Okay, here is a news article based on the title "Coldplay, U2 and Ed Sheeran top Pollstar's most popular touring artists of the new millennium" with accurate information.
In a landmark announcement that underscores their enduring appeal and global reach, Coldplay, U2, and Ed Sheeran have been named Pollstar's top touring artists of the new millennium. The concert trade publication, in advance of its 2025 year-end issue, ranked the top 25 "Most Popular Touring Artists of the Millennium" based on ticket sales from January 1, 2001, to the end of 2025.
Leading the pack is Coldplay, with an impressive 24.8 million tickets sold. The British band's consistent ability to draw massive crowds has solidified their position as a dominant force in the live music scene. Their "Music of the Spheres World Tour," which launched in March 2022, has grossed $1.52 billion from 13.1 million tickets, becoming the most-attended tour of all time and the first by a band to collect over $1 billion. Known for their engaging stage presence, musical versatility, and high production value, Coldplay's shows have earned widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike.
Following closely behind is U2, with 20.2 million tickets sold. The Irish rock legends have a long history of setting touring records, with their "360° Tour" (2009-2011) reigning as the highest-grossing tour of all time for eight years. U2's innovative stage designs and powerful performances have made them a consistent draw for fans around the world. Since 2001, U2 has staged six tours, including "The Joshua Tree Tour," which began with a five-month stadium run in 2017 and returned in 2019 for another 15 shows. The band also christened the Las Vegas Sphere with their "U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere" residency, which featured 40 concerts from September 2023 to March 2024.
Ed Sheeran secures the third spot with 19.6 million tickets sold. Sheeran's "÷ (Divide) Tour," which wrapped in 2019 after running for two and a half years, broke U2's record to become the highest-grossing tour at the time. His ability to connect with audiences through his heartfelt lyrics and engaging performances has made him one of the most popular touring artists of his generation. Ed Sheeran's "Divide Tour" grossed $775.6 million from 8.9 million tickets sold across six continents. His more recent "+-=÷x (Mathematics) Tour" wrapped up earlier this year with a gross of $807 million.
Rounding out the top five are Dave Matthews Band, with nearly 19.6 million tickets sold, and Taylor Swift, with roughly 18.9 million. It is worth noting that Swift's debut album was released in 2006, making her rise to the top particularly impressive.
While ticket sales determine the "Most Popular Touring Artists" ranking, it's important to distinguish this metric from money grossed. As Pollstar's 2023 year-end charts indicated, Swift's Eras Tour was the first to cross the billion-dollar mark. By December 2024, the Eras Tour had brought in $2.2 billion across its nearly two-year run. Swift has grossed over $3.1 billion in the new millennium, compared to Coldplay, who follows with a gross of nearly $2.5 billion.
The success of these artists highlights the significant growth in the global touring economy over the past quarter-century. With more superstar acts playing more shows in more territories than ever before, the live music industry continues to reach new creative and commercial heights.
