AC/DC are 2010's highest grossing live act so far -- earning more than $118 million in the past 6 months -- according to Billboard's Mid-year Tours Chart.
The Anglo-Australian band returned to the live arena in 2008, after an eight year touring break, to promote new studio album, "Black Ice," and their tour has had impressive ticket sales since the start. In 2009, AC/DC grossed $135 million and were watched by an estimated 1.6 million fans, and this year have already been seen by a further million people.
The Billboard Mid-year Tours Chart compiles data from Nov.28th, 2009 to June 19th, 2010 and shows that AC/DC top the list over other consistent big rock concert ticket sellers Bon Jovi ($52 million) and Metallica ($40 million).
Consequently, the 2008-2010 "Black Ice" tour will end up being the second-highest grossing tour of all time, with total figures collated at the moment at $441.6 million. Total sales for 2010 are expected to come in at around $177.5 million from their scheduled 40 shows this year.
They will come in second behind only the Rolling Stones "A Bigger Bang" 2005-2007 tour, which grossed an almighty $558.3 million from 147 shows worldwide.
AC/DC's storming live success has also been recognized in the Forbes 2010 Music Earners List, in which they came in second only to U2. The Irish rocker's enormous 360 'Claw' stadium tour grossed $311 million in 12 months and their earnings were topped up by huge merchandise sales.
