[Dixielandjazz] Update on Dixie Chicks tour as of today

[G. William Oakley]

  Dixie Chicks tour struggling in several markets

By Ray Waddell/Wed Jun 7, 7:07 PM ET/

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.

The Memphis show has been pulled off the route and the status of the 
shows in Indianapolis, Houston and Oklahoma City remains uncertain. 
Industry speculation has it that much or all of the tour may be 
postponed. At the very least, it is likely routing and capacity will be 
reconfigured.

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.

Reuters/Billboard