Saturday, January 31, 2009

Are You Ready For The Britney Spears Tour?

By Matt Ryan

Britney Spears' debut tour took place in 1999. She hit 56 cities in North America her first time out. Touring is an important part of an entertainer's revenues. Not only does the entertainer gain revenue from the tour itself, the tour allows for maximum exposure of the artist. The artist connects with fans, potentially wins over more fans, and boosts record sales in the process. While she was out seeing the world and entertaining her fans, her critics were in agreement - Britney knew how to tour.

Britney's next tour begins March, 2009. It appears to come at the right time for this super star in more ways than one. The tour is timed right due to the recent release and apparent popularity of her latest single "Womanizer." This single comes from Spears' sixth studio album - Circus. A tour right now would capitalize on "Womanizer's" popularity. The 27-year-old pop star and mother of two could also use the multi-millions such a tour would bring in right now, given both her legal fees and famous shopping sprees.

ARE WE READY TO BE HIT - AGAIN?

Although most of us may not remember it, there was a time when Britney Spears truly seemed innocent. Prior to superstardom, she sang in church revues, and in her church choir. 1998 began the change, when Britney Spears in a schoolgirl outfit looked anything but innocent. Then came 1999, which found her on the cover of Rolling Stone in nothing more than underwear - a bra and a pair of boy shorts. While some tried to think of it as "growing up," in truth it was transformation. It was the beginning of Britney Spears, the superstar. Later that same year was when she started breaking the bank. Britney's tour not only netted her millions in ticket sales, but the merchandise cost a fan likely two to three times the cost of their ticket.

The Britney Spears enterprise does not stop at tours - it only begins there. Spears' endorsements have heavily padded her bank accounts as well. Spears signed a multi-million dollar contract with Pepsi in 2001. By 2004 she had moved on to perfumes, creating her first that year with the help of Elizabeth Arden. The scent was called "Curious" and mere weeks after its release it had earned over $100 million in sales. No wonder, then, that Spears continued her pathway into perfumes. In 2005 came "Fantasy" and in 2006 came both "Curious: In Control" and "Midnight Fantasy." By 2008, and the release of "Curious Heart" her scents had Spears sitting on sales beyond her dreams. Britney has also published four books, created a video game, and released a doll. Despite the success of all of these projects, however, Britney's strongest money-maker has always been touring. Britney Spears has earned over $350 million in ticket sales and over $185 million in merchandise sold on tour.

Britney Spears' average fan ranges between 16 and 24 years of age, and they'd better start babysitting or waiting on a few extra tables before this next tour - they'll need the extra cash. Whether Mom and Dad are buying, or the fan herself, Britney Spears tour memorabilia, which includes CDs, posters, t-shirts, key chains, programs and collectible jackets, tends to average over $100,000 a night in gross sales.

When the Britney Spears tour was not in production, she was making television sitcom debuts and starring in reality television specials. In 2004 Britney Spears and Kevin Federline starred in Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, a reality show. She made a guest appearance on Will & Grace in 2006 and on How I Met Your Mother in 2008. With another Britney Spears tour coming together again, she will have to prove to her fans that her meltdown is over and she's back.

CIRCUS - A BRITNEY SPEARS TOUR

And here it comes, the comeback tour we've all been waiting for, produced by Mega live entertainment and multimedia production company AEG Live. It opens in New Orleans on March 3, 2009 and closes in Chicago on April 29, 2009. Along the way, Britney stops twice in Canada, and eight times in Europe. This year will bring us an always exciting Britney Spears show, so look for it, because undoubtedly this tour will be coming soon to a city near you!

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