The Billboard Live Music Awards (previously known as the Billboard Touring Conference and Awards until 2018) is an annual meeting sponsored by Billboard magazine that honors the top international live entertainment industry artists and professionals. Established in 2004, it has thus been described as "part industry conference, part awards show".
The last such annual event appears to have been in 2019; it is unclear if the conference and awards have, or will, continue past that year.
Many of the awards are based on Billboards Boxscore chart tracking concert, comedy and other live entertainment attendance and gate receipts, and on real box office performance. As a result, the awards often equate to commercial success. The "top tour" superlative award is also given on the basis of fan polls. The "Legend of Live" and Humanitarian awards are given to individuals for their ongoing contributions to the live entertainment touring industry.
History The conference and awards are held in November of each year, traditionally at the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan in New York City but, since 2016, at hotels in the Los Angeles area. The conference usually takes place over two days and is attended by figures from the music and concert industry. Each year features a keynote speaker from the performance industry, who in the past have included the likes of Gene Simmons of Kiss and 3 Doors Down.
While recorded music has an established awards structure headed by the Grammy Awards and also featuring the American Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards, live performance music has not had the same. The Billboard Touring Awards are an attempt to fill that gap. Billboard previously attempted to enter the awards arena for recorded music with the charts-based Billboard Music Award, which lasted from 1990 through 2006, returning in 2011. Those awards featured two slots for Concert Venue Award and Touring Venue Award, but were not otherwise live-performance-based.
Award names and awards given themselves have varied somewhat each year, with for example the Top Comedy Tour and Concert Marketing and Promotion Awards being added in 2007 and the Fans Choice being added in 2008, both being determined by fan vote. There are typically three nominees in each category.
Repeat winners in the awards have been common, with country artist Kenny Chesney winning Top Package Tour six consecutive years through 2009 and Bonnaroo Music Festival winning four times as well starting in 2004.
Winners
2019 The sixteenth annual edition of the awards took place on November 5, 2019, at the Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California. Legend of Live + Tour of the Year: P!nk, Beautiful Trauma World Tour Tour of the Summer: Hootie & the Blowfish, Group Therapy Tour Top Boxscore: Spice Girls - Spice World - 2019 Tour, Wembley Stadium, London, England - June 13–15, 2019 Top Grossing: Ed Sheeran Top Manager: Joyce Smyth (Rolling Stones) Top Concert & marketing Promotions: Verizon Up x Shawn Mendes x Camila Cabello Customer Loyalty Promotion Top Arena: Madison Square Garden - New York City Top Agency: WME Chip Hopper Award: Sara Bollwinkel, Agent at Paradigm
2018 The fifteenth annual edition of the (newly named) awards took place on November 13, 2018, at the Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California, in proceedings hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr. Top World Tour: Ed Sheeran, ÷ Tour Top U.S. Tour: Taylor Swift, Reputation Stadium Tour Top Tour & Top Draw: Ed Sheeran, ÷ Tour Top Package: not given Breakthrough Artist: Post Malone Top Comedy Tour: Kevin Hart Top Festival: Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival Top Promoter: Live Nation Entertainment Top Independent Promoter (Worldwide): OCESA-CIE Top Agency: CAA Top Manager: Dre London, Post Malone Top Boxscore: U2, Estadio do Morumbi, São Paulo, October 19–25, 2017 Top Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York Top Club: Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn Top Amphitheater: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Top Venue (Under 10,000 seats): Radio City Music Hall, New York Top Venue (Under 5,000 Seats): The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Concert Marketing and Promotion: Khalid and Hollister Co. Humanitarian: not given Legend Of Live: John Mayer
2017 The fourteenth annual edition of the awards took place on November 15, 2017, at the Montage Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California, in proceedings hosted by Hasan Minhaj. Top Tour: Guns N' Roses, Not in This Lifetime... Tour Top Draw: Guns N' Roses Top Package: not given Breakout Artist: Lil Uzi Vert Top Comedy Tour: Jerry Seinfeld Top Festival: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Top Promoter: Live Nation Entertainment Top Independent Promoter (Worldwide): Another Planet Entertainment Top Agency: Paradigm Talent Agency Top Manager: Pat Corcoran, Chance the Rapper Top Boxscore: U2, Stade de France, Saint-Denis, July 25–26, 2017 Top Arena: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas Top Club: House of Blues, Boston Top Amphitheater: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Top Venue (Under 10,000 seats): Radio City Music Hall, New York Top Venue (Under 5,000 Seats): The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Concert Marketing & Promotion Award: Foo Fighters' Cal Jam and North American Concrete and Gold Tour with Capital One Humanitarian: Everytown for Gun Safety Legend Of Live: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
2016 The thirteenth annual Billboard Touring Awards took place on a single day, November 9, 2016, this time at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Top Tour: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, The River Tour 2016 Top Draw: Coldplay Top Package: Justin Bieber Purpose Tour featuring Moxie Raia and Post Malone Breakthrough: Adele Top Comedy Tour: Kevin Hart Top Festival: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Top Promoter: Live Nation Entertainment Top Independent Promoter (U.S.): Another Planet Entertainment Top Independent Promoter (International): SJM Concerts Top Agency: Creative Artists Agency Top Manager: Maverick Management Top Boxscore: Coldplay – Wembley Stadium (June 15–16 & 18–19) Top Arena: The O2, London Top Club: House of Blues, Boston Top Amphitheater: BB&T Pavilion, Camden, New Jersey Top Venue (Under 10,000 seats): Radio City Music Hall Top Venue (Under 5,000 Seats): The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Concert Marketing & Promotion Award: Chance the Rapper Golden Circle: Brian Murphy, Goldenvoice/AEG Live Humanitarian: Scooter Braun Legend Of Live: Bon Jovi
