30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time

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January 16, 2019
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30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time

A record-setting $10.4 billion was spent in 2018 on concert tickets around the world. Thanks to streaming services and the preference of audiences for singles, , but it's clear fans are still willing to pay to see their favorite artists in person. And their proximity to the artist doesn't seem to matter, as ticket sales are up in every venue from intimate clubs to massive stadiums.

麻豆原创 has rounded up 30 of the top-grossing music tours of all time. These tours were largely played in stadiums, but a few included smaller venues. The data have been pulled from a compiled list of sources, and concerts have been ranked by the tour's gross (adjusted for inflation). While this is not a comprehensive list of all concert tours, it's the most accurate representation as of January 2019.

Two of the tours on the list are still announcing new dates, so if you want to be part of concert tour history, consider snagging tickets now while you have the chance.

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#30. Pink Floyd: A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $272,863,087
Total tour attendance: 5.50 million
Shows played: 197
Year(s): 1987鈥89

The English rock band  formed in 1965. Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright were students when they met and began playing together, but their famous "A Momentary Lapse of Reason鈥 tour didn鈥檛 come until much later, toward the end of their time as a group. In fact, Waters had left the band by the time this Pink Floyd tour took place and was .

#29. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Magic Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $273,464,451
Total tour attendance: 2.20 million
Shows played: 100

Year(s): 2007鈥08

For many an instrumentalist, landing a job with  would be a dream come true. The band has backed Bruce Springsteen from his debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.鈥 in 1973, but, contrary to popular belief, they weren鈥檛 always Springsteen鈥檚 band. They were merely a group of local musicians who came together for a paid gig (the album recording) and then ended up getting enough paid gigs after that (for both Springsteen and other musicians) that it made sense to become a band. From 2007-2008, the band joined Springsteen for a  that was called "euphoric鈥 and "profound.鈥

#28. Bon Jovi: Because We Can

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $279,110,786
Total tour attendance: 2.66 million
Shows played: 102
Year(s): 2013

New Jersey band  appeared on the scene in 1980 with big hair and electric smiles. Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Alec John Such, and Richie Sambora made up the original band, which had hits like "Livin鈥 on a Prayer鈥 and "You Give Love a Bad Name.鈥 Their "Because We Can鈥 tour was wildly successful, with the group , but it was also full of drama, as  in the middle night, hours before their fourth show.

#27. The Eagles: Long Road Out of Eden Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $288,513,488
Total tour attendance: 2.0 million
Shows played: 155
Year(s): 2008鈥11

One of the , The Eagles (originally composed of Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner) set out on their "Long Road Out of Eden鈥 tour in 2008. The tour  of their new album of the same name and featured other artists like The Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban.

#26. Paul McCartney: Out There!

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $291,414,474
Total tour attendance: 1.96 million
Shows played: 84
Year(s): 2013鈥15

Ever since his days as a Beatle, Paul McCartney has been wildly popular. In 2013, he embarked on his solo , during which he played 91 gigs, sang a total of 3,631 songs (an average of 40 a show)鈥攊ncluding 13 that he'd never performed before鈥攁nd  while on stage.

#25. Billy Joel: Billy Joel in Concert

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $301,000,000
Total tour attendance: 2.07 million
Shows played: 120
Year(s): 2014鈥損resent

One of two tours on the list that is still announcing new dates, Billy Joel鈥檚 "Billy Joel in Concert鈥 tour so far has booked 16 dates for 2019. While on this tour, Joel has created a sort of  at Madison Square Garden, playing one show there a month, as long as ticket sales stay high (already six dates at MSG have been announced for 2019). The first artist to do that, Joel also broke the record for solo performances at The Garden, previously held by Sir Elton John, when he played his .

#24. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: The Rising Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $301,677,551
Total tour attendance: 3.23 million
Shows played: 120
Year(s): 2002鈥03

Another wildly popular Bruce Springsteen tour, "The Rising Tour鈥 began a week after the release of Springsteen鈥檚 12th studio album, "The Rising."  for how well it captured the feelings and aftermath of 9/11. However, the tour didn鈥檛 get off to an equally great start鈥擱olling Stone  "inhibited," pointing to tech and tonal issues. Eventually, the tour hit its stride, bringing in $300 million over its 14-month run.

