highest grossing music tours 2023

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Top 10 Highest-Grossing Rock Tours of 2023

Check out our recap of Billboard Boxscore's top 10 rock tours of the year, featuring blink-182, Metallica, and more.

By Eric Frankenberg

Eric Frankenberg

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Last week, Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts , ranking the top tours, venues, and promoters of 2023. That coverage included analysis of the new wave of genre diverse artists crashing stadium stages, and in turn, our charts. This week, we are breaking down the year’s biggest tours, genre by genre . Today, we continue with rock.

Rock music has been at the center of the touring industry for decades, with legendary acts like The Rolling Stones , U2 , and the Eagles controlling stadium calendars and delivering record-breaking grosses. That is still the case, as rock is responsible for more entries in the all-genre top 10, 20, 40 and 100 than any other genre.

But at 32.4% of all top 100 tours’ grosses, rock takes a dramatic hit from last year’s 42.5% figure. Combined with pop, the two central genres have lost a third of their total market share since the pandemic, as pockets of Latin and K-pop acts take up prime Boxscore real estate. And as rock accounts for many of the oldest artists in the top 100, with Latin and K-pop bringing up the chart’s youngest names, the future of rock bands as touring titans is blurrier than it was 5-10 years ago.

But with a new round of legacy tours from ‘90s and ‘00s bands, plus steady arena grosses from 21st century acts like Arctic Monkeys, Greta Van Fleet and Imagine Dragons, there is still plenty of juice for the coming years.

Scroll to check out the top 10 highest-grossing tours by rock artists, with such acts qualifying due to recent performance on Billboard ’s Top Rock Albums and/or Hot Rock Songs charts. Rankings are determined according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. All reported shows worldwide between Nov. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023 are eligible.

$76.8M / 597K tickets / 41 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 24

Phish is among the most consistent touring acts, regardless of genre. From its annual destination event in Mexico to its reliable runs of shows at Madison Square Garden, the jam-band legends continue to one-up themselves, after winding up at No. 31 on last year’s all-genre ranking.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

$77.2M / 657K tickets / 18 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 23

Red Hot Chili Peppers repeat in the year-end rock breakdown with shows in Asia, Europe and North America. Still, the band’s $77.2 million total doesn’t include the $48.2 million from its co-headline shows with Post Malone in Australia.

$92.7M / 1M tickets / 45 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 20

Muse makes its first appearance among the year-end top 10 rock tours since 2013, when the glam-rock band earned $43.2 million while on The 2nd Law World Tour. The European leg did the heaviest lifting, with nine of the top 10 grosses of the year.

$95.7M / 692K tickets / 45 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 19

Blink is back with the biggest tour of its career. The original trio of Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker reunited for 45 sold-out shows in North America and Europe. Things came to a head with two nights at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium, where blink-182 grossed $8.8 million and sold 43,600 tickets.

Guns N' Roses

$96.2M / 888K tickets / 31 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 18

Guns N’ Roses logs a second year between $90-100 million after being No. 8 on 2022’s genre Boxscore breakout. More shows after the tracking period’s cutoff puts the rock icons on tap for the ’24 ranking with $19.7 million already in the bank.

Dead & Company

$114.7M / 845K tickets / 28 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 15

Dead & Company played its farewell tour between May 19 and July 16, yielding its first $100 million summer since launching as a touring unit in 2015. The peak was a three-night run at San Francisco’s Oracle Park to end the tour, earning $20.4 million from 118,000 tickets sold.

$125.8M / 1.2M tickets / 19 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: 14

Metallica grossed more than $10 million in seven markets between Europe and North America, doubling up in Montreal, Paris and more. The M72 World Tour continues with scheduled dates through Sept. 29, 2024.

Depeche Mode

$175.2M / 1.8M tickets / 47 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: No. 9

The first of three rock acts in the all-genre top 10, Depeche Mode scores the biggest year of its touring career, blowing past 2017’s $123.5 million. Three shows at Mexico City’s Foro Sol on Sept. 21, 23 and 25 delivered the band’s biggest gross ever, at $15.4 million from 195,000 tickets sold.

$210M / 1.3M tickets / 65 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: No. 7

Elton John notches a fifth year on the year-end Boxscore recap with the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, having topped the abridged 2020 report. After all was said and done, set a new record as the highest-grossing tour in Boxscore history, regardless of genre. Over 329 shows, the trek earned $939.1 million and sold six million tickets.

$342.5M / 3.2M tickets / 55 shows

All-Genre Top 100 Rank: No. 2

Switching places with John from last year, Coldplay takes top honors as the highest-grossing rock act of 2023. The band’s spread covers shows in North and South America, as well as Europe, with dates in Asia and Australia in the 2024 tracking window. After kicking off in 2022, the Music of the Spheres Tour has brought in $664.5 million and sold 6.7 million tickets.

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From Taylor Swift to Bad Bunny, top 10 highest-grossing live concert tours of 2023 so far

The first half of 2023 has seen the continuation of 'the stadium era' as stars such as beyonce, bruce springsteen, and coldplay are playing to packed venues despite the global economic slowdown.

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Rucha Sharma writes about entertainment, pop culture, and sports. She also assists with events and edits for the web team. She has an MBA in Finance from Pune University and worked with DNA India and Fork Media Group as a features writer for more than six years. She loves comparing comic book storylines with their silver screen incarnations and wears the nerd badge with pride. When not planning her next hike with her dogs, she can be found obsessively improving her doodling skills.

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Top 10 highest-grossing concerts of 2023 (so far), 1) taylor swift—eras tour*.

• Gross: $300,804,808
• Average Ticket Price: $253.56
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 53,923
• Total Tickets: 1,186,314
• Average Gross: $13,627,946

2) Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band—2023 Tour*

• Gross: $142,605,835
• Average Ticket Price: $211.80
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 18,702
• Total Tickets: 673,277
• Average Gross: $3,961,273

3) Harry Styles—Love On Tour

• Gross: $124,000,392
• Average Ticket Price: $115.07
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 31,694
• Total Tickets: 1,077,622
• Average Gross: $3,647,070

4) Elton John—Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour

• Gross: $110,328,403
• Average Ticket Price: $163.95
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 20,392
• Total Tickets: 672,950
• Average Gross: $3,343,284

5) Ed Sheeran—+–=÷× Tour

• Gross: $105,309,873
• Average Ticket Price: $104.20
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 40,424
• Total Tickets: 1,010,616
• Average Gross: $4,212,394

6) Red Hot Chili Peppers—2023 Global Stadium Tour

• Gross: $91,488,134
• Average Ticket Price: $123.87
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 38,873
• Total Tickets: 738,601
• Average Gross: $4,815,164

7) Coldplay—Music Of The Spheres Tour

• Gross: $65,436,386
• Average Ticket Price: $88.86
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 66,949
• Total Tickets:  736,439
• Average Gross: $5,948,762

8) Daddy Yankee—La Última Vuelta World Tour

• Gross:  $60,461,483
• Average Ticket Price: $96.62
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 27,206
• Total Tickets: 625,748
• Average Gross: $2,628,760 

9) Kevin Hart—The Reality Check Tour

• Gross: $50,041,814
• Average Ticket Price: $107.00
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show:  8,503
• Total Tickets: 467,686
• Average Gross: $909,851

10) Bad Bunny—World’s Hottest Tour

• Gross: $49,112,859
• Average Ticket Price: $102.81
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 39,807
• Total Tickets: 477,688
• Average Gross: $4,092,738

Worldwide top 100 tours

• Average Gross: $1,473,145
• Average Ticket Price: $116.41
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 12,655
• Total Gross: $2.83 billion
• Total Tickets Sold: 24.3 million
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Taylor swift explains meaning behind ‘tortured poets’ songs including “fortnight”, “florida” & more, the top 10 music tours of 2023.

By Robert Lang , Tom Tapp

As in most other areas, Taylor Swift dominated the touring landscape in 2023. Her The Eras Tour grossed more than $1 billion , the biggest haul for any tour ever.

But there were other notable acts making big bucks on the road this year, including Beyoncé , Harry Styles and Drake .

Scroll through the gallery below to see who came out where on the list.

1. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

2. Beyoncé: Renaissance World Tour

$579 million

3. Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band 2023 World Tour

$379 million

4. Coldplay: Music Of The Spheres Tour

$325 million

5. Harry Styles: Love On Tour

$290 million

6. Morgan Wallen: Dangerous Tour

$284 million

7. Ed Sheeran: + – = ÷ x Tour

$268 million

8. P!NK: Summer Carnival Tour

$231 million

9. The Weeknd: After Hours ‘Til Dawn Tour

$220 million

10. Drake: It’s All A Blur Tour

$184 million

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Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour breaks record as highest-grossing music tour ever

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is officially the highest-grossing music tour ever, becoming the first to surpass $1 billion dollars in revenue.

The tour, which began in March 2023 and is set to conclude in December 2024 after a total of 151 shows worldwide, has earned $1.04 billion (£840 million) to date, according to Pollstar.

This breaks the record set by Elton John’s five-year farewell tour which ended earlier this year, bringing in $939 million (£749 million) over 328 shows. 

Swift’s sixth concert tour is in fact so popular that it has earned more than this year’s next two highest-grossing tours (Beyoncé’s and Bruce Springsteen’s) combined.

Beyoncé’s 56-date Renaissance World Tour broke Madonna’s 14-year-old record for the highest-grossing music tour by a female artist , earning $579 million (£468 million) between May and October, before The Eras Tour subsequently took the title.

Described by Swift as a journey through all her musical “eras”, each show is over 3.5 hours long with a set list of 44 songs divided into 10 acts.

It has received immensely positive reviews from critics, who have heaped praise on the production’s concept and quality, as well as Swift’s performances.

Her devoted fanbase, the Swifties, have turned out in full force to see their idol, crashing ticketing sites, selling out hotels, and even causing earthquake-like seismic activity at certain shows, as happened in Seattle in July.

With roughly 72,000 people in attendance at each concert, and tickets averaging around $238, the tour is grossing over $17 million per show.

According to Pollstar, 4.3 million tickets have been sold to date, and at this trajectory, the tour could realistically rake in over $2 billion dollars if all the remaining scheduled shows are played.

Merchandise has also proven to be a lucrative source of revenue, with estimates that it has brought in around $200 million so far.

The Eras Tour is just one of Swift’s many successes in 2023. In addition to recently being named Time ’s Person of the Year, and the re-recording of her decade-old 1989 being the best-selling album of the year, she has broken multiple world records.

In June, she was awarded the record for the most simultaneous albums on the US Billboard 200 for a living artist, with 10 of her albums charting at the same time.

She then broke several more records in July : 

• Most US No.1 albums by a female artist – 12 
• Most US singles chart entries (female) – 212
• Most Top 10 debuts on the US Hot 100 (female) – 31
• Most simultaneous new entries on the Hot 100 (female) – 26
• Most cumulative weeks at No.1 on US albums charts (solo female) – 63

And in August, she made history with the most monthly listeners on Spotify (female) , becoming the first female artist to amass 100 million.

With plans to release more music and continue on her record-breaking tour, we’ve no doubt that Taylor Swift will achieve many more Guinness World Records titles in 2024!

Want more? Follow us on Google News  and across our social media channels to stay up-to-date with all things Guinness World Records! You can find us on Facebook , Twitter/X , Instagram , Threads ,  TikTok , LinkedIn , and Snapchat Discover . Don't forget to check out our videos on YouTube  and become part of our group chat by following the Guinness World Records  WhatsApp channel . Still not had enough? Click here  to buy our latest book, filled to the brim with stories about our amazing record breakers.

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Rock Dominates Over Half of Billboard’s New Top 10 Highest Grossing Tours of All Time

In Billboard Boxscore 's updated list of the top 10 highest grossing tours of all time, rock holds on strong and dominates over half the list, with two other active tours by young and veteran artists bookending the ranking.

Top Grossing Tours: No. 10 - No. 5

One of those active tours is English pop superstar Harry Styles ' Love On Tour, which has been ongoing since 2021, raking in an impressive $418 million so far, which is good enough to secure the No. 10 spot.

Appearing next at No. 9 is AC/DC 's Black Ice World Tour, which took place from 2008 to 2010. Across 107 shows attended by 2.8 million people, the run grossed $442 million. Pink Floyd bassist and co-singer Roger Waters occupies No. 8 as The Wall Live took in $459 million after playing to 4.1 million people at 219 total gigs.

Coldplay , who are rock to some and not to others (we'll let you decide for yourself), brought in $524 million on the A Head Full of Dreams Tour, which made 115 stops in front of 5.4 million fans. That landed them at No. 7 on the updated list.

READ MORE: Report Shows Only 5 Artists Sold More Tickets Than Metallica Over the Last 40 Years

Coming in at No. 6 and No. 5 are The Rolling Stones , who earned $547 million and $558 million on the No Filter Tour (2017-2019, 2021) and A Bigger Bang Tour (2005-2007), respectively. Comparatively, the more recent run was comprised of 58 shows for 2.9 million people and the mid-2000s jaunt was a more exhausting 111 shows for 3.5 million fans. It's safe to say the Stones earn quite a lot more per show these days!

Top Grossing Tours: No. 4 - No. 1

One of the most attention-grabbing tours of the last decade was certainly the Not In This Lifetime... tour, which featured the return of Slash and Duff McKagan to Guns N' Roses . After playing 158 shows to a whopping 5.4 million fans, GN'R netted $584 million, which places them at No. 4 on Billboard's list.

There's a significant gap in gross sales from the first seven tours on the list and the top three, leaping from GN'R's $584 million all the way up to $736 million for U2 's 2009 through 2011 U2 360° Tour. The band played 110 shows on that run and a staggering 7.3 million people showed up.

No. 2 is another younger artist, English sensation Ed Sheeran , whose 2017 through 2019 The Divide Tour found him playing 258 gigs in front of 8.9 million fans. And $776 million was earned.

Finally, the No. 1 spot is claimed by a world-renowned legend whose tour is still ongoing, meaning these figures are going to keep increasing. Sir Elton John 's Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour initially ran from 2018 through 2020, but was interrupted by the pandemic. He got back on the road last year and, so far, this tour has brought in $853 million. The living legend's tour has sold 5.5 million tickets across 293 shows.

Past Touring Stats

In addition to tracking those top grossing tours of all time, Billboard regularly tracks the highest grossing tours of each year. Last year, the list had a healthy amount of rock and metal acts, from Iron Maiden (No. 26) through The Rolling Stones (No. 6). Read more here  and for 2021's year-end figures, head here .

The Top 25 Best Selling Hard Rock + Metal Artists of All Time

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Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen tours financially dominated in 2023

Pollstar said the tours that made the worldwide top 100 brought in over $9 billion, an increase of 46% over 2022.

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Many musical artists were on world tours this year and, according to Pollstar, some familiar names saw theirs wind up generating the highest amounts of money.

Pollstar reported Friday that the tours that made its "2023 Worldwide Top 100 Tours" grossed $9.17 billion collectively. That figure, which spanned Nov. 17, 2022 to Nov. 15 of this year, surged 46% year-over-year, according to the music industry publication. 

Of the $9.17 billion earned by this year’s worldwide top-100 tours, roughly $2.61 billion came from those belonging to five highest-grossing, Pollstar’s chart showed.

Pollstar identified the following artists as running the five worldwide tours that raked in the highest amounts this year:

1. Taylor Swift

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO BOOK COVERS.) Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Allianz Parque on November 24, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  (Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management / Getty Images)

Taylor Swift saw her "Eras Tour" produce a gross of $1.04 billion over the course of the 12-month period, marking the first instance of a billion-dollar tour, the publication estimated. In mid-October, Time’s 2023 " Person of the Year " also put out a concert movie of the tour, with IMDb’s Box Office Mojo reporting it has sold nearly $249.6 million worth of tickets to date.

