At the end of every year, Billboard releases their "Best of 2012" lists for artists, genres, songs, albums and more. Among these, it's always interesting to learn which of our favorite musicians make the list of highest-earning tours for the year. From artists such as Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna, find out which artists raked in millions of dollars with sold-out tours across the nation in 2012!


#10 - André Rieu

Grossing $46,785,717 with a total attendance of 490,165 spectators, Dutch composer, conductor and violinist André Rieu delivered a tour ranking as the 10th biggest tour of 2012. | Andrerieu.com

Sergio Dionisio, Getty Images
Sergio Dionisio, Getty Images
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#9 - Jay Z & Kanye West

With huge followings among each artist individually, it's not shocking that Jay Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne tour was one of the most attended tours of 2012 with 371,777 attendees at 31 concerts (15 sold-out shows) and grossing $46,986,464 total.

Daniel Boczarski, Getty Images
Daniel Boczarski, Getty Images
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#8 - Van Halen

Proving they've still got it, Van Halen's 2012 Tour rocked the nation grossing $54,425,548 with 522,296 total concert attendees at 46 shows. | Van-halen.com

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
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#7 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw

The number of country music fans has multiplied dramatically in recent years, so there's no surprise that when two of country's top artists team up for a tour, country fans will certainly attend! Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw's 2012 tour not only grossed $96,458,890, but with the popular tour had a total attendance of 1,085,382.

Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
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#6 - Lady Gaga

This year, a massive total of 1,111,099 "little monsters" experienced the pop music and live entertainment magic that is the one and only Lady Gaga. With over 32 million twitter followers and huge album sales, it's no wonder that when Lady Gaga performs a 65 show tour, all 65 shows sell out! The fully sold-out show grossed a whopping $124,879,545, making it #6 on the Billboard list of top tours this year! | LadyGaga.com

Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
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#5 - Coldplay

Since their debut in the late 1990s, the British alternative rock and sensational band Coldplay has been attracting more and more fans from all over to see their brilliant live performances. In fact after Colplay's 2012 67-show tour, 56 shows were sold out with 1,811,787 fans in attendance, bringing in $147,188,828. | Coldplay.com

Scott Barbour, Getty Images
Scott Barbour, Getty Images
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#4 - Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour by Cirque Du Soleil

Celebrating the life, legacy, and the amazing body of work by the King of Pop, the masters behind the popular act Cirque du Soleil created a artistically riveting show to capture the essence of Michael Jackson through remarkable music, acrobatics, great visuals and dance. Audiences everywhere loved the show - 1,374,482 audience members to be exact. $147,310,505 was made after the 183-show long Immortal Tour in 2012. | Michael Jackson The Immortal Tour on cirquedusoleil.com

cirquedusoleil.com
cirquedusoleil.com
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#3 - Roger Waters

Co-founding member of the huge '70s band Pink Floyd, Roger Waters may have taken a previous break from the industry and touring, but since getting back on stage in the early 2000s, his continued success has been nothing short of momentous. As a matter of fact, 1,680,042 fans showed support for Roger Waters at his 72-show, $186,466,703-grossing 2012 tour with 51 sell-out concerts! | Rogerwaters.com

Jason Kempin, Getty Images
Jason Kempin, Getty Images
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#2 - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

The proof is in the numbers - Bruce Springsteen has a huge following that spans far beyond the streets of New Jersey. While the 2012 tour grossed $199,371,791, ranking the 2nd highest of the year, an amazing 2,165,925 fans attended Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band concerts in 2012 - topping the list with the biggest total attendance of the year! | Brucespringsteen.net

Jeff Fusco/Getty Images
Jeff Fusco/Getty Images
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#1 - Madonna

Earning the most money for the year was Madonna's MDNA 2012 tour with each of the 72 shows selling-out completely to gross a colossal $228,406,085! Besides proving she can still keep up decades after her huge rise to fame, the Queen of Pop took over 2012 by exceeding the limits by producing boundless captivating performances on her sold-out MDNA tour.

Taylor Hill, Getty Images
Taylor Hill, Getty Images
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What concert(s) did you attend in 2012? Tell us below in the comments!

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