Chris Stapleton is one of the biggest names in country music today. The Kentucky-born singer-songwriter rose to fame as the frontman for bluegrass group The SteelDrivers before embarking on a successful solo career in 2015 with his triple-platinum debut album Traveller. With his powerful, soulful voice and songs that blend country, Southern rock and bluegrass, Stapleton has become one of the genre’s most acclaimed artists.
In the 8 years since the release of Traveller, Stapleton has solidified his status as a country superstar. He’s won eight Grammy Awards, fifteen Country Music Association Awards and ten Academy of Country Music Awards. His concerts routinely sell out arenas and stadiums around the world. So how much does a performer as popular as Chris Stapleton make from touring and live performances? Let’s take a closer look at Stapleton’s concert earnings and how much the singer likely pockets per show.
What Does Chris Stapleton Charge for Concert Tickets?
Ticket prices for Chris Stapleton concerts can vary widely depending on the size of the venue he’s playing and current demand. At smaller theater and amphitheater shows, tickets usually start around $50-60 for nosebleed seats and top out between $150-200 for front row or VIP tickets.
For arena shows, Stapleton tickets are typically priced from $80 on the low end up to $300+ for the best seats in the house. When he headlines stadiums and festivals, you can expect to pay at least $100 for general admission and up to $500+ for exclusive packages.
On his recent All-American Road Show tour, average ticket prices ranged from $135 for amphitheater dates to $180 at arenas. While these amounts are fairly expensive, they’re in line with what major touring artists like Stapleton are able to command.
How Much Money Does Chris Stapleton Make Per Concert?
Chris Stapleton’s earnings per show ultimately depend on the size of the venue he’s playing.
At small amphitheater and theater shows, Stapleton likely grosses anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million per performance. For arena dates, his gross concert earnings are probably $1 to $2 million on average. And when he headlines major stadiums that seat 40,000-50,000 fans, Stapleton can gross over $3 million per show.
To estimate his net profit per concert, we need to factor in key expenses including:
- Venue rental fees
- Staff and crew payments
- Equipment transportation
- Stage production costs
- Security and medical services
- Insurance
- Marketing
- Agency fees
For large-scale concerts, these costs can eat up around 50% of gross ticket sales. So if Chris Stapleton grosses $1 million for an arena show, he may pocket around $500,000 after expenses. At a major stadium show with $3 million in gross receipts, his net profit could land in the $1.5 million range.
Estimated Chris Stapleton Earnings Per Concert
Venue Type | Average Gross Earnings | Average Net Earnings |
---|---|---|
Small Theaters | $500k – $1 million | $250k – $500k |
Arenas | $1 – $2 million | $500k – $1 million |
Stadiums | Over $3 million | $1.5 million+ |
So while Chris Stapleton concerts may be expensive for fans, the country icon is handsomely rewarded for his live performances. With the capacity to gross over $3 million and take home $1.5 million or more per stadium show, it’s easy to see how Stapleton has amassed such a significant fortune during his career.
How Much Does Chris Stapleton Make Annually from Touring?
Over the course of a full tour featuring dozens of concerts across North America and sometimes the world, Chris Stapleton has the potential to gross tens of millions of dollars in revenue. His 2019 All-American Road Show tour reportedly grossed over $60 million from just 53 shows, averaging $1.13 million per concert.
Scaling up that per-show average to a massive 150-date tour, Stapleton could conceivably gross around $170 million at the box office. If he pockets 50% of that amount after expenses, his annual net earnings from touring would be an astounding $85 million.
While Stapleton likely doesn’t tour quite that extensively every year, it’s not unreasonable for him to gross $100 million or more annually if he plays around 100 shows in top arenas and stadiums. Factoring in touring merch sales, sponsorship deals and concessions revenue would only add to his bottom line further.
Estimated Annual Tour Earnings for Chris Stapleton
Total Concerts | Average Gross Per Show | Estimated Annual Gross | Estimated Net Profit |
---|---|---|---|
50 shows | $1.5 million | $75 million | $37.5 million |
75 shows | $1.5 million | $112.5 million | $56.25 million |
100 shows | $1.5 million | $150 million | $75 million |
150 shows | $1.13 million | $170 million | $85 million |
Clearly, touring delivers a massive payday for Stapleton annually. It’s likely one of his biggest sources of income alongside recorded music sales and streaming royalties.
How Do Chris Stapleton’s Tour Earnings Compare to Other Top Country Acts?
As one of the hottest touring artists in country music, Chris Stapleton is near the top of the genre when it comes to concert earnings. Here’s a look at how his paydays compare to some other big country concert draws:
Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan grossed over $53 million from just 43 shows on his 2019 Sunset Repeat Tour, averaging $1.23 million per concert. Like Stapleton, he likely pockets around 50% of his gross revenue after expenses. Bryan probably earns between $20-40 million touring annually.
Eric Church
The singer reportedly grossed around $61 million from his 60-city 2018 Double Down Tour. With average show earnings of $1.02 million, Church likely nets between $25-30 million per year touring if he keeps 50% of his gross income.
Kenny Chesney
Chesney’s massive stadium shows allow him to gross more per concert than almost any other country artist. His 2018 Trip Around the Sun Tour grossed $114 million from just 18 shows, averaging a whopping $6.3 million per performance. He easily nets $50+ million annually on the road.
Compared to these top rivals, Chris Stapleton more than holds his own as one of country music’s elite touring artists. While some like Chesney may earn more per show, Stapleton has the capability to play more dates and gross nine figures annually thanks to his popularity.
Other Key Sources of Income for Chris Stapleton
In addition to lucrative touring income, Chris Stapleton earns big from other revenue streams including:
Album Sales
Stapleton has sold over ten million albums worldwide. His 2015 debut Traveller is certified triple platinum with over 3 million units sold just in the U.S. At around $10 per album, Stapleton has grossed ~$100 million in album sales over his career.
Streaming Royalties
With over 7 billion combined streams, Stapleton also earns tens of millions annually from streaming services like Spotify. His songs generate roughly $4-6 million per 1 billion streams in royalties.
Songwriting Credits
As an acclaimed songwriter, Stapleton earns income when other artists record and release songs he’s written or co-written. Major cuts by George Strait, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney and others have added millions to his bank account.
Endorsements and Sponsorships
Stapleton partners with prominent brands like Wrangler and Levi’s for seven-figure endorsement deals. He likely also gets sponsorship revenue from concert promoters and major companies like Coors.
Thanks to this diverse income mix, Chris Stapleton has a net worth estimated at $50 million. His concerts deliver his biggest paydays, but TV appearances, merchandise sales and business ventures provide millions more annually.
Conclusion
Chris Stapleton is one of country music’s most bankable live acts, capable of grossing over $3 million per stadium show and $100+ million on tour yearly. While exact figures aren’t published, he likely pockets around 50% of his gross earnings after accounting for key expenses. This could mean Stapleton nets between $20-40 million annually from smaller tours or as much as $85 million when he plays extensive runs of concerts in large venues.
Combined with his income from recorded music and business ventures, touring delivers enormous financial rewards for Stapleton. Fans may pay a premium for the opportunity to see him live, but for Stapleton, his concerts are clearly well worth the effort.