TAYLOR SWIFT, DEION SANDERS, LIONEL MESSI MAKE STUBHUB HISTORY

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 01: (Editorial Use Only) Beyoncé performs onstage during the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at SoFi Stadium on September 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood) (Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood / Getty Images)

Beyonce, at $579.8 million, came in second out of worldwide tours with "Renaissance," with 56 shows in 39 cities contributing to it reaching that gross, Pollstar said. The singer, who also recently ranked No. 2 on StubHub’s list of "Top In-Demand Global Touring Artist" in 2023, made the "Renaissance" album and its songs like "Cuff it" and "Break My Soul" available to fans back in July 2022.

FILM CENTERED ON BEYONCE'S HIGH-GROSSING ‘RENAISSANCE’ TOUR HAS THEATER DEBUT

3. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Bruce Springsteen attends the "Love For The Holidays" concert at Town Hall on November 30, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images) (ason Mendez/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Pollstar pegged the amount that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s tour earned at nearly $379.5 million. People have picked up more than 150 million of Springsteen’s various albums over the years, according to reports.

4. Coldplay

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 18: Chris Martin of Coldplay performs on stage at Optus Stadium on November 18, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (Paul Kane/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Coldplay, the British band whose world tour saw nearly $325.5 million in gross, played in 17 different cities during the time frame, performing 50 concerts, the publication said. 

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5. Harry Styles

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Harry Styles attends The BRIT Awards 2023 at The O2 Arena on February 11, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Harry Styles, who used to belong to boyband One Direction, received the No. 5 position on Pollstar’s list of top world tours of 2023. His "Love on Tour" generated $290.5 million in 2023, per the chart. The singer has put out three full albums to date – "Harry Styles," "Fine Line" and "Harry’s House," the last of which won the Grammy award for Album of the Year.

10 Blockbuster Concert Tours That Dominated 2023

Table of contents, delving into 2023's top grossing tours .

In the realm of music entertainment, where melodies become anthems and stages transform into magical landscapes, 2023 witnessed a spectacle of epic proportions. As the year unfolded, music enthusiasts around the globe found themselves swept away by these blockbuster tours that captivated hearts and conquered box office records.

From stadiums to intimate arenas, the top 10 highest-grossing music tours of 2023 etched indelible marks on the world stage, leaving audiences awe-struck and craving more.  In this blog, Hollywood Branded shares an exclusive backstage pass to the resounding success and show-stopping moments from the top 10 highest-grossing music tours of 2023 and celebrates the artists that dominated the charts and redefined live performances.

MUSIC ARTISTS BUILD ECONOMIES

In the realm of live performances, the concert stage has become a  arena for the world's top musical acts to showcase their talents. As 2023 comes to a close, the industry is more than alive with the staggering financial success of some of the biggest names in music. Leading the charge is none other than Taylor Swift, whose Eras Tour has not only enthralled over 3 million fans but also grossed an astronomical $900 million, earning the pop sensation a cool $305 million.

The Financial Impact Beyond the Stage

The economic impact of these blockbuster tours extends far beyond the music itself. According to Morgan Stanley, Swift and Beyoncé, who earned $145 million from her Renaissance World Tour, collectively contributed a staggering $5.4 billion to the U.S. economy in the third quarter, which is larger than the GDP of 35 countries. As both stars have concert movies to go along with the tours, Beyonce's is still on the way, the financial windfall shows no signs of slowing down.

The Cost of the Grand Stage

However, the road to these record-breaking earnings is not without its challenges. The sheer magnitude of global tours involves a abundance of expenses, from a massive entourage of bandmates, backup singers, and dancers to the logistical intricacies of transforming stadiums into concert-ready venues. Even with Swift's average ticket price estimated at $253, the surge in costs post-pandemic, particularly in trucking and freight, poses a significant hurdle.

Not Every Dollar Goes into the Artist's Pocket

Contrary to popular belief, higher ticket prices don't necessarily translate to higher take-home pay for the artists. The complex web of expenses includes not only the artists' team but also venue rentals, managers, agents, promoters, and ticketing companies, each taking a share of the gross revenue. Sponsorship deals, such as Swift's collaboration with Capital One, play a crucial role in offsetting these exorbitant costs.

The Global Powerhouses of 2023

Forbes estimates that the top 10 highest-earning musicians raked in more than $1 billion from January 1 to August 31, highlighting the financial prowess of these global superstars. Aside from Swift and Beyoncé, other top performers include Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, P!nk, Harry Styles, Elton John, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, and The Weeknd, each contributing their own unique flair to the musical landscape.

A Glimpse into the Top-Earning Tours:

• Taylor Swift - The Eras Tour: 56 shows, $900 million gross, $305 million earnings.
• Beyoncé - Renaissance World Tour: 46 shows, $460 million gross, $145 million earnings.
• Ed Sheeran - Mathematics Tour: 41 shows, $240 million gross, $110 million earnings.
• Coldplay - Music of the Spheres World Tour: 43 shows, $275 million gross, $85 million earnings.
• P!nk - Summer Carnival: 37 shows, $300 million gross, $85 million earnings.
• Harry Styles - Love On Tour: 49 shows, $227 million gross, $70 million earnings.
• Elton John - Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour: 63 shows, $195 million gross, $70 million earnings.
• Morgan Wallen - One Night at a Time World Tour: 30 shows, $190 million gross, $70 million earnings.
• Luke Combs - World Tour: 30 shows, $125 million gross, $55 million earnings.
• The Weeknd - After Hours til Dawn Tour: 30 shows, $158 million gross, $55 million earnings.

A BILLION DOLLAR TOUR

As the second half of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour has moved overseas to Asia and Europe, the anticipation for a tour that is expected to gross well over a billion dollars continues to build. The success of these tours not only cements the artists' places in music history but also underscores the undeniable economic impact of the music industry on a global scale. With each note, these performers are not just creating music; they are orchestrating billion-dollar ballads that resonate far beyond the confines of the concert hall. 

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Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Is the Highest-Grossing of All Time and First-Ever to Hit $1 Billion

By Ethan Millman

Ethan Millman

Taylor Swift ‘s Eras Tour is the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, according to data from live music trade publication Pollstar , with the tour becoming the first ever to gross at least $1 billion. Swift dethrones Elton John’s years-long Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour for the top spot.

In a monumental, near-unprecedented year for a pop star, the all-time touring record is just one of the major accomplishments Swift has achieved in 2023, and perhaps her most significant financially as concert tours have become the biggest moneymaker for musicians. The Eras Tour was by far the biggest concert tour in the world this year, earning more than the next two highest-ranked tours (Beyonce and Bruce Springsteen) combined, as Pollstar data reflects.

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By the time the shows actually started, each tour date became a major social media moment, and the cities she played celebrated her with honorary mayorships and temporary city name changes . A world leader even implored Swift to set aside dates in their country.

Swift’s dominance has been evident in every aspect of the music business, from concert gross and merchandise to her album sales and streams, and even in the movie theaters, where her Eras Tour film has become one of the top-grossing concert movies of all time . Spotify crowned Swift the most streamed artist of 2023 last month with over 26.1 billion global streams, which amounts to $100 million in earnings . Those streams don’t take into account the other streaming services like Apple Music and Amazon Music, or her over 5 million traditional album sales just in the U.S.

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Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is set to earn a record-breaking $1 billion in sales—here are the 10 highest-grossing tours

Taylor Swift is already one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world , but now it looks like her Eras Tour could be the highest-grossing tour of all time, earning a record-setting $1 billion in sales.

Swift's stadium concert tour — which features sprawling 40-song sets with elaborate staging, choreography and over a dozen costume changes — is expected to eclipse Elton John's farewell tour in terms of gross revenue for tickets, merchandise and sponsorships, as reported by the Wall Street Journal .

Exactly how much Swift's tour has earned is unclear, as it hasn't been reporting nightly grosses to Billboard Boxscore, which tracks concert tour data.

Last December, Billboard estimated that Swift's tour would gross $590 million based on 52 tour dates. But with recently added concerts in Latin America, Asia, Australia and Europe through 2024, the tour has a total of at least 106 dates, for now.

This suggests that over $1 billion in total gross revenue is likely. With the added dates, another estimate has Swift taking in a total of $1.4 billion in gross revenue, according to concert data tracker Pollstar .

Have any other artists come close to that amount? Here's a look at the 10 highest-grossing concert tours, based on Billboard Boxscore's most recent data as of April 20, 2023.

