The live music industry is experiencing a complex pattern in 2025, as evidenced by Pollstar’s year-end analysis revealing both a decline in overall grosses and ticket sales, coupled with increases in average earnings per show and ticket prices. After the tumultuous years brought on by the pandemic, the industry had seen a remarkable rebound termed “The Great Return,” which featured unprecedented high demand for live events. However, as the industry recalibrates, the excitement appears to be somewhat tempered this year.
After reaching an all-time high in 2024, with worldwide grosses for the Top 100 Touring artists hitting $9.5 billion, 2025 has seen a modest decline of 6.1% to $8.9 billion. While this number demonstrates a significant recovery—60.8% higher than 2019’s pre-pandemic figures—there is a growing acknowledgment that the peak may have passed, with consumer demand becoming more balanced. Ticket sales also reflect this trend, with a total of 67.3 million tickets sold—a 3.7% decrease from the previous year, yet still nearly 10 million more than in 2019.
Despite these drops in overall figures, average earnings per show have reached new heights. The Top 100 artists averaged over $2.5 million in gross per concert, up 9.2%, while the number of tickets sold per show set a record at an average of 19,104. This growth suggests that although the total numbers may be down, the capacity and willingness of audiences to pay for high-quality entertainment remain strong.
Leading the touring scene in 2025 are high-profile artists like Beyoncé, Coldplay, and Oasis. Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter Tour” managed to gross an impressive $407.6 million from just nine stadium shows, providing a remarkably high average ticket price of $255. Oasis, in a much-anticipated reunion tour, followed closely with $405.4 million grossed over numerous venues, while Coldplay’s ongoing “Music of the Spheres Tour” set a remarkable precedent with total ticket sales surpassing 13 million and grossing $390.5 million this year alone.
The venue landscape has also shifted, with stadiums emerging as the preferred choice for large-scale concert events. This year, the average gross at stadium shows rose to $7.11 million, a notable 19% increase over last year. Additionally, the demand for tickets at these larger venues resulted in an average attendance of 56,272, signifying a 11% increase from the prior year.
North America mirrored these global trends, with 2025 grossing $5.8 billion—a 55% increase compared to the last pre-pandemic year. Despite a slight dip in overall grosses and ticket sales, the average gross per show in North America rose to $1.99 million, and average tickets sold increased to 14,805, suggesting resilience in the market.
The trends indicate that, while the live music industry is facing challenges with adjusted consumer demand, both touring artists and venues are finding innovative ways to thrive, demonstrating the enduring popularity of live entertainment in today’s landscape. The industry’s ability to adapt to new realities might well pave the way for further growth and success, leaving fans hopeful for the future of live shows.