Sour Notes Of Summer

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Owing to dismal ticket sales, organizers have called off the alternative-rock festival Lollapalooza (with Morrissey, above), before it even began. It was another blow to what is shaping up to be an abysmal concert season. Explanations range from overexposed talent to high ticket prices. Or maybe it's just an epidemic of health problems. --By Jeffrey Ressner

BRITNEY SPEARS Because of a knee injury, the pop tart had to cancel the tour she launched in March. She was filling the seats until then.

MADONNA Shockingly to some, her tour isn't completely selling out. But pros say the reinvention queen is doing well in most cities; $300 for top seats may explain the slack.

MARC ANTHONY Claiming he still needs to work on his new salsa album (and perhaps his romance with J. Lo), the Latin crooner postponed his entire schedule of summer gigs.

JESSICA SIMPSON She canceled shows in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, claiming a "kidney infection." Her sales have been soft.

CCHRISTINA AGUILERA The multi-pierced pop star canceled her 28-city tour ostensibly because of throat problems. Tour pros say she was facing lackluster sales in many markets.