• Elton John — Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour (2018-20, 22-present) : $853 million
• Ed Sheeran — The ÷ (Divide) Tour (2017-19) : $776 million
• U2 — U2 360° Tour (2009-11) : $736 million
• Guns N' Roses — Not in This Lifetime... Tour (2016-19) : $584 million
• The Rolling Stones — A Bigger Bang Tour (2005-07) : $558 million
• The Rolling Stones — No Filter Tour (2017-19, 21) : $547 million
• Coldplay — A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016-17) : $524 million
• Roger Waters — The Wall Live (2010-13) : $459 million
• AC/DC — Black Ice World Tour (2008-10) : $442 million
• Harry Styles — Love on Tour (2021-present) :$418 million

The success of Swift's tour is not surprising. When tickets first went on sale in November 2022, Ticketmaster's website crashed from all the traffic . During the first day of ticket sales, the Eras Tour sold over 2.4 million tickets, the most sold by an artist in a single day, according to Ticketmaster .

Tickets for the Eras Tour range from $50 to $899 for the most expensive VIP package. However, in the resale market tickets are much pricier, as even the cheapest seats go for $1,000, according to Axios .

Including other expenses like clothing, hotel accommodations and travel arrangements, concert-goers spend $1,300 on average to attend the tour, according to a recent survey by QuestionPro, a research company.  

Based on the survey's findings, total spending on Taylor Swift's tour in 2023 is expected to be around $5 billion. That's larger than the gross domestic product of 50 countries, according to Billboard.

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Top 10 Highest-Grossing Live Concerts and Tours of 2023 So Far: Featuring Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Bad Bunny

As we hit the midpoint of 2023, the live concert scene is thriving. Explore the top-grossing live concerts and tours of the year, featuring beloved artists like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, and Bad Bunny.

In 2023, the world is gradually returning to a sense of normalcy after three tumultuous years. The resurgence of energy and enthusiasm is evident, particularly in the entertainment realm. The sales reports from live events and shows clearly reflect people’s strong desire to embrace normalcy once again. Here’s a rundown of the top 10 highest-grossing concerts and tours of 2023 thus far, showcasing the power of music to unite fans worldwide.

Taylor Swift – Eras Tour

Taylor Swift’s “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” showcased her captivating presence on stage. Her performance at Ford Field on June 09, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan, was nothing short of enchanting. The tour paid tribute to her albums ‘Lover’ (2019), ‘Folklore’ (2020), ‘Evermore’ (2020), and ‘Midnights’ (2022). Here’s an approximate breakdown of the show’s income:

Gross: $300,804,808 Average Ticket Price: $253.56 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 53,923 Total Tickets: 1,186,314 Average Gross: $13,627,946

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – 2023 Tour

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band made a triumphant return to the stage at RDS Arena in Dublin, Ireland, on May 05, 2023. This marked their first performance since their sold-out tour in 2017. Here’s a financial overview of the tour:

Gross: $142,605,835 Average Ticket Price: $211.80 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 18,702 Total Tickets: 673,277 Average Gross: $3,961,273

Harry Styles – Love On Tour

British singer Harry Styles graced the stage at the BRIT Awards on February 11, 2023. This tour was in support of his second album ‘Love On Tour,’ as well as his earlier releases ‘Fine Line’ and ‘Harry’s House.’ Here’s a glimpse of the financials:

Gross: $124,000,392 Average Ticket Price: $115.07 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 31,694 Total Tickets: 1,077,622 Average Gross: $3,647,070

Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour

The legendary British singer, Elton John, graced the Glastonbury festival in Somerset, Southwest England, on June 25, 2023. This marked the concluding performance of his ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour.’ The show was a magical experience, and the financials are as follows:

Gross: $110,328,403 Average Ticket Price: $163.95 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 20,392 Total Tickets: 672,950 Average Gross: $3,343,284

Ed Sheeran – (+–=÷×) Tour

Ed Sheeran’s performance on NBC’s “Today” show at Rockefeller Center in New York, U.S., on June 6, 2023, was a highlight of the year. It was part of his Mathematics Tour and proved to be immensely successful. Here are the financial details:

Gross: $105,309,873 Average Ticket Price: $104.20 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 40,424 Total Tickets: 1,010,616 Average Gross: $4,212,394

Red Hot Chili Peppers – 2023 Global Stadium Tour

Red Hot Chili Peppers rocked the stage during the 3rd day of BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival at Napa Valley Expo on May 28, 2023, in Napa, California. The tour supported their previous releases, ‘Unlimited Love’ (April 2022) and ‘Return of the Dream Canteen’ (October 2022). Financial insights are as follows:

Gross: $91,488,134 Average Ticket Price: $123.87 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 38,873 Total Tickets: 738,601 Average Gross: $4,815,164

Coldplay – Music Of The Spheres Tour

Coldplay, known for their cathartic performances, enthralled the audience at Manchester Etihad Stadium on May 31, 2023. This was part of their Music Of The Spheres World Tour, their first performance since the pandemic for their ninth studio album. Financial highlights include:

Gross: $65,436,386 Average Ticket Price: $88.86 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 66,949 Total Tickets: 736,439 Average Gross: $5,948,762

Daddy Yankee – La Última Vuelta World Tour

Daddy Yankee delivered an electrifying performance at Stadio Mobil Super, Monterrey, Mexico, on November 23, 2022. The show supported his latest release ‘Legendaddy.’ The financial breakdown is as follows:

Gross: $60,461,483 Average Ticket Price: $96.62 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 27,206 Total Tickets: 625,748 Average Gross: $2,628,760

Kevin Hart – The Reality Check Tour

Kevin Hart, a celebrated entertainer, continued to impress audiences with his performances from the “Spike’s Rock the Troops” event at Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, on October 22, 2016, to 2023. His Reality Check Tour proved to be immensely successful, and here’s a glimpse of the financials:

Gross: $50,041,814 Average Ticket Price: $107.00 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 8,503 Total Tickets: 467,686 Average Gross: $909,851

Bad Bunny – World’s Hottest Tour

Bad Bunny, a trailblazer in the music industry, has consistently remained one of the most viewed artists of this era. Whether in 2022 or at the Grammys, his unapologetic presence and compelling music have earned him immense success in 2023. Notably, his advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community further solidifies his position as a prominent artist. The financials for his successful tour are as follows:

Gross: $49,112,859 Average Ticket Price: $102.81 Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 39,807 Total Tickets: 477,688 Average Gross: $4,092,738

The transition from 2019 to 2023 has been remarkable, underscoring the resurgence of the music industry and its return to former glory. Numerous surveys indicate that the music industry, especially the live performance sector, has seen a significant increase in profits this year. Beyond the established names, emerging artists are also gaining traction in the industry. By the midpoint of 2023, the pop music industry has already sold an impressive 24.3 million tickets. This undoubtedly signifies the world’s gradual recovery and strengthening after the challenges posed by the pandemic.

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10 Highest-Grossing Live Concerts/ Tours of 2023(By far): Including Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, and Taylor Swift

Author : Jennifer Stone

Image Source : today.com

In 2023, everything is coming back to normal, when the world was startled for 3 years straight. Now the world is gaining her former glory and the pomp that we all have missed. Keeping the facts entirely to the entertainment genre, this seems to grow stronger this year. And the sales report of these live events and shows have shown how much people wanted to get back to normal. Here you will find a list of the top 10 highest-grossing concerts of 2023 (by far):

• Taylor Swift – Eras Tour – $300,804,808
• Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – 2023 Tour – $142,605,835
• Harry Styles – Love On Tour – $124,000,392
• Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour – $110,328,403
• Ed Sheeran – (+–=÷×) Tour – $105,309,873
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – 2023 Global Stadium Tour – $91,488,134
• Coldplay – Music Of The Spheres Tour – $65,436,386
• Daddy Yankee – La Última Vuelta World Tour – $60,461,483
• Kevin Hart – The Reality Check Tour – $50,041,814
• Bad Bunny – World’s Hottest Tour – $49,112,859

From Taylor Swift to Bad Bunny, the list is obviously extremely diverse, but, the only thing that binds them all with every music lover from across the world is ‘Music’. So, here are brief monetary insights into these pompous events

1. Taylor Swift – Eras Tour

The onstage magnetism of Taylor Swift in her “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” has made everyone awestruck by her enigmatic presence. It was at the Ford Field on June 09, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan and she was completely incredible in her starry black dress and her charming vocals. This tour was a tribute to her four titles ‘Lover’ (2019), ‘Folklore’ (2020), ‘Evermore’ (2020), and ‘Midnights’ (2022). Here is an approximate income catalog of this show

• Gross: $300,804,808
• Average Ticket Price: $253.56
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 53,923
• Total Tickets: 1,186,314
• Average Gross: $13,627,946

2. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – 2023 Tour

Jake Clemons, Patti Scialfa, Garry Tallent, Max Weinberg, Steven Van Zandt, and Bruce Springsteen were back on stage for their Bruce Springsteen and The E Street at RDS Arena, n Dublin, Ireland, on May 05, 2023. This was the first time had been on stage after their extremely famous completely sold-out tour in 2017.

