Editing U2 (section)

== Legacy ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by U2}}
[[File:The Edge and Bono performing in Belfast on Nov 19 2015.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|''Rolling Stone'' ranked the Edge and Bono among the greatest guitarists and singers, respectively.|alt=The Edge and Bono clothed in leather jackets, as the Edge holds a guitar vertically. A large dangling light bulb hangs between them.]]
U2 have sold an estimated 150–170&nbsp;million records worldwide, placing them among the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling music artists in history]].<ref name="170sales"/> The group's fifth studio album, ''[[The Joshua Tree]]'', is one of the [[List of best-selling albums in the United States|best-selling albums in the US]] (10&nbsp;million copies shipped) and [[List of best-selling albums|worldwide]] (25&nbsp;million copies sold).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=u2&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]|access-date=23 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/new-u2-album-no-line-on-the-horizon-given-lukewarm-reception-df8h3cgmht9|title=New U2 album No Line on the Horizon given lukewarm reception|newspaper=[[The Times]] |first=Adam |last=Sherwin |date=3 March 2009|access-date=16 November 2019|url-access=subscription}}</ref> With 52&nbsp;million certified units by the RIAA, U2 rank as the [[List of best-selling music artists in the United States|24th-highest-selling music artist in the US]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=top_tallies&ttt=TAA#search_section|title=Gold & Platinum&nbsp;– Top Artists (Albums)|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]|access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref> U2 have eight albums that have reached number one in the US, the third-most of any group. They were the first group to attain number-one albums in the US in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8062850/u2-songs-of-experience-billboard-200-chart|title=U2 Scores Eighth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Songs of Experience'|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|date=10 December 2017|access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref> In the UK, the group have had seven number-one singles, [[List of artists by number of UK Singles Chart number ones|tied for the 17th-most of any artist]], and eleven number-one albums, [[List of artists by number of UK Albums Chart number ones|tied for the 8th-most of any artist]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/acts-with-the-most-number-1-albums-on-the-official-uk-chart__15643/|title=Acts with the most Number 1 albums on the Official UK Chart|website=[[Official Charts Company]]|first=Justin|last=Myers|date=5 April 2024|access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref> The band's 1,468 weeks spent on the UK music charts [[List of artists who have spent the most weeks on the UK music charts|ranks 18th all-time]].<ref name="ukcharts"/> In their native Ireland, U2 hold the record for most number-one singles with 21,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/acts-with-the-most-number-1-singles-in-ireland__23468/|title=Acts with the most Number 1 singles in Ireland|website=[[Official Charts Company]]|first=Rob|last=Copsey|date=30 October 2020|access-date=7 April 2023}}</ref> and they have 10 number-one albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2023/0325/1366329-u2-clinch-11th-uk-number-one-with-sos/|title=U2 clinch 10th Irish number one album with SOS|website=[[RTÉ]]|date=26 March 2023|access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref>

In the 1980s, U2 "dominated the alternative rock scene", according to cultural critic [[Kevin J. H. Dettmar]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Dettmer|first=Kevin J. H.|author-link=Kevin J. H. Dettmar|page=113|chapter=Nothing Succeeds Like Failure|title=Exploring U2|year=2011|publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]]|isbn=9780810881587|editor-last=Calhoun|editor-first=Scott}}</ref> Similarly, in the next decade, they were one of the most famous alternative rock bands worldwide and among the highest-selling rock bands.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kallen|first=Stuart A.|year=2012|title=The History of Alternative Rock|publisher=Lucent Books|isbn=9781420509724|page=82}}</ref> In the 35-year history of ''Billboard''{{'}}s [[Alternative Airplay]] chart, U2 holds records for most songs charted (42), most number ones in the 1980s (2, tied), and most number ones in the 1990s (6).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/35-highlights-35-years-alternative-airplay-chart/longest-leading-no-1-of-the-20s/|title=35 Highlights From 35 Years of Billboard's Alternative Airplay Chart: Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, Billie Eilish & More|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=7 September 2023|access-date=7 September 2023}}</ref> Record sales declined in the 2000s and the music industry entered an age of often illegal [[Music download|digital downloading]], but according to author [[Mat Snow]], U2 prospered more than younger acts because of a loyal following that held an attachment to the album format. Snow said, "Children of the [[album era]] as they were, U2 would never stop regarding the album as the core statement of their creativity", despite progressively decreasing sales, while he noted that live shows consequently became the group's greatest source of revenue.<ref>Snow (2014), p. 186</ref>

