A quick look at the touring numbers earned by U2 as headlining artists. The Irish rock band formed by Adam Clayton, Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr ranked at number fifteen highest-grossing band on the 2019 Year End charts.
About:
The six concerts performed as part of the ‘A Conspiracy of Hope’ co-headlining tour with Bryan Adams and Sting are listed as Orphan concerts and the remaining fifteen concert tours from ’11 O’Clock Tick Tock’ to ‘Joshua Tree (2017-19)’ are listed separetely.
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U2 | Box Office | |
The Joshua Tree U2 Headlining Artist | $390,778,581 3,279,712 65 shows | |
Experience + Innocence U2 Headlining Artist | $125,600,371 923,730 59 shows | |
Innocence + Experience U2 Headlining Artist | $152,228,226 1,286,416 76 shows | |
U2 360° U2 Headlining Artist | $736,421,584 7,272,046 110 shows | |
Vertigo U2 Headlining Artist | $389,047,636 4,619,021 131 shows | |
Elevation U2 Headlining Artist | $143,472,379 2,179,642 113 shows | |
PopMart U2 Headlining Artist | $173,610,864 3,982,657 93 shows | |
ZooTV U2 Headlining Artist | $151,215,414 5,350,554 156 shows | |
Lovetown U2 Headlining Artist | $15,606,500 714,500 47 shows | |
The Joshua Tree U2 Headlining Artist | $56,278,095 3,176,952 109 shows | |
The Unforgettable Fire U2 Headlining Artist | $14,682,155 1,090,097 103 shows | |
War U2 Headlining Artist | $2,129,635 226,035 82 shows | |
October U2 Headlining Artist | $1,464,660 205,580 93 shows | |
Boy U2 Headlining Artist | $1,167,326 168,950 156 shows | |
11 O’Clock Tick Tock U2 Headlining Artist | $85,388 15,525 27 shows | |
Orphan | $4,041,935 116,116 6 shows | |
Total | Revenue: $2,357,830,749 Tickets Sold: 34,607,533 Price: $68.13 Shows: 1,426 |
Original Touring Data:
The fifteen concert tours and co-headlining performances total $2.358 billion from 34.608 million tickets sold in 1.426 shows performed, up 19.88% after ‘Joshua Tree (2017-19)’. U2 is the highest-grossing artist of the 2010s decade, second highest-grossing band of all-time and one of the four artists in history to earn over $2 billion in ticket sales.
‘Joshua Tree’ tour earned a total of $390.8 million from 3.280 million tickets sold in 65 shows performed. The first year of the tour earned massive $317 million from 2.713 million tickets sold in 50 shows performed, making it the highest-grossing single calendar year of all-time in the touring industry at the time.
On September 22, 2017, U2 reached $2 billion earned in ticket sales worldwide with the concert played at the SDCCU Stadium, San Diego. The show earned $6.469 million from 54,221 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $2.004 billion.
‘Experience + Innocence’ earned a total of $125.6 million from 924,000 tickets sold in 59 shows performed. It brings a average price of nearly $136 dollars per ticket sold, making it the most expensive concert tour on the band’s catalogue. The tour holds the highest average gross per concert for a arena-tour on their career.
The concerts to promote ‘Songs of Innocence’ and ‘Songs of Experience’ earned $277.8 million from 2.210 million tickets sold combined in 135 shows performed in 2015 and 2018. Both tours were entirely performed in arenas in North America and Europe and recorded a average gross of over $2 million earned per concert.
The massive successful ‘U2 360°’ tour earned $736.4 million from 7.272 million tickets sold in 110 shows performed, making a total of $6.695 million revenue and 66,110 tickets sold per concert, the highest average numbers of their career. It was the highest-grossing and most-attended concert tour of all-time until 2019.
On April 9-11, 2011, the band earned $10.918 million each night played at the Estadio Morumbi, São Paulo, making it the highest-grossing single concerts of their career. The first concert was responsible to make it the most successful concert tour of all-time, pushing the overall number to $558.6 million on its first 83 shows performed.
On July 11-12, 2009, U2 reached $1 billion earned in ticket sales worldwide with the concerts played at the Stade de France, Paris. The second night earned $10.452 million from 93,272 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $1.009 billion.
