Madonna queen of the road: Pollstar
Céline Dion not far behind
Madonna tore up the road last year, according to Pollstar magazine.
The Material Girl's Sticky and Sweet world tour, which wound up in Brazil last week, was the top concert attraction in the 2008 calendar year, the music trade magazine said on its website Friday.
Madonna's fans in the 17 countries she visited forked out $281.6 million US to see her show, Pollstar said, with those in North America spending $105.3 million.
Canadian balladeer Céline Dion, on her first world tour in more than eight years, was close behind her. Pollstar reported the Quebecer earned $236.6 million US in the 24 countries she visited with her Taking Chances show, $94 million US of that in North America.
Madonna's 2008 tour ranked No. 8 on Pollstar's record North American tours and Dion's tour came in at No. 12. The record is held by the Rolling Stones, who made $162 million US at North American box offices in 2005.
Billboard magazine, on the other hand, put Bon Jovi in the top spot worldwide on its Lost Highway tour with $210.6 million US, followed by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band which took in $204.5 million US. By its trackings, Madonna came in No. 3 worldwide at $162 million US and Dion was No. 5 worldwide at $91 million US.
But Billboard only looked at worldwide earnings reported from Nov. 14, 2007, to Nov. 11, 2008. Madonna's tour was still underway when it stopped tracking and Bon Jovi's tour started in 2007.
"All I can say [about the difference in the two magazine's figures] is we have 100% of the individual show data to support these tour, Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni told the Los Angeles Times.
Rounding out Pollstar's Top 10 in North America list are:
- The Eagles with $73.4 million.
- Kenny Chesney with $72.2 million.
- Bon Jovi with $70.4 million.
- Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at $69.3 million.
- Neil Diamond with $59.8 million.
- Rascal Flatts with $55.8 million.
- The Police with $48 million.
- Tina Turner with $47.7 million.
Pollstar said fewer people went to concerts in North America in 2008, but those who did paid higher prices for their tickets.
"We had a better year than we really should have expected, given the economic environment," Bongiovanni said.