#23. One Direction: Where We Are Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $307,106,208
Total tour attendance: 3.44 million
Shows played: 69
Year(s): 2014

After  in 2003, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne found almost unprecedented levels of success with One Direction. Winning comparisons to The Beatles for both their popularity and their British origins, their "Where We Are Tour鈥 was the group鈥檚 fourth and final tour as a complete band. (.)

#22. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: The River Tour 2016

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $319,972,060
Total tour attendance: 2.67 million
Shows played: 89
Year(s): 2016鈥17

Bruce Springsteen went on tour with the E Street Band in 2016 to mark the 35th anniversary of his 1980 EP "The River.鈥 There are a whopping 20 songs on the album, and Springsteen  at all North American tour stops. That set list, combined with a collection of his classic hits like "Born to Run鈥 and "Thunder Road鈥 meant that many of the shows . His  took place during this tour, clocking in at just over four hours.

#21. Cher: Living Proof: The Farewell Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $320,710,513
Total tour attendance: 3.50 million
Shows played: 326
Year(s): 2002鈥05

Cher is known for her extravagant concerts, with multiple costume changes, elaborate sets, dancers, and video montages. "The Farewell Tour" . When the tour was announced in 2002, Cher claimed that it would be her last (spoiler alert: it wasn't), and planned a massive, glittery farewell for herself with an incredible 326 stops. While 3.5 million fans were lucky enough to attend the concerts, millions more were able to watch a televised special that .

#20. Celine Dion: Taking Chances World Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $326,058,136
Total tour attendance: 2.60 million
Shows played: 132
Year(s): 2008鈥09

Celine Dion鈥檚 "Taking Chances World Tour鈥 marked her return to the touring circuit after taking an extended break for her first Las Vegas residency, "鈥 The tour was , who also directed Madonna鈥檚 "Confessions World Tour,鈥 and included lots of new material from Dion鈥檚 album "Taking Chances,鈥 as well as several of her classics like "My Heart Will Go On鈥 and "The Prayer.鈥

#19. U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $329,889,628
Total tour attendance: 2.71 million
Shows played: 51
Year(s): 2017

On a crisp fall afternoon in Dublin in 1976, Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. gathered in Mullen鈥檚 kitchen and : U2. A half-dozen albums later, U2 released "The Joshua Tree鈥 in 1987, which won them the Grammy for Album of the Year and spawned two of their most classic tracks, "With or Without You鈥 and "I Still Haven鈥檛 Found What I鈥檓 Looking For.鈥 In 2017, marking the 30th anniversary of their landmark album, the group embarked on their ",鈥 in which they played the entire song list in order every night.

#18. Madonna: The MDNA Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $333,024,687
Total tour attendance: 2.21 million
Shows played: 88
Year(s): 2012

In 2012, Madonna鈥檚 "MDNA Tour,鈥 which followed the release of her 12th studio album of the same name, was the highest-grossing tour of the year. It didn't , though. The tour opened on a cathedral backdrop with biblical scriptures booming from the speakers and men dressed as monks filling the stage, before quickly shifting into Madonna鈥檚 #1 hits "Girl Gone Wild鈥 and "Material Girl.鈥 Later in the show, Madonna pulled out a fake gun and "shot鈥 multiple people, a move that didn鈥檛 go over well with some audience members.

#17. Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $345,700,000
Total tour attendance: 2.89 million
Shows played: 53
Year(s): 2018

Taylor Swift began her career as a country artist; her self-titled debut hit shelves in 2006 and was full of twangy guitar and fiddle interludes. These days, she鈥檚 very much a pop artist, and her sixth studio album, "Reputation,鈥 proves it. The , which lasted for a large portion of 2018, also proved that she has a massive fan base whose members go to great lengths to support her. Swift's sets primarily came from the "Reputation,鈥 album with only one or two classics mixed in.

