Elton John And Bad Bunny Were 2022’s Most Popular Touring Acts

Topline

Elton John was the most in-demand touring act of 2022 in terms of ticket sales, online ticket marketplace StubHub announced Wednesday, days after trade publication Pollstar reported Bad Bunny had the highest-grossing North American and global tours of this year, as artists return to touring and the concert industry rebounds from a Covid-imposed dip.

Elton John performs in concert, the last of 3-night stand to finish the American leg of his farewell … [+] tour at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA.

Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Key Facts

John—who has been touring his massive “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour—was the most in-demand act internationally, according to StubHub, which based its rankings on on cumulative ticket sales on StubHub North America and viagogo, followed by Harry Styles, Coldplay, Bad Bunny, Mötley Crüe, Morgan Wallen, Billie Eilish, Garth Brooks, Adele and Justin Bieber, respectively.

John’s tour was the highest selling in five years, and drove over 50% more sales than Style’s “Love On Tour,” StubHub said, citing sales data from its platform.

John’s North American tour grossed $201.8 million in 2022, according to Pollstar, and was the second highest-grossing North American tour of the year.

It was also the most popular: It sold over 1.6 million tickets.

Bad Bunny’s concerts grossed $393.3 million worldwide in 2022, and his North American tour grossed $356.5 million this year, according to Pollstar.

Following Bad Bunny and John’s North American tours were Deff Leppard/Mötley Crüe ($177.4 million), Styles ($160.4 million) and Kenny Chesney ($135.3 million).

Big Number

$6.28 billion. That’s how much money the top 100 concerts worldwide grossed in 2022, according to Pollstar. That’s a 13% increase from 2019, before the live music industry suffered a major dip because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

What To Watch For

Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour,” which kicks off in 2023, has the “possibility of crossing the unthinkable $1 billion mark,” Pollstar said. It’s Swift’s first tour since 2018 and one of the largest of her career, and early ticket sales caused calamity for Ticketmaster.

Key Background

Last year, the Rolling Stones grossed more than any other touring act with more than $115 million worldwide. Styles had the most popular global tour of 2021, selling 669,000 tickets.

Tangent

The MLB World Series between the Astros and Phillies was the most in-demand sporting event 2022, StubHub said.