• Gross: $142,605,835
• Average Ticket Price: $211.80
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 18,702
• Total Tickets: 673,277
• Average Gross: $3,961,273
• Harry Styles – Love On Tour

On February 11, 2023, the British singer Harry Styles performed at the BRIT Awards. This was the second time the former One Direction singer was on a solo tour to promote and support his second album ‘Love On Tour’ along with his later releases ‘Fine Line’ and ‘Harry’s House’.

• Gross: $124,000,392
• Average Ticket Price: $115.07
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 31,694
• Total Tickets: 1,077,622
• Average Gross: $3,647,070
• Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Tour

At the Glastonbury festival in the village of Pilton in Somerset, Southwest England, the legendary British singer Elton John performed on 25th June 2023. This was his concluding performance, and he did that with a blast. The 76-year-old pop superstar was no less than magical to experience live, and this performance was one of the most indulgent star affairs of this year.

• Gross: $110,328,403
• Average Ticket Price: $163.95
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 20,392
• Total Tickets: 672,950
• Average Gross: $3,343,284
• Ed Sheeran – (+–=÷×) Tour

Ed Sheeran’s NBC’s “Today” show at Rockefeller Center in New York, U.S., was one of the most successful shows of this year. The show took place on 6th June 2023, and this was a part of his Mathematics Tour.

• Gross: $105,309,873
• Average Ticket Price: $104.20
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 40,424
• Total Tickets: 1,010,616
• Average Gross: $4,212,394
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – 2023 Global Stadium Tour

Red Hot Chili Peppers members, Anthony Kiedas, Flea, and John Frusciante had a blast on their 3rd day of BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival at Napa Valley Expo on May 28, 2023, in Napa, California. This tour was to support their previous releases Unlimited Love (April 2022) and Return of the Dream Canteen (October 2022). And it was a huge success for them.

• Gross: $91,488,134
• Average Ticket Price: $123.87
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 38,873
• Total Tickets: 738,601
• Average Gross: $4,815,164
• Coldplay – Music Of The Spheres Tour

The cathartic Coldplay has always been of the most pleasing live performers of this decade. And their Manchester Etihad Stadium performance was a part of their Music Of The Spheres World Tour, held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. This was the first time this British Rock band was performing since the pandemic for their ninth studio album. It is only halfway through 2023, and Chris Martin must offer more for his audience this year itself.

• Gross: $65,436,386
• Average Ticket Price: $88.86
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 66,949
• Total Tickets: 736,439
• Average Gross: $5,948,762
• Daddy Yankee – La Última Vuelta World Tour

On November 23, 2022, at the Stadio Mobil Super, in Monterrey, Mexico, he performed one of his best shows, to support his latest release ‘Legendaddy’. The show became immense success and the words about his charming presence were the talk of the town. Based on the average prices his success was truly fascinating and hopefully, he will continue to perform like this in the upcoming years as well.

• Gross: $60,461,483
• Average Ticket Price: $96.62
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 27,206
• Total Tickets: 625,748
• Average Gross: $2,628,760
• Kevin Hart – The Reality Check Tour

From the time of “Spike’s Rock the Troops” event at Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii, on October 22, 2016, to 2023, Kevin Hart’s performances have been extremely admired, and his charming magnetism has gravitated many music lovers to his shows seamlessly. His audience had a good and impressive Reality check, while this tour bagged him a huge amount.

• Gross: $50,041,814
• Average Ticket Price: $107.00
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 8,503
• Total Tickets: 467,686
• Average Gross: $909,851
• Bad Bunny – World’s Hottest Tour

Whether it is 2022 April or Bad Bunny performing at the Grammys, this young blood has been and also will be one of the most viewed artists of this age. From his unapologetic presence to his music, everything has made him one of the most-earned performers of 2023. His advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community has always made him one of the most prominent artists of this age, and now his shows are also one of the most highly successful ones.

• Gross: $49,112,859
• Average Ticket Price: $102.81
• Average Tickets Sold Per Show: 39,807
• Total Tickets: 477,688
• Average Gross: $4,092,738

The growth from 2019 to 2023 has been a huge difference and this fact which have brought to notice that the music industry is gaining its former glory after all. According to several surveys, this is a proven fact that the music industry, mostly the live performance segments has made a huge profit this year already. Apart from these incredibly famous names, various new artists are also gaining more traction in this industry. And by halfway through the year and the pop music industry has sold 24.3 million tickets already. This surely shows how this world is gaining back its strength and overcoming the pandemic with every passing day.

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Pollstar ranks the biggest concert tours of 2023

Pollstar , the concert industry publication, has released its  Year-End Top Worldwide Tours  and  Top North American Tours  charts and  Taylor Swift  is the queen and king.

Her  Eras Tour  grossed over a billion dollars, making it the first ever tour to hit that milestone.

She took in an estimated ticket gross of $1.04 billion with 4.35 million tickets sold from 60 shows, and as a result topped both the  Worldwide  and  North American  charts.

And if that wasn't enough, Taylor also took in close to $200 million in merchandise, and her  Eras Tour  concert movie took in $250 million, making it the highest-grossing concert movie of all time.

Additionally,  Pollstar  projects that  Eras Tour  ticket sales for the next eligibility box office year will again hit one-billion, taking the tour’s total to more than two-billion.

Pollstar's Worldwide Tours

• Taylor Swift
• Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
• Harry Styles
• Morgan Wallen

North American Tours:

• George Strait

Total grosses for the  Worldwide Top 100 Tours  were up 46% to a record-breaking $9.17 billion (2022’s total was $6.28 billion) and attendance was up 18.38% in total tickets sold to 70.1 million (2022’s total was 59.2 million).

And the  Top 100 North American Tours  also set a gross record with $6.63 billion (2022’s total was $4.77 billion).

For more information go to  Pollstar.com .

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Highest-grossing Concert Tours of All Time

Who has hauled the highest-grossing tour total of all time? From Elton John to Harry Styles, find out who made the top 10 of all time.

These days, scoring a ticket to see your favorite music artist has proven to be a Herculean task. With bots replacing scalpers, superfans are struggling more than ever to get a ticket to the show. However, someway, somehow, people are showing up in record numbers.

Looking back on the top 10 highest-grossing tours, the list may surprise you. Harry Styles ‘ most recent marathon Love on Tour propelled him to become the first of his contemporaries to crack the list. However, these numbers are all under fire as Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are expected to shatter tour totals and breaking the billion mark.

As T Swift takes over for Elton John, The Rolling Stones logged the largest sum per show. The British sensations took in an average of $9.4 million per show with 58 performances between 2017 and 2019.

Let’s dive in with the top 10 highest-grossing tours of all time.

Get on our list for weekly sports business, industry trends, interviews, and more.

Highest-grossing Tours of All Time: The Top 10

1. taylor swift — eras tour (2023-2024).

