How much money does a band make on the road? Billboard hopes to answer that question, somewhat, by providing gross sale reports in their weekly Boxscore report. We like to check in every once in a while to see how metal bands are doing. Keep in mind, these are gross sales, meaning this is before the venue, promoter, etc. get the cut. This doesn't mean the band gets the entire piece of the pie and their profits vary based on the deals they make. As always, thanks to ThePRP for the numbers. Check out our previous Earnings & Attendance Reports.
Last time we checked in with Metallica and KISS, Metallica wear heartily out-drawing KISS on their farewell tour, even though KISS had some wild pricing? Does it keep up? To the numbers…
Artist: Metallica & Jim Breuer
Venue: Portland, OR – Moda Center
Date: Dec. 05th, 2018
Gross Sales: $2,285,680
Attendance/Capacity: 18,273 / 18,273
Ticket Prices: $135, $65Artist: Metallica & Jim Breuer
Venue: Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
Date: Dec. 07th, 2018
Gross Sales: $2,069,225
Attendance/Capacity: 16,591 / 16,591
Ticket Prices: $135, $65Artist: Metallica & Jim Breuer
Venue: Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
Date: Dec. 09th, 2018
Gross Sales: $1,855,485
Attendance/Capacity: 14,854 / 14,854
Ticket Prices: $135, $65Artist: Metallica & Jim Breuer
Venue: Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
Date: Mar. 09th, 2019
Gross Sales: $2,531,895
Attendance/Capacity: 21,657 / 21,657
Ticket Prices: $135, $65Artist: Metallica & Jim Breuer
Venue: Indianapolis, IN – Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Date: Mar. 11th, 2019
Gross Sales: $2,129,940
Attendance/Capacity: 17,068 / 17,068
Ticket Prices: $135, $65Artist: Metallica & Jim Breuer
Venue: Lubbock, TX – United Supermarkets Arena
Date: Mar. 02nd, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,813,730
Attendance/Capacity: 14,653 / 14,653
Ticket Prices: $135, $65Artist: Metallica & Jim Breuer
Venue: Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena
Date: Mar. 04th, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,648,058
Attendance/Capacity: 15,187 / 15,187
Ticket Prices: $135, $42.50
Okay, so Metallica average a little under two million a show, and every gig looks to be sold out. Does KISS match up?
Artist: KISS
Venue: Inglewood, CA – The Forum
Date: Feb. 16th, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,769,872
Attendance/Capacity: 13,660 / 13,660
Ticket Prices: $1,000, $254.50, $139.50, $84.50, $44.50Artist: KISS
Venue: Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
Date: Feb. 15th, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,442,534
Attendance/Capacity: 13,854 / 14,468
Ticket Prices: $1,000, $29.50Artist: Kiss
Venue: Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
Date: Mar. 16th, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,848,999
Attendance/Capacity: 14,241 / 14,241
Ticket Prices: $1,000, $29.50Artist: Kiss
Venue: Chicago, IL – United Center
Date: Mar. 02nd, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,769,254
Attendance/Capacity: 13,917 / 13,917
Ticket Prices: $1,000, $29.50Artist: Kiss
Venue: Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Date: Mar. 29th, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,586,959
Attendance/Capacity: 14,530 / 14,530
Ticket Prices: $1,000, $29.50Artist: Kiss
Venue: Boston, MA – TD Garden
Date: Mar. 26th, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,569,324
Attendance/Capacity: 16,843 / 16,843
Ticket Prices: $1,000, $29.50Artist: Kiss
Venue: Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
Date: Mar. 30th, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,560,111
Attendance/Capacity: 13,486 / 13,486
Ticket Prices: $1,000, $29.50Artist: Kiss
Venue: Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Date: Mar. 13th, 2019
Gross Sales: $1,558,645
Attendance/Capacity: 13,159 / 13,791
Ticket Prices: $1,000, $29.50
Most of the KISS tickets did sell out, but if you take out the absurd VIP pricing, because KISS are charging slightly less, their gates are smaller.
So it's safe to say Metallica is the bigger draw.
Meanwhile, Nine Inch Nails is here saying hey KISS, we can draw more than you too…
Artist: Nine Inch Nails, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Death In Vegas, HMLTD & The Soft Moon
Venue: Hollywood, CA – Palladium
Date: Dec. 07th-08th, 11th-12th & 14th-15th, 2018
Gross Sales: $1,802,110
Attendance/Capacity: 24,337 / 24,337
Ticket Prices: $99.50, $79.50
Check out our previous Earnings & Attendance Reports.
