VANITY: CHICKS TICKET SALES BELOW EXPECTATIONSHAVING TO CANCEL DATES

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.

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting

I'm through with doubt
There's nothing left for me to figure out
I've paid a price and I'll keep paying

(CHORUS):
I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell and I don't have time
To go 'round and 'round and 'round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

I know you said
Why can't you just get over it
It turned my whole world around
And I kind of like it

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don't mind saying
It's a sad, sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
That she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world
Can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Saying that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

The words to their "song" >>It's a sad, sad story
That a mother will teach her daughter
That she ought to hate a perfect stranger <<

It makes me wonder, why they would whine about someone teaching their daughter (or son)to hate what they did.. yet what they did was the very same thing! They attempted to encourage an entire nation to disrespect,hate and express negativeism toward our president and our need to protect our home (The United States of America)!!! In reality (although I do not promote "hate") I feel it is the parents place to teach thier children the values they would like them to carry into adulthood. And when the Dixie Chicks or any other public figure, particularly an entertainer, attempt to persuade my child to think like them, I become outraged!!!! And for good reason... why in the world would anyone consider those 3 "chicks" as role models for themselves or their children!? We pay for entertainment from these people, not social, political,personal (etc) behaviour modification!
Missing my homeland.. THE GREAT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and ashamed that the chicks are being received here in Canada... grrrrrr

They are frauds. They have done nothing but promote hatred towards someone or something since they realised they could get exposure out of it.

Natalie and her minions ran around the country on their last tour in punk costumes with anarchy symbols (a synonym of "terrorism", btw)on their clothes and other displays on stage, while Natalie wore a large necklace around her neck that spelled BUSH.

They also flashed images pro-abortion rallys on jumbotrons to their mostly teenage female audience in an attempt to glorify and encourage such.

They only love these woman have is of money and fame and they will say and do anything to achieve it. Including releasing an album that is just short of hate speech. Read some of the lyrics to the other 4 or 5 songs on the album that address the "incident" and you will see what I mean.

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