The Rolling Stones, led by the 80-year-old Mick Jagger, have continued to make their mark on the music industry. Despite not having a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for two decades, they have remained a force to be reckoned with on Billboard's Top Tours chart. This year, from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, the band came in at No. 6 with an impressive $235 million in ticket sales from just 18 concerts. This is a remarkable feat, especially when compared to other top acts.

Unraveling the Secrets of the Rolling Stones' Touring Success

Touring Power and Pricing

The Rolling Stones' secret to their success lies in their ticket pricing. With an average ticket price of $13.1 million per show, they managed to bring in a significant amount of money. By comparison, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band grossed $235.5 million from 39 shows with an average ticket price of $147.25. Coldplay, on the other hand, played 51 shows and brought in $400.9 million. This shows the impact of ticket pricing on tour grosses. 2: The top ticket price in the top 10 was $367.13 for U2's 38 shows at Sphere in Las Vegas. This highlights the wide range of ticket prices and the importance of pricing in the touring business. Artists like Bad Bunny with an average ticket price of $280.67 and Metallica with an average price of $116.80 also demonstrate the diversity in pricing strategies.

Changes in Touring Business

The touring business has seen significant changes in recent years. Billboard's Boxscore reporting period was shortened last year, making apples-to-apples comparisons difficult. However, even with this change, the top 100 tours took in $9.1 billion this year, a 21.6% increase in revenue over the previous year. But the audience growth was only half as much, indicating the importance of pricing. 2: Over the past five years, the concert business has completely changed its view on pricing. With the rise of resale sites like StubHub, promoters realized that fans were willing to pay more for tickets. This led to the use of variable and dynamic pricing strategies, similar to those used in hotels and airlines. Companies like Live Nation's Ticketmaster and AEG's AXS have invested millions in software to price seats dynamically in real time according to demand.

Festival Challenges

As ticket prices increase, festival organizers are facing harder times. They have to pay more for headliners, and festival ticket sales have declined in 2023 and 2024. Artists are also agreeing to more rigid radius clauses, restricting their ability to perform nearby shows. This poses a challenge for the long-term future of festivals. 2: Live Nation and AEG, the global concert promotion giants, handle many of the top touring acts. While festivals only represent a fraction of their business, they still play an important role. For example, Live Nation promotes Coldplay, Miguel, and Madonna, while AEG handles Swift, Bryan, and George Strait. These acts continue to bring in significant revenue and attract large audiences.