BuffettNews.com

By The Associated Press

The Top 20 Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows in North America. The previous week's ranking is in parentheses. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.

1. (1) Phil Collins; $1,024,936; $76.18.

2. (3) Sting; $939,340; $65.22.

3. (2) Bette Midler; $937,582; $99.62.

4. (5) Metallica; $848,700; $57.95.

5. (4) Barry Manilow; $842,959; $78.97.

6. (6) Usher; $773,410; $59.27.

7. (7) R. Kelly / Jay-Z; $753,975; $62.29.

8. (9) Cher; $629,195; $69.58.

9. (10) Tim McGraw; $620,881; $57.99.

10. (11) Van Halen; $585,933; $74.52.

11. (15) Beastie Boys; $362,752; $38.22.

12. (New) Yanni; $317,942; $67.92.

13. (18) Norah Jones; $308,632; $46.80.

14. (17) R.E.M; $297,390; $55.52.

15. (19) American Idols Live; $268,825; $44.51.

16. (20) Jack Johnson; $259,472; $32.40.

17. (New) Sarah Brightman; $235,784; $67.56.

18. (New) Pixies; $222,899; $35.65.

19. (New) Avril Lavigne; $218,964; $32.60.

20. (New) Green Day; $209,280; $31.97.

who is dropping $100 to see bette midler? i wouldn't suffer through 2 hours of her if you paid me $100

Only saw one of these shows... looks like I got the best deal for my money. Pixies for $45 (ticket price + TM fees )

I read in Pollstar and Rolling Stone that the Van Halen tour was a bust. I know here they lowered tickets to $10.00 for a lot of seats. Sometimes these lists confuse me.

I'm surprised that the Prince Musicology tour didn't make the list. It was a fantastic show and sold out two nights in Denver which is a rarity.

Agreed Mal. I think the Musicology tour was the best show of the 9 or 10 concerts I went to this year! (Prince's show totally killed Madonna's show!)

OMG Ann! It was amazing, although I would LOVE to see Madonna too. Prince was the highest energy show (as far as the performer goes) I have ever been too. He only took about 2 ten minute breaks. One during the Ray Charles tribute and I believe the other was a drum solo. No intermission.

Amazing. Simply amazing!! And the guy is funny as hell too! The acoustic set still gets me all excited!!!

Out of those I attended a couple of R.E.M. but I don't really go to that many big arena shows anymore. The ticket prices were a bit steep but worth every penny, especially being able to see them in the Mother Church of Country Music (the Ryman) in Nashville.

Is there any way to find out maybe the top 100 (or at least more than the top 20)? I think it would be interesting.

Jeez...what's the world coming to...

Jahfin wrote:Out of those I attended a couple of R.E.M. but I don't really go to that many big arena shows anymore. The ticket prices were a bit steep but worth every penny, especially being able to see them in the Mother Church of Country Music (the Ryman) in Nashville.

R.E.M. is the last of my very favorites that I haven't see in concert. I refuse to see them in a big arena, not only because I hate arena shows, but because I don't think it would mean as much to me if the show wasn't in a small venue. They played the Auditorium Theatre here in Chicago, which is a fantastic venue but sure enough, the tickets were over $80 for upper balcony... I couldn't afford it at the time, so I was forced to pass...

iuparrothead wrote:

Jahfin wrote:Out of those I attended a couple of R.E.M. but I don't really go to that many big arena shows anymore. The ticket prices were a bit steep but worth every penny, especially being able to see them in the Mother Church of Country Music (the Ryman) in Nashville.

R.E.M. is the last of my very favorites that I haven't see in concert. I refuse to see them in a big arena, not only because I hate arena shows, but because I don't think it would mean as much to me if the show wasn't in a small venue. They played the Auditorium Theatre here in Chicago, which is a fantastic venue but sure enough, the tickets were over $80 for upper balcony... I couldn't afford it at the time, so I was forced to pass...

People pay $80 to see REM???

$80 for upper balcony. Lower balcony and floor seats were $90-$120. I would have paid $80 if I would've had that much in expendable cash at the time.

Can't believe Kenny Chesney didn't make the top ten ....

iuparrothead wrote:

Jahfin wrote:Out of those I attended a couple of R.E.M. but I don't really go to that many big arena shows anymore. The ticket prices were a bit steep but worth every penny, especially being able to see them in the Mother Church of Country Music (the Ryman) in Nashville.

