Industry data from Pollstar has revealed that Ed Sheeran’s ‘+–=÷× Tour’ (‘Mathematics Tour’) sold the most tickets in 2022, with more than three million tickets sold.
Sales for Sheeran’s tour grossed $251.3m (£202m/€236m), placing him third behind rapper Bad Bunny and Sir Elton John.
Bad Bunny’s ‘World’s Hottest Tour’ and ‘El Último Tour Del Mundo’ saw him reach the top of the Top 200 Worldwide Tours and Top 200 North American Tours charts with grosses of $435.4m. The total beats Sheeran’s record tour gains of $432.4m, which was set in 2018.
The top 100 Worldwide Tours set records with a total gross of $6.28bn, up 13.2% compared to 2019. Almost 60 million tickets were sold across the top 100 tours.
Other artists that feature in the top world tours include Harry Styles at number four, Coldplay at five, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe at number 6 followed by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Daddy Yankee, Garth Brooks and The Rolling Stones making up the top 10.
The Top 200 North American Tours also set records, with a total gross of $5.65bn – an increase of 28.4% compared to 2019. The top 200 North American tours sold 54.5 million tickets.
The top 10 includes Bad Bunny, Sir Elton John, Def Leppard/Mötley Crüe, Harry Styles, Kenny Chesney, The Weeknd, Morgan Waller, Garth Brooks, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sir Paul McCartney.
Pollstar’s data also revealed that 2022 was ‘the year of the stadium’ with record-setting grosses, ticket sales, shows and average ticket prices.
Concert grosses for the top 100 stadiums in 2022 increased by 81% from $1.48bn in 2019 to $2.68bn, while ticket sales were up nearly 49% from 16 million three years ago to 23.8 million. Average ticket prices rose 22% to $112.40.
“Pollstar Boxoffice data chronicling the year in touring and live entertainment showcases to resounding effect that this industry is back on track and poised for even greater success in 2023,” said Ray Waddell, president of Oak View Group’s Media & Conferences Division, which oversees Pollstar and sister publication VenuesNow.
“From superstar acts playing stadiums to established artists retaining their clout, to newer acts staking their claims for elite status, the live business is rich with powerful, compelling artists that fans are passionate to see perform on stage. Live has resumed its Golden Era.”