Bon Jovi Posts Highest-Grossing Tour of 2010, AC/DC, U2, Lady Gaga, and Metallica Finish in Top 5

Veteran rock ‘n’ roll acts Bon Jovi, AC/DC, and U2 showed new artists how it’s done in 2010. Although tumultuous economic times have crippled the concert business, the aforementioned rock groups finished in the top three of concert tracker Pollstar’s list of the highest-grossing tour acts of the year.

Bon Jovi earned $201.1 million worldwide in total revenue for their “The Circle” tour, including $108.2 million in North America. The two acts that topped the list last year, AC/DC and U2, earned $177 million and $160.9 million, respectively, in 2010.

While Bon Jovi, AC/DC, and U2 enjoyed plenty of success with their respective world tours this year, ticket sales for the top 50 tours dropped 12 percent worldwide and 15 percent in North America, according to MTV News.

Lady Gaga’s “Monster Ball” tour placed fourth on Pollstar’s list, grossing $133.6 million. The “Bad Romance” singer was the only female recording artist who finished in the top 10 for the year, and she played nearly as many shows – 138 – as Bon Jovi, AC/DC, and U2 combined – 152.

Metallica’s “World Magnetic Tour” rounded out the top five, earning $110.1 million. Michael Buble, the live show “Walking with Dinosaurs,” Paul McCartney, The Eagles, and Roger Waters finished in the top 10 worldwide.