2015 The twelfth annual Billboard Touring Awards took place on a single day, November 19, 2015, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. Top Tour: One Direction, On the Road Again Tour Top Draw: One Direction Top Boxscore: Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead – Soldier Field (July 3–5) Top Comedy Tour: Kevin Hart Top Package: Kenny Chesney, The Big Revival Tour Breakthrough: Ed Sheeran Top Festival: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Top Arena: O2 Arena, London Top Venue (Under 10,000 seats): Radio City Music Hall, New York Top Venue (Under 5,000 seats): The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Top Club: House of Blues, Boston Top Amphitheater: The Gorge Amphitheatre, George, Washington Top Promoter: Live Nation Top Independent Promoter (U.S.): Another Planet Entertainment, San Francisco Top Independent Promoter (International): Frontier Touring Company, Australia and New Zealand Top Agency: Creative Artists Agency Top Manager: Modest! Management Humanitarian Award: Hugh Evans Concert Marketing & Promotion Award: Imagine Dragons/Southwest Airlines Legend of Live: Bob Seger Golden Circle Award: Barbara Marx Hubbard
2014 The eleventh annual Billboard Touring Awards took place on over two days in November 19–20, 2014, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. Top Tour: One Direction, Where We Are Tour Top Draw: One Direction Top Boxscore: The Rolling Stones – Tokyo Dome (February 26, March 4, 6) Top Comedy Tour: Jeff Dunham Top Package: Katy Perry's Prismatic Tour, featuring Capital Cities, Kacey Musgraves, Tegan & Sarah, Becky G Breakthrough: Florida Georgia Line Top Festival: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Top Arena: O2 Arena, London Top Venue (Under 10,000 seats): Radio City Music Hall, New York Top Venue (Under 5,000 seats): The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Top Club: House of Blues, Boston Top Amphitheater: Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto Top Promoter: Live Nation Top Independent Promoter (U.S.): C3 Presents, Austin, Texas Top Independent Promoter (International): T4F, São Paulo, Brazil Top Agency: Creative Artists Agency Top Manager: Modest! Management Humanitarian Award: Light of Day Foundation Concert Marketing & Promotion Award: Billy Joel/Citibank at Madison Square Garden Legend of Live: Lionel Richie Golden Circle Award: Ron Delsener
2013 The tenth annual Billboard Touring Awards took place on over two days in November 13 and 14, 2013, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City."Bon Jovi, One Direction, P!nk Among Big Winners at 2013 Billboard Touring Awards" Top Tour: Bon Jovi, Because We Can Tour Top Draw: Bon Jovi Top Boxscore: P!nk – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (July 7-August 26) Top Comedy Tour: Jeff Dunham Top Package: Taylor Swift's Red Tour, featuring Ed Sheeran, Joel Crouse, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line and Casey James Breakthrough: One Direction Top Festival: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Top Arena: O2 Arena, London Top Venue (Under 10,000 seats): Radio City Music Hall, New York Top Venue (Under 5,000 seats): The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Top Club: House of Blues, Orlando, Florida Top Amphitheater: The Gorge, George, Washington Top Promoter: Live Nation Top Independent Promoter (U.S.): C3 Presents, Austin, Texas Top Independent Promoter (International): T4F, São Paulo, Brazil Top Agency: Creative Artists Agency Top Manager: Bon Jovi Management Humanitarian Award: Marcie Allen (President of MAC Presents) Eventful Fans' Choice Award: Bon Jovi Concert Marketing & Promotion Award: The Rolling Stones, 50 & Counting Tour Legend of Live: George Strait Hauler of the Decade Award: Vans Warped Tour
2012 The ninth annual Billboard Touring Awards again took place on over two days in November 2012 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, despite the aftereffects of Superstorm Sandy.2012 Touring Conference & Awards Still Scheduled For This Week Top Tour: Roger Waters, The Wall Live Top Draw: Bruce Springsteen, Wrecking Ball Tour Top Package: Brothers of the Sun Tour, featuring Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, and Jake Owen Breakthrough: Lady Antebellum Top Comedy Tour: Jeff Dunham Top Boxscore: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, April 13–22 Top Festival: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Top Arena: O2 Arena, London Top Venue (Under 10,000 seats): Radio City Music Hall, New York Top Venue (Under 5,000 seats): The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Top Club (Based on attendance): 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. Top Amphitheater: Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, New York Top Promoter: Live Nation Entertainment Top Independent Promoter (U.S.): C3 Presents, Austin, Texas Top Independent Promoter (International): T4F, São Paulo, Brazil Top Agency: William Morris Endeavor Entertainment Top Manager: Mark Fenwick Concert Marketing & Promotion Award: Demi Lovato/Hallmark Humanitarian Award: Apollo Theater Eventful Fan's Choice: Lady Gaga Creative Content: Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil Road Warrior: Kenny Chesney Legend of Scribe: Ray Waddell Legend of Live: Neil Diamond
2011 The eighth annual Billboard Touring Awards took place on over two days in November 2011 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City."Billboard Touring Awards: U2, Journey, Jason Aldean Win Big" Top Tour: U2, 360° Tour Top Draw: U2, 360° Tour