High Gas Prices Impact Country Music

High gas prices are not just making headlines everywhere; they are affecting everyone in the country, from college students to Country Music stars. CMT.com reports that the tour buses that carry Country Music acts across the country can hold up to 250 gallons of diesel fuel.  The Energy Information Administration pegs today's average diesel at $4.72 per gallon.  That's almost $1,200 a fill up. Keith Case books acts such as Alison Kraus & Union Station, and told CMT.com, "Of course, anybody in a coach [bus] is just getting chewed up by the diesel prices." Case also discussed the difficulties in booking and paying for flights around the country. "It's killing the smaller bands out there," Case said. Gas prices are indirectly affecting elements beyond transportation.  Some Country Music festivals are reporting drops in ticket sales, and are seeing higher costs from the vendors at events. "The vendors they buy services from, a lot of them have raised their prices due to fuel. Beer prices—anything that has transportation involved, which is just about everything—they've seen increases in those areas," said Gil Cunningham, president of Neste Event Marketing in Brentwood, Tenn. Other interviewees stated that festival ticket sales are steady, and most of the impacts from rising gasoline prices are being felt by the performers.  Others said it is only a matter of time for the price crunch to trickle down to the Country Music fan. To read the full story, click here.