Tickets are foundations for revenue in the music business. Madonna topped the list of earners of 2008 and most of her money came from ticket sales.
Madonna made $120 million in the USA last year. $105.3 million came from ticket sales; $14.8 million came from music sales. If you add her ticket sales in from other tours around the world, she made $286.1 million last year.Of the Top 10 music sales earners of 2008, only three made the Top of the Pollstar list when concert revenues were added to their earnings. They were AC/DC, Coldplay and Jonas Brothers.
The biggest music sales earner of 2008 last year didn’t even make the Top 10. That was Taylor Swift, who despite having $52 million in music sales, fell shirt of making the top 10 by $25 million.
Celine Dion was in second place. Her $106.8 million paycheck broke down into $94 million for ticket sales, $11.4 million for CD sales and $1.3 million for digital download sales.
The other obvious point from the Top 10 is that the money being made by artists is coming from the 30+ demographic. The recording industry has focused on the youth market while the touring industry has been aiming at the 30+ market. You can see who is more successful by far.
The Top 10 was:
1. Madonna $120m
2. Celine Dion $106.8m
3. Kenney Chesney $95.7m
4. Eagles $90.7m
5. AC/DC $82m
6. Coldplay $81.6m
7. Bon Jovi ($81.4m)
8. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band $79m
9. Jonas Brothers $77.9m
10. Rascal Flatts $77.1m
