Concert tour

A concert tour is a series of musical performances by an artist or a group. These shows take place in various cities, countries, or locations. Many tours have specific names to distinguish them from previous ones. These names often link the tour to a specific album or product. For many artists, these tours become massive enterprises. They can last for months or even several years. Such tours may be seen by millions of people globally.

Organizing these events requires intense logistical planning. A long tour is often divided into segments called legs. These legs are separated by dates, specific countries, or continents. Sometimes, a new opening act marks the start of a leg. Large-scale tours may even use different production crews for each region. This helps manage the equipment and staff locally. A tour manager handles large tours, while a road manager handles smaller ones.

Logistics involve moving massive amounts of gear between venues. This is a major challenge for transcontinental runs. The equipment includes stages, props, and even clothing. For example, Taylor Swift used 90 semitrucks for her Eras Tour. Her 1989 World Tour used between 30 and 50 trucks. Beyoncé used seven Boeing 747 air freighters and over 70 trucks for her UK tour. In contrast, Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour used 30 trucks and 10 buses. They focused on sustainability by using electric vehicles and biofuel.

Tour themes vary depending on the artist's goals. Most tours serve as promotional campaigns for a new album. In these cases, the setlist includes new songs from that release. Some tours are called "greatest hits" or "reunion" tours. These focus on older material rather than new songs. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is a retrospective of her career. Each act in her show represents a different album. Other artists tour to celebrate anniversaries of past work. U2 toured in 2017 for the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree.

Concert tours are significant economic drivers in the music industry. They generate massive revenue through ticket sales, merchandise, and meet-and-greet packages. As record sales declined in the 21st century, touring became a primary income source. Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is the highest-grossing tour ever. It earned $2.089 billion from 149 shows. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour is the most-attended tour in history. It was the first group tour to reach $1 billion in revenue. Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road earned $939 million. Ed Sheeran’s ÷ Tour earned $776.2 million. U2's 360° Tour earned $736.4 million.

Despite the success, touring can be very difficult for performers. The constant travel and high costs can be taxing. Musicians may not see their families for more than a year. Some artists, like Adele, have expressed that touring does not suit them. A 2015 study found that 71% of musicians reported touring as an issue regarding psychological health. Over 60% of musicians in that study suffered from depression or other issues. This difficulty is why some artists choose a different path.

One alternative to touring is a concert residency. In a residency, the artist stays in one venue. Instead of the artist traveling, the fans travel to them. Céline Dion helped popularize this concept in Las Vegas. Her A New Day... residency used song, performance art, and advanced technology. Lady Gaga used a Las Vegas residency to help manage her fibromyalgia. This allows top artists to perform without the stress of constant movement. It offers a way to provide high-quality entertainment in a stable environment.