Rock Legends, Stadium Giants, and a Music Industry That Keeps Growing
Every year, millions of fans around the world buy tickets to see their favorite artists perform live. Now, Pollstar — a major publication that tracks concerts and ticket sales — has released a huge new report: the Top 25 Most Popular Touring Artists of the Millennium. This list covers all global ticket sales from 2001 to the end of 2025, making it one of the most complete looks at live music success in the modern era.
And yes — many of rock’s biggest names rank high.
Coldplay Takes the #1 Spot
Coldplay tops the entire list with 24.8 million tickets sold across more than 700 shows. Their colorful, emotional stadium concerts have become famous around the world, and this ranking proves their massive global pull.
U2 and Ed Sheeran Follow Closely
In second place is U2, who sold 20.2 million tickets. Their huge tours — especially the 360° Tour — drew record-breaking crowds.
At number three is Ed Sheeran, who sold 19.6 million tickets. Sheeran often tours alone with just a guitar and a loop pedal, yet still fills stadiums everywhere he goes.
America’s Biggest: Dave Matthews Band and Bruce Springsteen
The highest-ranking American artist is Dave Matthews Band at number four, followed by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band at number six. Both acts have extremely loyal fanbases who return tour after tour.
Rock Titans Still Rule Live Music
Rock may not dominate the charts like it once did, but when it comes to touring, the genre remains incredibly strong. Some of the biggest rock names included in the Top 25 are:
Metallica (#8) – 15.6 million tickets
Bon Jovi (#9) – 13.9 million
The Rolling Stones (#12)
Guns N’ Roses (#16)
Eagles (#18)
Iron Maiden (#19)
Roger Waters (#21)
Paul McCartney (#22)
These artists prove that rock shows are still one of the most powerful live experiences you can get. Fans continue to show up generation after generation.
Taylor Swift: The Highest-Grossing Artist
Even though she ranks fifth in ticket sales, Taylor Swift earned the most money of any artist on the list. Her massive Era’s Tour became the highest-grossing tour of all time, pushing her total past $3 billion.
Her average ticket price is also the highest — over $165 — showing just how high demand has been.
The Big Picture: Live Music Is Stronger Than Ever
Together, the top 25 touring artists sold more than 340 million tickets and made over $35.7 billion. That’s a huge sign of how much live music has grown. More artists are touring globally, playing bigger stages, and reaching more fans than ever before.
Pollstar’s editor summed it up perfectly: the past 25 years have seen incredible expansion, and touring is now more creative, impressive, and successful than at any point in history.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a fan of heavy metal, classic rock, pop, or anything in between, this list shows one thing clearly: live music is thriving. Rock giants like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Bon Jovi, and The Rolling Stones continue to draw massive crowds, while modern stars like Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift bring new energy to stadiums worldwide.
In the end, the biggest winners are the fans — because the concerts just keep getting bigger and better.