Live Nation's Summer Tour Season Heats Up

LOS ANGELES, CA (Live Nation) - Barely a month into spring and Live Nation's slate of summer tours are already shaping up to be the most diverse in recent memory. With tours as varied as Madonna, Nine Inch Nails, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Rascal Flatts, Def Leppard/Journey, Brad Paisley, Brooks and Dunn, CSNY, Shakira, Ozzfest, Family Values and Fiona Apple/Damien Rice, hitting U.S. cities this summer, music fans around the country will be able to find something to quench their musical thirst.

Led by Madonna and annual touring superstars Dave Matthews Band and Jimmy Buffet along with country music star Toby Keith and Rascal Flatts' summer tour in support of their hugely successful "Me And My Gang" album, other ticket movers include Kelly Clarkson's "Addicted" tour, which is her fastest selling ever, Shakira's "Oral Fixation" tour, which went on sale this past weekend, and Def Leppard and Journey's mega-trek across America. Other successful tour packages include Chicago/Huey Lewis and Poison/Cinderella adding to the number of acts visiting amphitheatres this summer.

According to "Pollstar" magazine, the 2005 concert season is looking much healthier than last year's chalking it up to the industry's "paying greater attention to pricing and producing a more customer-friendly product."

"We have such a diverse array of artists going out this summer - there is something great for everyone," said COO, Amphitheatre Programming Jason Garner. "I can't remember a summer concert season with such a wide-ranging group of artists hitting the road, and we still have quite a few big tours yet to announce."

Major festivals like Ozzfest and the return of hard rock's beloved Family Values Tour led by tour founders KORN are adding to the anticipation of what promises to be one of most exciting musical summers in recent memory.