Road warrior Tom Petty robbed of recognition

NASHVILLE (Billboard) -

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers put together a hell of a touring year in 2006. They played five major festivals and drew near-capacity crowds at amphitheaters and arenas across North America.

Petty and the band grossed $30 million, fittingly, in their 30th anniversary tour, and they accomplished this with one of the most conservative ticket prices among superstar acts.

Petty and his mates were creative, teaming with such diverse acts as Pearl Jam,

Trey Anastasio, the Allman Brothers Band, the Strokes,

John Mayer and

Jackson Browne. Super-strong support, admittedly, but it was Petty selling these tickets. His numbers are the best of a consistently strong touring career.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were easily among the top 25 grossing tours on the road in 2006. But, unfortunately, Petty was not listed in the top 25 chart in Billboard's year-end recap. He came in at No. 26, because four promoters did not report their grosses.

Billboard strives to be as accurate and complete as possible with such information. Most promoters report diligently. But some miss a few dates for a lot of reasons, and it can cost a deserving artist recognition for a banner year.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter