Tay, P!nk and Olivia: Melbourne’s best selling tours in 2024

There were some blockbuster concerts in Melbourne this year and the tour promoter for one act has claimed box office victory ahead of pop megastar Taylor Swift. See the top 10.

Pop star Olivia Rodrigo had one of Melbourne’s biggest selling concert tours in 2024 Picture: Jonathan Ng.

Tay slayed, and P!nk packed a punch with record-breaking shows in Melbourne in 2024.

“There has never been a year like this,” Roger Field, director of Further Afield, a concert industry consultancy firm, said. “The desire and thirst for live entertainment content in 2024 was absolutely phenomenal.”

Promoter Paul Dainty, who has toured superstars including the Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, Paul McCartney, and Eminem, agreed.

“It was super strong for the A-listers and very good for everyone else,” Mr Dainty said. “We’re also living in a new world where the new generation wants live concert experiences. They buy tickets, and they go out.”

Taylor Swift and P!nk performed in coliseums at opposite ends of town, and both superstars emerged triumphant.

Salute the pop queen … Pink in full force at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Jason Edwards

OMG at the MCG. Taylor Swift played three nights at Melbourne’s hallowed sporting ground. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Swift played three sold out shows at the MCG, while P!nk ruled four packed houses at Marvel Stadium.

P!nk’s tour promoter, Live Nation, claimed box office victory, and said the singer famous for her powerhouse vocals and high-flying acrobatics, soared passed 1 million ticket sales in Australia on her 2024 tour.

P!nk, born Alecia Moore, sold out 20 stadiums nationally, which Live Nation said is “the most performed by any artist in Australia on a single tour.”

P!nk sold more than 1 million tickets in Australia, Live Nation said. Picture: Jason Edwards

Live Nation Australasia chairman Michael Coppel said: “There is a palpable mutual love affair between the Australasian audience that love seeing her perform live, and an artist who clearly loves being here. Congratulations, Alecia, on yet another stunning record-breaking tour.”

Meanwhile, at the MCG, Swift was genuinely stunned at the sight of an AFL Grand Final-sized crowd surrounding her.

“If I seem like I’m losing my mind over the 96,000 of you, that’s because it’s true. I am,” Swift said at the MCG on a perfect summer night. “I’m taking a mental picture for myself. You are making me feel phenomenal.”

British supergroup Coldplay performed four sold-out shows at Marvel Stadium, while grunge pioneers Pearl Jam, rapper Travis Scott and hip hop soul crooner The Weeknd each notched up two shows at Docklands.

A sky full of stars and a stadium packed with balls. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Canadian hip hop soul act The Weeknd robed up for two shows at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Naomi Rahim

US rapper Travis Scott brought two nights of fire and fury to Docklands. Picture: Getty

Australian rock legends Cold Chisel played four sold out shows — two under a Big Top tent at Flemington Racecourse, and another double at Myer Music Bowl — to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.

US pop sensation, Olivia Rodrigo, held court at Rod Laver Arena for four nights, as did pop-punk trailblazers Blink 182.

Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes charge into five decades of hits at Cold Chisel’s Big 5-0 Tour. Picture: Caroline Tan

Good 4 U, Amazing 4 Her … Olivia Rodrigo held court for four nights at Rod Laver Arena in 2024. Picture: Jonathan Ng

What’s their name again? Blink 182 blitzed Rod Laver Arena across four shows. Picture: Josh Woning, J&A Photography

Hometown hero, DJ Dom Dolla, wrapped up a stellar year by playing two shows to 80,000 people at Flemington Racecourse.

Dolla, born Dominic Matheson, grew up in Melbourne’s western suburbs, and is enjoying a career spike overseas. He has sold out two shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden in March next year.

DJ, producer and hitmaker Dom Dolla returned home to play to 80,000 people at Flemington. Picture: Instagram

Nicholas Greco, a managing partner at United Group, which staged Dom’s Melbourne shows, said: “Watching Dom connect with fans on such a massive scale, and seeing his music resonate with so many people … is an experience I’ll never forget.”

Elsewhere, Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke sold out two concerts at Myer Music Bowl, and Victorian music festival, Always Live, had hit shows with The Offspring, Anyma and Jack White.

Mr Field, a former chief executive at Live Nation Australasia, said concert attendances, post-pandemic, are stronger than ever.

“There was a desire to get it back to shows, but it was also reaffirmation of all the social aspects that come with it,” Mr Field said.

“The production quality of shows are also at a standard that people relish. We’re seeing these shows, on social media, before they get to Australia, and it compels people to not want to miss out.

But Mr Field said the industry should not take this purple patch for granted.

“I don’t buy music industry claims that live entertainment is a necessity not a luxury,” he said. “We need to get real in a cost of living crisis. There are necessities and there are luxuries. I think the great take-out here is, live music is a high priority discretionary item.”