‘08 tour leader: Madonna

Madonna was the queen of the road during 2008 thanks to ticket sales of more than $105 million for her “Sticky and Sweet” tour.

The Material Girl was the top concert attraction in North America during the year according to Pollstar, the concert-tracking magazine, although Billboard recently put Bon Jovi atop its annual ranking of the year’s biggest grossing tours.

Billboard looks at worldwide results as reported from Nov. 14, 2007, to Nov. 11 of this year, while Pollstar measures only box-office results in North America during the 2008 calendar year.

At No. 2 on Pollstar’s list is Celine Dion, who earned $94 million from her first tour since ending her long residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and returning to the concert trail with her “Taking Chances” tour.

The Eagles claim the No. 3 spot with tour receipts of $73.4 million, followed by Kenny Chesney in fourth place with $72.2 million and Bon Jovi in fifth with $70.4 million.

Right behind Bon Jovi is Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, which tallied $69.3 million on the group’s “Magic” tour.

Springsteen ranked No. 2 on Billboard’s list, which reported nearly triple the tour grosses worldwide for both he and Bon Jovi -- $204.5 million and $210.6 million, respectively -- that Pollstar totaled for each act in North America during the year.

“All I can say [about the differences] is we have 100% of the individual show data to support these tour numbers,” Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni told The Times.

Pollstar’s Top 10 is dominated as it has been for years by rock and pop veterans. Rounding the list are Neil Diamond ($59.8 million), Rascal Flatts ($55.8 million), the Police ($48 million) and Tina Turner ($47.7 million).

randy.lewis@latimes.com

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Pollstar’s highest-grossing concert tours for 2008. Figures in millions.

1. Madonna ... $105.3

2. Celine Dion ... 94

3. Eagles ... 73.4

4. Kenny Chesney ... 72.2

5. Bon Jovi ... 70.4

6. Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band ... 69.3

7. Neil Diamond ... 59.8

8. Rascal Flatts ... 55.8

9. The Police ... 48

10. Tina Turner ... 47.7