Let’s take a look at the year’s biggest winners and losers in music
[This was my weekly column for GlobalNews.ca. – AC]
‘Tis the season for year-end lists, including those that opine on who won and who lost during 2025. Here are my picks for the winners and losers in music for the year.
Winner: Oasis
Somehow, the Oasis reunion worked beyond anyone’s wildest predictions. Liam and Noel hung together for 41 shows across five continents, drawing 2.89 million fans and grossing CAD$734.8 million at the box office, with untallied millions in merchandising sales. They — well, their fans — also set a record at Wembley Stadium by consuming an average of 250,000 pints of beer (worth more than two million pounds) on each night during their seven-show run. It’s possible (but not confirmed) that Oasis may have had a food and beverage clause in their contract, entitling them to a percentage of concession sales, including beer. Smart move if they did.
Winner: Coldplay
The never-ending Music of the Spheres tour has pushed Coldplay to the top of the list of the highest-grossing touring acts of the millennium. Between 2001 and the end of this year, they’ve brought in US$2.48 billion and sold 24.8 million tickets, according to Pollstar, the live music bible. U2 is second, followed by Ed Sheeran and The Dave Matthews Band. Taylor Swift is down in fifth place, but she started touring later.
