The Acts That Have Sold the Most Tickets Over the Past 40 Years

If you’re surprised Ed Sheeran’s on the list, you haven’t been paying attention to how many stadium shows he’s played.

ed sheeran
(Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Hugo Boss UK)

Pollstar just released a list of the top touring artists worldwide based on how many tickets they’ve sold, going back to 1980. 

Here are the Top 20:

1.  U2, which has sold more than 26 MILLION TICKETS.

2.  Dave Matthews Band

3.  The Rolling Stones

4.  Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

5.  Elton John

6.  Metallica

7.  Bon Jovi

8.  Billy Joel

9.  Kenny Chesney

10.  Grateful Dead

11.  Trans-Siberian Orchestra (they play an insane amount of Christmas shows)

12.  Phish

13.  Aerosmith

14.  Jimmy Buffett

15.  Rod Stewart

16.  Neil Diamond

17.  Coldplay

18.  George Strait

19.  Tim McGraw

20.  Ed Sheeran

To see more, click here.  The first list is ranked by box office gross.  To see the ticket sales skip to Page 3.