Bon Jovi, U2, AC/DC, Lady GaGa, Brad Paisley, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift are among the top finalists for the 2010 Billboard Touring Awards, which will be handed out in New York on Nov. 4. The awards – which honor artists, tours, venues, and live entertainment firms – are primarily based on global box office numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore from Oct. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010.
The finalists for the Top Tour and Top Draw awards, which acknowledge the top grossing and ticket selling tours, respectively, are the same three global treks: U2’s ongoing 360 tour, AC/DC’s Black Ice tour, and Bon Jovi’s The Circle tour.
The Top Package award, which goes to the top-grossing tour with three or more artists on the bill throughout its run, is designed to reward synergistic packaging and value offered to consumers. Finalists include Brad Paisley’s H2O tour, with such artists as Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, Easton Corbin, Steel Magnolia and Josh Thompson on the bill; Tim McGraw’s Southern Voice tour, with Lady Antebellum; and Taylor Swift’s 2010 tour with Kellie Pickler and Gloriana onboard.
The Breakthrough Award goes to the top-grossing artist appearing for the first time among the highest grossing tours that is still in their first decade as a national headlining act. Three artists enjoyed remarkable touring breakthroughs this year: Lady GaGa, Justin Bieber, and Tiesto. Dane Cook, Robin Williams, and Chelsea Handler are finalists for the Top Comedy Tour.
The Top Boxscore award recognizes the highest-grossing single engagement for the time period. Two of the Boxscore finalists are from AC/DC: A three-night, sold-out stand at ANZ Stadium in Sydney and three more sellouts at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne; both were in February. The third finalist for Top Boxscore is the Download Festival Castle Donington in the U.K.
Global concert promoters Live Nation and AEG Live are joined by Sao Paulo promoter Time 4 Fun (T4F) as finalists for the Top Promoter award. T4F is also a finalist, with Chugg Entertainment, Australia, and MCD in the U.K., for the Top Independent Promoter, International, category.
Five-time winner Jam Productions in Chicago, 2007 winner C3 Presents in Austin, and New Orleans-based Beaver Productions are finalists for Top Independent Promoter, U.S.
Other than the Boxscore-related awards, the Billboard Touring Awards also includes the Concert Marketing & Promotion Award, determined by a panel of judges, and the Eventful Fans’ Choice Award, determined by online voting. Additionally, Rush will be named 2010 Legend Of Live, Jack Johnson will receive the Humanitarian Award, and Yo Gabba Gabba Live! will receive the Creative Content Award.
For more information, including registration details, visit billboardevents.com.
Here is the complete list of finalists for the 2010 Billboard Touring Awards:
TOP TOUR
AC/DC Black Ice
Bon Jovi The Circle
U2 360
TOP DRAW
AC/DC
Bon Jovi
U2
TOP PACKAGE
Brad Paisley with Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, Easton Corbin, Steel Magnolia and Josh Thompson
Taylor Swift with Kellie Pickler and Gloriana
Tim McGraw with Lady Antebellum, Love and Theft and Lost Trailers
BREAKTHROUGH
Lady Gaga
Tiesto
Justin Bieber
TOP COMEDY TOUR
Chelsea Handler
Dane Cook
Robin Williams
TOP BOXSCORE
AC/DC
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Feb. 18, 20, 22
AC/DC
Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Feb. 11, 13, 15
Download Festival
Donington Park, Castle Donington, U.K.
June 11-13
TOP FESTIVAL
Coachella
Empire Polo Field, Indio, Calif.
April 16-18
Download Festival
Donington Park, Castle Donington, U.K.
June 11-13
Oxegen
Punchestown Racecourse, Naas, Ireland
July 9-11
TOP ARENA
Acer Arena, Sydney
Madison Square Garden, NYC
O2 Arena, London
TOP VENUE – UNDER 10,000 SEATS
Auditorio Nacional, Mexico City
Radio City Music Hall, NYC
The Theater at Madison Square Garden, NYC
TOP VENUE – UNDER 5,000 SEATS
Broward Center, Ft. Lauderdale
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
Fox Theatre, Atlanta
TOP CLUB (Based on attendance)
9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
House of Blues, Boston
The Joint, Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas
TOP AMPHITHEATER
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Md.
Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden, N.J.
TOP PROMOTER
AEG Live
Live Nation Entertainment
T4F-Time For Fun
TOP INDEPENDENT PROMOTER (U.S.)
Beaver Productions
C3 Presents, Austin, Texas
Jam Productons
TOP INDEPENDENT PROMOTER (International)
Chugg Entertainment, Australia
MCD, U.K.
T4F, Sao Paulo, Brazil
TOP AGENCY
Creative Artists Agency
Paradigm Artists
William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
TOP MANAGER
Front Line Management
Principle Management
Red Light Management
CREATIVE CONTENT AWARD
Yo Gabba Gabba Live!
CONCERT MARKETING & PROMOTION AWARD
Bonnaroo/Ford
Dave Matthews Band/Brita Filterforgood
Drake/AT&T-Blackberry
Justin Bieber/Xbox
Lady Gaga/Virgin Mobile
Tiesto/Sandisk
Zac Brown/Ram Trucks “Letters For Lyrics”
HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Jack Johnson
EVENTFUL FAN’S CHOICE
TBD
LEGEND OF LIVE
Rush
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