Stones, Streisand topped concert charts in 2006

LOS ANGELES, Dec 29 (Reuters) The Rolling Stones were the top concert draw in North America for a second consecutive year, while Barbra Streisand came in at No. 2 with her first major tour in a dozen years, trade publication Pollstar magazine said.

The energetic British rockers sold 138.5 million dollar worth of tickets for 39 shows across the United States and Canada. The haul ranks as the third-highest on Pollstar's all-time list, behind the Stones' 2005 tour (162 million dollar), and Irish rock band U2's trek that same year (138.9 million dollars).

Streisand, hitting the road for her first big tour since 1993-1994, pulled in 92.5 million dollar for just 20 shows, thanks to an average ticket price of 298 dollar. By contrast, Stones shows were a relative bargain with an average price of almost 137 dollar.

Husband-and-wife country stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were No 3 with 88.8 million dollars for 73 shows. They were followed by Madonna with 85.9 million dollar (34 shows) and the Cirque du Soleil's Delirium tour with 82.1 million dollar (156 shows).

Pollstar said ticket sales for the top 100 shows rose about 13 percent to 2.3 billion dollars, breaking last year's record of 2.1 billion dollar, thanks in part to an eight percent jump in the average ticket price to 61.45 dollar from 56.88 dollar. Other costly acts included Madonna, with an average price of almost 184 dollar, and the Who with 100 dollar. The British veterans, No. 13 on this year's list, charged an average 77 dollars during their last outing in 2002.

The top 100 acts sold a combined 37.9 million tickets, up four percent from 36.3 million last year, but barely changed from 2004's 37.6 million.

Gary Bongiovanni, editor of the Fresno, California-based publication, said it was a ''good year overall'' for the concert business. ''There's definitely a substantial appetite for live music,'' he said in an interview.

The situation contrasts with the continued sorry state of the recorded music business, where album sales were down about five percent from 2005, according to Nielsen SoundScan data.

As usual, there was not much fresh blood among the top touring acts, many of whom have been around since the 1970s and 1980s. Other veterans included Elton John at No. 10, Billy Joel at No. 11, the Def Leppard and Journey double-header at No. 14, Aerosmith and Motley Crue at No. 18, and Crosby, Stills, Nash&Young at No. 20.

Only country has succeeded in bringing a whole new generation of acts, including Kenny Chesney (No. 7), Rascal Flatts (No. 12) and Toby Keith (No. 16).

The Stones have not confirmed plans for 2007, but they are expected to return to Europe to make good on summer dates that were scrapped after guitarist Keith Richards and singer Mick Jagger were laid low. Streisand has also talked about taking her show overseas.

But other ''oldies'' acts will fill the void in North America, among them Rod Stewart and British progressive-rock band Genesis, reuniting with Phil Collins.

Reuters SB GC0919