Mark SurridgeTaylor Swift may have set a record for the highest-grossing U.S. tour of all time, but when you take the entire world into consideration, her pal Ed Sheeran comes out on top.
According to Billboard, Ed’s Divide tour, which started in 2017 and continued into this year, has grossed just under $552 million, which makes it the highest-grossing tour by a solo artist in the history of Billboard Boxscore, the publication’s touring chart, which started in 1990.
The previous record was held by rock legend Roger Waters’ tour, which grossed $459 million over three years.
The Divide tour has also set a record for the biggest year-end gross in the history of Billboard Boxscore. In 2018 alone, Ed made $429.5 million on the road, breaking the previous record of $425.1 million set by the Rolling Stones in 2006.
It goes without saying, therefore, that Ed’s tour was Billboard’s Top Tour of 2018. And, reports Billboard, by the time Ed is completely done with his tour in August of 2019, he may break the record for the highest-earning tour of all time. That record’s currently held by U2‘s 360 Tour, which earned $736 million, running from 2009-2011. Ed’s not too far away from overtaking their total now.
Taylor comes in at #2 on Billboard‘s list of the Top Tours of the Year, and Beyonce and JAY-Z, Bruno Mars and Pink round out the top five.
The rankings were based on concerts that took place between November 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018. Any shows from last month will count toward next year’s total.
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