With 2011 steadily nearing its end, new annual review lists seem to be popping up within each new day. Billboard has now decided to clears ALL the smoke and mirrors and release 2011′s Top 25 Tours! It gives true insight into who exactly generated the big bucks this past year.
So get into this year’s list after the jump. Let’s just say it may surprise a few…
Billboard Top 25 Tours Of 2011
1
U2
Total Gross: $293,281,487 Number of Shows: 44
Total Attendance: 2,887,972 Number of Sell-Outs: 44
Setlist Essential: ”Where The Streets Have No Name”
2
Bon Jovi
Total Gross: $192,947,951 Number of Shows: 68
Total Attendance: 1,851,385 Number of Sell-Outs: 68
Setlist Essential: ”Wanted Dead Or Alive”
3
Take That
Total Gross: $185,175,360 Number of Shows: 29
Total Attendance: 1,806,473 Number of Sell-Outs: 29
Setlist Essential: ”Kidz”
4
Roger Waters
Total Gross: $149,904,965 Number of Shows: 92
Total Attendance: 1,362,993 Number of Sell-Outs: 92
Setlist Essential: ”Comfortably Numb”
5
Taylor Swift
Total Gross: $97,368,416 Number of Shows: 89
Total Attendance: 1,356,720 Number of Sell-Outs: 87
Setlist Essential: ”You Belong With Me”
6
Kenny Chesney
Total Gross: $84,576,917 Number of Shows: 55
Total Attendance: 1,160,132 Number of Sell-Outs: 37
Setlist Essential: ”Somewhere With You”
7
Usher
Total Gross: $74,954,681 Number of Shows: 73
Total Attendance: 922,327 Number of Sell-Outs: 58
Setlist Essential: ”DJ Got Us Falling In Love”
8
Lady Gaga
Total Gross: $71,900,434 Number of Shows: 45
Total Attendance: 745,735 Number of Sell-Outs: 43
Setlist Essential: ”Born This Way/Edge Of Glory”
9
André Rieu
Total Gross: $67,104,756 Number of Shows: 102
Total Attendance: 657,757 Number of Sell-Outs: 15
Setlist Essential: ”Qué Será Será”
10
Sade
Total Gross: $53,178,550 Number of Shows: 59
Total Attendance: 588,693 Number of Sell-Outs: 21
Setlist Essential: ”No Ordinary Love”
Chart Article
11
Michael Bublé
Total Gross: $49,856,921 Number of Shows: 57
Total Attendance: 520,242 Number of Sell-Outs: 36
Setlist Essential: ”For Once In My Life”
12
Eagles
Total Gross: $49,759,190 Number of Shows: 24
Total Attendance: 286,684 Number of Sell-Outs: 3
Setlist Essential: ”Long Road Out Of Eden”
13
Katy Perry
Total Gross: $48,851,454 Number of Shows: 98
Total Attendance: 1,002,656 Number of Sell-Outs: 54
Setlist Essential: ”Firework”
14
Lil Wayne
Total Gross: $46,300,000 Number of Shows: 69
Total Attendance: 712,000 Number of Sell-Outs: 14
Setlist Essential: ”How To Love”
15
Justin Bieber
Total Gross: $44,124,922 Number of Shows: 35
Total Attendance: 567,544 Number of Sell-Outs: 27
Setlist Essential: ”One Less Lonely Girl”
16
Glee Live! In Concert!
Total Gross: $40,854,811 Number of Shows: 40
Total Attendance: 485,852 Number of Sell-Outs: 40
Setlist Essential: ”I Wanna Hold Your Hand”
17
NKOTBSB
Total Gross: $40,415,307 Number of Shows: 51
Total Attendance: 609,426 Number of Sell-Outs: 22
Setlist Essential: ”The Right Stuff/Larger Than Life”
18
Journey
Total Gross: $39,069,939 Number of Shows:73
Total Attendance: 688,871 Number of Sell-Outs: 17
Setlist Essential: ”Don’t Stop Believin’”
19
Britney Spears
Total Gross: $37,100,000 Number of Shows: 39
Total Attendance: 396,000 Number of Sell-Outs:14
Setlist Essential: ”Hold It Against Me”
20
Iron Maiden
Total Gross: $33,085,671 Number of Shows: 33
Total Attendance: 473,285 Number of Sell-Outs: 17
Setlist: Essential: ”The Talisman”
21
Kylie Minogue
Total Gross: $32,559,439 Number of Shows: 41
Total Attendance: 307,135 Number of Sell-Outs: 2
Setlist Essential: ”Closer/There Must Be An Angel/Love At First Sight”
22
Neil Diamond
Total Gross: $31,303,070 Number of Shows: 20
Total Attendance: 239,723 Number of Sell-Outs: 4
Setlist Essential: ”Sweet Caroline”
23
Enrique Iglesias
Total Gross: $30,811,001 Number of Shows: 38
Total Attendance: 397,857 Number of Sell-Outs: 32
Setlist Essential: ”Tonight”
24
Jason Aldean
Total Gross: $27,768,963 Number of Shows: 58
Total Attendance: 790,530 Number of Sell-Outs: 47
Setlist Essential: ”See You When I See You”
25
Toby Keith
Total Gross: $27,313,132 Number of Shows: 52
Total Attendance: 673,668 Number of Sell-Outs: 19
Setlist Essential: ”Made In America”
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While the US is the world’s largest music market, it doesn’t mean acts from the “outside” can’t bring it to the bank as well. Case in point, Kylie Minogue is an act whose main success is vested outside the US and yet she still made the list. It was also surprising to see an artist like Usher‘s place so high. Despite his chart success, his fans still poured out to see him live.
DID YOUR FAVORITES MAKE THE LIST!?
THOUGHTS!?