R.E.M. is the last of my very favorites that I haven't see in concert. I refuse to see them in a big arena, not only because I hate arena shows, but because I don't think it would mean as much to me if the show wasn't in a small venue. They played the Auditorium Theatre here in Chicago, which is a fantastic venue but sure enough, the tickets were over $80 for upper balcony... I couldn't afford it at the time, so I was forced to pass...

I'm against high ticket prices myself but in this instance I had to make an exception and give in, especially given the opportunity to see them in a unique venue such as the Ryman. The seats weren't the best but we were seeing them the next night in Atlanta from the front row so it was very much worth it. They also broke out "Rockville" (which they don't play that much anymore) in Nashville with Mike Mills handling the lead vocals and dedicated it to the late Jack Emerson.

Jahfin wrote:

iuparrothead wrote:

Jahfin wrote:Out of those I attended a couple of R.E.M. but I don't really go to that many big arena shows anymore. The ticket prices were a bit steep but worth every penny, especially being able to see them in the Mother Church of Country Music (the Ryman) in Nashville.

R.E.M. is the last of my very favorites that I haven't see in concert. I refuse to see them in a big arena, not only because I hate arena shows, but because I don't think it would mean as much to me if the show wasn't in a small venue. They played the Auditorium Theatre here in Chicago, which is a fantastic venue but sure enough, the tickets were over $80 for upper balcony... I couldn't afford it at the time, so I was forced to pass...

I'm against high ticket prices myself but in this instance I had to make an exception and give in, especially given the opportunity to see them in a unique venue such as the Ryman. The seats weren't the best but we were seeing them the next night in Atlanta from the front row so it was very much worth it. They also broke out "Rockville" (which they don't play that much anymore) in Nashville with Mike Mills handling the lead vocals and dedicated it to the late Jack Emerson.

Spare me the details... it's tough enough already to have missed the Auditorium shows. I don't mind spending high prices on a concert if the show is going to be worth it, or if it's a performer I really care about. Hell, I paid $100 to see Madonna... and that's more for nostalgia than for actual interest in her anymore. I just couldn't see R.E.M. at the United Center... much of the emotion of a song like "Rockville" is lost unless you're hearing it in an intimate venue.

iuparrothead wrote:

Jahfin wrote:

iuparrothead wrote:

Jahfin wrote:Out of those I attended a couple of R.E.M. but I don't really go to that many big arena shows anymore. The ticket prices were a bit steep but worth every penny, especially being able to see them in the Mother Church of Country Music (the Ryman) in Nashville.

R.E.M. is the last of my very favorites that I haven't see in concert. I refuse to see them in a big arena, not only because I hate arena shows, but because I don't think it would mean as much to me if the show wasn't in a small venue. They played the Auditorium Theatre here in Chicago, which is a fantastic venue but sure enough, the tickets were over $80 for upper balcony... I couldn't afford it at the time, so I was forced to pass...

I'm against high ticket prices myself but in this instance I had to make an exception and give in, especially given the opportunity to see them in a unique venue such as the Ryman. The seats weren't the best but we were seeing them the next night in Atlanta from the front row so it was very much worth it. They also broke out "Rockville" (which they don't play that much anymore) in Nashville with Mike Mills handling the lead vocals and dedicated it to the late Jack Emerson.

Spare me the details... it's tough enough already to have missed the Auditorium shows. I don't mind spending high prices on a concert if the show is going to be worth it, or if it's a performer I really care about. Hell, I paid $100 to see Madonna... and that's more for nostalgia than for actual interest in her anymore. I just couldn't see R.E.M. at the United Center... much of the emotion of a song like "Rockville" is lost unless you're hearing it in an intimate venue.

Well, the main reason I was there was because they skipped NC (for the first time in their career) so they could take part in the Vote For Change Tour. Hopefully once they get home from overseas they'll make another swing through the States. I'm not holding my breath but they've done it before so maybe you'll have a second chance.

Looks like the Material Girl actually won out...

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/149480 ... lines=true

PHDoddini wrote:who is dropping $100 to see bette midler? i wouldn't suffer through 2 hours of her if you paid me $100

i had a couple of beers a coupel weeks agao with sam spade, david spade's father at my favorite watering hole and he dropped $400 for 2 tixs.....

That list is not right. It must be for a specific week in late 2004 because Avril didnt start touring till late in the year and I saw Jack johnson and he was only playing the mini-sheds this year.

I belive Kenny Chesney was the third overall highest grossing concert tour and the #1 country tour just slipping by Mcgraw and Twain somewhere around 50 million