Top Touring Artists of 2022: BTS, Lady Gaga, and Ed Sheeran Lead the Way
Pollstar, a leading concert industry tracker, has recently unveiled its midyear touring charts, showcasing the success of artists like Lady Gaga and BTS. BTS has claimed the top spot among North American touring artists, grossing over $104 million with their current tour. Following closely behind is Lady Gaga's The MAYHEM Ball, which has exceeded $87 million in gross revenue. Other notable artists in the top 10 include Bad Bunny, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, New Edition, Luke Combs, the Eagles, and Cardi B.
On the global scale, Bad Bunny reigns supreme as the #1 touring artist, amassing more than $225 million in revenue. Lady Gaga secures the #2 spot, with BTS following closely at #3. Ed Sheeran takes the #5 position with a gross of over $105 million. Sheeran's ongoing LOOP tour in North America has just kicked off, so the latest numbers are not yet reflected in the overall totals.
Despite some high-profile tour cancellations this year, Pollstar notes that the concert industry is thriving, with gross revenue for the top 100 touring artists up by more than 12% compared to last year, totaling $3.16 billion. The average ticket price in North America stands at $122.15, a slight decrease of 2.4% from the previous year.
For those who missed out on The MAYHEM Ball, Lady Gaga has released a reimagined version titled MAYHEM Requiem, now available for streaming on Apple Music. Meanwhile, BTS continues their ARIRANG album tour across Europe and will return to North America on August 1. Ed Sheeran's LOOP stadium tour, featuring Myles Smith as the opening act and a rotating lineup of other performers, will conclude its North American leg in Tampa, Florida, in November.
In conclusion, the concert industry is experiencing a robust year, with artists like BTS, Lady Gaga, and Ed Sheeran leading the way in tour revenue and popularity. Fans can look forward to more exciting performances and music experiences as these artists continue to captivate audiences worldwide.