Trans-Siberian Orchestra makes a fifth appearance on the Hot Tours rankings - and a third stint at No. 1 - since beginning its 2009 winter tour in November.  This week's No. 1 ranking is based on reported totals from 12 venues, eleven U.S. arenas and one Canadian.  With a combined gross of $2.3 million from four performances, Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena is the touring ensemble's top-grossing venue this period.  Combined attendance was just shy of 55,000 for both days (Dec. 19-20) that included matinee as well as evening performances.  The sole Canadian venue was Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario with a sellout crowd on Dec. 29.

Country music impacts the Hot Tour rankings with MCA recording artist Gary Allan earning the No. 2 spot this week and Grammy nominee Zac Brown Band coming in at No. 6.  Allan's grosses totaled $1.8 million and included box office stats from clubs, theaters, arenas and one amphitheater, Superpages.com Center in Dallas that had the highest gross among the 19 venues reported.  That Oct. 24 outdoor event grossed just over $300,000 with 10,940 tickets sold.  The Zac Brown Band's ranking is based on totals from six concerts in Nov. and Dec. including a Dec. 29 sellout at Pepsi Coliseum on the Indiana State Fairgrounds.  The Indianapolis arena grossed $195,732, the band's top total among its reported shows.

With reported grosses from ten concerts in December, Canadian rock band Three Days Grace ranks third on this week's list of Hot Tours.  The 10 reported shows were all at arenas in the band's home country with Toronto's Air Canada Centre producing the best attendance and gross.  The Dec. 17 performance grossed $264,620 (Canadian $) with 6,750 in attendance.  So far in 2010 Three Days Grace has been co-headlining a tour with Breaking Benjamin.  Currently the bands have dates booked through early March.