Prince leads concert cash league
URL:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...124421.stm

Prince's tour of North America has made him the continent's most lucrative live performer of the year.
His 69 city, 96 show tour took $87.4m (£45.5m) during 2004, beating Celine Dion's Las Vegas residency, which came in second, taking $80.4m (£41.8m).

The figures were published by trade paper Pollstar, which named Madonna as the third most lucrative performer.

Editor Gary Bongiovanni said: "It is by far the biggest tour Prince has done. It's a kind of a renaissance for him."

Madonna's tour took $79.5m (£41.3m), while Metallica were ranked fourth in the magazine's table, taking $60.5m (£31.4m).

Bette Midler was fifth, taking $59.4m (£30.9m) from her shows.

Rockers Van Halen, country singers Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith, Elton John and Sting completed the top ten.

Country performers had a particularly good year, with Tim McGraw, Shania Twain and Alan Jackson's tour with Martina McBride in the top 25.

Of younger acts, Usher grossed £29.1m (£15.1m) while Kid Rock took $23.7m (£12.3m), putting them at 18th and 24th in Pollstar's chart.

"I don't know if today's kids look at the music in the same way ageing baby boomers do," said Mr Bongiovanni.

"We don't seem to be developing the long-term headliners."

Of the top 100 performers, the average ticket came in at $52 (£27) - with Elton John's tickets the most expensive, at $158 ($82) each.

TOP US/CANADA TOURS
1) Prince $87.4m (£45.5m)
2) Celine Dion $80.4m (£41.8m)
3) Madonna $79.5m (£41.3m)
4) Metallica $60.5m (£31.4m)
5) Bette Midler $59.4m (£30.9m)
6) Van Halen $54.3m (£28.2m)
7) Kenny Chesney $50.8m (£26.4m)
8) Sting $50.1m (£26m)
9) Toby Keith $43.7m (£22.7m)
10) Elton John $43.3m (£22.5m)
Source: Pollstar

my first impression is that money reflects talent,

then second how obsessive the money is for everyone for what they do (or relative to what they have done). supply and demand. people will pay for what they want.

i always thought that the musicology tour should have been called the 'raking in tour' anyway because of the hits agenda, but nostalgia has its appeal as well.

i dont think that the next decades tour could pull in the same nostalgic crowd as this one has done. instead of giving cds he could give pillows.