1. The Rolling Stones ($150.9 million)
Proving once again that nothing bolsters a rocker's bank account better than hitting the road, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood collected $138.5 million from North American fans. Even without adding in the $12.4 million the group's album sales generated last year, the Stones would have topped the Ultimate Top 10 list once again. As usual, they pulled in the most bucks at the box office, because their baby-boomer fans can afford their tickets. The average price of a ticket to ``A Bigger Bang'' was $136.63, up a few dollars from a year earlier. Hefty? Yes, but not even close to 2006's most expensive tour.
2. Tim McGraw/Faith Hill ($133 million)
Their finish at No. 2 on the Ultimate Top 10 list might not seem fair to the other acts who got there alone. Both are strong concert draws on their own, and together they created the biggest country tour of the year, taking in $88.8 million. Add in his album sales ($35.1 million) and hers ($9.1 million), and they were able to edge out all by the mighty Stones. Average ticket price: $80.92.
3. Rascal Flatts ($108.2 million)
The squeaky-clean country trio sold more albums last year than any other (just fewer than 5 million), which accounts for the majority ($64.6 million) of its combined concert-album total. Average price was $46.17, making Rascal Flatts one of the most affordable of the year. Even so, their tour generated $43.6 million.
4. Kenny Chesney ($106.2 million)
The Luttrell, Tenn., singer keeps pulling in fans year after year: He sold 1.13 million tickets last year, once again more than any other act. Average ticket price: $58.34.
5. Madonna ($97.1 million)
The excitement Madonna generated with her ``Confessions From a Dance Floor'' tour didn't result in a wave of continued sales of her 2005 album of the same name. It sold an additional half a million copies, and contributed to her total album revenue for the year of $11.2 million. On the concert trail, it was another story: She sold $85.9 million worth of concert tickets. The difference: Her average ticket cost of $183.76 was second highest on Pollstar's list.
6. Barbra Streisand ($95.9 million)
Thanks to an average ticket price of $298.36, with just 20 concerts last year she took in $92.5 million, just shy of $5 million per show -- not bad for a night's work.
7. Celine Dion ($85.4 million)
You could fit the full list of cities for this Canadian's 2006 North American tour on a crop top. It encompassed precisely one: Las Vegas. But with 147 performances at Caesars Palace, and an average ticket price of $135.33 helping generate $78.1 million in tickets, who needs to travel?
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers ($67.9 million)
The rock-funk outfit's year was filled with good news, what with rave reviews for its ``Stadium Arcadium'' album, six Grammy nominations and $42.3 million in album sales. And on tour the band fetched $25.6 million. Average ticket price: $56.92.
9. Bon Jovi ($67.2 million)
The politely rebellious New Jersey rock band returned to the spotlight at the end of 2005 with a tour that extended into 2006 and brought in $59.7 million. The group's album sales added $7.5 million during the year. Have a nice day indeed. Ticket average: $75.07.
10. Nickelback ($65.3 million)
Nickelback doesn't get a lot of critical accolades, but there's no denying its power on stage, on the radio or at retail. The Canadian rock outfit's 2006 tour brought in $30.3 million, and that with the lowest average ticket cost among the 25 highest-grossing tours of the year: $40.11.
