The North American concert industry is experiencing a rebound in mid-2011 compared to mid-2010, according to [pdf] analysis by Pollstar. The top 100 North American concert tours grossed a total of $1.12 billion in the first half of this year, up about 16% from $965.5 million in mid-2010.
However, this figure is down about 3% from $1.16 billion in 2009, which had the highest mid-year gross of any year since 2004.
Ticket Sales Up 5% YOY
In total, 16.7 million tickets were sold to the top 100 North American concert tours in the first half of 2011, up about 5% from 15.9 million a year earlier. However, 2009 also featured the highest mid-year ticket sales since 2004 with 18 million tickets sold, meaning this figure dropped about 12% in 2011.
Ticket Sales Per Show Down
During the first half of 2011, the average show of a top 100 North American concert tour 6,762 tickets. This figure is down about 3% from 6,951 a year earlier and down 11% from 7,639 in mid-2009. The average tickets per show figure for mid-2011 is the lowest recorded since 6,660 in 2006.
Average Show Grosses 453K
The average show of a top 100 North American concert tour grossed $453,300 during the first half of 2011, up 7% from $422,400 a year earlier. Compared to $493,600 in mid-2009, this figure has decreased 8%.
Average Ticket Price Highest Since ’04
The average $67.02 price of a ticket for a top 100 North American concert tour in the first half of 2011 is the highest recorded since at least mid-2004, when it stood at $53.55. The average price is up 10% from $60.77 in mid-2010 and up 4% from $64.61 in mid-2009.
Deloitte: Older Acts Drive US Touring Revenue
Musical artists and singers who will be in their 50s and 60s in 2011 produced a combined 59% of US touring revenue from the top 20 live acts between 2000 and 2009, according to a January 2011 white paper from Deloitte. “Technology, Media & Telecommunications Predictions 2011” finds that 40% of touring revenue from the top 20 live acts in the past decade, or about $2.5 billion, was generated by artists who are or will be in their 60s this year.
