Chicks Tix Going Quick Despite Bush Controversy

Billboard ^ | Ray Waddell

[Pharmboy]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Billboard) - Despite some backlash at radio and retail for negative comments about President Bush (news - web sites), the Dixie Chicks (news - web sites) are flying high in preparation for their upcoming arena tour, according to Rob Light, the act's agent.

"To be brutally honest, there has been no effect, other than the odd phone call to a building inquiring about a refund. There's a lot more noise than action," says Light, head of the music division at Creative Artists Agency.

"Actually, the buildings are getting more asking, if there are refunds, can they buy the tickets." Light says there are no refunds.

He says that of 59 shows, only six have seats left, and those are all 85%-90% sold out and expected to go clean.

The tour, sponsored by Lipton, kicks off May 1 at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, S.C., and concludes Aug. 4 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville. Joan Osborne (news) supports on the first leg; Michelle Branch (news) on the second. The tour is working with several promoters, cutting separate deals in each market.

The Chicks' March 1 national on-sale moved 867,000 tickets worth $49 million at the box office during one weekend.

The Dixie Chicks' album "Home" has tumbled down the charts in the weeks following singer Natalie Maines (news)' declaration in London that she was ashamed to come from the same state (Texas) as Bush.

[The Real Eddie01]

"To be brutally honest, there has been no effect, other than the odd phone call to a building inquiring about a refund. There's a lot more noise than action," says Light, head of the music division at Creative Artists Agency.

The Dixie Chicks' album "Home" has tumbled down the charts in the weeks following singer Natalie Maines (news)' declaration in London that she was ashamed to come from the same state (Texas) as Bush.

Which is it?

"Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

Eddie01

[cubreporter]

Good thinking. Why didn't I figure that out? Makes sense. Thanks. :)

[dwilli]

I doubt that folks that have bought tickets will boycott the concert just like I doubt that many of the folks that said they destroyed a $20.00 CD actually did a number on it.

I can say that the Dixie Chicks have never made a penny from me but neither has Pressley, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, etc.

[gridlock]

And look where the Chix Tix wound up!

Two Dixie Chicks Tickets For Memphis ($100 for both)

Only 14 minutes left on eBay. Looks like this scalper isn't even going to get face value.

So sad, too bad!

[ladywolf]

Hilarious!!

[Paradox]

Concerts are for hard-core fans and constitute a small portion of the recorded music buying numbers./i>

Bingo. These people pay very high prices for these tickets. They have to be hard-core in the first place. They would buy those tickets no matter what.

[boothead]

Well! Mama always said "You can't make chicken salad out of Dixie chicken s--t."

[chainsaw]

A little freepping at these concerts should make these un-american females twits a little uncomfortable. Their CD sales are down 52%. Each time I hear about their sales it gets lower.

[SpaceBar]

This Rob Light individual sounds like the Baghdad Bob of the entertainment world to me.

[joebuck]

AS I recall, the Band had sold out most of the tour as soon as tickets went on sale which was BEFORE Natalie stuck her foot in her mouth. Thus, it's not suprising that most of the shows are still mostly sold out.

[Cordova Belle]

From your mouth to God's ear.

I've told my daughters in no uncertain terms: No Chicks CD will ever again come into our house. Concert tickets? Don't even bother....

[detsaoT]

Yeah, leave it up to the band's AGENT to be a "brutally honest" spokesperson...

(Wonder if the SNL cronies will start subsidizing the Dixie Twits' music, after their performance this past weekend?)

:) ttt

[reg45]

Explaination for robust ticket sales - their few remaining fans figure that it might be the last chance to see the DC's perform before the DC's plummet into oblivion.

[Illbay]

Hate to say "I told you so, but..."

"Bread and Circuses" are still quite important to too many in our culture.

[Illbay]

Sorry, but you're wrong. If there was a real, long-lasting backlash against the Chicks, the ticket sales would drop to nothing. I'll bet if you check you'll see their CD sales are pretty much on track now.

[Illbay]

That's not it. It's just that people have short memories.

EXAMPLE: The "conventional wisdom" is that Jane Fonda's career went nowhere after Hanoi, but that's just not borne out by the facts. She won an Oscar in 1979 for "Coming Home," and was always in demand up until she decided to "retire" in the early 90s.

People just forget about it; they shrug and lay down their money anyway.

[onehipdad]

Remember, the majority of these tickets were sold well before Fatalie opened her Big Stupid Mouth of Hate.

Ditto that - my wife got fifth row tix 20 minutes after they went on sale, and that was weeks before the infamous comment.

I'm sure my wife is not the only die-hard chix fan who's tore up about all this...

[Revolting cat!]

Tomato sales are up in the same markets.

I heard on the news just the other day that supermarkets in the same areas have been unable to keep rotten eggs in stock either!

[Petruchio]

Tomato sales are up in the same markets.

So are eggs.

:-)

[AlGone2001]

I r-e-a-l-l-y wish country music fans would put their money where their mouth is ans STAY AWAY in droves. I'm disappointed in this report--and no cracks about Tom Daschle! :-)

No offense to any of the ladies at FR, but I'm sure that the vast majority of their fans are young girls who wouldn't know country if it slapped 'em in the face. Most of them are not what I'd call politically astute.

They are busy doing the girl thing.