Besides being one of the most influential recording artists of the past two decades, Madonna has also become a powerful force in the ticket industry. Since her debut in the early 1980s, the Queen of Pop has come to generate record-breaking sales around the world, making her a favorite on both the primary and secondary markets. Her most recent Sticky & Sweet Tour ended late in 2008 after nearly 60 concerts with a combined audience of 2.35 million people and total gross of more than $280 million. Her 2006 Confessions Tour was also a record-breaker at the time, grossing $193.7 million. Because of her continued popularity and audience draw, Madonna’s concerts often feature prominently in TicketNews’s weekly Top Events Rankings.