These artists spent the bulk of 2009 on the road, and came home with fat pockets to prove it. (Artists are ranked by total gross earnings from Dec. 6, 2008 through Nov. 21, 2009)

1
U2

Total Gross: $311,637,730 Number of Shows: 44
Total Attendance: 3,071,290 Number of Sell-Outs: 44




2
MADONNA

Total Gross: $222,017,248 Number of Shows: 46
Total Attendance: 2,187,993 Number of Sell-Outs: 46




3
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND

Total Gross: $156,340,910 Number of Shows: 72
Total Attendance: 1,736,926 Number of Sell-Outs: 42




4
AC/DC

Total Gross: $135,287,350 Number of Shows: 76
Total Attendance: 1,583,143 Number of Sell-Outs: 52




5
PINK

Total Gross: $102,878,271 Number of Shows: 131
Total Attendance: 1,550,026 Number of Sell-Outs: 69




6
ANDRE RIEU

Total Gross: $95,854,338 Number of Shows: 112
Total Attendance: 834,992 Number of Sell-Outs: 18




7
BRITNEY SPEARS

Total Gross: $94,813,948 Number of Shows: 70
Total Attendance: 1,097,229 Number of Sell-Outs: 61




8
BILLY JOEL & ELTON JOHN

Total Gross: $90,218,314 Number of Shows: 32
Total Attendance: 719,423 Number of Sell-Outs: 31



9
TINA TURNER

Total Gross: $86,372,137 Number of Shows: 59
Total Attendance: 822,083 Number of Sell-Outs: 47




10
COLDPLAY

Total Gross: $84,369,360 Number of Shows: 66
Total Attendance: 1,199,862 Number of Sell-Outs: 31




11
METALLICA

Total Gross: $76,613,910 Number of Shows: 66
Total Attendance: 1,120,917 Number of Sell-Outs: 47




12
JONAS BROTHERS

Total Gross: $73,293,001 Number of Shows: 62
Total Attendance: 1,089,453 Number of Sell-Outs: 42




13
KENNY CHESNEY

Total Gross: $70,999,090 Number of Shows: 52
Total Attendance: 1,034,021 Number of Sell-Outs: 36




14
FLEETWOOD MAC

Total Gross: $62,590,677 Number of Shows: 59
Total Attendance: 640,201 Number of Sell-Outs: 9




15
BEYONCE

Total Gross: $57,138,765 Number of Shows: 57
Total Attendance: 697,093 Number of Sell-Outs: 25




16
CELINE DION

Total Gross: $56,984,471 Number of Shows: 33
Total Attendance: 526,438 Number of Sell-Outs: 31




17
IL DIVO

Total Gross: $53,494,139 Number of Shows: 103
Total Attendance: 649,748 Number of Sell-Outs: 36




18
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

Total Gross: $52,338,154 Number of Shows: 58
Total Attendance: 997,158 Number of Sell-Outs: 23




19
NICKELBACK

Total Gross: $49,908,542 Number of Shows: 70
Total Attendance: 1,046,973 Number of Sell-Outs: 42




20
DEPECHE MODE

Total Gross: $45,658,648 Number of Shows: 31
Total Attendance: 690,936 Number of Sell-Outs: 9




21
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

Total Gross: $42,862,677 Number of Shows: 109
Total Attendance: 1,010,067 Number of Sell-Outs: 43



22
RASCAL FLATTS

Total Gross: $42,298,302 Number of Shows: 55
Total Attendance: 768,152 Number of Sell-Outs: 40




23
LIL WAYNE

Total Gross: $39,314,413 Number of Shows: 69
Total Attendance: 728,655 Number of Sell-Outs: 7




24
BRAD PAISLEY

Total Gross: $35,736,893 Number of Shows: 66
Total Attendance: 841,228 Number of Sell-Outs: 39




25
PAUL MCCARTNEY

Total Gross: $33,650,567 Number of Shows: 10
Total Attendance: 275,256 Number of Sell-Outs: 7

http://www.billboard.com/...3062.story

newpower99 said:

I wonder if Springsteen netted the most. U2 splits their dough four ways and both they and Madonna had huge production overhead. Bruce's "production" consists of a stage and a couple of video screens.

