With the new year rapidly approaching, it’s nice to take the time to slow down and remember all of the amazing experiences that 2022 brought to the world. TicketSmarter has decided to honor the year by sharing its 10 Most Popular Concert Tours of 2022. Read on to learn about the sensational tours that dominated this year.
No.10 – Bad Bunny
Leading the wave of success by Latin artists is Bad Bunny with his World’s Hottest Tour which became one of the highest-grossing tours ever put on by a Latin artist. This marks the Puerto Rican rapper’s fourth tour since entering the Latin music scene. Kicking off in August 2022, the World’s Hottest tour included 43 shows across Latin America and the United States in four months. The setlist was composed of songs from Bad Bunny’s album, Un Verano Sin Ti, as well as hit singles like “Vuelve,” “Dakiti” and “Me Porto Bonito.”
The World’s Hottest Tour earned Bad Bunny eight nominations at the 2022 American Music Awards, adding to his impressive resume. Bad Bunny was the most popular artist on Spotify in 2022 with more than 18.5 billion streams.
No. 9 – Motley Crue & Def Leppard
Rock and heavy metal music giants Motley Crue and Def Leppard embarked on their Stadium Tour this year and were joined by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Poison. The 36-show tour kicked off in June and quickly sold more than one million tickets. With hits like “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Rock of Ages” to “Kickstart My Heart” and “Wild Side,” the Stadium Tour was so successful and well-received that another tour has been planned for 2023 with Alice Cooper joining the lineup.
Fans rocked out to songs like “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Cherrybomb,” and more when Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts opened the show for these mega groups. Since their start in the ‘80s, Motley Crue and Def Leppard have sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. All the groups that took part in the Stadium Tour put together an exciting and memorable experience for the crowds.
No. 8 – Rod Wave
This 23-year-old rapper embarked on his first tour in 2022, helping to promote his new certified gold album, Beautiful Minds. The Beautiful Minds Tour featured songs like “By Your Side”, “Street Runner” and “Cold December.” Rod Wave’s success in the rap industry began after his 2019 song “Heart of Ice” went viral on social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. The song would go on to peak at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His debut album, Ghetto Gospel (2019) was certified platinum by the RIAA. Rod Wave’s popularity increased even more after being nominated for Top New Artist at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.
No. 7 – New Edition
New Edition’s Culture Tour was nominated as one of the Top R&B Tours in the country by Pollstar. Accompanied by artists Charlie Wilson and Jodeci, New Edition’s Culture Tour re-ignited the public’s love and nostalgia for R&B groups. This U.S. tour would be the group’s first venture since 2016.
After rocketing in popularity in the ‘80s and onward, New Edition brought back hits like “Candy Girl,” “Mr. Telephone Man” and “If It Isn’t Love” to wow their fans. The R&B group was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022 and had previously received nominations and awards from the American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, and BET. You can also catch New Edition live in the future on their Legacy Tour in 2023.
No. 6 – Journey with TOTO
Journey’s Freedom Tour supports the rock band’s new album with the same name. Freedom is Journey’s first album in more than a decade since Eclipse debuted in 2011. Freedom ranked No. 9 on Billboard US Independent Albums charts, adding to the band’s success. Not long after the 2022 tour announcement, demand drove the group to add 2023 dates to the Freedom Tour schedule. With songs like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Don’t Give Up On Us” and “Any Way You Want It,” Journey put on amazing performances at every stop along the way.
Serving as the opening act for one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time was TOTO. With fan favorites like “Africa” and “Rosanna” TOTO the rock band headed by Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams covering guitar and vocals. TOTO has withstood the test of time and served as a benchmark of fame and success that many music groups aspire to reach.
No. 5 – Elton John
The Rocketman took fans on a final adventure with his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, the name referencing Elton John’s 1973 album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. The world tour began in September 2018 at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the tour was postponed after its 2020 Sydney show before picking back up on January 19, 2022, at New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center. With more than 300 planned concerts, the tour was named the Top Rock Tour at the Billboard Music Awards. Having sold more than five million tickets, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour is ranked as the second highest-grossing tour of all time, with the number one slot filled by Ed Sheeran’s Divide tour.