#16. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $364,300,000
Total tour attendance: 4.74 million
Shows played: 390
Year(s): 2014鈥17

Unlike Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks is a huge believer in . The "Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: World Tour" is a perfect example of that. Married in 2005, the country music powerhouses teamed up for this three-year-long party, singing hits from both of their solo repertoires, as well as some of their fan-favorite duets like "In Another's Eyes."

#15. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Wrecking Ball World Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $415,280,347
Total tour attendance: 3.65 million
Shows played: 136
Year(s): 2012鈥13

The final Bruce Springsteen tour on this list, the "Wrecking Ball World Tour鈥 has been Springsteen鈥檚 most successful tour to date. Grossing over $400 million, the tour was  (a long break for the Boss) and his most heavily attended of all time.

#14. The Rolling Stones: Bridges to Babylon Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $421,181,298
Total tour attendance: N/A
Shows played: 108
Year(s): 1997鈥98

Closing in on six decades of being ",鈥 the Rolling Stones are one of the . Announced at a news conference , the Stones鈥 "Bridges to Babylon鈥 tour supported their album of the same name鈥攖heir 23rd U.S. studio album.

#13. The Police: Reunion Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $421,251,623
Total tour attendance: 3.30 million
Shows played: 156
Year(s): 2007鈥08

Proving that we often don鈥檛 know a good thing 鈥榯il it鈥檚 gone, The Police鈥檚 reunion tour grossed more than any of their heyday tours. The band reunited for 156 shows, playing their . Most nights of the tour opened with their classic hit "Message in a Bottle,鈥 but the August 2008 show began with Cream鈥檚 "Sunshine of Your Love鈥濃攁 moving tribute to the band who had played their own final show at MSG years prior. The last song the band played live together? "Next to You.鈥 That was the first song on their 1978 debut LP.

#12. Pink Floyd: The Division Bell Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $422,597,665
Total tour attendance: 6.0 million
Shows played: 110
Year(s): 1994

When Pink Floyd , only two of the band鈥檚 founding members (Nick Mason and Richard Wright) took the stage. They were joined by David Gilmour, who became an official member in the late 1980s, and eight other musicians who filled the holes left by Syd Barrett and Roger Waters. This final tour was run in conjunction with the release of the group鈥檚 final album, "The Division Bell.鈥

#11. The Rolling Stones: Licks Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $423,574,349
Total tour attendance: 3.47 million
Shows played: 115
Year(s): 2002鈥03

To , the Rolling Stones released their first compilation album, "Forty Licks," which featured 40 of their most popular and beloved songs. They also went on a year-long tour, primarily playing the , but sprinkling in a handful of other band favorites.

#10. Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $476,474,639
Total tour attendance: 3.55 million
Shows played: 85
Year(s): 2008鈥09

Her eighth tour supporting her 11th album "Hard Candy,鈥 the "Sticky & Sweet鈥 tour was Madonna鈥檚 . Known for gimmicks like hanging from a cross, the "Sticky & Sweet鈥 tour had none of that. It did include an impressive array of the pop diva鈥檚 most famous hits from her 30-year career, as well as some iconic dance moves, but it was perhaps the pop star鈥檚 most family-friendly tour ever.

#9. U2: Vertigo Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $483,515,954
Total tour attendance: 4.62 million
Shows played: 131
Year(s): 2005鈥06

Concert films have become a major trend over the last several decades, and U2鈥檚 "Vertigo鈥 tour was no exception. The tour, whose set list leaned heavily on the band鈥檚 most recent release "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,鈥 spurred three concert films: ",鈥 ",鈥 and ".鈥

#8. Roger Waters: The Wall Live

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $493,336,432
Total tour attendance: 4.13 million
Shows played: 219
Year(s): 2010鈥13

Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd, embarked on a solo career in the mid-1980s. His tour "The Wall Live鈥 has been called "one of the most ambitious and complex rock shows ever staged.鈥 It also marked  that "The Wall鈥 had been played in its entirety since a one-off performance beside the (fallen) Berlin Wall in 1990.

