Record breaking year for global concert business

End of year figures in the international concert business from Pollstar show significant growth in the global concert business with the Top 100 Worldwide Tours alone generating a record US$5.65 billion in revenues, a 15.8% increase over the previous year.

Referring to 2017 as a “record crushing year for the concert business”, the international concert industry trade publication advised the total tickets sold by the Top 100 Worldwide Tours was also a record at 66.79 million - a 10.4% over 2016.

The year also saw 11 tours generate more than US$100 million worldwide as compared to seven tours in 2016.

Within these sales, Pollstar state “the most successful artists are clearly getting better at recapturing some of the revenue that had leaked into the secondary ticket market.”

However, the publication does not elaborate on that statement.

Among promoters, Live Nation dominated with 52,492,301 tickets sold, followed by AEG Presents with 14,395,959 ticket sales.

Among Australian promoters, three were ranked in the world’s top 50, with Frontier Touring Company selling 954,715 tickets, TEG Dainty selling 583,513 tickets and Chugg Entertainment selling 410,727 tickets.

Within these sales, Pollstar state “the most successful artists are clearly getting better at recapturing some of the revenue that had leaked into the secondary ticket market.”

However, the publication does not elaborate on that statement.

London’s O2 arena remained the world’s top performing concert venue while Australasian venues have recorded respectable sales figures.

These include:

Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney - 433,590 ticket sales, 43rd on Pollstar's Arenas Venues chart
Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne - 341,599 ticket sales, 60th on Pollstar's Arenas Venues chart
Perth Arena - 330,279 ticket sales, 63rd on Pollstar's Arenas Venues chart
Brisbane Entertainment Centre - 283,557 ticket sales, 73rd on Pollstar's Arenas Venues chart
Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park, Sydney - 172,567 ticket sales, 104th on Pollstar's Arenas Venues chart
ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park - 150,113 ticket sales, 31st on Pollstar's Outdoor Stadiums Festival Sites chart
AAMI Park, Melbourne - 134,879 ticket sales, 41st on Pollstar's Outdoor Stadiums Festival Sites chart
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay, NSW - 105,123 ticket sales, 63rd on Pollstar's Outdoor Stadiums Festival Sites chart
Spark Arena, Auckland - 91,866 ticket sales, 150th on Pollstar's Arenas Venues chart
MCG (referred to as 'Cricket Grounds Melbourne') - 73,114 ticket sales, 95th on Pollstar's Outdoor Stadiums Festival Sites chart