Clockwise from left: London's top festival finalist Download; top amphitheater finalist Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo.; MARCO ANTONIO SOUS at under -10,000 finalist Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City; inset: San Francisco's Fillmore, finalist for top club.

Morrison, Colo.; the Tweeter Center for the Performing TOP VENUE UNDER partner in LoL'a producer C3, says Arts in Mansfield, Mass.; and the Greek Theatre in Los 10,000 SEATS time has been a friend to Lolla- Angeles. Tweeter Center has been finalist for top am- (NONRESIDENT) palooza, in its third year as a resur- phitheater three years running, winning in 2004 and 2005. Venues of 10,000 seats or fewer have rected brand and stand -alone event. Red Rocks is known for passionate fans and m-iltiple become the sweet spot for many tour- "Like most of the festivals, it takes a dates by artists. "We enjoyed a record -breaking summer ing artis:s today, and the three finalists in little while to get momentum going," concert season, with 20 more bookings than any other this category exemplify their potential and Walker says. "We had a great lineup this year, year in the amphitheater's 46 -year history," Red Rocks chief range: Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City, the but more importantly, we had repeat fans, peo- marketing officer Erik Dyce says. "We're thrilled to be con- Fox Theatre in Atlanta and the Gibson ple have become familiar with Grant Park, and it re- sidered for the top amphitheater honor and are Amphitheatre at Universal Citywalk in Univer- ally helps that Chicago is such a great town." enormously proud of our accomplishments this ial City, Calif. The Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn., has year." "The Fox Theatre has been very fortunate, thanks taken home the top festival award in three consecutive years. to a growing market, a strong economy and sup - Much of Bonnaroo's success this year can be credited to a tal- TOP CLUB ?ortive promoter /presenter partners," Fox GM ent lineup that included the Police, Too_, the White Stripes, The top club award is crucial because success Allen Vella says. "Our iconic facility continues to Widespread Panic, Kings of Leon, Wilco, Dierks Bentley, String at the club level is critical to the overall success of 3e the place to play when in Atlanta for many artists, Cheese Incident, Wolfmother, Lily Allen and many others. the concert industry. While a House of Blues club as it contributes to both the performers and the "We keep pushing the envelope a little bit in terms of the di- has taken home top club honors three years run- guest experience, not to mention the gross." versity of the music," says Bonnaroo's Ashley Capps, president ning, this year perennial finalist the 9:30 Club in As has been the case throughout Celine Dion's of A.C. Entertainment, citing a Friday night in 2007 with con- Washington, D.C., is joined by two clubs from three -year run, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace current performances by Tool, Bentley and Manu Chao. "That Live Nation's newly expanded Fillmore brand. _laims the top venue (10,000 seats and under) res- kind of richness and diversity I think is really the musical mem- 9:30 Club owner/operator Seth Hurwitz cred- dency division. ory I will go away with." its his staff for the venue's ongoing success. "The For Download, the 2007 event represents tremendous growth No. 1 comment I hear about the club is the staff," TOP FESTIVAL for the brand. "We are absolutely thrilled that Download [is a Hurwitz says. "They are the reason people like to go to the 9:30 Festivals are one of the healthiest areas of the concert business, finalist] for top festival and top boxscore in Billboard's annual Club, and bands like to play there. Who doesn't like to be treated and this ,ear's top festival finalists hail from the far -flung lo- awards," says Paul Latham, president of U.K. music and inter- nicely ?" cales of Chicago (Lollapalooza), Tennessee (Bonnaroo) and Lon- national venues for Live Nation. "The highly revered, multi - He adds, "If we win, it's because of our people that make don (Download). award- winning U.K. festival is a great testimony to our the 9:30 the 9:30. If we don't win, it's all my fault somehow." Lollapalooza 2007 at Chicago's Grant Park hosted Pearl organization and its staff, who have created the best possible Live Nation's Fillmore clubs in San Francisco and Denver Jam, Interpol, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Daft Punk, Iggy Sc the environment for Download's performing artists and attend- round out the finalists. Stooges, Muse, Snow Patrol and many others. Charlie Walker, ing fans." -Ray Waddell

56 I BILLBOARD I NOVEMBER 17, 2007

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