Air Supply is an Australian soft rock duo who rose to fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s with a string of hit singles and albums. The band was formed in 1975 by guitarist and singer-songwriter Graham Russell and lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock. Over the course of their career, Air Supply has sold over 100 million albums worldwide and scored a number of massive hits like “Lost in Love,” “All Out of Love,” “Every Woman in the World,” and “Making Love Out of Nothing at All.” At the height of their popularity in the early 80s, Air Supply was one of the most successful bands in the world.
Even after all these years, Air Supply continues to tour and perform for audiences around the world. But how much does the legendary soft rock duo make from their concerts nowadays? Let’s take a look at what a typical Air Supply show commands in terms of price and revenue.
Air Supply Ticket Prices
Air Supply ticket prices can vary quite a bit depending on the size and venue of the show. At smaller fairs, theaters, and clubs, Air Supply tickets can start as low as $35-50 per seat. The average ticket price for these types of smaller venues ranges from $75-100 per ticket.
For larger amphitheater and arena shows, Air Supply tickets are typically priced from $100-200 per seat on average. Floor and front row seats usually go for $200-300+ per ticket. Their most expensive “VIP package” tickets can cost anywhere from $500 to over $1,000 per seat at the biggest venues. These premium ticket packages include amenities like meet-and-greets, signed merch, early entry, and more.
Some factors that can affect Air Supply ticket prices are:
- Venue – Larger venues typically have higher ticket prices
- Location – Big city shows are more expensive than rural areas
- Demand – Prices rise when shows sell out or have limited capacity
- VIP Packages – Special amenities and experiences raise prices
- Resellers – Third-party vendors often markup tickets
Average Setlist Length
The typical Air Supply concert setlist is around 20-25 songs performed over 2 hours. This gives the audience a career-spanning selection of the duo’s classic hits and fan favorites.
Some staples you can usually expect to hear at an Air Supply show include:
- “Lost in Love”
- “Every Woman in the World”
- “All Out of Love”
- “Here I Am”
- “Sweet Dreams”
- “Making Love Out of Nothing at All”
- “Even the Nights Are Better”
Of course, Air Supply has such an extensive catalog of songs to choose from that they can mix up the setlist to keep things fresh at each show. Graham and Russell will often take audience requests and work in some of their lesser-known tracks as well.
Average Gross Revenue Per Show
It’s estimated that Air Supply grosses somewhere between $100,000 to $250,000 per show on their current concert tours. This gross revenue amount doesn’t account for the many costs involved with putting on a big production show.
Some of the main expenses that get deducted from the gross revenue include:
- Venue rental costs
- Equipment and stage production
- Crew member salaries
- Security and medical staff
- Insurance fees
- Taxes
- Travel, lodging, and transportation
- Advertising and promotions
When you factor in all these costs, the band’s actual net profit from each show is likely between $50,000 to $100,000 or so. While this net payday is still substantial, it represents only about 25-50% of their total gross concert revenue.
Estimated Yearly Concert Earnings
Air Supply maintains a busy touring schedule, playing 50-100 shows per year on average. Assuming they gross an average of $175,000 per show and net approximately $75,000 per show after expenses, this would equate to around $3.75 million to $7.5 million in annual concert earnings for the band.
This rough estimate lines up with their overall net worth as a band, which most sources peg at $20-30 million combined for Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock. Concert touring makes up the bulk of their income nowadays versus record sales.
Highest Grossing Concerts
During their peak popularity in the early 80s, Air Supply was capable of raking in over $1 million per night in gross ticket sales. Some of their highest grossing shows included:
- Madison Square Garden (1983) – $1.1 million gross
- LA Forum (1983) – $1.2 million gross
- Wembley Arena (1985) – $1.3 million gross
- Tokyo Dome (1985) – $1.5 million gross
While they may not command the same massive payouts today, Air Supply can still fill mid-size amphitheaters and arenas consistently, especially with support from their large international fan base.
Comparison to Other Classic Rock Acts
Here’s how Air Supply’s concert grosses today generally compare to other legacy soft rock/adult contemporary acts from the 80s and 90s touring circuit:
Artist | Average Gross Per Show |
---|---|
Air Supply | $125,000 – $250,000 |
REO Speedwagon | $150,000 – $300,000 |
Styx | $500,000 – $1 million |
Journey | $1 million – $2 million |
Fleetwood Mac | $2 million – $4 million |
Air Supply is on the more affordable end for classic bands of their era. While not at the arena-filling level of Journey or Fleetwood Mac today, Air Supply can still headline amphitheaters comfortably and deliver their catalog of timeless love songs to adoring fans. Their concerts remain a popular draw and reliable source of income.
Non-Concert Revenue Streams
In addition to touring shows, Air Supply earns revenue from other music industry streams including:
- Music sales – Album and song purchases/downloads
- Merchandise – Shirt and merchandise sales at shows
- Licensing – Sync uses in film/TV/commercials
- Streaming – Royalty payments from Spotify, Apple Music, etc
- YouTube – Ad revenue share from official music videos
Russell Hitchcock also had a stint performing on Broadway in the Australian-themed musical The Boy From Oz in the mid-2000s. The members keep busy with side projects and solo work as well.
But live concerts remain Air Supply’s biggest money maker in their later career. Audiences still adore hearing Russell’s soaring tenor voice and Graham’s smooth guitar work perform their catalog of beloved romantic anthems.
Final Thoughts
In summary, legendary soft rock group Air Supply can make between $100k to $250k gross revenue per show, averaging around $3 to $7 million annually from touring. Their net concert earnings per show are likely $50k to $100k after expenses.
While not at their early 80s commercial peak, Air Supply has proven their lasting appeal by continuing to attract fans to shows 40+ years into their career. Their concert box office may be a fraction of bands like The Eagles or Fleetwood Mac. However, Air Supply finds consistent success in theaters and amphitheaters, especially internationally, where their popularity remains strong.
Though the music industry has changed drastically since their heyday, Air Supply’s core formula of sweeping pop ballads and rich vocal harmonies is timeless. With continued touring and some shrewd business moves, Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock should be able to keep the Air Supply cash flow going steady.
Conclusion
Air Supply’s ubiquity on 80s radio and MTV made them global superstars able to command seven figure paydays at their peak. While no longer grossing multi-million dollar stadium dates, the duo smartly adapted to touring smaller venues in recent decades. This has allowed Air Supply to remain a top concert draw for their loyal fanbase and continue generating millions annually. With their enduring catalog and seasoned performing skills, Air Supply has ensured their concerts are still exciting events full of romantic nostalgia. Their sound may be forever linked to a distinct musical era, but Air Supply’s appeal proves timeless.