NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Billboard PR) - Billboard yesterday hosted the 5th annual Billboard Touring Awards at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. The awards honor the industry's top artists, venues and professionals for the year, based on the Billboard Boxscore chart and on actual box office performance from Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008.
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band's Magic Tour was the big winner at the reception taking home awards for Top Tour and Top Draw that recognize the top-grossing tour and the top ticket-selling tour, respectively. Jon Landau Management, for Springsteen, was named Top Manager.
Other awards went to The Kenny Chesney Poets & Pirates Tour, which was honored as the Top Package for the fourth straight year, and Miley Cyrus who was named Breakthrough Artist for her Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour. The Spice Girls' 17-night sold-out run at the O2 in London received the Top Boxscore Award, and Katt Williams got the nod as 2008's Top Comedy Tour.
The Humanitarian, Legend of Live, Road Warrior, Concert Marketing & Promotion, Creative Content and Eventful Fans' Choice awards are the only honors not determined by Billboard Boxscore. The Allman Brothers Band was honored with the 2008 Legend of Live Award, Widespread Panic received the inaugural Road Warrior Award, and Jon Bon Jovi/ The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation was presented with the Humanitarian Award. Billboard's second annual Concert Marketing & Promotion Award, which was determined through more than 100,000 online votes at Billboard.com and Billboard.biz, went to the Burger King-sponsored Jonas Brothers' 2008 Burning Up Tour. The Creative Content Award was given to Walking with Dinosaurs - the Live Experience, and The Kenny Chesney Poets & Pirates Tour was the first-ever recipient of the Eventful Fans' Choice Award.
'On behalf of our entire staff, congratulations to this year's Billboard Touring Awards winners. It is your drive and commitment to excellence that has made touring one of the most profitable and enjoyable components of the entertainment industry,' said Ray Waddell, Billboard Executive Director of Content and Programming for Touring and Live Entertainment. 'Live entertainment continues to flourish and we are honored to host this exciting event each year that highlights the contributions of these great artists, venues and professionals.'
The Billboard Touring Awards were the finale of the 2008 Billboard Touring Conference, held on November 19 and 20 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. This year's event featured an incredible roster of speakers including a Q&A with Gene Simmons, co-founder of the legendary band KISS and the star of A&E's hit TV show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels."
Following is a complete list of this year's winners:
TOP TOUR
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Magic Tour
TOP DRAW
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, Magic Tour
EVENTFUL FANS' CHOICE
Kenny Chesney, Poets & Pirates Tour
TOP PACKAGE
Kenny Chesney, Poets & Pirates Tour
BREAKTHROUGH
Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour
TOP BOXSCORE
Spice Girls, O2 Arena, London, December 15 - January 22 (17 Shows)
TOP COMEDY TOUR
Katt Williams
TOP ARENA
Madison Square Garden, New York City
TOP AMPHITHEATER
Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA
TOP CLUB
House of Blues, Dallas
TOP AGENCY
Creative Artists Agency
TOP MANAGER
Jon Landau Management
TOP FESTIVAL
Bonnaroo, Manchester, TN
TOP PROMOTER
Live Nation
TOP INDEPENDENT PROMOTER
U.S. - Jam Productions
International - 3A Entertainment
TOP VENUE UNDER 10,000 SEATS
Radio City Music Hall
TOP VENUE UNDER 5,000 SEATS
The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
CONCERT MARKETING & PROMOTION
Jonas Brothers/Burger King, Burning Up Tour
CREATIVE CONTENT
Walking with Dinosaurs - the Live Experience Tour
HUMANITARIAN
Jon Bon Jovi/Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation
ROAD WARRIOR
Widespread Panic
LEGEND OF LIVE
The Allman Brothers Band
For more information about the 5th annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards please visit www.billboardevents.com.