‘Vertigo’ earned $389 million from 4.619 million tickets sold in 131 shows performed. The three nights played at the Croke Park, Dublin, were the single highest-grossing engagement of the tour with $21.2 million revenue from 247,000 tickets sold, making $7.054 million from 82,248 tickets sold each show. The tour was the second highest-grossing in history at the time.
On November 7, 2006, U2 reached $900 million earned in ticket sales worldwide with the concert played at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Brisbane. It earned a total of $4.254 million from over 50,000 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $901.4 million.
‘Elevation’ was the first tour played this millennium and earned a total of $143.5 million from 2.180 million tickets sold in 113 shows performed, making $1.270 million revenue and 19,289 tickets sold per concert. The highest-grossing engagement of the tour was performed at the Slane Castle, Dublin, with $6.684 million earned from 157,418 tickets sold in 2 shows.
‘PopMart’ earned a total of $173.6 million from 3.983 million tickets sold in 93 shows performed, making $1.867 million revenue and 42,824 tickets sold per concert. The highest average numbers of the band’s career at the time. It was U2’s first concert tour to be entirely performed at stadiums.
On September 20, 1997, the band performed in front of 150,000 fans at the Campo Volo, Reggio nell’Emilia, making it the largest attendance of their career. The show earned $5.294 million revenue, making it their first concert to hit $5 million in ticket sales.
‘ZooTV’ earned $151.2 million from a massive attendance of 5.351 million tickets sold in 156 shows performed, bringing a total of 34,298 fans each night. It was their most-attended concert tour for eighteen years, when it was passed by the ‘U2 360°’. The tour was U2’s first concert to earn over $100 million in ticket sales.
The highest-grossing engagement of the tour came from 4 shows played at the Wembley Stadium, London, with about $9.854 million from 290,000 tickets sold, making $2.464 million revenue and 72,500 tickets sold per night.
On March 18, 1992, U2 reached $100 million earned in ticket sales worldwide with the concert played at the Brendan Byrne Arena, East Rutherford. It earned a total of 497,000 from 19,880 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $100.2 million.
The original ‘The Joshua Tree’ tour took place in 1987 to support their album with the same name. It earned a total of $56.3 million from 3.177 million tickets sold in 109 shows, performing for 29,146 fans each night.
The tour was the most successful concert tour of the year. Its most-attended concert was performed at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, with 115,000 tickets sold, making it their first single concert to sell over 100,000 tickets. And the shows at the Wembley Stadium, London, were the highest-grossing engagement with about $2.880 million from 144,000 tickets sold.
The five first concert tours and co-headlining concert played before ‘The Joshua Tree’ earned a total of number of $23.6 million from 1.822 million tickets sold combined, with 62.29% of this number coming from the ‘Unforgettable Fire’ tour which earned $14.7 million from 1.090 million tickets sold. The lifetime revenue was up by 237.29% after the ‘Joshua Tree’ tour.
The overall averages from U2’s touring numbers are — $157.189 million gross per tour; $1.653 million gross per concert; 2.307 million tickets sold per tour; 24,269 tickets sold per concert; and 95 shows performed per tour.
‘U2 360°’ represents 31.23% of the lifetime revenue, followed by ‘The Joshua Tree 2017’ (16.57%), ‘Vertigo’ (16.50%), ‘PopMart’ (7.36%), ‘Innocence + Experience’ (6.46%), ‘ZooTV’ (6.41%), ‘Elevation’ (6.08%), ‘Experience + Innocence’ (5.33%) and the remaining concerts from ’11 O’Clock Tick Tock’ to ‘Lovetown’ total 4.06%.
U2 | Regions | Box Office |
North America | $1,004,246,882 15,263,358 716 shows |
Europe | $890,200,815 13,529,257 553 shows |
Latin America | $220,163,793 2,585,483 41 shows |
Asia | $168,337,394 2,364,519 85 shows |
Oceania | $55,533,984 603,470 27 shows |
Africa | $19,347,881 261,446 4 shows |
Regions:
North America is the highest-grossing and most-attended region with $1.004 billion earned from 15.263 million tickets sold in 716 shows performed. A total of 25.54% of this number comes from the ‘U2 360°’ tour which earned $256.4 million from 2.731 million tickets sold in 42 shows, making $6.105 million revenue and 65,014 tickets sold each concert.
