Madonna has reinvented herself once again, this time as the top touring act of 2004.
The singer’s Re-Invention Tour was the year’s biggest grosser, according to Billboard Boxscore, taking in $125 million through September and scoring 55 sellouts out of 56 shows. The elaborate concerts averaged $2.23 million each night.
Another ’80s icon, Prince, came in second place, with one of his most successful tours in more than a decade. Playing to more people than any other artist (almost 1.5 million), Prince’s Musicology tour grossed $90.2 million.
Country star Shania Twain was third, playing to almost 950,000 fans and grossing $62.5 million, followed by Simon & Garfunkel ($59 million), Metallica ($53.8 million), Bette Midler ($53.3 million), Sting ($52.4 million), Kenny Chesney ($49.3 million), David Bowie ($46 million) and Toby Keith ($44.3 million).
The year’s biggest concert was a three-night stand by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and James Brown playing with Chicks on Speed at London’s Hyde Park, which drew more than 258,000 fans and grossed more than $17 million.