Springsteen comes out on top in 2003

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Bruce Springsteen was the top-grossing popular music concert attraction in the United States in 2003, according to a poll reported Wednesday.

The Boss took in $115.9 million from 47 shows that played to 1.6 million fans, according to concert trade publication Pollstar's annual accounting of the field's top box office draws. It said Springsteen's tour was the second most lucrative North American tour on record, topped only by the 1994 Rolling Stones tour, which grossed $121.2 million.

Canadian singer Celine Dion was second to Springsteen in the Pollstar listing. She performed 145 shows in her theater at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, grossing $80.5 million. In third place was the Eagles with $69.3 million from 55 shows.

Completing the list was Fleetwood Mac, in fourth place with $69 million from 71 shows, Cher in fifth place with $68.2 million from 102 shows, and the reunited Simon & Garfunkel in sixth place with $64.5 million from 39 shows.

Pollstar said year-end grosses for all acts should reach $2.4 billion, topping the 2002 total of $2.1 billion.