After more than two years of no concert appearances by music’s biggest stars due to COVID-19, artists have again begun to schedule tours. Taylor Swift, one of the most awarded singers in history, for instance, announced her “Eras” tour, her first since 2018, and fans went wild – so much so that Ticketmaster had to shut down due to historically unprecedented demand.
Though Swift may be the artist whose upcoming tour is the most anticipated in the months to come, she doesn’t come close to the top when it comes to the most popular touring musicians in modern history – or at least the most popular since concert touring became the norm.
Ever since digital streaming services change the way people consume music starting in the early 2000s, live performances have become increasingly lucrative. But even before concert tickets started going for hundreds of dollars each, popular groups – especially rock bands – made millions by going on world tours. (These are the most popular rock bands of all time.)
To determine the biggest touring artists of the last 40 years, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on concert ticket sales from live music trade publication Pollstar. Musical acts were ranked based on total tickets sold since Pollstar began tracking concert ticket sales data in 1981. Data on total concert gross since 1981 also came from Pollstar. Data on certified U.S. album unit sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America and is current as of November 2022.
Data used to determine the top charting song for each artist came from Billboard magazine and is based on a customized score wherein a week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. A similar system was used to determine the top charting album for each artist on the Billboard 200 00 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Chart data is current through the week of November 19, 2022. (These are the 20 biggest pop hits of the last 20 years.)
50. The Police
> Tickets sold: 4.9 million
> Est. concert gross: $367.8 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 22.0 million
> Top charting song: Every Breath You Take (1983)
> Top charting album: Zenyatta Mondatta (1980)
49. Santana
> Tickets sold: 7.7 million
> Est. concert gross: $338.3 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 43.5 million
> Top charting song: Smooth (feat. Rob Thomas) (1999)
> Top charting album: Supernatural (1999)
48. Chicago
> Tickets sold: 7.8 million
> Est. concert gross: $308.8 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 38.5 million
> Top charting song: Hard To Say I’m Sorry (1982)
> Top charting album: Chicago Transit Authority (1969)
47. Luke Bryan
> Tickets sold: 8.1 million
> Est. concert gross: $451.0 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 13.0 million
> Top charting song: Drunk On You (2011)
> Top charting album: Tailgates & Tanlines (2011)
46. Brad Paisley
> Tickets sold: 8.1 million
> Est. concert gross: $328.7 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 8.5 million
> Top charting song: Then (2009)
> Top charting album: Time Well Wasted (2005)
45. New Kids on the Block
> Tickets sold: 8.2 million
> Est. concert gross: $343.7 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 16.5 million
> Top charting song: You Got It (The Right Stuff) (1988)
> Top charting album: Hangin’ Tough (1988)
44. P!nk
> Tickets sold: 8.2 million
> Est. concert gross: $762.5 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 18.0 million
> Top charting song: Just Give Me a Reason (feat. Nate Ruess) (2013)
> Top charting album: Funhouse (2008)
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43. Guns N’ Roses
> Tickets sold: 8.5 million
> Est. concert gross: $751.3 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 44.5 million
> Top charting song: November Rain (1992)
> Top charting album: Appetite for Destruction (2004)
42. Rush
> Tickets sold: 8.6 million
> Est. concert gross: $341.8 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 26.0 million
> Top charting song: New World Man (1982)
> Top charting album: Moving Pictures (1981)
41. Mötley Crüe
> Tickets sold: 8.7 million
> Est. concert gross: $367.3 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 25.0 million
> Top charting song: Without You (1990)
> Top charting album: Dr. Feelgood (1989)
40. André Rieu
> Tickets sold: 8.8 million
> Est. concert gross: $783.1 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 0.0 million
> Top charting song: <500,000
> Top charting album: Home for the Holidays (2012)
39. James Taylor
> Tickets sold: 8.9 million
> Est. concert gross: $446.4 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 33.0 million
