Nashville, Aug 07: As they head into the final North American dates of their Top of the World tour, the Dixie Chicks are closing in on $60 million in gross revenues, likely enough to make them the top country touring act of the year. "The bottom line is, for all the so-called controversy ... the Dixie Chicks' fans remained totally loyal throughout the tour," manager Simon Renshaw told Billboard. (The Dixie Chicks provoked an outrage in March when singer Natalie Maines made a disparaging comment about President Bush.)
Renshaw said that after 56 shows, the Chicks have been averaging 15,878 in paid attendance, with an average gross of $980,337; this compares to an average of 12,687 and $524,211 for their first headlining tour in 2000.
The North America dates wrap Aug. 13 in Calgary. The Chicks begin a 10-day European run Sept. 6 in Stockholm, then play six Australian dates ending Oct. 5 in Sydney.
Bureau Report