Billboard revealed its year-end Boxscore charts, ranking the top tours, venues, and promoters of 2023. That coverage included analysis of the new wave of genre diverse artists crashing stadium stages, and in turn, our charts. This week, we are breaking down the year’s biggest tours, genre by genre. Today, we continue with country.
Country music has been a reliable pillar of the touring industry for several decades. Tradition states that Nashville singer-songwriters take to American arenas and amphitheaters each weekend, often returning home for the week to write and prepare new material. This established model continues to work for artists across the genre, with its share of the top 100 tours oscillating between 12-15% for much of the last decade.
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In 2017, however, country’s share dipped below 10% and stayed in the single digits through the pandemic. But after a small boost back to 10% last year, it’s up to 12.7% in 2023. Not only does it bounce back with a slew of amphitheater artists, but newer headliners such as Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs ascend to stadiums, while extending their schedules to Australia and Europe.
With their tours continuing into the 2024 tracking period, and Zach Bryan joining them in U.S. stadiums, the genre’s restored strength is likely to hold steady in the year to come.
Scroll to check out the top 10 highest grossing tours by country artists, with such acts qualifying due to recent performance on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and/or Hot Country Songs charts. Rankings are determined according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. All reported shows worldwide between Nov. 1, 2022 – Sept. 30, 2023, are eligible.
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