AC/DC is highest grossing tour of 2010 so far

13 July 2010

by Christie Eliezer

AC/DC boast the highest grossing tour in the world in the first six months of this year. Their Black Ice global tour sold 1.8 million tickets and grossed US$177.5 million (nearly AU$202.9 million), according to US trade magazine Pollstar.

The tour, which broke attendance records in Australia this year, globally beat Bon Jovi (US$75.7 million), Metallica ($60.8 million), James Taylor and Carole King ($53.9 million) and the Black Eyed Peas ($48.4 million).

These figures came when the tour scene in North America fell to its lowest since 2005. Pollstar estimated that the first top 100 tours grossed $965.5 million during the first six months. This was a 17% slide, or $200 million, from last year. In the first half of 2005, the combined tours made $731 million haul.

In the North American market, Bon Jovi grossed the most this year, with $52.8 million. They were followed by Taylor and Carole King ($41 million), Taylor Swift ($34.2 million), Paul McCartney ($31.6 million) and George Strait ($29.8 million).

The Eagles and Jonas Bros fared badly, and the all-female Lililth Tour and current American Idol finalists had to cancel shows. Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, John Mayer, Limp Bizkit and the Go-Gos' have been forced to cancel or downsize tours.

Pollstar said the dip was due to the weak US economy and a backlash by fans at "piggish" ticket prices.