Forbes magazine list shows that the vast majority of profitable box office tours took place in the last 20 years
With the arrival of audio platforms in the music scene, concerts have become the biggest source of profit for artists, occupying a place that previously was the sale of records and CDs.
No wonder, most of the highest-grossing performances of all time took place in the last 20 years. At the same time, the price of admission to see a busted artist is higher.
Bad Bunny and Elton John lead ranking of most profitable tours in 2022
From music legends to recent hit names like Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Armas e Rosasthe magazine forbes listed the ten most profitable tours of all time, with billings that can reach billions of reais. Check out:
1. Elton John – Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour – BRL 4.3 billion
The tour that marks the farewell of Elton John of the stages carries the post of most lucrative in the history. With collections of US$ 853 million (about R$ 4.3 billion at current quotations), the Farewell Yellow Brick Roadwhich began in 2018 and is still ongoing, will have a total of 300 performances around the world.
2. Ed Sheeran – The ÷ (Divide) Tour – BRL 3.9 billion
The second place is occupied by the tour ÷ (Divide)in Ed Sheeran, which raised a total of US$ 776 million (R$ 3.9 billion at current prices). With a total of 260 shows, the performances took place between 2017 and 2019, marking the English singer’s third world tour.
3. U2 – U2 360° Tour – BRL 3.7 billion
With the promotion tour of the 12th album of U2, No Line on the Horizon (2009), the Irish rock band earned US$ 736 million (about R$ 3.7 billion), with 110 shows on five continents. This tour was notable for its claw-shaped next stage, which allowed fans to see the show from all angles, as the tour’s name suggests.
4. Guns N’ Roses – Not in This Lifetime… Tour – BRL 2.9 billion
Responsible for bringing together the original members of the Armas e Rosas after 23 years, the tour Not in This Lifetime…Tour raised US$ 584 million (R$ 2.9 billion). With around 150 shows between 2016 and 2022, the tour saw more performances than initially planned.
The name “Not In This Lifetime” (in Portuguese, “Not in this life”), is a reference to the response that the vocalist Axl Rose gave, in 2012, to a journalist who asked him if there was any possibility of the group reconciling.
5. The Rolling Stones – The Bigger Bang Tour – BRL 2.8 billion
Occupying two spots on the list, the Rolling Stones raised US$ 558 million (R$ 2.8 billion) with the The Bigger Bang, which took place from 2005 to 2007. In February 2006, the tour arrived in Brazil. In Rio, a historic show on Copacabana beach brought together 1.5 million people.
6. The Rolling Stones – No Filter Tour – BRL 2.7 billion
already the No Filter started in 2017, with a forecast for 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic and ended up only returning in 2021, it made a profit of US$ 547 million (R$ 2.7 billion) for the members of the Rolling Stones.
7. Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams Tour – BRL 2.6 billion
On the seventh tour of Coldplaywhich marked the band’s return to large-scale venues, with appearances in stadiums and arenas on four continents, Head Full of Dreams Tour had 121 shows between 2015 and 2017, including passages in Brazil, with a turnover of US$ 524 million (R$ 2.6 billion).
8. Roger Waters – The Wall Live – BRL 2.3 billion
The Wall Live was a world tour that took place between 2010 and 2013, with concerts by singer-songwriter Roger Waters, one of the founders of the British band Pink Floyd. The performances were historic, as they marked the first time in 20 years that one of the former group’s members sang the album “The Wall” in its entirety.
9. AC/DC – Black Ice World Tour – BRL 2.2 billion
with the tour Black Ice World Tourthe Australian band AC DC earned US$ 442 million (R$ 2.2 billion) between 2008 and 2010, in support of its 15th studio album, Black Ice (2008). It was the last tour with the original lineup’s guitarist, Malcolm Youngwho left the group in September 2014 due to health issues and died in 2017.
10. Harry Styles – Love on Tour – BRL 2.1 billion
A Love On Toursecond tour of Harry Stylesis already known for its high billing in the media: with only 15 shows at Madison Square Garden in New York, Harry Styles earned about US$ 63 million (about R$ 328 million).
The singer’s idea was to start the sequence of shows in 2020, but the performances were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and only returned in 2021. So far, the tour has raised US$ 418 million (R$ 2.1 billion) and Harry Styles has performances from Love On Tour planned for July 2023, that is, the artist will be able to profit even more.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