Based on data from ''[[Pollstar]]'', U2 were the [[List of highest-grossing live music artists|second-highest-grossing musical act]] from 1980 to 2022, earning {{USD|2.127 billion}} in revenue from 26.178 million tickets sold.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 June 2022 |title=Top Touring Artist of the Pollstar Era |url=https://data.pollstar.com/Chart/2022/07/072522_top.touring.artists_1020.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805190603/https://data.pollstar.com/Chart/2022/07/072522_top.touring.artists_1020.pdf |archive-date=5 August 2022 |access-date=4 August 2022 |work=[[Pollstar]] |pages=1–4}}</ref> According to ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] Boxscore'', the band grossed {{USD|1.67&nbsp;billion}} in ticket sales from 1990 to 2016, second only to the Rolling Stones.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7271843/madonna-extends-record-highest-grossing-solo-touring-artist |title=Madonna Extends Record as Highest-Grossing Solo Touring Artist: $1.31 Billion Earned|magazine=Billboard|first=Bob|last=Allen|date=23 March 2016|access-date=26 March 2016}}</ref> U2 were the only group in the top 25 touring acts from 2000 to 2009 to sell out every show they played.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266415/top-touring-artists-of-the-decade|title=The Decade in Music: Decade-End Top 25 Tours|magazine=Billboard|date=19 December 2009|volume=121|issue=50|page=166|access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref> According to ''Pollstar'', the band grossed {{USD|1.038&nbsp;billion}} and sold 9,300,500 tickets from 255 shows played between 2010 and November 2019, earning the publication's title of touring artist of the 2010s decade; U2 were the only artist to surpass {{USD|1&nbsp;billion}} grossed during that span.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/artist-of-the-decade-u2s-experience-dominance-142820|title=Artist Of The Decade: U2's Experience + Dominance|website=[[Pollstar]]|first=Ryan|last=Borba|date=22 November 2019|access-date=24 November 2019}}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' has named U2 the world's annual [[Forbes list of highest-earning musicians|highest-earning music artist]] a record five times.<ref>U2 were the world's highest-earning music artist in five different years:
*2002: {{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=53&passYear=2002&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=&searchParameter2=&resultsStart=1&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=+numberfield2,+stringfield1&resultsSortCategoryName=money_rank&passKeyword=&category1=&category2=|title=Forbes Celebrity 100|date=16 February 2006|website=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216221837/http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=53&passYear=2002&passListType=Person&searchParameter1=&searchParameter2=&resultsStart=1&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=+numberfield2,+stringfield1&resultsSortCategoryName=money_rank&passKeyword=&category1=&category2=|archive-date=16 February 2006}}
*2006: {{cite web|url=https://images.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/Musicians_Rank.html|title=The Celebrity 100|website=Forbes}}
*2010: {{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/u2-beyonce-britney-make-forbes-top-earning-musicians-list-957300/|title=U2, Beyonce, Britney Make Forbes 'Top-Earning Musicians' List|magazine=Billboard|first=Melanie|last=Fried|date=19 July 2010}}
*2011: {{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/17/u2-top-highest-paid-list|title=U2 top list of world's highest-paid musicians|date=17 June 2011|website=The Guardian}}
*2018: {{cite web|url=https://etcanada.com/news/393398/u2-tops-forbes-list-of-2018s-highest-earning-musicians-as-joshua-tree-tour-grosses-316m/|title=U2 Tops Forbes' List Of 2018's Highest-Earning Musicians As Joshua Tree Tour Grosses $316M|website=[[Entertainment Tonight Canada]]|first=Brent|last=Furdyk|date=4 December 2018|access-date=28 July 2022|archive-date=27 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727064701/https://etcanada.com/news/393398/u2-tops-forbes-list-of-2018s-highest-earning-musicians-as-joshua-tree-tour-grosses-316m/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[The Sunday Times]]''{{'}} 2020 Irish Rich List estimated the group's collective wealth at {{Euro|670&nbsp;million}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-irish-rich-list/article/irish-rich-list-2020-profiles-18-50-featuring-u2-and-michael-oleary-lmrz88j5p|title=Irish Rich List 2020: profiles 18-50, featuring U2 and Michael O'Leary|website=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=18 October 2020|access-date=18 October 2020}}</ref>

