It's summertime and many of music's biggest acts are out on tour shaking everything they've got for eager fans. From Taylor Swift to U2, Dave Matthews Band to Foo Fighters – these musicians are crisscrossing the country and the globe to reach fans and make that hard earned cash. Only the passage of time will tell whether any of this summer's hottest tours makes it onto the list of the 10 Highest Grossing Concert Tours of All Time.
In fact, the list of the top 10 highest grossing concert tours of all time is pretty impressive. There's not a Justin Bieber or One Direction to be found. Instead, the list is made up of bands and performers who have been popular for many decades. The youngsters on the list, for instance, are U2 and Madonna!
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The concert tours that have made this list have done so on, not just the strength of the fans' devotion to their favorite band, but on the hard work the performers themselves put in travelling the globe on one tour for up to three years at a time. It is a rarefied act that can pack in the audiences at the giant arenas needed to support a tour of this length and expense.
Of course ticket prices play a part in where these acts ended up on this list. With seats that can cost $200 or more per ticket, that ups the gross of the tour overall. These are, for now, the Top 10 Highest Grossing Concert Tours Of All Time. Who do you think will be the next band or musician to crack this list? Which act do you think will be the first to break $1 billion in revenue?
10. The Rolling Stones
Tour: Licks Tour
Date: 2002-2003
Shows: 115
Total Audience: 3,470,945
Gross: $311,000,000
9. The Rolling Stones
Tour: Voodoo Lounge Tour
Date: 1994-1995
Shows: 124
Total Audience: 6,336,776
Gross: $320,000,000
8. Bruce Springsteen
Tour: Wrecking Ball World Tour
Date: 2012-2013
Shows: 127
Total Audience: 3,650,535
Gross: $347,000,000
7. The Police
Tour: The Police Reunion Tour
Date: 2007-2008
Shows: 156
Total Audience: 3,300,912
Gross: $362,000,000
6. U2
Tour: Vertigo Tour
Date: 2005-2006
Shows: 131
Total Audience: 4,616,021
Gross: $389,047,636
5. Madonna
Tour: Sticky and Sweet Tour
Date: 2008-2009
Shows: 85
Total Audience: 3,545,899
Gross: $408,000,000
4. AC/DC
Tour: Black Ice World Tour
Date: 2008-2010
Shows: 167
Total Audience: 4.846.965
Gross: $441,121,000
3. Roger Waters
Tour: The Wall Live Tour
Date: 2010-2013
Shows: 219
Total Audience: 4,129,863
Gross: $458,673,798
2. Rolling Stones
Tour: Bigger Bang Tour
Date: 2005-2007
Shows: 144
Total Audience: 4,680,000
Gross: $558,255,524
1. U2
Tour: Us 360° Tour
Date: 2009-2011
Shows: 110
Total Audience: 7.272.046
Gross: $736,421,584
