As much as I would not call myself a Kenny Chesney fan anymore it looks like he is still doing something right.  Kenny Chesney is the only country act in the Top 10 of Pollstar’s annual midyear report, ranking the most successful concert tours at the halfway point of every year.

Kenny landed at a very respectable number 7 on the list.  With Britney Spears taking number one, Fleetwood Mac (2), Celine Dion (3), Elton John/Billy Joel (4), the Eagles (5),  and Bruce Springsteen (6), Chesney and Dave Matthews (8).

Rascal Flatts took in number 18 and George Strait number 30 so far for this year.

Looks like the secret to the success for this year may be lower ticket prices.  Kenny says he does realize how tough things are right now for fans.

 ”I know this is a rough summer,” said Chesney. “I remember how it is when you want to, and you gotta figure out what you’re not gonna do. It’s why we’ve really tried to keep the prices reasonable… put on a good show… but especially to give people for those few hours a reason to just have a good time. I can’t solve the problems, but maybe I can get you to forget… to laugh… be free and remember how great it feels to be alive.”

“When you have to decide,” said Chesney, “I wanna know we’re giving the people the best show, that we’re a good way to spend your money. That we’re stacking up against such big tours – and music that is anything but what we do, well, that makes me proud for the genre, too.”

Rascal Flatts are very well known for their great stage show. The boys put on one hell of a show (one that I would never pass up) but I don’t have very much to say about their ticket prices. They seem to creep up just a little bit more each year and I worry that if something doesn’t change we may be paying upwards of $100 per ticket here in Nashville soon.   I would prefer that they stop lugging around 13 buses of their stage around (it costs almost $13,000 per show to move their stage) and strip down their performance in return for lower ticket prices. 

Would you rather pay higher ticket prices for a BIG stage, fireworks and show or lower ticket prices and make it all about the music?

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