‘U2 360°’ was the second highest-grossing concert tour of all-time in the region at the time, only behind The Rolling Stones’ ‘A Bigger Bang’. On October 25, 2009, they performed the most successful concert in the region with $9.960 million earned from 97,014 tickets sold at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena.
On July 1, 2018, U2 reached $1 billion earned in North American ticket sales with the second concert played at the Madison Square Garden, New York City, as part of the ‘Experience + Innocence’. It earned a total of $2.902 million from 18,525 tickets sold and pushed the lifetime number to $1.003 billion.
‘U2 360°’ ($256.4 million) is followed by ‘The Joshua Tree (2017)’ ($162.4 million), ‘Vertigo’ ($143.3 million), ‘Elevation’ ($109.9 million), ‘PopMart’ ($77.2 million), ‘Innocence + Experience’ ($76.2 million), ‘ZooTV’ ($67.1 million), ‘Experience + Innocence’ ($61.5 million) and ‘The Joshua Tree’ ($35.1 million) as the highest-grossing concert tours in North America.
Europe is the second highest-grossing region with $890.2 million earned from 13.529 million tickets sold in 553 shows performed. A total of 35.93% of this number comes from the ‘U2 360°’ tour which earned $319.8 million from 3.072 million tickets sold in the region alone, making $6.953 million revenue and 66,783 tickets sold each concert.
The highest-grossing concerts played in the continent were performed at the Stade de France, Paris, on July 11-12, 2009, with $10.452 million and 93,272 tickets sold each night.
‘U2 360°’ ($319.8 million) is followed by ‘Vertigo’ ($155.9 million), ‘The Joshua tree (2017)’ ($84.9 million), ‘Innocence + Experience’ ($76.1 million), ‘ZooTV’ ($68.5 million), ‘Experience + Innocence’ ($64.1 million), ‘PopMart’ ($56.9 million) and ‘Elevation’ ($33.6 million) as the highest-grossing concert tours in the European continent.
Latin America is the third highest-grossing region with $220.2 million earned from 2.585 million tickets sold in 41 shows performed. It brings a total of $5.370 million revenue and 63,061 tickets sold each night, making it the highest average numbers for a region. ‘U2 360°’ represents 38.03% of this number with $83.7 million from 802,263 tickets sold in 10 shows.
The highest-grossing concerts played in Latin America were performed at the Estádio Morumbi, São Paulo, on April 9-13, 2011, with $10.918 million in ticket sales each night, but the most-attended concerts were played at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, with 94,326 tickets sold each night on May 11-15, 2011.
‘U2 360°’ ($83.7 million) is followed by ‘The Joshua tree (2017)’ ($69.7 million), ‘Vertigo’ ($38.4 million), ‘PopMart’ ($24.2 million) and ‘ZooTV’ ($4.1 million) as the highest-grossing concert tours in the Latin American market.
Oceania is the fourth highest-grossing continent with $168.4 million earned from 2.365 million tickets sold in 85 shows performed. The highest-grossing concerts were performed at the Subiaco Oval, Perth, with $6.955 million earned each night in 2010, and the most-attended one was performed at the Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, with 59,726 tickets sold in 2019.
Asia is the fifth highest-grossing continent with $55.5 million earned from 603,000 tickets sold in 27 shows performed. The highest-grossing concert was performed at the Philippine Arena, Manila, with $6.895 million earned on December 11, 2019, and the most-attended one was performed at the DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai, with 42,590 tickets sold on December 15, 2019.
Africa is the sixth highest-grossing continent with $19.3 million earned from 261,000 tickets sold in 4 shows performed. The most sucessful concert was performed at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, with $9.433 million earned from 94,232 tickets sold on February 13, 2011. It’s the highest-grossing concert of all-time in the African continent.
The North American market represents 42.58% of the lifetime revenue, followed by Europe (37.75%), Latin America (9.34%), Oceania (7.14%), Asia (2.36%) and Africa (0.83%).
