Jay-Z's 4:44 Tour Is His Highest Grossing Solo Tour Ever!

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The JAY-Z tickets selling for $6 a pop on StubHub don't reflect soft demand for his tour: they're actually a sign that the hip-hop star has successfully priced ticket scalpers out of the game by charging market rates for the best seats in the house.

Just three dates in, JAY-Z's 4:44 Tour is already the rapper's highest grossing solo tour ever, promoter Live Nation tells Billboard. Average gross for the 4:44 Tour's completed shows is up 21 percent over his 2013 Magna Carter Tour — Live Nation said the Honda Center show in Anaheim, Calif., earned nearly 49% more than the same stop in 2013.

"This tour will be the biggest headlining tour of Jay's career," says Omar Al-Joulani, VP of touring at Live Nation.

At comparative points, the 4:44 Tour is up 21 percent over Jay's 2013 Magna Carter Tour. The stop in Anaheim, Calif., earned close to 49 percent more in ticket sales than the same stop on the previous tour.

Many factors have played into the low ticket prices, including pricing scalpers out of the equation. "By pricing tickets closer to actual market value, JAY-Z and Live Nation are capturing more revenue and creating little room for brokers to mark up the best seats," Billboard reports.
"This might be the future of ticketing," said Patrick Ryan with ticketing and inventory company Eventellect. "We are seeing many creative pricing strategies and we are seeing artists find what works for them. You generate a ton of revenue up front, but you still have a $25 price point that makes it more affordable for individuals who want to see an arena show."

With 27 more shows left, the 4:44 Tour will continue on into December, closing out on Dec. 21.