Posted on 06/07/2006 10:32:12 AM PDT by beansox
June 07, 2006, 10:30 AM ET Chicks' Ticket Sales Below Expectations
By Ray Waddell, Nashville
DIXIE CHICKS
Out-of-the-gate ticket sales for the Dixie Chicks' upcoming Accidents & Accusations tour are far below expectations and at least three dates may have been cancelled.
Initial ticket counts for the 20-plus arena shows that went on sale last weekend were averaging 5,000-6,000 sold per show in major markets and less in secondaries, according to sources contacted by Billboard.biz. Venue capacities on the tour generally top 15,000.
In contrast, the band’s new album, “Taking the Long Way,” sold 526,000 units its first week, according to Nielsen Soundscan, down from their last album debut week for “Home” in 2002 (780,000 units), but still the third largest sales week of 2006 (Billboard.biz, May 31).
Despite the strong album sales early ticket sales are clearly not meeting projections. The plug was pulled on public on-sales for shows in Memphis (Sept. 27), Houston (Sept. 30) and Oklahoma City show (Sept. 26) because of tepid pre-sales in a national promotion with Target stores. The Memphis show has been pulled off the route and the status of the shows in Houston and Oklahoma City remain uncertain.
Early ticket sales for this tour are in marked contrast to the Chicks’ last proper tour in 2003 when a national on-sale moved some 867,000 tickets the first weekend, and second shows were added in several markets (Billboard, April 21, 2003). The Chicks ended up as 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 and GM at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, where the trio is booked for July 25. A second date was added for the Air Canada Centre 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 U.S. tour is set to begin July 21 in Detroit and is promoted by AEG Live, with the exception of Minneapolis and Chicago, promoted by Jam Productions (which reports sales as “good” for both shows), and Sacramento and Oakland in California, which will be promoted by Another Planet Entertainment.
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.
>>>>>it is possible the route and capacities may be further reconfigured.
They will go from playing the boathouse to playing the outhouse.
Red states aren't buying.
All of their "new fans" bought the new CD and evidently, had more than enough.
wait... I thought their album was selling like hot cakes???? This doesn't compute at all...
Their Career's had to die
Na na na-na-na-na nah nah
Bye-bye, career
Great, they can play the Howard Johnsons with Spinal Tap...
GRRRR!
Buh, bye, Chubby Chicker and the Twisted Sisters!
Let's see...New York City, San Francisco, Austin, Minneapolis, Ithica, Oakland, Boston...
LOL!
I thought their album was selling like hot cakes???? This doesn't compute at all...
Liberals who never bought a country album in their life might pluck down $15 bucks to vent their anger at Bush, but they are not parting with $65 bucks and listening to some horrid hillbilly warbling for two hours.
A thumb in the eye is not what the country-music fan wanted at this moment.
I have never understood the stupidity of entertainers. Once they gain an audience they then go about dividing it with political nonsense. I know has been entertainers do this just to get some publicity, but entertainers who have found an audience and are just starting to capitalize on it to go out of their way to piss off half or more of their paying patrons is really stupid. Did no one ever tell these types when invited to someones home don't talk about politics, religion, or race. Try complimenting your hosts, ask where they or from, what school did they go to, what their kids are doing and finally what sport/hobbies float their boat. You don't have to say much with these questions just listen. Its amazing how much info a person will give you if you make your conversation about them. They will love you for it.
Hopefully the RHCP will step into that OKC date. Make a good situation even better.
I thought they like a smaller fan base that "got it"!! Har har ditsy chicks.
Rule #1- Don't bite the hand that feeds you!!
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