Dixie Chick's can't sell tickets...

[URY914]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2006-06-08-dixie-chicks-tour_x.htm

Reuters reports that the country music trio Dixie Chicks is having trouble filling seats at concerts as it continues to take heat for criticism of President Bush.

While early ticket purchases for their first major tour in three years are generally robust in Northeastern cities, initial sales have fallen short of expectations in numerous markets, especially in the Midwest and South, forcing some dates to be scrubbed.
Who would have thought that the biggest country music fans would be in Boston and New York?
By contrast, the group's latest album, "Taking the Long Way," opened atop the U.S. pop charts last week, selling 526,000 copies during its first seven days and remaining No. 1 in its second week to notch one of the year's strongest debuts.

But with many country music stations denying the Chicks airplay, box office business is off to a slow start in places where the group has sold out in the past, said Gary Bongiovanni, editor of concert industry magazine Pollstar.


The problem is red states.

"Basically, they're having to rethink the entire tour at this point," Bongiovanni told Reuters. "Clearly their problems seem to be strongest in the red states," he said, referring to those areas carried by Bush in the 2004 presidential election.

A key factor in tepid sales was the continuing backlash against the Dixie Chicks by many country music stations over the anti-Bush remarks of lead singer Natalie Maines in 2003.

Publicists for the band declined to comment, as did officials for AEG, one of the companies promoting the tour.



Lets see, you pissoff your fan base and they don't buy your tickets. Simple.

[Flatbutt1]

and their new,unapologetic album didn't help any. hey ,freedom of speech in all its forms can be a beotch.

[Joeaksa]

Hope they are happy now. I vote with my pocketbook as well as with the ballot. Maybe they need to stick to concerts in the NE and LaLa land...

[vash]

it is only a few venues that are vacant. they have a top selling album, and most places are selling great. i like the new album. not bad for country. dont worry, i wont buy one, i will burn a copy. that will show them. having an opinion doesnt make you unpatriotic. not having one does.

[techweenie]

IIRC their new album is the #1 seller in the country at the moment.

That'll teach them.

[DaveE]

So the country music STATIONS are upset but record sales are strong. Interesting. It sounds more like small business owners (or maybe large, like Clearchannel for instance) are the boycotters, not record buyers.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by DaveE
So the country music STATIONS are upset but record sales are strong. Interesting. It sounds more like small business owners (or maybe large, like Clearchannel for instance) are the boycotters, not record buyers.

Hmmm, isn't that reverse Payola of sorts, and in violation of federal restraint of trade laws?

Makes one curious.

[techweenie]

Originally posted by fastpat
Hmmm, isn't that reverse Payola of sorts, and in violation of federal restraint of trade laws?

Makes one curious.

It's a common problem with crossover acts from country. The pop stations don't know them and the country stations get calls from the angry 2% of listeners who say they'll blow up the station.

In the stores, none of those factors matter.

For the most part, music acts break even on the tours but do well on CD sales.

[nostatic]

Originally posted by techweenie

For the most part, music acts break even on the tours but do well on CD sales.

it used to be that way, but not any more. Tours are the cash cows, especially due to the associated marketing.

[Tobra]

You alienate your core market, you lose business

[URY914]

When are they going to change the word "DIXIE" in thier name?

I am sure it is being discussed....

[rcecale]

Originally posted by nostatic
it used to be that way, but not any more. Tours are the cash cows, especially due to the associated marketing.

That's what I was thinking. $30 - $50 for a concert shirt, posters, hats, all the concessions that I'd bet they would get a % of...these are the real money makers.

As far as them exercising their freedom of speech, I support that 100% They have the right to say whatever they want. As stated previously, however, when you open your mouth, you have to be prepared for the rebuttal.

Randy

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by nostatic
it used to be that way, but not any more. Tours are the cash cows, especially due to the associated marketing.

Bingo! When I was flying rock and rollers they would bring along bags of cash from the sales of all the crap at each venue.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by rcecale
That's what I was thinking. $30 - $50 for a concert shirt, posters, hats, all the concessions that I'd bet they would get a % of...these are the real money makers.

As far as them exercising their freedom of speech, I support that 100% They have the right to say whatever they want. As stated previously, however, when you open your mouth, you have to be prepared for the rebuttal.

Randy

I concur with letting the market settle the issue, without government involvement, as long as that's really what is occuring, and not a concerted effort for "licensure" of stations becoming a part of the equation.

[strupgolf]

[Moses]

The Dixie Chicks don't really need to sell any more music. They are set. They can become full time activists, retire, write their memoirs...whatever.