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$25 billion in live music

Top 25 Tours of 2015

Hrefna Helgadóttir

Top 25 Tours of 2015

Billboard has released their annual end of year report for the best performing tours of 2015. The live music industry turned $20 billion around in the year. So here's a countdown to the 25 top tours of 2015, according to Billboard's Boxscore*.

$30 million– 630k attended – 55 shows

Rush grossed over $1 million per show in 2015 and had the second highest ticket price
of the year, with an estimated average of $168 per ticket.

$35 million total – 400k attendees – 32 shows

Take That grossed over $1.3 million per show.

$35 million total – 330k attendees – 26 shows

A post shared by Bette Midler (@bettemidler) on

Bette Midler grossed over $1.1 million per show.

$37 million total – 287k attendees – 32 shows

$37 million– 370k attendees – 40 shows

$39 million – 808k attendees – 71 shows

Beautiful September night in London @bbcradio2 @rocketentertainment

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on

$39 million – 300k attendees – 49 shows
ranked 15th in 2014

$55 million in 2015 – half a million attendees – 36 shows
ranked 24th last year

Happy newyear to all my fans! #andrerieu #happynewyear #newyear

A post shared by André Rieu (@andrerieu) on

$43 million in 2015 – half a million attendees – 79 shows
ranked 20th last year

Madonna grossed almost $2 million per show in 2015. Her average ticket prices were over $150 per person.

$45 million total – 300k attendees – 24 shows

Thank you global citizen for the amazing work and such a great crowd

A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos) on

$48 million – 750k attendees – 56 shows

Neil Diamond grossed over $1 million per show.

$50 million total – 450k attendees – 46 shows

Sharing the mic! #bobweir #jerrygarcia #thegratefuldead #gratefuldead #guitarists

A post shared by Grateful Dead (@thegratefuldeadlife) on

The Grateful Dead had the highest average gross per show, over $10 million. This is a result of the combination of a high average ticket price, $144 a piece, and most attendees per show, or over 70k per show, and by far the fewest shows of anyone on the list, with the annual total of 5 performances.

$52 million total – 360k attendees – 5 shows

Foo Fighters grossed over $2 million per show in 2015.

$55 million total – 700k attendees – 27 shows

A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on

Katy Perry grossed over $1 million per show in 2015. Even with only 36 shows, she's still the highest paid musician of 2015. Her Prism tour was coming to an end in 2015, whereas the bulk of it took place in 2014, the year which she ranked fifth on the same list, and was the highest grossing female of 2014.

$56 million total – half a million attendees – 36 shows

One more time on this stage. #KillTheLightsTour

A post shared by Luke Bryan Official (@lukebryan) on

Luke Bryan grossed over $1 million per show and performed for over a million people.

grossed almost $57 million total – with over a million attendees – over 55 shows
ranked 14th last year

$65 million in 2015 – 700k attendees – 68 shows

A post shared by Billy Joel (@billyjoel) on

Billy Joel grossed over $2.3 million per show in 2015.

$70 million total – 635k attendees – 29 shows
ranked 11th last year

A post shared by Maroon 5 (@maroon5) on

Maroon 5 grossed over $1 million per show in 2015.

$73 million total – 900k attendees – 62 shows

Fleetwood Mac grossed over $1.7 million per show in 2015.

$75 million total – 600k attendees – 44 shows

#spreadthelovetour #vabeach

A post shared by Kenny Chesney (@kennychesney) on

Kenny Chesney grossed $1.4 million per show for over 1.3 million fans.

$114 million total – 1.3m attendees – 57 shows

Mick performs Midnight Rambler at #StonesDesertTrip

A post shared by The Rolling Stones (@therollingstones) on

The Rolling Stones grossed over $7 million per show in 2015, with the highest average ticket price, estimated at $185 dollars a piece. They only had 18 shows total, the second lowest of the year.
Read more about the Rolling Stones' tour here.

grossed over $131 million total – with over 700k attendees – over 18 shows
ranked 3rd last year

Patti... #U2ieTour

A post shared by U2 Official (@u2) on

U2 grossed over $2 million per show in 2015.

$134 million total – 1m attendees – 64 shows

A post shared by One Direction (@onedirection) on

One Direction performed for over 2 millions fans, the most out of anyone in 2015,
with over 80 performances. They grossed over $2.5 million per show.

$208 million total – 2m attendees – 80 shows
ranked 1st last year

Swift was the highest grossing artist of 2015.
She grossed over $3 million per show, and played for almost 2 million fans.

$217 million total – 2m attendees – 71 shows