U2 | Markets | Box Office |
United States North America | $874,059,512 13,253,691 648 shows |
United Kingdom + Ireland Europe | $262,364,724 3,858,442 261 shows |
Australia Oceania | $140,740,722 1,871,202 69 shows |
Canada North America | $130,187,370 2,009,667 68 shows |
France Europe | $102,568,146 1,422,823 43 shows |
Germany Europe | $99,393,225 1,538,478 57 shows |
Brazil Latin America | $85,313,565 918,914 12 shows |
Italy Europe | $84,400,439 1,469,115 34 shows |
Spain Europe | $72,697,186 1,023,539 23 shows |
Netherlands Europe | $64,233,090 1,072,687 45 shows |
Mexico Latin America | $60,268,211 781,735 14 shows |
Argentina Latin America | $47,264,630 569,397 10 shows |
Belgium Europe | $35,762,636 486,523 19 shows |
Sweden Europe | $28,063,040 462,770 18 shows |
New Zealand Oceania | $27,596,672 493,317 16 shows |
Japan Asia | $25,985,937 386,514 21 shows |
Portugal Europe | $22,331,590 328,479 7 shows |
Chile Latin America | $20,868,368 276,165 4 shows |
Denmark Europe | $19,665,595 245,632 9 shows |
South Africa Africa | $19,347,881 261,446 4 shows |
Switzerland Europe | $17,621,248 332,409 12 shows |
Austria Europe | $15,616,945 279,638 6 shows |
Finland Europe | $12,841,495 157,303 3 shows |
Croatia Europe | $12,700,784 124,012 2 shows |
Singapore Asia | $12,433,310 82,557 2 shows |
Poland Europe | $10,584,442 191,961 3 shows |
Greece Europe | $8,046,356 132,662 2 shows |
Russia Europe | $7,986,534 60,496 1 show |
Philippines Asia | $6,895,277 33,721 1 show |
Colombia Latin America | $6,449,019 39,272 1 show |
Norway Europe | $6,433,477 122,000 4 shows |
India Asia | $4,695,722 42,590 1 show |
Turkey Europe | $3,775,662 54,278 1 show |
South Korea Asia | $3,714,350 26,522 1 show |
Israel Asia | $1,809,388 31,566 1 show |
Hungary Europe | $1,320,000 60,000 1 show |
Czech Republic Europe | $1,254,201 61,010 1 show |
Bosnia Europe | $540,000 45,000 1 show |
Markets:
U2 has a total of 26 markets with over $10 million earned in ticket sales. From United States to Netherlands, the top 10 markets earned $1.916 billion from 28.438 million tickets sold combined, making 81.26% of the lifetime grosses.
United States is the most successful market with $874.1 million earned from 13.254 million tickets sold in 648 shows performed, making $1.349 million revenue and 20,453 tickets sold per concert. It represents a total of 37.07% and 87.06% of the lifetime revenue and North American numbers respectively.
United Kingdom and Ireland are the most successful European market and second overall with $262.4 million earned from 3.858 million tickets sold in 261 shows performed, making $1.005 million revenue from 14,783 tickets sold each concert.
‘U2 360°’ is the top tour in the market with $67 million earned from 574,852 tickets sold in only 8 shows played, followed by ‘Vertigo’ ($58.2 million), ‘Innocence + Experience’ ($26.7 million), ‘The Joshua Tree (2017)’ ($24.7 million), ‘ZooTV’ ($20.3 million), ‘Experience + Innocence’ ($19.1 million), ‘PopMart’ ($16.6 million), ‘Elevation’ ($15.5 million) and ‘The Joshua Tree’ ($10.5 million).
The highest-grossing concert in Ireland was performed on July 22, 2017, at the Croke Park, Dublin, with $9.964 million as part of the ‘Joshua Tree’ tour. And on August 14-15, 2009, they performed their first concerts to gross over $10 million in a single night in the United Kingdom, with $10.340 million earned at the Wembley Stadium, London.
Australia is the third highest-grossing market with $140.7 million earned from 1.871 million tickets sold in 69 shows performed, making $2.040 million revenue and 27,119 tickets sold each concert. It represents a total of 5.97% of the lifetime revenue and 83.61% of the numbers in Oceania.