> Top charting song: Handy Man (1977)
> Top charting album: Sweet Baby James (1970)
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38. Brooks & Dunn
> Tickets sold: 8.9 million
> Est. concert gross: $307.3 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 27.5 million
> Top charting song: Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You (2001)
> Top charting album: Brand New Man (1991)
37. Roger Waters
> Tickets sold: 9.0 million
> Est. concert gross: $841.2 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 75.0 million
> Top charting song: N/A
> Top charting album: Radio K.A.O.S. (1987)
36. Toby Keith
> Tickets sold: 9.0 million
> Est. concert gross: $385.0 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 25.0 million
> Top charting song: Red Solo Cup (2011)
> Top charting album: Unleashed (2002)
35. ZZ Top
> Tickets sold: 9.1 million
> Est. concert gross: $278.7 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 25.0 million
> Top charting song: Legs (1984)
> Top charting album: Eliminator (1983)
34. Iron Maiden
> Tickets sold: 9.2 million
> Est. concert gross: $475.8 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 6.5 million
> Top charting song: N/A
> Top charting album: Piece Of Mind (1983)
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33. Depeche Mode
> Tickets sold: 9.2 million
> Est. concert gross: $573.3 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 10.5 million
> Top charting song: Enjoy the Silence (1990)
> Top charting album: Violator (1990)
32. Alan Jackson
> Tickets sold: 9.4 million
> Est. concert gross: $316.5 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 43.5 million
> Top charting song: It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere (with Jimmy Buffett) (2003)
> Top charting album: A Lot About Livin’ (And a Little ‘Bout Love) (1992)
31. Beyoncé
> Tickets sold: 9.4 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.0 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 29.5 million
> Top charting song: Irreplaceable (2006)
> Top charting album: Beyonce (2013)
30. Taylor Swift
> Tickets sold: 9.6 million
> Est. concert gross: $925.0 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 49.0 million
> Top charting song: Shake It Off (2014)
> Top charting album: 1989 (2014)
29. KISS
> Tickets sold: 9.9 million
> Est. concert gross: $532.4 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 21.0 million
> Top charting song: Beth/Detroit Rock City (1976)
> Top charting album: Alive (1975)
28. Journey
> Tickets sold: 10.0 million
> Est. concert gross: $470.9 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 49.0 million
> Top charting song: When You Love a Woman (1996)
> Top charting album: Journey’s Greatest Hits (1988)
27. Paul McCartney
> Tickets sold: 10.5 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.2 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 15.5 million
> Top charting song: Say Say Say (with Michael Jackson) (1983)
> Top charting album: McCartney (1970)
26. Celine Dion
> Tickets sold: 10.9 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.4 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 53.0 million
> Top charting song: Because You Loved Me (1996)
> Top charting album: Falling Into You (1996)
25. Eagles
> Tickets sold: 11.0 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.3 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 120.0 million
> Top charting song: Take It to the Limit (1975)
> Top charting album: Hell Freezes Over (1976)
24. Garth Brooks
> Tickets sold: 11.2 million
> Est. concert gross: $319.2 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 157.0 million
> Top charting song: Wrapped Up in You (2001)
> Top charting album: No Fences (1990)
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23. Def Leppard
> Tickets sold: 11.3 million
> Est. concert gross: $514.2 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 35.5 million
> Top charting song: Pour Some Sugar on Me (1988)
> Top charting album: Hysteria (1987)
22. AC/DC
> Tickets sold: 11.5 million
> Est. concert gross: $668.4 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 75.0 million
> Top charting song: Moneytalks (1990)
> Top charting album: Back In Black (1980)
21. Madonna
> Tickets sold: 11.7 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.4 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 64.5 million
> Top charting song: Take a Bow (1994)
> Top charting album: Madonna (1983)
20. Ed Sheeran
> Tickets sold: 11.9 million
> Est. concert gross: $968.9 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 14.0 million
> Top charting song: Shape of You (2017)
> Top charting album: ÷· (2017)
19. Tim McGraw
