2011 Top Tours – U2 Reigns Supreme

U2 dominated the world concert biz as well as North America’s live music scene, proving that it really is the Irish band’s world and we just live in it.

Photo: AP Photo

FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

As yet another example that even the best-made plans often go astray, U2 wouldn’t be at the top of 2011’s box office results if it wasn’t for Bono’s 2010 back injury that resulted in the band postponing a large chunk of its 360° tour until 2011.

Worldwide, U2 fans gobbled up 2,387,535 tickets in 2011 at an average price of $97.15 per. The stadium tour sold an average of 91,828 tickets per show for a final global gross of $231.9 million (All figures converted to U.S. dollars).

U2’s North American journey was equally impressive, selling 1,701,486 tickets overall for a year’s gross of $156 million.

Photo: AP Photo / The Canadian Press

Hippodrome De Montreal, Montreal, QC

But even though U2 was the 1,000 pound touring gorilla, it wasn’t the only act reaping box office success. Globally, Take That’s reunion tour with former member Robbie Williams took in $224 million during 2011 to place the British vocal group in second place. Third place went to Bon Jovi with the New Jersey band grossing $148.8 million during the year. Also achieving positions on Pollstar’s Top 5 Worldwide Tour chart are Taylor Swift ($104.2 million) and Roger Waters ($103.6 million).

How do the numbers add up when compared to last year? This year’s Top 25 Worldwide Tours grossed a combined $2.1 billion, nearly identical to last year.

This year’s Top 25 North American Tours grossed a combined $1.19 billion, which represents approximately a 4 percent drop from last year’s $1.24 billion. Although the overall dollar volume was down in 2011, the industry fared much better doing fewer shows and taking a more cautious approach in its objectives.