Showbiz Sandbox 106: A Tony Awards Preview Of Broadway’s Billion Dollar Year




Showbiz Sandbox show

Summary: Even without all the news surrounding the troubled production of "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark", Broadway gave us plenty to talk about over the past year. This season brought more critically acclaimed (and financially successful) productions than during any time in recent memory. Brian Scott Lipton, editor-in-chief of TheaterMania.com (http://www.theatermania.com/), tells us who he thinks will win the year's top Tony Awards on Sunday evening. Movie box office is also on the rise after a disappointing first half of the year. Even so, the film grosses being earned in North America are being dwarfed by international box office. We'll explain why. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga ruled the album charts with her new release thanks to some help from Amazon.com. A number of artists are finding new and innovative ways to sell their music. In fact, the Kaiser Chiefs are allowing fans to create and sell their own albums with the band's music. We also provide analysis the week's top entertainment news stories including, Katie Couric's new gig at ABC, Adele's canceled tour and how e-books talk dominated this year's BookExpo. 'Kung Fu Panda 2' Sets Chinese Box Office Record http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kung-fu-panda-2-sets-194973 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kung-fu-panda-2-sets-194973) The High Price Of Amazon's Gaga Deal http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/high-price-amazons-gaga-deal-132209 (http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/high-price-amazons-gaga-deal-132209) Amazon Boosts Lady Gaga http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527023036574045763581706152781.... (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303657404576358170615278138.html) Fans Rock-Out On A Sales Commission http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303657404576359824168872.... (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303657404576359824168872148.html) Bjork Releases Details About iPad Inspired Record http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/05/bjork-releases-details-about.... (http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/05/bjork-releases-details-about-ipad-inspired-record.html) Apple Paying $100-$150 Million To Labels For iCloud http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/apple_pays_music_bigs_OcxlGqT1.... (http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/apple_pays_music_bigs_OcxlGqT1E0P5P9vzosxtyK) Tony Awards Coverage On TheaterMania http://www.theatermania.com/feature/tony-awards-2011/ (http://www.theatermania.com/feature/tony-awards-2011/) Broadway Season Box Office Up Nearly 6 Percent http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/how-to-succeed-in-show.... (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/31/how-to-succeed-in-show-business-broadway-season-box-office-up-nearly-6-percent/) A Rocky Musical Is Moving Ahead http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/gonna-fly-soon-a-rocky.... (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/gonna-fly-soon-a-rocky-musical-is-moving-ahead/) Broadway Backlash Against Hollywood Stars Heats Up http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/broadway-backlash-hollywood.... (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/broadway-backlash-hollywood-stars-heats-193117) Stage Version Of 'Once' Will Start Downtown http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/stage-version-of-once-will.... (http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/stage-version-of-once-will-start-downtown/) For Couric, ABC's Pitch Proved Best http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/business/media/06couric.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/business/media/06couric.html) Adele Cancels Remainder Of Tour Due To Laryngitis http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/adele-cancels-remainder-tour.... (http://www.thedailyswarm.com/headlines/adele-cancels-remainder-tour-due-laryngitis/) Cheryl Cole Out as U.K. Judge of 'The X Factor' Amid Drama http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cheryl-cole-as-uk-judge-193113 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cheryl-cole-as-uk-judge-193113)