From “Tiny Dancer” to “Bennie and the Jets” to “I’m Still Standing,” the multi-Grammy Award-winning star dressed in his infamous eye-catching costumes never failed to deliver his passion for performing to audiences. The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour will conclude on July 8, 2023, in Stockholm, Sweden, with what is sure to be a glamorous show.
No. 4 – Karol G
This rising Colombian star announced her $trip Love Tour in 2022. With more than 80 shows scheduled over the course of three years, Karol G’s tour thrilled her fans, especially when performing hits like “Mi Cama,” “Tusa,” “El Makinon” and “Odisea.” The $trip Love Tour will end on March 12, 2023, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Karol G rose to fame following the breakthrough collaboration on “Ahora Me Llama” with Bad Bunny in 2017. Since then the Latin trap singer has won 2 Latin Grammy awards, 2 Billboard Music Awards and an AMA Award. Karol G’s latest album, KG0516 (2021), won Top Latin Album and was nominated for Best Musica Urbana Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
No. 3 – Grupo Firme
This Mexican banda group did not find mainstream success until they released hits like the 2020 single “Pídeme, El Roto and Juro Por Dios.” 2022 marked the year that Grupo Firme embarked on its first arena tour and performed in major cities throughout the United States and Mexico. The “Enfiestados y Amanecidos” Arena tour stunned crowds with the vibrancy and passion of Banda and mariachi music along with Folklorico dancers weaving through band members on stage. Arenas were filled with sounds of popular hits like “Ya Supérame (En Vivo),” “El Tóxico” and “En Tu Perra Vida.”
Grupo Firme would earn a nomination for the Premios Juventud, an award show for Spanish-speaking celebrities. Their newest album, Nos Divertimos Lo Grando Lo Imposible, won Grupo Firme its first Latin Grammy for Best Banda Album in November 2022.
No. 2 – Garth Brooks
From his humble beginnings playing local clubs in Oklahoma to selling out stadium concerts, Garth Brooks has certainly made his mark in the music industry. His Stadium Tour lasted more than three years, with nearly 95,000 dedicated Garth Brooks fans at each stop. With hits like “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” “The Dance,” “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and more, the tour proved to be an amazing spectacle complete with flashing lights and pyrotechnics.
The sales for The Stadium Tour rivaled that of The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, and The Grateful Dead as one of the most successful tours of all time. This Country Music Hall of Fame inductee is known for elevating his sound with elements of rock, producing platinum records, and selling out concerts worldwide.
Don’t fret if you missed seeing this icon on tour. Garth Brooks will be holding a 2023 Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace starting May 18.
No. 1 – Daddy Yankee
Daddy Yankee, aka the King of Reggaeton, will complete his farewell tour after more than 30 years in the music industry. The Puerto Rican rapper established the genre of reggaeton and a legacy to inspire future reggaeton artists. La Ultima Vuelta World Tour supported Daddy Yankee’s final album, Legendaddy (2022). With more than 80 scheduled shows, this tour brought Latin and reggaeton fans on a journey down memory lane with hits like “Gasolina” and “Ella Me Levanto,” while newer songs like “Con Calma” hyped up the crowd.
La Ultima Vuelta World Tour was nominated for the Latin Tour of the Year at the 34th Pollstar Awards Show. Critics have praised Daddy Yankee’s performance, especially how he transformed every show into an epic dance party. Make sure to snag Daddy Yankee tickets as he concludes the U.S. leg of his tour in Miami, Fla. on December 22. Don’t miss out on seeing one of Time Magazine’s “Most Influential Hispanics” in concert for the last time.
Enjoy A New Experience
Were you surprised by this ranking? Plan ahead and don’t miss out on all the amazing concerts coming in 2023 when you get concert tickets with TicketSmarter.
