North American touring receipts held steady during the first half of the year, at least according to a top-level review by Pollstar.  The concert tracker pegged first-half revenues at $1.05 billion, a figure culled from the top one-hundred touring acts. 

That is level with mid-year figures in 2007, though total tickets sold actually dropped 5.6 percent, according to the data.  The shortfall was filled by heftier ticket prices, part of a larger trend among big-name acts.

And superstars, mostly older acts, ruled the roost.  Bon Jovi grossed $56.3 million; Bruce Springsteen rallied $40.8 million, and Van Halen commanded $36.8 million. 

The resilience is welcomed, especially alongside an imploding recording industry.  Now, the question is whether the concert business can survive challenges posed by higher gas prices, recessionary spending, and softer earnings from developing, younger acts.