Economy hasn't affected concert ticket sales, yet

While much of the record business is singing a sad song, musicians and fans apparently can't wait to get on the road, according to a midyear look at the concert business just released by Pollstar magazine.

Pollstar reports that the gross from the top 100 tours during the first six months of 2008 was $1.05 billion, identical for the same period last year.

"The concert industry did far better in the first half of 2008 than it should have," Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni noted. "Despite the worsening economic climate, whatever it is that triggers the off-switch on consumer spending for tickets doesn't appear to have happened yet."

Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band were No. 1 and 2; Bon Jovi grossed $56.3 million, Springsteen $40.8 million.

Following are Van Halen ($36.8 million), Kenny Chesney ($35.3 million), Michael Buble ($32.5 million), Kanye West ($31.6 million), Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige ($30.7 million), Rascal Flatts ($25.4 million), and the Spice Girls and the Police (about $23.3 million each).

A 5.6 percent drop in ticket sales, or about 1 million fewer than last year, was offset by an increase in average ticket prices of about 5.9 percent, to $62.07. "The industry's continuing trend of growth based on selling fewer but more expensive tickets," Bongiovanni said, "is not a sustainable path for a business that should be constantly adding new customers."