This year was a notoriously poor one for ticket sales; not only did Lilith Fair axe a number of dates from its summer schedule, but high-profile pop stars like Christina Aguilera, the Jonas Brothers and Rihanna all cancelled shows due to low interest/sales. Still, some artists pulled in some green, with Pollstar naming Bon Jovi as the year's top-earning touring act.
The veteran rockers played a total of 80 shows, raking in $201.1 million. The top three is rounded out by two more long-running rock groups: AC/DC with $177 million and U2 with $160.9 million. It's especially impressive that U2 managed to earn so much, given that they had to pull out of a number of dates due to Bono's bad back.
The top-earning Canadian on the list was crooner Michael Buble, who landed at No. 6 on the list with $104.2 million. It's also worth noting that Roger Waters didn't let accusations of anti-Semitism prevent him from raking in the dough, as he came in at No. 10 with $89.5 million.
See the full top ten below. If you go to Pollstar, you can read a list of the top 50 tours, both worldwide and in North America.
2010's highest-grossing touring acts:
1. Bon Jovi ($201.1 million)
2. AC/DC ($177 million)
3. U2 ($160.9 million)
4. Lady Gaga ($133.6 million)
5. Metallica ($110.1 million)
5. Michael Buble ($104.2 million)
7. "Walking with Dinosaurs" ($104.1 million)
8. Paul McCartney ($93 million)
9. Eagles ($92.3 million)
10. Roger Waters ($89.5 million)
The veteran rockers played a total of 80 shows, raking in $201.1 million. The top three is rounded out by two more long-running rock groups: AC/DC with $177 million and U2 with $160.9 million. It's especially impressive that U2 managed to earn so much, given that they had to pull out of a number of dates due to Bono's bad back.
The top-earning Canadian on the list was crooner Michael Buble, who landed at No. 6 on the list with $104.2 million. It's also worth noting that Roger Waters didn't let accusations of anti-Semitism prevent him from raking in the dough, as he came in at No. 10 with $89.5 million.
See the full top ten below. If you go to Pollstar, you can read a list of the top 50 tours, both worldwide and in North America.
2010's highest-grossing touring acts:
1. Bon Jovi ($201.1 million)
2. AC/DC ($177 million)
3. U2 ($160.9 million)
4. Lady Gaga ($133.6 million)
5. Metallica ($110.1 million)
5. Michael Buble ($104.2 million)
7. "Walking with Dinosaurs" ($104.1 million)
8. Paul McCartney ($93 million)
9. Eagles ($92.3 million)
10. Roger Waters ($89.5 million)