Canada is the fourth highest-grossing market with $130.2 million earned from 2.010 million tickets sold in 68 shows performed, making $1.915 million revenue and 29,554 tickets sold each concert. ‘U2 360°’ is the top tour with $56.9 million earned from 581,000 tickets sold in 9 shows.
France is the fifth highest-grossing market with $102.6 million from 1.423 million tickets sold in 43 shows performed, making $2.385 million and 33,089 tickets sold each concert. The most successful concerts were performed on July 11-12, 2009, at the Stade de France, Paris, with $10.451 million earned from 93,272 tickets sold each night.
Germany is the sixth highest-grossing market with just under $100 million from 1.538 million tickets sold in 57 shows performed, making $1.744 million revenue and 26,991 tickets sold each concert. The most successful concert was performed on July 18, 2009, at the Olympiastadion, Berlin, with $9.170 million earned from 88,265 tickets sold.
Brazil is the top Latin American country with $85.3 million from 919,000 tickets sold in 12 shows performed, making $7.109 million and 76,577 tickets sold each concert. The concerts played at the Estádio Morumbi, São Paulo, on April 9-13, 2011, earned $32.754 million, making it the single highest-grossing engagement of all-time in Latin America.
Japan is the top Asian country with $26 million in 387,000 tickets sold in 21 shows performed, making $1.237 million revenue and 18,405 tickets sold each concert. The most successful concerts were performed on December 4-5, 2019, at the Super Arena, Saitama, with $5.172 million earned each night.
The Estádio Morumbi, São Paulo, is the highest-grossing venue with $82.659 million earned from 851,965 tickets sold in 11 shows performed, followed by Croke Park, Dublin ($62.2 million), Stade de France, Paris ($60.2 million), Madison Square Garden, New York City ($45.1 million) and Wembley Stadium, London ($40.2 million).
The concert at the Estádio Morumbi, São Paulo, in 2011, is the highest-grossing single concert with $10.918 million, followed by Stade de France, Paris ($10.451 million; 2009), Wembley Stadium, London ($10.340 million; 2009), Stade de France, Paris ($10.175 million) and Croke Park, Dublin ($9.964 million).
The concert at the Campo Volo, Reggio Emilia, in 1997, is the most-attended single concert with 150,000 tickets sold, followed by Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid (115,000 tickets; 1987), Rose Bowl, Pasadena (97,014 tickets; 2009), Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (94,326 tickets; 2011) and FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (94,232 tickets; 2011).
U2 | Year by Year | Box Office |
2019 | $73,787,641 566,576 15 shows |
2018 | $125,600,371 923,730 59 shows |
2017 | $316,990,940 2,713,136 50 shows |
2015 | $152,228,226 1,286,416 76 shows |
2011 | $232,362,905 2,387,535 34 shows |
2010 | $192,420,949 1,813,221 32 shows |
Total (2010-2019) | Revenue: $1,093,391,032 Tickets Sold: 9,690,614 Shows: 266 |
2009 | $311,637,730 3,071,290 44 shows |
2006 | $94,252,029 1,200,479 21 shows |
2005 | $294,795,607 3,418,542 110 shows |
2001 | $143,472,379 2,179,642 113 shows |
Total (2000-2009) | Revenue: $844,157,745 Tickets Sold: 9,869,953 Shows: 288 |
1998 | $33,144,315 690,926 15 shows |
1997 | $140,466,549 3,291,731 78 shows |
1993 | $71,119,636 2,499,752 53 shows |
1992 | $80,095,778 2,850,802 103 shows |
1990 | $703,000 38,500 4 shows |
Total (1990-1999) | Revenue: $325,529,278 Tickets Sold: 9,371,711 Shows: 253 |
1989 | $14,903,500 676,000 43 shows |
1987 | $56,278,095 3,176,952 109 shows |
1986 | $4,041,935 116,116 6 shows |
1985 | $9,723,537 731,419 54 shows |
1984 | $4,958,618 358,678 49 shows |
1983 | $2,129,635 226,035 82 shows |
1982 | $692,500 98,700 35 shows |
1981 | $1,377,848 194,880 142 shows |
1980 | $647,026 96,475 99 shows |
Total (1980-1989) | Revenue: $94,752,694 Tickets Sold: 5,675,255 Shows: 619 |
Year by Year:
According to compiled dates performed from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019, ‘The Joshua Tree’ earned $73.8 million from 566,000 tickets sold in 15 shows performed on their last year touring, making $4.919 million from 37,772 tickets sold each concert. U2 ranked at number thirty four highest-grossing artists of the year on the 2019 Year End charts.