• Total Gross: $1.04 billion (via Pollstar )
• Tickets Sold: 4.35 million
• Average Gross per Show: $1.67 million

2. Elton John — Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour (2018-2023)

• Total Gross: $939.1 million
• Tickets Sold: 6 million
• Average Gross per Show: $2.84 million

3. Ed Sheeran — The ÷ (Divide) Tour (2017-2019)

• Total Gross: $776 million
• Tickets Sold: 8.9 million
• Average Gross per Show: $3 million

4. U2 — U2 360° Tour (2009-2011)

• Total Gross: $736 million
• Tickets Sold: 7.3 million
• Average Gross per Show: $6.69 million

5. Coldplay — Music of the Spheres World Tour ( 2022-2023 )

• Total Gross: $617.8 million
• Tickets Sold: 6.3 million
• Average Gross per Show: $5.77 million

6. Harry Styles — Love on Tour (2021-2023)

• Total Gross: $617.3 million
• Tickets Sold: 5 million
• Average Gross per Show: $3.65 million

7. Guns N’ Roses — Not in This Lifetime… Tour (2016-2019)

• Total Gross: $584 million
• Tickets Sold: 5.4 million
• Average Gross per Show: $3.69 million

8. Beyoncé — Renaissance Tour (2023)

• Total Gross: $579 million (via Forbes )
• Tickets Sold: TBD
• Average Gross per Show: $10.34 million

9. The Rolling Stones — A Bigger Bang Tour (2005-2007)

• Total Gross: $558 million
• Tickets Sold: 3.5 million
• Average Gross per Show: $5.02 million

10. The Rolling Stones — No Filter Tour (2017-2019)

• Total Gross: $547 million
• Tickets Sold: 2.9 million
• Average Gross per Show: $9.4 million

10. Coldplay — A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2015-2017)

• Total Gross: $524 million
• Average Gross per Show: $4.56 million

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9 top-grossing concert tours that came to Milwaukee in 2023 (and 31 that didn't)

Morgan Wallen had the most streamed song on Spotify in Milwaukee in 2023 with "Last Night." And the country star was the top-grossing performer in the city — and the state of Wisconsin.

Wallen's two-night North American tour kickoff at American Family Field April 14 and 15 collectively sold 84,800 tickets and grossed $16.3 million, according to Billboard's 2023 Boxscore charts, which revealed the 40 top-grossing tours of the year and more.

Wallen was hardly the only blockbuster tour that swung through town this year - although many major artists skipped the market, something Milwaukee Taylor Swift fans know All Too Well.

Nine top-grossing tours that played Milwaukee in 2023

1. morgan wallen.

Billboard ranking: 4

Total box office: $260.4 million

Attendance: 1.3 million

Number of shows: 44

Milwaukee stops: April 14 and 15, American Family Field

Billboard ranking: 6

Total box office: $226.6 million

Attendance: 1.6 million

Number of shows: 37

Milwaukee stop: Aug. 14, American Family Field (Pink actually had the largest attendance for a single show in the stadium's history, and in Wisconsin this year, with 46,644 concertgoers.)

Billboard ranking: 12

Total box office: $140.9 million

Attendance: 528,000

Number of shows: 32

Milwaukee stop: Aug. 4, Fiserv Forum

4. Post Malone

Billboard ranking: 16

Total box office: $110.1 million

Attendance: 1.1 million

Number of shows: 61

Milwaukee stop: July 15, Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy

5. George Strait

Billboard ranking: 17

Total box office: $107.5 million

Attendance: 412,000

Number of shows: 11

Milwaukee stop: June 3, American Family Field

6. Dave Matthews Band

Billboard ranking: 30

Total box office: $66.6 million

Attendance: 708,000

Number of shows: 55

Milwaukee stop: June 29, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest

7. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Billboard ranking: 31

Total box office: $66.5 million

Attendance: 914,000

Number of shows: 98

Milwaukee stop: Dec. 22, 2022 at Fiserv Forum (Billboard's charts cover shows from Nov. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2023.)

8. Imagine Dragons

Billboard ranking: 33

Total box office: $61.3 million

Attendance: 733,000

Number of shows: 22

Milwaukee stop: July 8, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Summerfest

Billboard ranking: 36

Total box office: $58.7 million

Attendance: 609,000

Number of shows: 49

Milwaukee stop: May 16, Fiserv Forum

These top-grossing tours didn't come to Milwaukee (listed in ranking order on Billboard Year-End 2023 Boxscore chart)

• Taylor Swift (Swift didn't actually report her box-office figures to Billboard, so she's not counted, but Billboard estimates her "Eras Tour" earned more than $900 million, which would place her on top of the chart)
• Harry Styles
• Elton John (played Fiserv Forum in 2022)
• Depeche Mode
• Luke Combs ( Combs is playing American Family Field April 12-13 )
• Dead & Company
• Guns N' Roses
• Blink-182 ( playing Fiserv Forum Aug. 7 )
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Phish (played Alpine Valley Music Theatre in 2022)
• Eagles (played Fiserv Forum in 2022)
• Daddy Yankee
• Kevin Hart (played Fiserv Forum in 2022)
• Michael Buble
• Romeo Santos
• Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks (Nicks, without Joel, played Fiserv Forum Aug. 8)

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or  [email protected] . Follow him on X at  @pietlevy  or Facebook at  facebook.com/PietLevyMJS .

Musicians Are in Their Eras Era

From Taylor Swift to Madonna to Missy Elliott, stars are increasingly blurring the lines between past and present.

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There was a time, not so long ago, when the term “era” brought to mind strictly academic concepts: a scale to measure the Earth’s geological time; a system for classifying sweeping events of human history; a theoretical timeline of our known universe.

If this trend has a progenitor, it’s Taylor Swift : The musician’s career-spanning Eras Tour is reportedly the highest-grossing tour of all time. “Branding it as the Eras Tour and doing a greatest-hits run pulled in so many people, because you go to a show and it’s so clear how many fans came from the country years, and how some didn’t become Swifties until Reputation ,” says Elana Fishman, Page Six style editor and bona fide Swiftie. And Swift didn’t just revisit those eras musically; she also paid homage to the aesthetics of each album cycle, whether through a Reputation -era snake slithering across a Roberto Cavalli catsuit or a sequined matching set that called back to her 1989 persona.

Of course, Swift didn’t invent the idea of tying fashion to different album cycles—that would be Madge, the Queen of Pop herself. Madonna committed to changing everything—from hairstyle to makeup to wardrobe—for each new record cycle, as if creating characters, in a way that few have achieved before or since. “Other artists have also had eras, but they may have had the same hair color throughout all of them. It doesn’t really count,” says creative director and stylist Shannon Stokes, who’s worked with Beyoncé , Rihanna , and SZA . “To me, those are great, and those can still be considered eras, but as a true textbook, you always have to go to Madonna.”

For Stokes, creating and revisiting these visually disparate eras isn’t just useful in distinguishing album cycles, it also creates a fuller picture of the artists themselves. Fans feel more connected to a multifaceted musician. “When you’re doing everything properly, people get to see who you are in all different [areas] of your life: your sexual sides, your fun sides, your vulnerable sides, your introspective sides,” he explains. “It creates a stronger bond, because that fan base feels like they know you more, seeing all sides of your personality.”

It’s notable that there are very few male artists playing with visual identity in quite the same way. While there are some, like Harry Styles or Lil Nas X, dabbling in tying fashion to album cycles, Paul McCartney isn’t exactly hauling out a Sgt. Pepper jacket on his tours. Maybe female stars feel more pressure to constantly reinvent themselves. Or maybe they’re embarking on a high-stakes version of what we all do when embarking on a makeover. Whether it’s a post-breakup closet cleanse or a big-ticket luxury purchase to celebrate a milestone, our clothes reflect who we are at different moments in time—and revisiting those pieces can be liberating, not to mention a fun way of remembering our former selves.

“We, as regular people, have had eras too,” Stokes says. “It’s an evolution, but you still can differentiate the time periods when you were living a certain way and therefore dressing a certain way and doing certain things.” While she may not have invented the wheel, Swift has discovered how to put her own spin on it, keeping fans engaged in the process. She’s taught followers to hunt for clues about upcoming album cycles in her clothes, fueling speculation that Reputation (Taylor’s Version) would be her next re-release with a pair of Jimmy Choo x Jean Paul Gaultier boots—or announcing her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department , with a white Schiaparelli gown at the Grammys.

