After her debut on the pop music scene in 1998, a young Britney Spears almost instantly became the princess of pop. She gained a large following among children and teens which translated into album and ticket sales over the years.

As Spears grew up in the public eye, she lost more of her good-girl image, instead becoming a fixture in the tabloids. Her maturity translated in her music, but did not deeply impact album sales or radio appeal until a series of well-publicized personal crises in 2007 seemed to cement her downfall.

However, the late 2008 release of “Circus” and a subsequent 2009 tour seem to signal a comeback for Spears, personally and professionally. Ticket sales have been strong in comparison to similar tours, but disappointing overall in comparison to Spears’ tours from her earlier years, which were almost guaranteed sell-outs.