Where is Neil Diamond?

OOPS. Just saw the other thread.
[Edited 12/22/09 13:11pm]

Next year will be Bon Jovi again at the top, they have a tour that will go from 2010-late 2011. And im glad that a-Ha will be on next years list for the 2010 final tour

Artists who tour all the time (Madonna,for example) don't really have to worry about declining CD sales at all.

who in the hell goes to see nickelback
[Edited 12/23/09 4:25am]

Dewrede said:

Good question. Last video I saw of them, they were booed off stage, and people were throwing shit and their heads (and making contact). hahahahaha

^ i'd like to see that

23
LIL WAYNE

Total Gross: $39,314,413 Number of Shows: 69
Total Attendance: 728,655 Number of Sell-Outs: 7 <<<<


I seriously dont get this one

Dewrede said:

Portugal doesn't like Nickelback. The :23 point is where he gets hit w/ a rock. They were already walking off the stage at that point too.

newpower99 said:

It should just read:

LIL WAYNE

Totally Gross

...and end it there.

newpower99 said:

109 ? "On the 109th day of evil Christmas...."

what do they play from January to November?

Ace said:

live nation underwrites and covers alot of the production for both U2 and Madge and they both get sponsorships on their tours which cover alot of the overhead.

There was empty handicapped seating at U2 in Vegas, so these numbers are inaccurate!

newpower99 said:

Damn, I had no idea Pink was making that much dough touring!!!

Mediocrity goes a long way these days!!!

Paris9748430 said:

She did a huge number of shows in Australia. They seem to love her there.

mynameisnotsusan said:

I could see how, because top stars don't go to Australia often.

I remember it being a big deal when Prince did a series of shows down there.

Paris9748430 said:

wait you're calling Pink mediocre?
lmao.

mimi2 said:

I actually kinda like Pink. Do I think she's talented enough, or puts on a show good enough to be the 5th highest grossing Tour?

Ehhhh!!!

Paris9748430 said:

Just looking at vocal talent/ability, she's one of the best out there from this generation. She's a better singer than other top female artists like Beyonce, Lady Gaga etc...and don't even get me started on Shitney Spears

mimi2 said:

Yeah, she can sing, and has good songs.

But like I said. Do I think she's that good an artist to gross that much on tour???

NAHHHH!!!

Paris9748430 said:

i've heard she's staged quite the show this time out.

http://www.theage.com.au/...13653.html

MELBOURNE, according to Pink, is feeling like home. ‘‘I actually know the city now,’’ she said backstage at Rod Laver Arena last night where, with her 13th performance, she officially broke the venue’s record for consecutive shows.

In a pre-show ceremony, the pop superstar was presented with a backstage plaque on a pillar that will be painted permanently pink, as well as a giant cheesecake and a bottle of Grange Hermitage from her birth year, 1979.

‘‘That’s gorgeous!’’ she screamed. ‘‘Chef, where do I start on a piece of cake like this?’’

‘‘Straight in the guts,’’ was the reply. The feisty singer, real name Alecia Moore, was in good form. During her four-month Australian tour, she has developed a taste for Australian beer and has road-tripped through far north Queensland. ‘‘It was awesome. But at dusk, with your bugs … not a good time.’’

Asked for her impression of AFL, she said she ‘‘didn’t get it at first’’ but came to admire Carlton’s Brendan Fevola.

‘‘Then I was into it … I loved the elbowing. [Fevola and North Melbourne opponent Scott Thompson] were punching the shit out of each other!’’

The 29-year-old is a one-woman pop music phenomenon. Her circus-themed Funhouse tour will eventually play for 17 nights at Rod Laver Arena to more than 220,000 fans.

That will make it Melbourne’s highest-selling arena pop tour.

‘‘The first couple of shows were sleepy,’’ Pink said. ‘‘It’s picking up. The last four shows here have been incredible.

ernestsewell said:

thanks

very amusing
[Edited 12/23/09 19:02pm]