Top 25 Tours Worldwide, North America

Pollstar has just released a preview of its exclusive research into the worldwide concert business for the 2011 calendar year.

All figures have been converted to U.S. dollars and represent the total gross ticket sales for all dates played. The Pollstar database has detailed box office reports for more than 90 percent of these shows and estimates were made for the remaining unreported events to provide the most comprehensive comparisons possible.

Here you will find pdfs for the Top 25 concert acts in the world and a separate Top 25 for just North America.

The Top 25 Worldwide Tours grossed a combined $2.1 billion which was nearly identical to last year’s total. Only seven attractions from 2010 made the list again this year.

The Top 25 North American Tours grossed a combined $1.19 billion which was down about 4% from last year’s $1.24 billion. Only eight acts from 2010 were repeats in this year’s Top 25. Although the overall dollar volume was down in 2011, the industry fared much better doing fewer shows and taking a more cautious approach in its objectives.

There is plenty of reason for optimism as we look forward to 2012. The Beach Boys will be joined by Brian Wilson as they celebrate their 50th anniversary in what will be by far their biggest tour in decades. The Rolling Stones, who are also notching 50 years together, have yet to announce a tour but it would be a complete shock if they didn’t. Madonna is also committed to touring as is Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band in its first outing without the Big Man.

Fleetwood Mac is regrouping with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham while Black Sabbath gets Ozzy back at the mic and Van Halen gets David Lee Roth. Roger Waters brings The Wall back to America after a year overseas, while Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw team again for a stadium tour. Neil Diamond gets back to work and there is even talk of Barbra Streisand doing dates giving lots of reasons for the older folks to cheer.

Adele will begin to try to satisfy a huge global demand made even stronger by her limited touring this year. Add all of this together with Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jason Aldean and Justin Bieber (who was seemingly everywhere in 2011 but didn’t tour America) and there is ample reason to think business will be even better in the new year.

Pollstar’s full research including the Top 200 Tours of 2011, most active venues and promoters worldwide, and analysis of the industry is scheduled to be released January 5.