U2, Journey, Kenny Chesney, Perry Farrell and Taylor Swift were among the winners at the 8th annual Billboard Touring Awards, held at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
Top touring industry award honorees included Live Nation (Top Promoter), C3 Presents (Top U.S. Indie Promoter), Front Line Management (Top Manager) and Coachella (Best Festival).
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The night’s big winners were U2, who wrapped up its two-year-long, record-book-shattering 360° Tour in July; and Journey, who took home the “Legend of Live” award honoring its 38 years of touring. U2 brought home the Top Tour Award and Top Draw Award, which acknowledged the band’s top grossing and ticket selling tours, respectively, for its 360° Tour.
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Jason Aldean received the Breakthrough Award, and the Concert Marketing & Promotion Award went to Taylor Swift and her Speak Now World Tour 2011, sponsored by Covergirl. Bon Jovi received the Eventful Fans’ Choice Award, which is determined by fan “demands” at Eventful.com.
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Red Light Management founder Coran Capshaw, who cut his teeth touring with the Grateful Dead, received the Humanitarian Award, and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell received the inaugural Apple Award, honoring the legacy of legendary concert promoter Bill Graham.
The Billboard Touring Awards are primarily based on global box office numbers reported to Billboard Boxscore from Oct. 1, 2010, through Sept. 30, 2011. This year’s reception culminated the two-day Billboard Touring Conference, presented by ShowClix. The conference set a record attendance and united today’s top touring professionals and an incredible roster of speakers, including a keynote case study with Farrell.
Festival and venue winners included Coachella, the Comcast Center in Mansfield Mass., London’s O2 Arena and the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C.
The Billboard Touring Awards, hosted by former MTV VJ Matt Pinfield, were created to celebrate and stress the importance of the too-often overlooked movers and shakers in the increasingly-important world of touring, promotion and performance.
THE 2011 BILLBOARD TOURING AWARD WINNERS:
TOP TOUR – U2, 360
TOP DRAW – U2
TOP PACKAGE – Kenny Chesney’s Goin’ Coastal Tour, with Zac Brown Band, Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington
BREAKTHROUGH – Jason Aldean
TOP COMEDY TOUR – Jeff Dunham
TOP BOXSCORE – Take That, Wembley Stadium, London. 6/30 – 7/9
TOP PROMOTER – Live Nation Entertainment
TOP INDEPENDENT PROMOTER (U.S.) – C3 Presents, Austin
TOP INDEPENDENT PROMOTER (International) – SJM Concerts, London
TOP MANAGER — Front Line Management Group
TOP AGENCY – William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
TOP FESTIVAL – Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Indio, Calif.
TOP AMPHITHEATER – Comcast Center, Mansfield, Mass.
TOP ARENA – O2 Arena, London
TOP VENUE UNDER 10,000 SEATS – Radio City Music Hall, New York
TOP VENUE UNDER 5,000 SEATS – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas
TOP CLUB (based on attendance) – 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C.
CONCERT MARKETING & PROMOTION AWARD – Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour 2011 sponsored by Covergirl
APPLE AWARD – Perry Farrell
HUMANITARIAN AWARD – Coran Capshaw
LEGEND OF LIVE – Journey
EVENTFUL FANS’ CHOICE AWARD – Bon Jovi