Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band win big at the Billboard Touring Awards

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band’s Magic Tour was the big winner at the 2008 Billboard Touring Awards held on November 20 at New York’s Roosevelt Hotel. Named “Top Tour” and “Top Draw”, the awards recognize the top-grossing tour and the top ticket-selling tour, respectively. Subsequently, the group’s manager, Jon Landau Management, was named “Top Manager”.

The awards, a highlight of the two-day conference held November 19-20, honor the industry’s top artists, venues and professionals and are based on the Billboard Boxscore chart and on actual box office performance from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008.

Other award honorees include the Kenny Chesney Poets & Pirates Tour (Top Package), Miley Cyrus (Breakthrough Artist) for her Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour, Spice Girls (Top Boxscore) for their 17-night sold-out run at the O2 in London, and Katt Williams (Top Comedy Tour).

The Humanitarian, Legend of Live, Road Warrior, Creative Content, Concert Marketing & Promotion, and Eventful Fans’ Choice awards are not determined by Billboard Boxscore. Road Warrior and the Eventful Fans’ Choice awards are new additions this year and were decided by fans on an Internet tally.

Jon Bon Jovi/The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation was presented with the Humanitarian Awards, The Allman Brothers Band received the 2008 Legend of Live Award, Widespread Panic got the nod for the inaugural Road Warrior Award, and Walking with Dinosaurs – the Live Experience was recognized with the Creative Content Award. The Burger King-sponsored Jonas Brothers’ 2008 Burning Up Tour received the Concert Marketing & Promotion Award, and The Kenny Chesney Poets & Pirates Tour went home with the first-ever Eventful Fans’ Choice Award.

“On behalf of our entire staff, congratulations to this year’s Billboard Touring Award winners,” said Ray Waddell, Billboard executive director of Content and Programming for Touring and Live Entertainment, in a statement. “It is your drive and commitment to excellence that has made touring one of the most profitable and enjoyable components of the entertainment industry. Live entertainment continues to flourish and we are honored to host this exciting event each year that highlights the contributions of these great artists, venues and professionals.”

The complete list of this year’s winners: