Image caption Bon Jovi formed in 1983

Rock band Bon Jovi's The Circle show was the highest-earning tour of 2010, taking $201.1m (£130.7m) worldwide, according to music trade publication Pollstar.

Australian rock band AC/DC landed at number two for the second year in a row, with tickets sales from their recent tour totalling $177m (£115m).

U2, which was the top worldwide act in 2009, came in at third place, with ticket sales totalling $160.9m (£104.6m).

Lady Gaga followed in fourth place, with Metallica at number five.

Gaga, who has become well known for her flamboyant outfits, earned $133.6 million (£86.8 million) from her tour.

But the Poker Face singer worked harder than any other musician in the top 10, after she played 138 shows.

By contrast, Bon Jovi played 80 shows, AC/DC performed 40 shows and U2 played 32.

In sixth place was Michael Buble's tour taking $104.2 million (£67.7 million)

The educational family show Walking with Dinosaurs took $104.1 million (£67.7 million) to earn seventh place ahead of Paul McCartney with tour takings of $93 million (£60 million).

At number nine were the Eagles with ticket sales totalling $92.3 million (£59.9 million) while ex-Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters was in 10th place with $89.5 million (£58.1 million) earned.