Harry Styles, the pop superstar and former member of One Direction, recently completed a 15 night residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City. His stint at the famed venue was part of his massive “Love On Tour” world tour in support of his latest album Harry’s House.
Opening Weekend Numbers
For the opening weekend of his residency, Styles performed on August 20th, 21st, and 22nd. According to Billboard Boxscore, he grossed $7.5 million over the three shows, selling out the venue which holds around 20,000 seats. The average ticket price was reported to be around $250 each. With typical artist gross percentages from touring, Styles likely took home around $3 million for the opening weekend run at MSG.
Full 15 Show Run
Over the course of 15 total shows at Madison Square Garden, Harry Styles grossed a massive $48.9 million in ticket sales revenue. That averages out to over $3.2 million per show from the venue. Again assuming Styles takes home roughly 60% of the gross ticket revenue, he likely pocketed close to $30 million for the full residency in New York.
Show Dates and Gross Sales
Show Date | Gross Sales |
---|---|
August 20 | $3.1 million |
August 21 | $2.2 million |
August 22 | $2.2 million |
August 26 | $3.1 million |
August 27 | $3.1 million |
August 28 | $2.9 million |
August 31 | $3.5 million |
September 1 | $2.9 million |
September 2 | $3.4 million |
September 7 | $3.3 million |
September 8 | $3.2 million |
September 10 | $3.4 million |
September 11 | $3.1 million |
September 14 | $2.9 million |
September 15 | $3.3 million |
Revenue From Merchandise Sales
In addition to gross ticket sales, Harry Styles also made a significant amount of money from merchandise sales at the MSG shows. His popular “Love On Tour” branded T-shirts, hoodies, hats, posters, and other items were big sellers during the residency. While exact numbers are unknown, he likely made several million dollars in additional revenue from these merchandise sales over the course of the 15 nights in New York.
Factors Behind the Financial Success
There are several factors that contributed to the incredible financial success Harry Styles had with his Madison Square Garden residency:
- His new album Harry’s House was a global smash hit, driving huge demand for concert tickets.
- He cultivated a loyal fanbase from his One Direction days that was eager to see him live.
- Tickets were priced at a premium level, averaging $250 each.
- Madison Square Garden has a large capacity of around 20,000 seats.
- He performed 15 shows, allowing him to maximize revenue from the run.
How the Revenue Compares to Other Top Artists
The amount of money Harry Styles made from his Madison Square Garden residency puts him in elite company amongst the highest grossing touring artists of all time. Very few musicians are able to command the prices and sell the number of tickets needed to generate close to $50 million from a 15 night run at a single venue. Here’s how Harry’s MSG residency compares to some other top grossing concert artists:
- U2 grossed around $60 million for an 8 show residency at MSG in 2015.
- Bruce Springsteen grossed $41 million for an 11 show MSG run in 2016.
- Adele grossed around $30 million for an 8 show residency at MSG in 2016.
- Madonna grossed $40 million for a 12 show MSG residency in 2015.
The fact that Harry Styles was able to gross over $48 million at MSG puts him in the same echelon as these world class performers. It signals his status as one of the biggest concert draws in the music industry today.
Setlist and Guests
In addition to the impressive financials, the Harry Styles MSG residency was also a creative triumph. He performed hit songs from his two chart-topping solo albums, including:
- Adore You
- Watermelon Sugar
- Golden
- Sign of the Times
- As It Was
- Boyfriends
- Late Night Talking
He also mixed in covers such as David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” and a Lizzo’s “Juice.” Styles surprised fans each night with special guest performers joining him, including Stevie Nicks, Blood Orange, and John Mulaney.
Conclusion
With massive ticket sales and sold out shows, Harry Styles demonstrated his popularity as a live performer with his wildly successful 15 night run at Madison Square Garden. He joined elite company amongst today’s highest grossing touring acts, generating close to $50 million in revenue from the New York City residency. For Styles, it represented a triumphant return to stadium sized venues after a two year break forced by the global pandemic. The fact that he was able to sell out MSG and make close to $30 million for himself reflects his status as one of music’s most bankable and beloved stars.