“A few months before the album rollout really starts, she’ll solidify what her aesthetic is going to be for that era,” Fishman says. “It keeps people hooked, because they’re decoding these clues and zooming in on Getty Images of her paparazzi walks and saying, ‘Is that a snake on her ring, or is it just a vine twisting?’ It becomes a real game.”

And while reinvention may still be all the rage among younger artists, one thing is for sure: There’s no longer a reason to fear history repeating itself. This article appears in the May 2024 issue of ELLE.

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THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY

In the 18 months after Taylor Swift released Midnights, it often felt as though the universe had fully opened up to her. The Eras Tour was breaking records and blowing past the billion-dollar mark; its attendant concert film became the highest-grossing of all time. She generated interest and commerce and headlines everywhere she stepped foot, from tour stops to the tunnels of NFL stadiums. In 2023, she was named both TIME magazine’s Person of the Year and—just as iconic, tbh—Apple Music’s Artist of the Year. But do songs about that level of success speak to you? As the news broke that her highly private six-year relationship to Joe Alwyn had ended, Swifties started Swiftie-ing, quickly recirculating a clip on social media of Swift a few weeks earlier, onstage during an early Eras show, in tears as she sang “champagne problems”—a song she and Alwyn had written together. It was a reminder that, despite the superhero-like aura she now radiates, Swift, at her peak, still hurts like the rest of us. What sets her apart is her ability to sublimate that pain into pop. When she announced her 11th studio album in early 2024—while accepting another Grammy, as one does—we probably shouldn’t have been surprised. “I needed to make it,” she’d say of THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT a few weeks later, to a crowd of—[rubs eyes]—96,000 in Melbourne, Australia. “I’ve never had an album where I’ve needed songwriting more than I needed it on TORTURED POETS.” Working again with trusted collaborators Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, she returns to the soft, comfortable, bed-like sonics of Midnights. But the stakes feel noticeably higher here: This isn’t so much a breakup album as it is a deep-sea exploration of everything Swift has been feeling, a plunge through emotional debris. On “But Daddy I Love Him”—over strings and guitar that faintly recall her country roots—she lashes out at the crush of scrutiny and expectation she’s been subject to from the start. Naturally, catharsis comes after the chorus: “I’ll tell you something right now,” she sings. “I’d rather burn my whole life down than listen to one more second of all this bitching and moaning.” On “Florida!!!” she and Florence + the Machine team up for a pulpy escape fantasy wherein they Thelma and Louise their way down to the Sunshine State in hopes of starting over with new lives and identities: “Love left me like this,” they sing. “And I don’t want to exist.” At turns hilarious and heartbreaking, TTPD is a study in extremes, Swift leaning into heightened emotions with heightened, hyperbolic, ALL-CAPS language and imagery—how we think when we’re drunk on love or flattened by its sudden disappearance. Note the dark humor she weaves through the Post Malone-enriched opener “Fortnight” (“Your wife waters flowers/I wanna kill her”). Or the thrilling self-deprecation of “Down Bad,” a foray into science fiction wherein Swift likens the warmth of a relationship to being abducted by love-bombing extraterrestrials—only to be left “naked and alone, in a field in my same old town.” But this remains her most candid and unsparing work to date: As a listener, you frequently get the feeling that you’ve stumbled across emails she’d written but never sent, or into conversations you were never meant to hear. There’s a density and a specificity and a ferocity to her lyrical work here that makes 2012’s “All Too Well” feel sorta light by comparison. If you’re the kind of Swiftie who likes to live in the details, well, this one might be your Super Bowl. “You swore that you loved me, but where were the clues?” she asks on the devastating “So Long, London,” a high point. “I died on the altar waiting for the proof.” Alone at a piano on the haunting “loml,” she flips the script on someone who’d told her she was the love of their life, by telling them that they were the loss of hers: “I’ll still see it until I die.” The story, as you likely know, doesn’t end there. We get a glimpse of new beginnings in “The Alchemy” (“This happens once every few lifetimes/These chemicals hit me like white wine”) and something like triumph in the montage-ready synths of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” when Swift, shattered on the floor, “as the crowd was chanting, ‘More!’,” still finds the strength to deliver: “’Cause I’m a real tough kid and I can handle my shit.” But we also get a sense of acceptance, of newfound perspective. On “Clara Bow”—named after a 1920s movie star who was able to survive the jump from silent film to sound—Swift reflects on the journey of a small-town girl made good, sung from the vantage of an industry obsessed with the next big thing. She zooms out and out and out until, in the album’s closing seconds, she’s singing about herself in the third person, in past tense, acknowledging that nothing is forever. “You look like Taylor Swift in this light, we’re loving it,” she sings. “You’ve got edge she never did/The future’s bright, dazzling.”

April 19, 2024 31 Songs, 2 hours, 2 minutes ℗ 2024 Taylor Swift

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BTS Suga's Agust D TOUR 'D-DAY' THE MOVIE becomes highest grossing US & Worldwide 2024 concert film by K-Pop soloist

O n April 16, 2024, Trafalgar Releasing announced through their official website that BTS' Suga's Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie has emerged as the highest-grossing U.S. and worldwide concert film of 2024 by a K-pop soloist.

The movie earned over $10.16 million globally from limited showtimes between April 10 to April 13, 2024.

Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie was produced by Big Hit Music, HYBE Trafalgar Releasing, and ICECON. The Trafalgar Released owned the distribution rights of the concert film, which hit the theaters on April 10, 2024.

BTS' Suga's Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie achieves first and only highest-grossing cinematic milestone from a K-pop solo artist

Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie depicts the events from the BTS member's solo tour, SUGA Agust D Tour, which took place from April 25, 2023, to August 6, 2023, in support of albums D-Day, Agust D, and D-2. It featured guests such as Kim Namjoon, Jimin, Jungkook, Shinwon Park, Jinhun Kim, Yeonjun Lee, Changhyun Kim, June, Adora, El Capitan, and Ten Crew.

BTS' Suga was crowned as the first and only K-pop solo artist to achieve the highest-grossing cinematic milestone of gaining over $10 million worldwide within limited showtimes for his concert film, Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie. It was confirmed by the distribution company Trafalgar Releasing and HYBE through an article on the former's website.

"Inclusive of the screenings on April 10 through April 14, the electrifying concert film has grossed a total of $10.16 million worldwide from limited showtimes. This gross gives Agust D, aka SUGA of 21st century pop icons BTS, the highest grossing U.S. and worldwide concert film of 2024 as well as the highest grossing cinema event ever from a K-pop solo artist," the statement on the website read.

The screenings for the Agust D Tour ' D-Day ' The Movie took place from April 10 to April 13 in over 3500 cinemas and 100 territories. The additional screenings were also incorporated late due to the increasing demand from fans globally. The demand for the film also compelled the distribution company to expand the screens by 100 figures.

The expansions were not only limited to North America but other locations, including Mexico, Latin America, and Brazil. Moreover, observing the worldwide crazy for the Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie , the CEO of Trafalgar Releasing stated, as reported on their official website:

"We're really excited with the phenomenal response to Suga| Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie. It's a true testament to Suga's artistry and not only speaks volumes about his power to motivate fans but also signifies the strong appetite for event cinema experiences worldwide."

Moreover, the Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie has debuted at the North American Box office as the highest-grossing Korean film, surpassing the record set by the Seoul Spring ($1 million/4 weeks) and Crime City ( $910,00/ 6 weeks), respectively.

According to Trafalgar Releasing, the concert film reached No.2 in North America on April 10, 2024, at the box office with a gain of more than $961k and a per-screen average of $1,264 throughout the 784 movie theaters. Subsequently, it remained under the top 10 position by bagging the No.8 position at the April 13 box office with a gain of $990k and a per-screen throughout 787 cinemas. In North America the Agust D Tour 'D-Day' The Movie grossed $2.3 million.

It also did well as a regional release in Mexico, Brazil, and Germany. In Mexico, the movie topped the market worldwide with over $2.58 million total, while in Brazil and Germany , it gained over $612K and $402K, respectively.

BTS' Suga began his mandatory military service on September 22, 2023, as a social service agent. He is expected to be discharged from service in 2025.

