Taylor Swift’s Eras tour smashes touring revenue record with more than $2bn in ticket sales.

Editor Stephen Hill 9th December 2024

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour has officially set a new benchmark in the music industry, becoming the most commercially successful tour of all time. 

The tour generated an impressive revenue of $2,077,618,725 (£1.62 billion), more than double the amount earned by the previous record-holder.  

This milestone was confirmed by Taylor Swift Touring to the New York Times following the tour's final performance in Vancouver. 

The previous record was held by Elton John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road, which amassed $939 million. Notably, Swift achieved her remarkable revenue with significantly fewer shows—149 compared to Elton John's 330—highlighting the strength of her fanbase and marketing strategy.  Additionally, Coldplay's ongoing Music of the Spheres tour has surpassed the $1 billion mark and, with concerts scheduled through mid-2025, could potentially challenge Swift’s record if they add more dates.  

The Eras Tour was not only a commercial triumph but also a critical one, earning four five-star reviews from The Guardian. Swift showcased her extensive catalog in concerts lasting over three and a half hours. Between legs of the tour, she also dedicated time to write and finalize her new studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, which was incorporated into the later tour dates after its release in April.  With an average ticket price of $204, the tour reflects the deep engagement and investment of Swift’s fans. 

The overwhelming demand for tickets led to an unprecedented situation in November 2022, where Ticketmaster's system collapsed due to 3.5 billion ticket requests. This extraordinary demand prompted a U.S. Senate hearing concerning Live Nation's influence in the ticketing market amid allegations of monopoly power.  

Wembley Stadium in London saw the largest overall attendance, welcoming 753,112 fans across eight shows, while the largest single concert attendance peaked at 96,006 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during one of her three performances.  Importantly, the reported revenue figure of over $2 billion does not include the significant income generated from merchandise sales. 

Pop-up shops outside venues offered a variety of items, including hoodies and friendship bracelets, contributing to the tour's overall success.  Furthermore, a concert film released in October 2023 achieved $261 million at the box office, setting a new record for concert films and surpassing the $99 million earned by Justin Bieber's Never Say Never in 2011. The Eras Tour film was later made available for streaming on Disney+, with reports indicating that the deal was worth an estimated $75 million.   Overall, the success of the Eras Tour demonstrates the powerful impact of live music and the dedication of fans, setting a new standard for future tours in the industry.