meaningful to anyone who understands business. But I will let you get back to flipping burgers.

A lot of tours have struggled the last few year, among them Eric Clapton & Sheryl Crow. Britney Spears had such poor sales she faked an injury to cancle her entire tour without having to admit she could not sell many tickets.

Kenny Chesney is coming to Seattle this month and is playing Qwest Field which is a 60,000+ stadium where the Seattle Seahawks play. He hasn't had trouble selling tickets. Of course he also hasn't told his fan base he's too good for them either.

I've got a nice American cheese, or would you like something limper for your wine?

Thats your comeback? LOL, I accept your concession...

BTW Fersboo, my pointing out that you don't know what you are talking about does not constitute "whining", but I accept that your turning to insults amounts to conceeding such...

Since you are now an expert on the music industry, share with us what type of venues are you discussing? Stadiums? Arenas?
Suburban Ampitheaters? Theaters?

What percentage of the venues in question are owned by clear channel?

Is 73% considered a strong number by historic standards? What was the percentage at this time last year? Over a five year period?

How is sales performance in the sub top 10 group? I would suspect the chicks fall somewhere in the other 90% How are they performing in comparison to lateral acts?

9 of the top 10

Anjin wrote:

News flash, 32 million is not a lot of money in the entertaiment industry.

Someone's reading skills need improvement! The $32 Million were for 23 shows that were grouped into 9 concerts over a two week period.

consistently having trouble selling out

Of the 23 shows in that group of 9 out of the Top 10, 17(or 73.9%) were sold out.

Source:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/boxscore.jsp

News flash, 32 million is not a lot of money in the entertaiment industry.

If a summer movie takes in only 32 mil its opening weekend it is considered a borderline flop.

In the current marketplace, major acts are consistently having trouble selling out or even doing reasonably well in suburban ampitheaters.

Come back when you are better informed...

Per Billboard, 9 of the top 10 concerts in North America during the period between May 19, 2006 and June 3, 2006 took place in the US. Those 9 concerts were actually 23 shows (Billboard groups together all shows within a given venue as a concert) and those 23 shows grossed $ 32,733,000.

YES $32,733,000!

Those poor Dixie Chicks can't sell concert tickets in that kind of a market.