Madonna Has the Year's Top-Grossing Tour: Nearly $300M

By Rolling Stone | Rolling Stone – Sat, Dec 29, 2012 9:30 AM EST

The power of Madonna shows little sign of waning, at least at the cashbox. According to Pollstar, the Material Girl was the runaway leader in concert grosses for calendar year 2012, taking in $296.1 million. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band took the number two spot with $210.2 million. Like Madonna, Springsteen played to more than two million fans this year. 

Photos: Live at the '12-12-12' Sandy Benefit Concert

Also making bank was Roger Waters, who brought in $186.4 million, good for third place. Coldplay, Lady Gaga and Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson: The Immortal tour were the only other acts to gross over $100 million for the year. Overall, the year's top 50 tours grossed about $3 billion combined, down two percent from $3.07 billion last year.

Pollstar's list reflects similarities with Billboard's recently announced list of top earners, which ranks tours from November 9th, 2011 to November 13th, 2012. Rounding out Pollstar's top 10: Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, Metallica, Elton John and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Paul McCartney just missed the top 10, grossing $56.9 million for the year.

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