Topline
After a year off because of the coronavirus pandemic, live music returned in 2021, and acts like The Rolling Stones and Harry Styles were leaders in bringing fans out into stadium seats—here are the most popular, and most profitable, tours of the year.
Harry Styles performs onstage during the tour opener for Love On Tour at MGM Grand Garden Arena on … [+]
Key Facts
According to data from Pollstar, the Rolling Stones had the highest-grossing tour of the year, earning over $115 million and selling over 516,000 tickets for 12 shows across 11 cities, charging an average of roughly $223 per ticket.
Harry Styles’ show “Love On Tour” was the most popular concert of the year and the second highest-grossing, selling over 669,000 tickets and earning nearly $87 million for 39 shows across 30 cities, charging an average of roughly $129 per ticket.
Surprising Fact
Despite the fallout from Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special, which many criticized as being transphobic, his tour grossed $22 million, more than any other comedian this year.
Big Number
$330.73. That’s how much the average ticket cost for Bruno Mars’ tour, the highest of any act this year.
Lists
Highest-grossing tours:
- The Rolling Stones — $115.5 million
- Harry Styles — $86.7 million
- Weezer, Fall Out Boy and Green Day — $67.3 million
- Eagles “Hotel California Tour” —$59.2 million
- Dead & Company — $50.2 million
- Lou Bukis — $49.7 million
- Guns N’ Roses — $47.3 million
- Dave Matthews Band — $46 million
- Phish — $44.4 million
- Jonas Brothers — $42.5 million
Most popular tours:
- Harry Styles — 699,051 tickets
- Weezer, Fall Out Boy and Green Day — 659,062 tickets
- Dead & Company — 588,685 tickets
- Dave Matthews Band — 583,399 tickets
- Phish — 572,626 tickets
- Jonas Brothers — 528,630 tickets
- Luke Bryan — 522,966 tickets
- The Rolling Stones — 516,624 tickets
- Chris Stapleton — 516,395 tickets
- Alanis Morissette — 499,296 tickets
Key Background
The Rolling Stones’ drummer Charlie Watts was noticeably absent from the stage this year—he was replaced on the tour in order to receive a medical procedure before he died in August. Last year’s highest-grossing tour was Elton John, which earned $87 million, according to Pollstar. The year’s most-popular show was the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which sold over 885,000 tickets. More than 83 million attendees’ plans to go to shows, sporting events or conferences were affected last year when lockdowns were put in place to curb the spread of the virus.
Further Reading
Harry Styles Shows Why He Is Music’s Next Great Arena Rock Headliner At Dazzling L.A. Gig (Forbes)
