Pollstar has unveiled its “25 Most Popular Touring Artists of the Millennium,” a data-driven ranking of the world’s top ticket-sellers from 2001 to 2025. The list is topped by Coldplay, U2, Ed Sheeran, Dave Matthews Band, and Taylor Swift, who together helped define the modern era of large-scale touring. But tucked among global pop and rock stars is Phish—a band that never had a radio hit and remains a cult phenomenon after 40+ years together—landing at #18 with more than 10.2 million tickets sold since 2001.
Based entirely on reported ticket sales over the past 25 years, the 25 top artists collectively sold over 340 million tickets and generated more than $35.7 billion in gross revenue. The data reflects a period of explosive growth for the live music industry (and does not include resales on the secondary market).
In 2001, the average concert ticket cost $36.68, roughly $68 today when adjusted for inflation. By 2025, that average rose to $90.27—a 146% increase—while total tickets sold jumped 214%, and overall grosses soared a staggering 673%. As stadium touring expands and more artists step into 50,000-seat rooms, the live sector has become more robust than ever. A 2025 report from Billboard found that stadium box office revenues grew 275% since 2016.
But for jam band fans, Phish’s inclusion stands out, as the band built its following not through popular singles or viral hits but through relentless touring, improvisational artistry, and fiercely loyal fanbases.
According to Pollstar, since 2001, Phish has sold 10,261,068 tickets over 657 shows. The band has collectively grossed $722,495,838, with an average ticket price of $70.69. Of note, the band achieved that feat in spite of a pair of elongated absences from touring during the 2001–2025 window: a two-year hiatus from 2000–2002 and “breakup” that lasted from 2004–2009.
Dave Matthews Band, another group from the jam band ilk—though one with significantly more conventional commercial success—has sold over 19.5 million tickets across 1,171 shows since 2001, placing the group at the #4 slot on the Pollstar ranking. The band has grossed over $1.1 billion—all while having one of the lowest average ticket prices on this list at $57.72. Together, these acts have carved out a place among stadium-level superstars while maintaining deeply community-driven touring cultures.
Of the 25 artists on the list, some are currently slated to tour in 2026, including Eagles, Metallica, Kenny Chesney, Bon Jovi, Ed Sheeran, and more. Pick up tickets here. Check out the full list of the millennium’s most popular touring artists on Pollstar.