50 photos that show Taylor Swift's meteoric rise from a Nashville country singer to the most famous musician in the world

• Taylor Swift released her 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," on Friday.
• In the 18 years since she released her debut album, Swift has become a billionaire.
• Here's a photographic journey through her career, her many eras, and her blockbuster tours.

In the 18 years since Taylor Swift released her first album, she's been a country star, a pop star, and a voice of a generation.

She's a four-time album of the year winner, a billionaire, and the first person with a tour grossing $1 billion . She also rocked the music industry when she decided to re-record her first five albums so she'd own the rights to her own music.

Plus, her 11th album, " The Tortured Poets Department ," is set for a massive debut on the charts after it was released on Friday.

But she wasn't always this juggernaut. Here's a look at her impressive career, from her 2006 debut to her 2024 superstardom.

Taylor Swift released her self-titled debut album in 2006. At the time, there was no telling that this 16-year-old country singer would become one of the most iconic musicians in history.

But by May 2007, Swift was already playing to large crowds. At the time, her aesthetic consisted of flowy dresses, acoustic guitar, curly hair, and cowboy boots.

Her guitar has been a constant companion from 2007 to 2024.

Swift's debut single was "Tim McGraw," named, of course, after the country star. In May 2007, she performed the song to him and his wife, Faith Hill, at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

An EP, “Beautiful Eyes,” was released in July 2008, just two months after she performed at Stagecoach Music Festival — essentially, country music's Coachella.

Even as her star was rising, Swift made time to take selfies with fans — on digital cameras!

By August 2009, her second album "Fearless" had been released and she was headlining Madison Square Garden.

A turning point in her career came during the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2009, when Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech to declare Beyoncé deserved the award.

Source: Business Insider

In December, she performed with one of her then-musical idols, John Mayer. The two would go on to briefly date, inspiring her song "Dear John."

At the 2010 Grammys, Swift performed with Stevie Nicks — 14 years later, Swift referenced their connection in the song "Clara Bow."

Later that night, the "You Belong With Me" singer was gobsmacked to win album of the year. She'd later write about this night in "Long Live."

Her third album, "Speak Now," was released in October 2010. The world tour began in February 2011.

It sold over 1 million copies in its first week, the highest single-week sales for a female country artist. She also became the first female artist to have 11 songs on the Hot 100 simultaneously.

Source: Los Angeles Times

She continued to collaborate with musical legends. She brought James Taylor out at her Madison Square Garden show in November 2011.

In 2012, she made her first jump away from country music to more straightforward pop. The cowboy boots were nowhere to be found.

The debut single from her fourth album, "Red," called "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," became her first No. 1 on the Hot 100.

As her musical style changed, so did her style. She traded flowing dresses and cowboy boots for form-fitting dresses and high heels; gone was the curly hair, traded for sleek straight tresses.

The Red Tour grossed $150.2 million, making it the highest-grossing country tour ever when it ended in 2014.

Source: Billboard

She became the first female solo artist in 20 years to perform a stadium tour in Australia. The last female artist to do it was Madonna in 1993.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

In August 2014, she left behind country with the song "Shake It Off," a pure pop song.

Later that year, she performed at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show beside then-BFF Karlie Kloss.

"1989," Swift's fifth album, remains a high point of her career. It elevated Swift to pop-icon status and spawned three No. 1 hits and two more top-10 singles.

It was also the era of her "squad." People are still captivated by who is in Swift’s inner circle.

To top off the "1989" era, she won her second album of the year Grammy in February 2016.

Her bleached blonde era — known as "Bleachella," since she debuted it at Coachella in 2016 — showed that people were obsessed with her every move.

But by July 2016, Swift had vanished. Her feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West had resurfaced, with many on social media turning against her.

In 2017, she cleared her social media and told us: "There will be no explanation, just reputation." Her sixth album, "Reputation," was released in November.

"Reputation" brought a new dark and gritty aesthetic. But the old Taylor, who loves interacting with her fans, was still in there.

The Reputation Stadium Tour was her first all-stadium tour. Upon its completion in November 2018, it grossed $345.7 million, making it the highest-grossing North American tour ever.

Source: Forbes

In a savvy move, she reclaimed the snake imagery that had been used against her by critics.

But after her two years of all-black edginess, 2019 brought a complete aesthetic shift.

Her seventh album, "Lover," which was released in August 2019, is full of love songs, pastel rainbows, and bubblegum pop.

"Lover" was her sixth consecutive No. 1 album and the best-selling album of 2019. Her concerts for the album were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2020, Swift surprised fans with her eighth album, "Folklore." It would go on to win album of the year — she was the first woman ever to win three times.

After a seven-year hiatus, she returned to her country roots. She performed the song "Betty" at the 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards.

In November 2021, Swift released the 10-minute version of her song "All Too Well" from 2012. She also directed an accompanying short film starring Dylan O'Brien and Sadie Sink.

"Red (Taylor’s Version)," her re-recorded version of the 2012 album "Red" was a huge hit. "All Too Well (10-Minute Version)" became the longest No. 1 song in the chart's history.

But just re-recording wasn't enough for Swift. In August 2022, she announced her 10th album, "Midnights," which became yet another hit.

The year 2023 was the year of Swift, as she embarked on her globe-spanning Eras Tour. The setlist pays homage to her career. She brought out the gold fringe for the "Fearless" set.

Since "Lover" never got a tour of its own, it kicks off the show. Four years after its release, Swifties got "Cruel Summer" to the top of the Hot 100.

During her "Speak Now" set, she brings back her koi-fish guitar and the purple dresses.

During the "Red" set, she interacts with some of her youngest fans.

In the "1989" portion, we get taken back in time to when Swift loved a two-piece set.

The "Reputation" era might be long gone, but the snakes are back for this portion of the show.

She also pays homage to the woodsy, cottage-core vibes of "Folklore" and its sister album, "Evermore."

Swift ends the night with the "Midnights" set, which spawned two of her two most recent hits, "Karma" and "Anti-Hero."

The Eras Tour has become a global phenomenon. It's the first tour to ever surpass $1 billion in revenue ... and it's not over yet.

In February 2024, Swift became the first artist to win album of the year four times when she won for "Midnights." That night, she announced her 11th album, "The Tortured Poets Department."

On its release, Swift surprised fans by announcing "TTPD" is a double album, and she dropped 15 more songs. It's set to be, once again, huge.

In 18 years, Swift has released 11 albums, four re-records, won 14 Grammys, had 11 No. 1 hits, become a billionaire, and broken countless records. She's showing no sign of slowing down.

• Main content

India’s Viacom18 Revenues Soar to $1.3 Billion Led by Sports and Digital Businesses

By Naman Ramachandran

Naman Ramachandran

• Quentin Lee’s LGBTQIA+ Stand-Up Comedy Film ‘Laugh Proud’ Sets Release, Unveils Trailer, Wonderphil to Sell at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE) 18 hours ago
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Revenues at Viacom18 , the media arm of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani ‘s conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), witnessed an uptick for the 2023-24 financial year.

Popular on Variety

News business revenue was up 19% year-on-year. Sports was the biggest driver of revenue growth for Viacom18, while news revenue growth was driven by both TV network and digital platforms, the company said. Sports properties like the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, cricket series featuring the Indian national team and South Africa’s SA20 cricket league, helped Viacom18 “significantly ramp up its presence” in the sports segment, the company said.

The release of “Fighter,” India’s highest grossing film of 2024 so far, drove the growth in the movies segment. The company also noted a strong advertising revenue growth across its TV network businesses on the back of robust viewership share.

In February this year, plans for Viacom18’s merger with Disney’s Star India in a deal estimated to be worth $8.5 billion, were confirmed. The joint venture, which still needs regulatory approval, will “seek to lead the digital transformation of the media and entertainment industry in India and offer consumers high-quality and comprehensive content offerings anytime and anywhere. With the addition of Disney’s acclaimed films and shows to Viacom18’s renowned productions and sports offerings, the JV will offer a compelling, accessible, and novel digital-focused entertainment experience to people in India and the Indian diaspora globally,” Viacom18 said.

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