The Top Touring Artists of the Millennium: Insights into the Billion-Dollar Touring Economy
The global touring economy has been a hot topic in recent years, with tours grossing over a billion dollars becoming a new trend. Pollstar recently released a list of the "Most Popular Touring Artists of the Millennium," based on ticket sales from 2001 to 2025. Topping the list is Coldplay, followed by U2 and Ed Sheeran, with Dave Matthews Band and Taylor Swift rounding out the top five.
Taylor Swift is the only woman in the top 10, with other female artists like Pink, Beyoncé, and Madonna also making the top 25. It's important to note that ticket sales are a different metric from money grossed, as Swift's Eras Tour set records for both.
Swift's Eras Tour became the first tour to cross the billion-dollar mark in 2023 and later brought in $2.2 billion, solidifying its place as the highest-grossing tour of all time. Swift has grossed over $3.1 billion in the new millennium, surpassing Coldplay in terms of total gross.
Coldplay's Music of the Spheres tour grossed $1.39 billion, while The Weeknd's After Hours 'Til Dawn Tour recently crossed the $1 billion mark. The touring industry continues to thrive, with artists like Swift, Coldplay, and The Weeknd leading the way in ticket sales and revenue.