One Direction Tops Worldwide Chart

The group generated $127.2 million of that number in North America where it also tops that tours chart, which will be released in full in early January.

One Direction sold more than 3.4 million tickets – more than double that of runner-up Justin Timberlake. JT brought in $184.7 million in gross ticket sales.

The English/Irish boy band certainly outdid itself in 2014. Last year the act ranked No. 10 on the year-end worldwide tours chart with $114 million in gross ticket sales.

One Direction now holds the distinction of being the first artist to top the worldwide ticket sales chart in recent years that isn’t likely to be heard on a classic rock radio station. Save for “Walking With Dinosaurs” in 2010, the chart has typically been topped by the likes of Bon Jovi, Madonna, U2, and The Rolling Stones.

Still, The Rolling Stones’ “14 On Fire” outing also sold more than a few tickets. Mick Jagger & Co. ranked No. 3 on the Top 20 chart, thanks to generating $165.1 million in gross ticket sales and selling a total of 862,361 tickets.

Katy Perry has bragging rights as the most successful female artist on the chart. Her tour in support of her fourth studio album, Prism, ranks No. 4 with $153.3 million in gross ticket sales. The husband and wife co-bill of Beyoncé and Jay Z brought in $109.7 gross million, ranking at No. 5.

The Top 20 Worldwide Tours report is in advance of Pollstar’s industry research package and industry analysis that will be released next month.

This unique chart is based on primary ticket sales data for the 2014 calendar year as reported directly to Pollstar along with extensive research to estimate sales of the missing shows in order to provide the most accurate possible ranking of global attractions.

Please find Pollstar’s full Top 20 Worldwide Tours report in PDF format.