#7. AC/DC: Black Ice World Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $506,821,305
Total tour attendance: 4.85 million
Shows played: 167
Year(s): 2008鈥10

In 1973, Australian brothers Malcolm and Angus Young . They didn鈥檛 stay a duo for long, swiftly being joined, and left, by a variety of other musicians. Their biggest album, "For Those About to Rock, We Salute You,鈥 topped charts in 1983, but in 2008 they were still going strong. Their "Black Ice World Tour鈥 was significant for being  of longtime vocalist Brian Johnson.

#6. The Rolling Stones: Voodoo Lounge Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $526,158,550
Total tour attendance: 6.34 million
Shows played: 124
Year(s): 1994鈥95

For close to a decade, and through several of their other tours, the "Voodoo Lounge" tour was the Rolling Stones' top-grossing tour. It's a particularly impressive feat when you consider that the band, which by this time had been performing together for 30 years, . Bill Wyman walked away from the band, saying that he was tired of touring and would no longer continue playing with the group. Beginning with the "Voodoo" tour, Wyman was replaced with the group's .

#5. Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $546,023,369
Total tour attendance: 5.39 million
Shows played: 114
Year(s): 2016鈥17

No matter your personal taste in music, it鈥檚 highly probable that you know which climbed the charts in 2000. The British pop-rock band, fronted by Chris Martin, has had a series of wildly successful albums over the past two decades. In 2016鈥2017, their tour "A Head Full of Dreams鈥 became one of the top-grossing tours of all time, showing just how big an influence the group has had on the music scene. The tour also spawned the group鈥檚  recorded at the final show.

#4. Ed Sheeran: '梅' Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $556,500,000
Total tour attendance: 6.39 million
Shows played: 205
Year(s): 2017鈥 present

British-born pop singer Ed Sheeran  in 2011, and it instantly won him millions of fans. In a genius move, he signed with Elton John鈥檚 management team the same year, and the rest, as they say, is history. His third album "梅鈥 was released in 2017, and the album鈥檚 tour began the same year. The tour has been far and away Sheeran鈥檚 best. So many fans are still demanding to see him that there are regular shows scheduled until August 2019, with the possibility of adding even more dates.

#3. Guns N' Roses: Not in This Lifetime... Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $563,300,000
Total tour attendance: 4.38 million
Shows played: 159
Year(s): 2016鈥18

By the mid-1980s, the rock and roll scene had begun to feel a little stale. Nothing new, or exciting, or experimental had popped up in a number of years. But in 1985, that all changed when hit the stage. Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler mixed elements of classic rock with metal undertones and slasher influences and brought something totally new to the industry. However, in 1993, the band began to splinter. Their "Not in This Lifetime鈥︹ tour that Rose, Slash, and McKagan shared a stage鈥攕omething fans were clearly excited to see.

#2. The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $674,547,559

Total tour attendance: 4.68 million

Shows played: 144

Year(s): 2005鈥07

For a few years, the Rolling Stones held the title for the top-grossing tour of all time thanks to their "A Bigger Bang鈥 tour. Avid Stones fans claim that this is the group鈥檚 best tour, but it鈥檚 also one that almost didn鈥檛 happen. Midway through the tour, the Stones took a month-long break. While on vacation with his wife in Fiji,  out of a coconut tree and suffered a major concussion. Richards said he only "spent a couple of days鈥 in the hospital; it later came out that he鈥檇 actually  to remove a blood clot resulting from the fall.

#1. U2: 360潞 Tour

Tour gross (adjusted for inflation): $820,194,986

Total tour attendance: 7.27 million

Shows played: 110

Year(s): 2009鈥11

The honor for top-grossing music tour of all time is held by U2. And this tour was big. Not only did the tour break the record for the highest-grossing tour, but the band's Oct. 25, 2009 date at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, also holds the  at a single concert with over 97,000 people. In addition, U2 had a  that accompanied them to every venue鈥攖wice the height of the previous stage set record.

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