Bon Jovi and U2 take on Take That in Billboard Touring Awards

Billboard magazine has announced their finalists for the 2011 Billboard Touring Awards and they are looking very much like last year's list.

Both Bon Jovi and U2 repeat as nominees in the Top Tour and Top Draw categories, going up against British giants Take That (last year, they were up against AC/DC). U2 took the award in both categories.

The awards are based on box office figures from October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011 and will be given out November 10 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.

Billboard's Ray Waddell said "To a large degree, the touring industry rebounded this year, and the tours, venues, companies and events that are finalists for the 2011 Billboard Touring Awards are examples of the types of shows that worked. The wide range of success shown by the finalists proves superstars are still superstars, artist development is still happening, and fans still love the live concert experience."

The nominees in the artist categories:

Top Tour

Bon Jovi, The Circle
Take That, Progress Live
U2, 360

Top Draw

Bon Jovi
Take That
U2

Top Package (Tours with three or more acts)

Kenny Chesney's Goin' Coastal tour, with Zac Brown Band, Uncle Kracker, Billy Currington
Taylor Swift's Speak Now tour, with Needtobreathe, Danny Gokey, Frankie Ballard, others
Usher's OMG tour, with Miguel, Trey Songz, others

Breakthrough

Jason Aldean
Katy Perry
Rihanna

Top Comedy Tour

Jeff Dunham
Peter Kay
Robin Williams

Top Boxscore (single stand at a single venue)

Take That, Wembley Stadium, London - June 30-July 9
Take That - City of Manchester (U.K.) Stadium - June 3-12
U2 - Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil - April 9-13

Top Festival

Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin, TX
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Indio, CA
Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL

The Inaugural Apple Recipient

Perry Farrell

Legend of Live

Journey