US concert business slumps despite reunion tours

The top 20 tours generated $996 million, down 15.6 percent from the year before, according to preliminary data issued on Friday by Pollstar, which covers the concert business.
The previous low was $951.1 million in 2004, when Prince and Madonna topped the box office, Pollstar was quoted by Reuters sa saying.
The comeback tour by Anglo-American rock trio the Police was the top draw this year with ticket sales of $131.9 million, followed by country star Kenny Chesney with $71.1 million, and pop singer Justin Timberlake with $70.6 million.
The Police tour ranks fourth on Pollstar's all-time list, behind the 2005 treks of the Rolling Stones ($162 million) and Irish rock band U2 ($139 million), and the Stones' 2006 outing ($138.5 million). This year, the venerable British rockers limited themselves to a 12-week tour of Europe.