Who Has The Top Tour?

According to Billboard Magazine:

Bon Jovi, U2, Lady Gaga, AC/DC Among Billboard Touring Awards Finalists

Bon Jovi, U2, AC/DC, Lady Gaga, Brad Paisley, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift are among the top artists, tours, venues, and live entertainment firms recognized as finalists for the 2010 Billboard Touring Awards, which will be handed out at a special reception in New York on Nov. 4. The awards are primarily based on global box office numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore from Oct. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010.

The finalists for the Top Tour and Top Draw awards, which acknowledge the top grossing and ticket selling tours, respectively, are the same three global treks: U2's ongoing 360 tour, AC/DC's Black Ice tour, and Bon Jovi's The Circle tour.

Rush, Jack Johnson to Recieve Honors at Billboard Touring Awards

The Top Package award, which goes to the top-grossing tour with three or more artists on the bill throughout its run, is designed to reward synergistic packaging and value offered to consumers. Finalists include Brad Paisley's H2O tour, with such artists as Darius Rucker, Justin Moore, Easton Corbin, Steel Magnolia and Josh Thompson the bill; Tim McGraw's Southern Voice tour, with Lady Antebellum, and Taylor Swift's 2010 tour with Kellie Pickler and Gloriana on board.

The Breakthrough Award goes to the top-grossing artist appearing for the first time among the highest grossing tours that is still in their first decade as a national headlining act. Three artists enjoyed remarkable touring breakthroughs this year: Lady GaGa, Justin Bieber, and Tiesto. Dane Cook, Robin Williams, and Chelsea Handler are finalists for the Top Comedy Tour.

The Top Boxscore award recognizes the highest-grossing single engagement for the time period. Two of the Boxscore finalists are from AC/DC: a three-night, sold-out stand at ANZ Stadium in Sydney and three more sellouts at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne; both were in February. The third finalist for Top Boxscore is the Download Festival Castle Donington in the U.K.

Global concert promoters Live Nation and AEG Live are joined by Sao Paulo promoter Time 4 Fun (T4F) as finalists for the Top Promoter award. T4F is also a finalist, with Chugg Entertainment, Australia, and MCD in the U.K., for the Top Independent Promoter, International, category. Five-time winner Jam Productions in Chicago, 2007 winner C3 Presents in Austin, and New Orleans-based Beaver Productions are finalists for Top Independent Promoter, U.S.

Other than the Boxscore-related awards, the Billboard Touring Awards also includes the Concert Marketing & Promotion Award, determined by a panel of judges, and the Eventful Fans' Choice Award, determined by online voting. Additionally, Rush will be named 2010 Legend Of Live, Jack Johnson will receive the Humanitarian Award, and Yo Gabba Gabba Live! will receive the Creative Content Award.



For the rest of the article and the complete list of finalists for the Billboard Touring Awards, click here.