Box office receipts for the top grossing concert tours slipped sharply around the world in 2010, as music fans cut back on the number of shows they attended and top acts put on fewer shows.

The 50 most popular tours, by artists such as U2 and Lady Gaga, grossed $2.93 billion worldwide in 2010, down 12 percent from 2009, according to concert industry magazine Pollstar.

Concert goers bought 38.3 million tickets globally for those shows, down 15 percent from last year, and the total number of shows on the top world tours was down 8 percent.

Artists and promoters such as Live Nation Entertainment Inc got some relief from the 4 percent increase in ticket prices this year.

In North America, the 50 highest gross tours grossed $1.69 billion, or 15 percent less.

The top grossing tour worldwide was by Bon Jovi, whose 80 shows grossed $201 million worldwide. Other top grossing acts in 2010 included Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame, heavy metal bands AC/DC and Metallica, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and 1970s-era hitmakers the Eagles.