Dixie Chicks Tour Struggling in Some Markets

http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/articles/_a/dixie-chicks-tour-struggling-in-some/20060608070509990001

By Ray Waddell
Reuters

NASHVILLE (June 8) - Initial ticket sales for the Dixie Chicks ' upcoming tour are far below expectations and several dates will likely be canceled or postoned.

Ticket counts for the 20-plus arena shows that went on sale last weekend were averaging 5,000-6,000 per show in major markets and less in secondaries, according to sources contacted by Billboard. Venue capacities on the tour generally top 15,000.

In contrast, the band's new album, "Taking the Long Way," sold 526,000 units in its first week, according to Nielsen Soundscan, the third-largest sales week of 2006. The album logged a second week in the period ended June 4, according to sales data issued Wednesday.

Despite those numbers, early ticket sales are clearly not meeting projections. The plug was pulled on public on-sales for shows in Indianapolis (August 23), Oklahoma City (September 26), Memphis (September 27) and Houston (September 30) because of tepid pre-sales in a national promotion with Target stores.

But with gas prices and ticket prices the way they are, I'm not sure.

since gas is so high.

Early ticket sales for this tour are in marked contrast to the Chicks' last proper outing in 2003 when a national on-sale moved some 867,000 tickets the first weekend, and second shows were added in several markets. The Chicks ended up with the top-grossing country tour of 2003 at $62 million.

But not all shows on this tour are below projections. "We're happy (with our on-sale) and comparatively seem to be ahead of most," says John Page, Global Spectrum COO/GM at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, where the trio is booked for July 25. A second date was added for the Air Canada Center in Toronto, where the first show sold out in eight minutes. "Canada loves the Chicks," says ACC booking director Patti-Ann Tarlton.

After two shows in London, the North American tour was set to begin July 21 in Detroit. But with ticket sales below expectations, it is possible the route and capacities may be further reconfigured. The Chicks are managed by Simon Renshaw and booked by Rob Light at Creative Artists Agency, both of whom declined to comment.

because they will not promote them.. With Clear Channel owning most of the radio stations around the country, I don't see much of a change no matter where they go.. CC had decided that the DCs will "pay", and have elevated it to a very high level..
There's very little the DC can do about it. We all know how vindictive right wingers are and how siingleminded they can be.

By buying the Chicks' latest CD or downloading it from iTunes.

I have heard our local station play DC in the past year or so.

Bought two tickets for the Detroit show for my wife's birthday. :)

I wouldn't put too much stock in this report. Concerts generally exist to boost record sales. As the Chicks are already doing well there, I don't think there's a problem here.

But yeah, with clear channel and others boycotting them, some venues will see decreased sales. Only stands to reason.

the second week. Their new album will have well over a million sales in a month...and will keep on rolling and will be Multi-Platinum before the summer is over!

People might not be going to concerts because they need the money for gasoline.

I am skipping several concerts this year because of the HUGE ticket prices, and the increasing cost of everything else. However, when the come to Atlanta, I will be at this one in support of them.

Hard rock fans are notorious for that--they get their cash on payday and buy tickets at the door.

:headbang:
rocknation

There is only so much money to go around and concert tix are getting more and more expensive.

that's what they are in Jacksonville, FL. If any show gets cancelled it will be this one. Really red around here. In more ways than one.

Although the show may have been "cancelled" or is still "pending"--depending on sources.
www.stubhub.com/dixie-chicks-tickets/?event_id=309947

I wish the Chicks well & will keep buying their CD's, but I'll skip this show. Support your local bands!

Smaller groups have definitely been hurt by higher gas prices. You know, the guys who tour the region in a van. Their margins are pretty slim at the best of times; they don't get much per show, but do win fans & sell their recordings.

oh, right, five dollars through Nutmax...

http://newsmax.com/adv/godless/?s=so

:grr:

Good point I hadn't thought about the traveling musician set.

Yeah ticket prices are insane. I once cashed a Winn-Dixie paycheck and bought 10 U2 tickets. Ratte n hum tour.

We can't afford tickets to shows, groceries and gas have to come first. If I have the choice to go out to dinner or go to a performance, these days the dinner comes first. Guess I will have to support my favorite musicians by buying CDs. At least I can get to hear the songs more than once that way.

It's always a major gamble when you book a tour of arenas. Had they played it safer and stuck to 3-5,000 seat venues this wouldn't be a story.

Of course the right-wingers will be partyin' up a storm over this shred of "good" news.

for two nights. Neither night was sold out, but tickets STARTED at $100.00 a pop (for lip syncing to filtered bad vocals and cheer leader moves????). Personally, I think it's the economy. People can afford a $15.00 CD but find it difficult to justify $100.00 a pop for concert tickets.

Marah Carey's tour not doing well also and she hasn't (to my knowledge) said jack about Bush or Iraq ... buying a $14.00 CD is one thing, but $75.00 concert tickets is another

if the new sure-fire way to boost record sales was to bash Bush?

more so if Truth is ABOUT said Authority.

people just don't have any freaking money. going back up to 290 a gal in upstate NY today.

Here by the refineries we are at $2.95. I hope all the shrubophiles here who voted for him just luuuuuuuuuvvv the way he has managed the oil bidness.

I can't afford them very often. Parking can cost up to $20 above the ticket price, and the concessions are also ridiculously high.

Columbus Ohio @ $27.00
the cheapest for an arena in my area are $47.50
i've only ever seen one show in an arena,and i hated (the venue,not the band) it.

They're rich enough and it feels good, like Clooney said, to piss off your adversary. If it doesn't, then don't.

and see what happens??

The press is very anxious to see this happen it would seem. Here's a link to the "red state" article

<http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/09/dixie.chicks.reut/index.html>

I'll probably end up paying a fortune for tickets but SO wants to go.

To our Fans:
Any reports being made about the cancellation of our upcoming Accidents And Accusations tour are completely false.

We have known since March 2003 that our path in this business would have obstacles at every pass. We have enjoyed meeting each one head-on and we will continue to do so. Dixie Chicks fans are as active and dedicated as they come. This time around we are willingly feeling our way through unchartered territory. Things don't come as easy as they might have come in the past, and it makes each accomplishment more exciting and appreciated.

http://www.dixiechicks.com/06_pressDetail.asp?newsID=610