The stages of 21st-century pop music have grown to unprecedented sizes: stadium-filling crowds, billion-dollar revenues, and shows that entertain while making history. In the first part of our series, legendary bands, returning rock icons, and modern pop stars share the spotlight.
25. Bon Jovi – Lost Highway Tour (2007–2008)
The Lost Highway Tour began in November 2007 in Japan and lasted until the end of 2008, with nearly one hundred stops and $210 million in revenue. The tour primarily showcased the country-rock–inspired Lost Highway album, which brought a new direction to Bon Jovi’s music, while still making room for earlier anthems like Livin’ on a Prayer and It’s My Life. The band moved fluidly between stadiums and arenas, using massive stage technology, LED walls, and pyrotechnics to enhance the atmosphere everywhere they went. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi communicated with the audience with his usual confidence, while the band delivered flawless sound with their trademark professionalism. The Lost Highway Tour offered nostalgia for longtime fans and proof for new ones that the Bon Jovi brand remains one of the strongest names in the global rock scene.
24. AC/DC – Black Ice World Tour (2008–2010)
The AC/DC Black Ice World Tour was a true rock and roll marathon: it started in October 2008 and ran until June 2010, with 168 concerts and over $441 million in revenue. The tour supported the Black Ice album, which brought the band back to the top of international charts. The stage design became legendary: a massive locomotive rolled in during the opening song (Rock ’n’ Roll Train), while fireworks and a giant bell accompanied classics as Brian Johnson and Angus Young tore up the stage. Every element of the production evoked the golden age of stadium rock while introducing new generations to the art of an energetic, uncompromising rock show. The Black Ice World Tour was a milestone in AC/DC’s history not only financially but also culturally.
23. U2 – 360° Tour (2009–2011)
The 360° Tour was one of the live music industry’s largest undertakings. Running from 2009 to 2011, it featured 110 concerts and became the highest-grossing tour of all time with $736 million in revenue. The 360-degree stage structure, nicknamed “The Claw,” was a technical marvel: 50 meters high, with a movable LED screen and light-bridge system. Bono and the band aimed to make every audience member feel as close to the event as possible, even from the farthest corner of the stadium. The setlist blended classic U2 anthems like With or Without You and Where the Streets Have No Name with newer tracks. The 360° Tour proved that stadium rock can still move millions in the digital age.
22. Guns N’ Roses – Not in This Lifetime… Tour (2016–2019)
The Not in This Lifetime… Tour was one of the most unexpected and successful reunion tours in rock history. Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan together on stage again was a global sensation in itself. The tour ran for three years, with 158 concerts and about $584 million in revenue. The setlist included classics like Sweet Child o’ Mine, Welcome to the Jungle, and November Rain, alongside rarely played tracks. The production evoked rock and roll’s heyday, with massive staging, pyrotechnics, and big screens. Fans and critics alike felt that the band had rediscovered the energy that made them global superstars in the late ’80s.
21. Pink – Summer Carnival (2023–2024)
The Summer Carnival was perhaps Pink’s most spectacular and large-scale tour, generating nearly $585 million in revenue. The show combined Pink’s trademark aerial acrobatics, live vocals, and precise choreography with a carnival-themed visual universe. The staging was colorful, energetic, and constantly in motion—just like the singer herself, who flew over the crowd several times during songs. The setlist covered all of her career’s major hits, from Just Give Me a Reason to Raise Your Glass.
20. Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams Tour (2016–2017)
The A Head Full of Dreams Tour was one of Coldplay’s most colorful and joyful productions, bringing in $523 million. The visual world of the concerts resembled the kaleidoscopic swirl of colors: confetti cannons, glowing wristbands, and constantly changing LED projections made the experience unforgettable. Chris Martin and the band’s positive energy, warmth, and audience-focused performance turned the tour into a genuine feel-good event. The setlist mixed fresh tracks with classics like Fix You and Yellow, ensuring both longtime and newer fans found their favorites.
19. Ed Sheeran – ÷ Tour (2017–2019)
Ed Sheeran’s Divide Tour, with $776 million in revenue, became one of the biggest solo artist tours of all time. Its uniqueness lay in Sheeran filling stadiums alone, using loop pedals and a guitar, proving there is no need for a huge band or elaborate accompaniment when someone is that captivating. The concert offered both intimate, acoustic moments and massive, crowd-singing anthems. Shape of You and Perfect became shared experiences for tens of thousands of people worldwide.