| with a tabloid history that can’t be topped by | | | | fifty million, reaching $236.6 million from 24 countries |
| many, Madonna was able to top herself with the | | | | with North America earning about $94. |
| number one ticket sales for 2008 for her | | | | “Sticky and Sweet” initially had its fair |
| “Sticky and Sweet” tour. The pop icon | | | | share of skeptics, as the 50 year old “Material |
| reigned in $105.3 million over the course of her two | | | | Girl” strutted her stuff scantily clad in tight |
| month North American tour, which began in October in | | | | leather and underwear garments. But after her athletic |
| East Rutherford, New Jersey and finished in | | | | dance routines and veteran conceptions impressed |
| November in Mexico City. Even amid all the personal | | | | even the most skeptical of critics, the Grammy award |
| controversy that the mother and rocker faced this | | | | winner easily viewed the economic crisis as an uphill |
| year, “Sticky and Sweet” finished up its | | | | battle of her own. According to Pollstar, the least |
| final performances in Brazil last week to total $281.6 | | | | amount of concert goers went to big events this year, |
| million internationally, according to the music trade | | | | though those who did opened up their pocket books |
| publication Pollstar. The tour, which visited 17 countries, | | | | like never before. “We’ve had a better |
| was promoting Madonna’s 11th studio album | | | | year than we really should have expected given the |
| Hard Candy, which emerged on the pop charts in April | | | | economic environment,” Gary Bongiovanni, |
| with her number one international hit “4 | | | | editor of Pollstar’s Fresno, California publication, |
| Minutes.” | | | | told Reuters. The average ticket price rose nearly |
| “Sticky and Sweet” incorporated | | | | eight percent while the number of tickets sold fell three. |
| Madonna’s love for everything | | | | This year marks the first that Pollstar incorporated |
| vaudeville-esque, with a Ukrainian gypsy band, a | | | | international numbers into their data. Madonna’s |
| vintage racing car and a virtual duet with Justin | | | | concert numbers, which currently ranks her at eighth |
| Timberlake (though Timberlake appeared in 3-D | | | | overall for North American tours, wasn’t the |
| version for her Los Angeles show – and to | | | | only monetary data collected. As one of the highest |
| incorporate Madonna’s love for drama, she | | | | ranking performers of all time, Madonna’s |
| also had a conservative ex, Britney Spears, pop on | | | | donations to her Kabbalah religion were also of high |
| stage as well). The show, directed by Jamie King, | | | | discussion at the end of 2008, with high profile news |
| topped her last big tour, which came in 2006 with | | | | sources discussing her over $3 million donation, which |
| Confessions, earning her a total grossing of $193.7 | | | | particularly went to her own Kabbalah Center in Los |
| million. Always trying to top herself, Madonna tickets | | | | Angeles. |
| have outlasted every other pop star and will continue | | | | Even with a Hollywood psychic predicting a publicity |
| to be hot items on | | | | romance stunt between Madonna and Alex Rodriquez, |
| Following close behind was Celine Dion, who drew in | | | | the Yankees player she’s most recently been |
| nearly just as much in North American ticket sales this | | | | “attached,” and media relations that |
| year and who had geared toward retirement earlier | | | | follow her every move, Madonna’s 2009 will |
| this year but instead launched her first world tour in | | | | unforgivably be brighter than the last. |
| eight years. Her total missed the top spot by a mere | | | | |