Aconcert tour (or simplytour) is a series ofconcerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often, concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific tour with a particularalbum or product. Especially in the popular music world, such tours can become large-scale enterprises that last for several months or even years, are seen by hundreds of thousands or millions of people, and bring in millions of dollars in ticket revenues. A performer who embarks on a concert tour is called atouring artist.[1][2]
Different segments of longer concert tours are known as "legs".[3] The different legs of a tour are denoted in different ways, dependent on the artist and type of tour, but the most common means of separating legs are dates (especially if there is a long break at some point), countries and/or continents, or different opening acts. In the largest concert tours, it has become more common for different legs to employ separate touring production crews and equipment, local to each geographical region.[citation needed] Concert tours are often administered on the local level by concert promoters or byperforming arts presenters. Usually, small concert tours are managed by aroad manager whereas large concert tours are managed by atour manager.
The main challenge in concert tours is how to move the performance's logistics from onevenue to another venue, especially for a transcontinental tour. Tour logistics should be very organized and everything has to happen on time and in the right order as planned.[5]Autoweek magazine estimated 30 to 50 trucks were required byTaylor Swift'sThe 1989 World Tour to bring all the stage, sound equipment, instruments, props, and clothes.[6]
WhenBeyoncé visited the United Kingdom with her 2016The Formation World Tour, it took sevenBoeing 747 air freighters and a fleet of more than 70 trucks to get her stage set and other gear to the venues. The logistics phase of that tour did not include transportation of the backstage staff, musicians, performers, and the singer herself.[7]
The majority of concert tours are part of a promotional campaign to support an album release.[8][9] Hence, new songs from the respective album are included on its tour'ssetlist.[10] Some tours are known as "greatest hits tours" or "reunion tour" without any new material or specific album release,[11][12] such asFleetwood Mac's 2009Unleashed tour andNo Doubt's2009 Summer Tour.[13][14]Taylor Swift'sThe Eras Tour (2023–2024) is a retrospective of her career to that point, where each act of the concert represents one ofher albums.[15] In another case, artists embark on a concert tour to celebrate the anniversary of their past albums, such asU2's2017 tour to mark the 30th anniversary ofThe Joshua Tree (1987) andJanet Jackson's2019 tour to commemorate the 30th anniversary ofJanet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989).[16][17]
A farewell tour is a concert tour intended to signal the retirement of a singer, the disbanding of a band, or the end of a show's run. Many of the tours end up not being the last tour, with frequent regroupings, or revivals of shows.[18][19][20]Luciano Pavarotti's 2004 tour andKenny Rogers's 2015–2017 tour are examples of farewell tours which were the last to be staged before their deaths.[21][22]
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As of October 2024, the highest-grossing concert tour of all time isTaylor Swift'sEras Tour, with $2.089 billion earned from 149 shows.[23] It was the first run to collect over $1 and $2 billion in revenue.[24]Coldplay'sMusic of the Spheres World Tour ranks at second place, being the most-attended tour in history and the first by a group to reach $1 billion.[25] At third isElton John'sFarewell Yellow Brick Road, with a total gross of $939 million from 2018–2023.[26] At fourth place isEd Sheeran's÷ Tour, with a gross of $776.2 million.[27][28] On fifth place isU2's360° Tour, with $736.4 million.[29]
Global touring revenue reported toBillboard Boxscore exceeded $5.5 billion in 2016.[30] Due to the collapse ofrecord sales in the 21st century, concert tours have become a major source of income for recording artists.[31] Besides the tickets, touring also generates money from the sales ofmerchandise and meet-and-greet packages.[32][33] However, the touring businesssuffered in the early 2020s because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.Pollstar estimated the total lost revenue for the industry in 2020 at more than $30 billion.[34]
The mobility of concert tours requires a lot of costs, time, and energy. It is very common for musicians to not see family members for over a year during their touring.[35] British singerAdele expressed her unhappiness of concert tours, saying "Touring is a peculiar thing, it doesn't suit me particularly well. I'm a real homebody and I get so much joy in the small things."[35] Aconcert residency concept is offered as an alternative to performers who just need to stay in one venue and the fans come to see them.[36] The concept has been revitalized in the 21st century by Canadian superstarCéline Dion with the success of herA New Day... residency (2003–2007). Her residency introduced a new form of theatrical entertainment, a fusion of song, performance art, innovative stage craft, and state-of-the-art technology. She managed to popularize the Las Vegas residency as a desirable way for top artists to essentially tour in place, letting their fans come to them.[37] American singerLady Gaga, who cancelled the 2018 European leg of herJoanne World Tour, signed for a Las Vegas residency to help manage herfibromyalgia illness, which can be exacerbated by touring.[38]
The 2015 study by charityHelp Musicians found that over 60% of musicians suffered from depression or other psychological issues, with touring an issue for 71% of respondents.[39]
A concert tour is an opportunity for musicians to perform over longer periods of time across several cities, which are differentiated by segments known as "legs." Legs of tours of can be denoted by a series of dates that have no long break between them, by geographical regions or destinations, or by different opening acts. Each city or region may have the same opening act for each leg, or they may change opening acts at each city.
The count was up to 22 at the beginning of today, but now it is close to 30. We are guessing that number will grow as the concert quickly approaches, maybe even to 50.