> Tickets sold: 12.3 million
> Est. concert gross: $679.9 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 37.5 million
> Top charting song: It’s Your Love (with Faith Hill) (1997)
> Top charting album: Not a Moment Too Soon (1994)
18. George Strait
> Tickets sold: 12.3 million
> Est. concert gross: $631.3 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 69.0 million
> Top charting song: She’ll Leave You With a Smile (2002)
> Top charting album: Pure Country (Soundtrack) (2004)
17. Coldplay
> Tickets sold: 12.5 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.0 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 14.5 million
> Top charting song: Viva La Vida (2008)
> Top charting album: A Rush Of Blood to the Head (2002)
16. Neil Diamond
> Tickets sold: 12.9 million
> Est. concert gross: $629.3 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 49.5 million
> Top charting song: Love on the Rocks (1980)
> Top charting album: The Jazz Singer (Soundtrack) (1980)
15. Rod Stewart
> Tickets sold: 13.2 million
> Est. concert gross: $796.1 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 38.0 million
> Top charting song: Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) (1976)
> Top charting album: Out of Order (1988)
14. Jimmy Buffett
> Tickets sold: 13.3 million
> Est. concert gross: $574.6 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 23.0 million
> Top charting song: Margaritaville (1977)
> Top charting album: Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (1977)
13. Aerosmith
> Tickets sold: 13.3 million
> Est. concert gross: $603.2 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 69.5 million
> Top charting song: Cryin’ (1993)
> Top charting album: Get a Grip (1993)
12. Phish
> Tickets sold: 13.5 million
> Est. concert gross: $595.9 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 5.5 million
> Top charting song: N/A
> Top charting album: Farmhouse (2000)
11. Trans-Siberian Orchestra
> Tickets sold: 15.3 million
> Est. concert gross: $769.0 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 8.5 million
> Top charting song: N/A
> Top charting album: The Lost Christmas Eve (2004)
10. Grateful Dead
> Tickets sold: 15.5 million
> Est. concert gross: $333.4 million
> Certified U.S. album sales: 19.5 million
> Top charting song: Touch of Grey (1987)
> Top charting album: In the Dark (1987)
9. Kenny Chesney
> Tickets sold: 16.4 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.1 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 35.0 million
> Top charting song: The Good Stuff (2002)
> Top charting album: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems (2002)
8. Billy Joel
> Tickets sold: 17.0 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.2 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 86.0 million
> Top charting song: The River of Dreams (1993)
> Top charting album: The Stranger (2001)
7. Bon Jovi
> Tickets sold: 17.8 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.3 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 34.5 million
> Top charting song: Always (1994)
> Top charting album: Slippery When Wet (1986)
6. Metallica
> Tickets sold: 19.5 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.2 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 63.0 million
> Top charting song: Enter Sandman (1991)
> Top charting album: Metallica (1991)
5. Elton John
> Tickets sold: 19.8 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.7 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 79.0 million
> Top charting song: Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) (with Dua Lipa) (2021)
> Top charting album: Diamonds (2017)
4. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
> Tickets sold: 20.8 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.5 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 71.0 million
> Top charting song: Dancing in the Dark (1984)
> Top charting album: Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
3. The Rolling Stones
> Tickets sold: 22.1 million
> Est. concert gross: $2.2 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 66.5 million
> Top charting song: Start Me Up (1981)
> Top charting album: Some Girls (1972)
2. Dave Matthews Band
> Tickets sold: 23.3 million
> Est. concert gross: $1.1 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 34.5 million
> Top charting song: The Space Between (2001)
> Top charting album: Crash (1996)
1. U2
> Tickets sold: 26.2 million
> Est. concert gross: $2.1 billion
> Certified U.S. album sales: 51.0 million
> Top charting song: Beautiful Day (2000)
> Top charting album: The Joshua Tree (1987)
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