21 December 2011
VVN Music
Billboard recently released their list of the top 25 tours of 2011 and the top two look the same as last year.
U2 and Bon Jovi's ongoing tours from the previous year continued to score in 2011 with the U2's 360 Degree Tour taking in $293 million while Bon Jovi grossing $193 million. Third for the year was the reformed Take That followed by Roger Waters and his The Wall tour and Taylor Swift.
What is striking this year is that there are not more veteran artists in the list. The past few years have been strong for veterans in the touring business with country being a good second. This year, there are nine veterans in the top 25 and only four country acts. Teen and young adult acts came back very strong with acts like Usher (7), Lady Gaga (8), Katy Perry (13), Lil Wayne (14), Justin Bieber (15) and Britney Spears (19).
The top five tours and all veterans who placed on the rest of the list::
01. U2 ($293 million, 44 shows, 44 sell-outs)
02. Bon Jovi ($193 million, 68 shows, 68 sell-outs)
03. Take That ($185 million, 29 shows, 29 sell-outs)
04. Roger Waters ($150 million, 92 shows, 92 sell-outs)
05. Taylor Swift ($97 million, 89 shows, 87 sell-outs)
10. Sade ($53 million, 59 shows, 21 sell-outs)
12. Eagles ($50 million, 24 shows, 3 sell-outs)
17. NKOTBSB (New Kids on the Block/Backstreet Boys) ($40 million, 51 shows, 22 sellouts)
18. Journey ($39 million, 73 shows, 17 sell-outs)
20. Iron Maiden ($33 million, 33 shows, 17 sell-outs)
22. Neil Diamond ($31 million, 20 shows, 4 sell-outs)
