The rise of K-pop continues to capture global audiences. World tours have become an important avenue for K-pop artists to showcase their talent and connect with their fanbases across continents. These tours now go beyond South Korea, with fans singing each lyric irrespective of the language barrier.
Esteemed music charts platform Billboard has revealed the highest-grossing K-pop tours, collating figures reported to Billboard Boxscore from eligible concerts between November 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023.
This year's charts illustrate a significant surge for K-pop, with its share rising to a record 5.1% of the top 100, propelled by sold-out venues across the world. 2023 was a significant year for K-pop, with BLACKPINK and SUGA solidifying their positions as the premier icons of K-pop tours.
Here is a list of the highest-grossing K-pop tours (in order) that made it to the top 100 all-genre list, according to Billboard charts.
BLACKPINK
Earned: $148.3M
Tickets/Shows: 703k/29 shows
Ranking on All-Genre Top 100: 10
BLACKPINK takes the lead among K-pop acts, becoming the only Asian-based artist in the all-genre top 10. The girl group started with American arenas before traveling to Europe, Mexico and Australia. Their 'Born Pink World Tour' has broken several unprecented records, making them the highest-grossing vocal group ever. Notably, the group’s shows in Asia were not reported. But, if they were, who knows, they could have had a higher position!
SUGA
Earned: $57.1M
Tickets/Shows: 318k/26 shows
Ranking on All-Genre Top 100: 37
First BTS, now SUGA. After setting records as a member of BTS, SUGA became the first member of the band to go on a solo world tour. He struck out on his own under his stage name, Agust D, with arena tours in the US and Asia. The 'D-Day Tour' was a massive success, which also saw surprise performances by fellow BTS members -- Jimin, Jung Kook and RM -- on the final three days of the tour in Seoul.
TWICE
Earned: $54.2M
Tickets/Shows: 345k/18 shows
Ranking on All-Genre Top 100: 41
JYP Entertainment revealed that TWICE would be embarking on their biggest world tour so far -- 'Ready To Be World Tour.' TWICE played shows in numerous cities around the world this year, and never bagged less than $2 million. They also became the first K-pop girl group to headline concerts in stadiums in Japan. Though the group performed mostly in arenas, they also went to stadiums in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER
Earned: $46.8M
Tickets/Shows: 379k/27 shows
Ranking on All-Genre Top 100: 54
After early commercial success, this period has been important for TOMORROW X TOGETHER. After becoming the first K-pop group to headline Lollapalooza, collaborating with many foreign artists, and performing at the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, the five-membered band is now on a 'Act: Sweet Mirage World Tour.' Be it Los Angeles or Osaka, they are bringing in more than $40 million in ticket sales.
SEVENTEEN
Earned: $43.3M
Tickets/Shows: 440k/12 shows
Ranking on All-Genre Top 100: 58
The tour of the 13-membered boy band SEVENTEEN spanned across seven markets, including Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and a hometown show in Seoul. After the success of the 'Be The Sun Tour,' the band is now on 'Follow Tour' which is expected to end in January 2024. Their performances in stadiums amassed over $40 million in just ticket sales. The Tokyo Dome concerts stood out financially, generating $16.8 million from four dates in Tokyo.
ENHYPEN
Earned: $33M
Tickets/Shows: 336k/19 shows
Ranking on All-Genre Top 100: 81
Spanning across almost the entirety of the tracking period, ENHYPEN stood out with their performances in Japan. Their journey started with two nights at Nippon Gaishi Hall in Nagoya, selling 17,000 tickets on Nov 1-2, 2022, and concluded with an impressive turnout of over 76,000 tickets at the Tokyo Dome on Sept 13-14, 2023. Now, the band has added more dates to their 'Fate World Tour.'
Other artists like Stray Kids, ATEEZ, Le Sserafim and NCT Dream also rank in the top 10 highest grossing K-pop tours of 2023. However, they did not make it to the top 100 all-genre Billboard charts.
The never-seen-before remarkable achievement not only showcases the financial power of these K-pop artists but also highlights the dedication of their fanbases. Beyond gains, these monetary figures majorly reflect the worldwide phenomenon that K-pop has become in the last decade.
As BTS, BLACKPINK, and various other outstanding acts continue leading K-pop beyond South Korean borders, their influence stands as proof of the genre's heavy impact and the role they play in unifying nations through music.
