There are many bands that rely on touring for their main source of support. The Grateful Dead may have started the trend on which many jam bands have been able to capitalize. Just like the Dead, with a low (or non-existent) number of top 10 hits and not-so-hot record sales, bands such as Bela Fleck, Phish and String Cheese Incident have been able to stay afloat by staying on the tour bus. Especially in today’s climate of music sharing and falling CD sales due to CD burners and free downloads.

Quantity can be an easy answer for income. Touring can bring major money, but for Celine Dion, in 2005, staying in one Las Vegas spot won her the No. 3 spot, commanding more per ticket than the Stones at $136 a pop. So being big enough to bring the fans to you can work too. But, if she staged her show in the middle of Iowa, it’s doubtful whether as many fans would come.

The Stones, along with the other aging bands that top these lists, have another thing going for them: Age. The chance that this may be their final tour comes up every time they hit the stage. Hinting at it, but never actually saying so, is a back-pocket trick that only works for legendary artists. Especially with Richards recent brain surgery due to his random accident, the “what if” may be working to propel this band to heights even higher than that coconut tree.