The concert business grossed just under $4 billion worldwide in 2008, the most ever for a year and up almost 13 percent over last year, according to Billboard magazine.

"Overall, it's been a pretty good year for touring," said Ray Waddell, who covers the industry for Billboard. "I'd never say it's recession-proof, but it's resilient."

In North America, the average box office gross was up 18 percent and the average attendance up 6.3 percent.

Bon Jovi's tour was the year's highest-grossing, based on the trade publication's data from November 14, 2007, to November 11 of this year. It grossed $210.6 million and drew nearly 2.2 million fans.

Bruce Springsteen was second ($204.5 million gross) followed by Madonna ($162 million).

The most lucrative Country tours were Kenny Chesney, sixth on the list with $86 million gross; and Rascal Flatts, tenth with $55.8 million.

"It's not something you can get a fix for somewhere else," Waddell said of live music. "There's no other substitute for it, and compared to other things, it's pretty affordable."

Fans keep coming. First-week sales for Britney Spears' 2009 tour were strong enough that extra dates were added, and AC/DC and Metallica have already sold out shows for January and February.

Last month, concert promoter giant Live Nation reported third-quarter profit more than tripled to $139.9 million.

But Waddell warned: "It would be crazy to think that the economy and unemployment won't impact ticket sales at some point."

The squeeze may already be on in some places. In Nashville, promoters blamed slow ticket sales for canceling a New Year's Eve concert at the Sommet Center featuring Trace Adkins and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

John Huie, vice president of Creative Artists Agency in Nashville, which sets tour schedules for Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, ZZ Top, and many others, said more fans are waiting until the day of the show to buy tickets because they're uncertain about the economy.