Who is the No. 1 Concert Draw in 2009?

Pollstar, the concert industry publication, has announced the Top 100 grossing tours at the halfway point of the year

Given the shaky economy, and the continuing trend towards consumer belt tightening, there has been a great deal of concern about how big ticket acts like Britney Spears, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John and Billy Joel would fare this year, especially with top ticket prices running in excess of $200.00 per ticket and even higher in the secondary scalper market.

Could established mainstream acts continue to put bums in the seats given their inflated tickets prices? Would a fresh crop of less pricey pop, rock and rap acts supplant them? Would any acts sell? Or would the bottom fall out of the concert industry altogether?

According to Pollstar's July publication, promoters can stop biting their nails. Apparently diehard fans are still willing to pay big bucks to see their favorite artists strut their stuff in venues across North American and the world.

But which acts did the fans flock to in droves? Who delivered bang for the buck in the minds of the ticket buyers? Was it the current flock of chart toppers like Cold Play and Black Eyed Peas, or teen idols like the Jonas Brothers or Lady Gaga, or older, more established acts like Billy Joel, Elton John, Britney, Fleetwood Mac and AC/DC.

Well, the verdict has arrived. It appears fans are mostly shelling out for tried and true acts.

Britney Spears' Circus tour placed number 1 in North America with just over 61 million dollars. Australian rockers AC/DC's Black Ice tour ranked number one worldwide with 150.6 million dollars. Artists to make both the North American and worldwide lists include Spears, Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac. All ticket sales figures are calculated in US dollars and are based on reported information and extensive research by Pollstar.

Pollstar's Top North American Tours:

1. Britney Spears - $61.1 million
2. Fleetwood Mac - $54.8 million
3. Elton John & Billy Joel - $52.1 million
4. The Eagles - $42.8 million
5. Celine Dion - $42.6 million

Pollstar's Top World Tours:

1. AC/DC - $150.6 million

2. Tina Turner - $83.5 million,

3. Britney Spears - $74.6 million

4. Bruce Springsteen - $60.7 million

5. The Eagles - $60.2 million

It would seem that though fans are stilling willing to shell out for high price tickets, they are using a certain amount of caution and leaning towards the tried and true acts.

Good news for the established mainstream acts, but it could mean tough times ahead for young up and comers.

Rob Rheubottom