One Direction had the highest-grossing concert tour in 2014, with $282.2 million in reported ticket sales, according to Pollstar’s year-end worldwide ranking. Justin Timberlake placed second at $184.7 million, followed by The Rolling Stones at $165.1 million.
How Pollstar ranked the tours
The list below uses Pollstar’s 2014 Year End Top 100 Worldwide Tours. Pollstar tabulated worldwide shows worked between January 1 and December 31, 2014, and reported ticket sales in U.S. dollars. The figures are based on reported information and Pollstar’s research; they are not presented as independently audited final accounts. A tour that ran across multiple years is represented here only by its 2014 calendar-year gross, not its full-run total.
The 10 highest-grossing tours of 2014
| Rank | Act | Reported 2014 gross |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Direction | $282.2 million |
| 2 | Justin Timberlake | $184.7 million |
| 3 | The Rolling Stones | $165.1 million |
| 4 | Katy Perry | $153.3 million |
| 5 | Beyoncé / Jay Z | $109.7 million |
| 6 | Michael Bublé | $105.1 million |
| 7 | Lady Gaga | $88.7 million |
| 8 | Eagles | $86.5 million |
| 9 | Paul McCartney | $84.5 million |
| 10 | Bruno Mars | $84.0 million |
Pollstar’s figures are rounded to one decimal place. The ranking compares reported gross, not profit: it does not subtract tour expenses or establish how much an artist, promoter, or venue ultimately retained.
Why One Direction topped the list
One Direction’s first-place result reflected enormous attendance as well as ticket revenue. Pollstar recorded 3,439,563 tickets across 69 shows in 44 cities, averaging 78,172 tickets per show; its chart lists the average ticket price at $82.05. The Los Angeles Times’ contemporaneous report likewise emphasized the group’s move from arenas to stadiums and cited the same average attendance and ticket price.
#1 Best Overall
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- Size: The outer size of the frame is 8x10 inches and the opening size of the glass is 7*9 inches. Frame width is 1.7 inches. Slot size: Length 4 inches, width 0.24 inches. The diameter of the hole is 1 inches.
- DIY Vinyl: Comes with one piece of vinyl offering three themes - Cheer for Beer or Wine Caps, Adventure Fund, Memories Tickets. You can cut the patterns you like to paste it on the glass or you can just leave it blank.
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Gross depends on both attendance and dates
A large gross can come from selling many tickets, charging more per ticket, playing more shows, or combining all three. One Direction’s 69-show schedule and very high reported attendance contrast with the Rolling Stones, who played 25 shows, according to the Los Angeles Times. That article described the Stones’ approach as maximizing revenue per date, quoting Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni: “strategy was to maximize the money they could make from each individual date.” The contrast helps explain why show count and average ticket price can add useful context, but neither alone determines a tour’s total gross.
There is a small source conflict over the Stones’ average ticket price: Pollstar’s chart lists $91.42, while the Los Angeles Times report gives $191.42. The discrepancy does not change the reported gross ranking, so the conflicting secondary figure should not be treated as settled.
Rank #2
- Note: This ticket stub display does not include a base and needs to be supported by product to be displayed upright.Thanks!
- 1. Double-sided display: This 4×9-inch transparent acrylic ticket stub display adopts a double-sided display design, allowing you to clearly see the details of the ticket. Whether it is a play ticket, a concert ticket or a ball game ticket, ticket stub holder can be fully presented in the double-sided display, as if bringing those unforgettable moments back to your eyes again, allowing you to reminisce those wonderful moments anytime, anywhere.
- 2. Storage without damaging the ticket: The four corners of the ticket stub holder are magnetically attracted, and the opening and closing are achieved by magnetic attraction. This design is not only easy to operate, but also fits tightly when closed, ensuring that the ticket will not be damaged by accidental falling. At the same time, the strong magnetic attraction will not cause any wear and tear on the ticket, perfectly protecting every precious ticket.
- 3. Simple and stylish: Ticket stub organizer is made of transparent acrylic material with good durability. This material not only makes the details of the ticket clear at a glance, but also ensures that the ticket holder maintains a good appearance and performance during long-term use. The transparent design is simple and stylish, suitable for various home or office environments, adding a sense of refinement to your space.
- 4. Rounded corner design: The ticket stub frame adopts rounded corner design to avoid possible injuries to the hands caused by sharp corners. You can operate it with confidence when using or touching the ticket holder. The rounded corner design not only improves the comfort during use, but also makes it easier for you to organize and store your tickets.
What the ranking says—and does not say—about the 2014 market
One Direction’s lead was substantial: its reported gross exceeded the runner-up’s by $97.5 million. Bongiovanni characterized the prominence of One Direction and Justin Timberlake as evidence that “There are definitely some cyclic powers at work here.” This is an observation about the acts appearing near the top, not a measure of the entire concert business.
For broader context, the Los Angeles Times reported Billboard figures showing North American attendance down 1.5% year over year while domestic grosses rose 3.4%. Those regional comparisons are separate from Pollstar’s worldwide top-ten table: they should not be read as a contradiction of the leading tours’ reported worldwide grosses.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Ticket Shadow Frame Box with Slot: this 8 x 10 inch ticket shadow frame box is specially designed for storing and displaying cherished ticket stubs from concerts, movies, theater performances, sporting events, festivals, and travel adventures; The top loading slot allows you to easily drop in new keepsakes, turning every event memory into a meaningful decorative display you can revisit anytime
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Rank #4
- Note:Please remove the protective film before use. Thank you.
- 1. Double-sided display: This ticket stub holder is made of transparent acrylic material and has a size of 4x9 inches. The larger size can accommodate more types of tickets and clearly display the tickets inside. Whether it is a play ticket, a concert ticket or a ball game ticket, the details of the ticket can be seen at a glance. The transparent design is not only beautiful and generous, but also adds a unique sense of art, making your precious ticket a beautiful landscape in your home or office space.
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- 3. Protect the ticket stubs: The four corners of the ticket stub frame are magnetically attached. When using it, there is no need to borrow external tools. The ticket stubs can be directly inserted and opened and closed by magnetic attraction. This design is not only easy to operate, but also ensures that the ticket holder fits tightly when closed and will not be accidentally opened due to external force. At the same time, the strong magnetic attraction will not cause any damage to the ticket stubs, and can effectively protect the integrity of the ticket stubs, so that your precious ticket stubs are always in good preservation.
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Rank #3
- Decorative shadow box ticket and memory holder
- Printed on the glass cover are the words "Ticket Memories"
- Perfect gift for the concert or show lover
- Quality construction
- Can be wall mounted with included saw tooth hanger
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