The most successful year was 2017 with $317 million earned from 2.713 million tickets sold in 50 shows. It was the highest-grossing single calendar year in history at the time, but it was passed by Ed Sheeran in the following year. They have a total of nine single calendar years grossing over $100 million in ticket sales.
The first year performing as part of the ‘U2 360°’ tour became the first time in history that an artist earned over $300 million in ticket sales in a single calendar year. 2009 earned a total of $311.6 million from 3.071 million tickets sold in 44 shows, with $188.3 million earned from 24 dates played in Europe and another $123.3 million earned from 20 dates played in North America.
The 2010s decade earned $1.093 billion from 9.691 million tickets sold in 266 shows performed, making $4.109 million revenue and 36,432 tickets sold each concert. The band was the highest-grossing artists of the decade and it was the first time in history that an artist earned over $1 billion in the period.
The 2000s decade earned $844.2 million from 9.870 million tickets sold in 288 shows performed, making $2.931 million revenue and 34,271 tickets sold each concert. A total of 36.91% of the revenue comes from 2009 with $311.6 million from 3.071 million tickets sold in 44 shows performed.
The 1990s decade earned $325.5 million from 9.372 million tickets sold in 253 shows performed, making $1.286 million revenue and 37,043 tickets sold each concert. A total of 43.16% of the revenue comes from 1997 with $140.5 million from 3.292 million tickets sold in 78 shows performed.
The 1980s decade earned $94.8 million from 5.675 million tickets sold in 619 shows performed, making $0.154 million revenue and 9.173 tickets sold each concert. A total of 59.08% of the revenue comes from 1987 with $56.3 million from 3.177 million tickets sold in 109 shows performed.
The overall averages from U2’s yearly numbers are — $107.174 million revenue; 1.573 million tickets sold; and 65 shows performed per year in activity.
In the following table, the total revenues for each tour and orphan shows are converted based on 2021’s dollar (USD). The convertion measures the power of the revenue adapted to the past year’s inflation rate.
U2 | Adjusted Ticket Sales | Revenue (2021) |
The Joshua Tree (2017-2019) | $428.63 million |
Experience + Innocence (2018) | $135.54 million |
Innocence + Experience (2015) | $174.04 million |
U2 360° (2009-2011) | $912.64 million |
Vertigo (2005-2006) | $535.70 million |
Elevation (2001) | $219.64 million |
PopMart (1997-1998) | $292.24 million |
ZooTV (1992-1993) | $288.05 million |
Lovetown (1989-1990) | $34.01 million |
The Joshua Tree (1987) | $134.24 million |
The Unforgettable Fire (1984-1985) | $37.42 million |
War (1983) | $5.79 million |
October (1981-1982) | $4.24 million |
Boy (1980-1981) | $3.94 million |
11 O’Clock Tick Tock (1980) | $0.28 million |
Orphan (1980-2021) | $9.99 million |
Total | Revenue: $3.216 billion Gain: $858.56 million Price: $92.94 |
Adjusted Ticket Sales (ATS):
As for the lifetime adjusted revenue, the cumulative tally of U2 is up to $3.216 billion in adjusted ticket sales. This total is up by $858.6 million added to the original number and the overall average price is now up by 36.42%, based on 2021 dollar.
The ‘U2 360°’ tour remains as the most successful concert tour with a box office now at $912.6 million in adjusted ticket sales, bringing a average revenue of $8.297 million per concert. And the lifetime average revenue now jumps to $2.255 million.
Stay tuned for recaps from other artists coming soon to our website. Follow @touringdata on Twitter for more coverage about touring industry.
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