U2 are regarded as one of the greatest pop-rock acts of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Greenburg|first=Zack O'Malley|author-link=Zack O'Malley Greenburg|date=11 September 2014|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2014/09/11/what-u2s-apple-album-launch-means-for-u2/?sh=16f1ce847d7f|title=What U2's Apple Album Launch Means for U2|magazine=[[Forbes]]|access-date=14 June 2021}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' placed U2 at number 22 on its list of "[[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time|The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time]]",<ref name="rs100greatest">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-artists-147446/u2-10-92368/|first=Chris |last=Martin |author-link=Chris Martin|title=The 50th Anniversary of Rock: The Immortals – 22: U2|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=15 April 2004|access-date=2 July 2018|issue=946|page=102}}</ref> while ranking Bono the 32nd-greatest singer,<ref name="Lethem 67–108"/> the Edge the 38th-greatest guitarist,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/the-edge-20111122|title=The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=8 December 2011|issue=1145|pages=49–76|access-date=10 June 2020|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202013720/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/the-edge-20111122|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Mullen the 96th-greatest drummer.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-drummers-of-all-time-20160331/larry-mullen-jr-20160329|title=100 Greatest Drummers of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first1=Matt|last1=Diehl|first2=Jon|last2=Dolan|first3=Richard|last3=Gehr|date=31 March 2016|access-date=31 March 2016|display-authors=etal|archive-date=3 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403134023/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-drummers-of-all-time-20160331/larry-mullen-jr-20160329|url-status=dead}}</ref> The magazine placed Bono and the Edge at number 35 on its list of the "[[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time|100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time]]".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/interactive/lists-100-greatest-songwriters/#bono-and-the-edge|title=The 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=13 August 2015|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref> In 2004, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' ranked U2 as the fourth-biggest band in a list compiled based on album sales, time spent on the UK charts, and largest audience for a headlining show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/q-which-is-biggest-band-of-all-time-a-and-readers-say-6160587.html|title=Q: Which is biggest band of all time? A: And readers say&nbsp;...|website=[[The Independent]]|first=Anthony|last=Barnes|date=3 October 2004|access-date=27 February 2013|location=London|archive-date=4 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804190837/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/q-which-is-biggest-band-of-all-time-a-and-readers-say-6160587.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[VH1]] placed U2 at number 19 on its 2010 list of "The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.vh1.com/2010-08-25/who-will-come-out-on-top-of-vh1s-100-greatest-artists-of-all-time/|title=Who Will Come Out on Top of VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time?|website=[[VH1.com]]|first=Rich|last=Juzwiak|date=25 August 2010|access-date=27 February 2013|archive-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701153718/http://blog.vh1.com/2010-08-25/who-will-come-out-on-top-of-vh1s-100-greatest-artists-of-all-time/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2010, eight of U2's songs appeared on ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s updated list of "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]", with "One" ranking the highest at number 36.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|year=2010|issue=Special collectors edition}}</ref> Five of the group's twelve studio albums were ranked on the magazine's 2012 list of "[[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]"—''The Joshua Tree'' placed the highest at number 27.<ref name="500Greatest" /> Reflecting on the band's popularity and worldwide impact, [[Jeff Pollack (media consultant)|Jeff Pollack]] for ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' said, "like [[the Who]] before them, U2 wrote songs about things that were important and resonated with their audience".<ref>{{cite web |last=Pollack |first=Jeff|title=10 Bands That Shook The World|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-pollack/10-bands-that-shook-the-w_1_b_819903.html |website=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=7 February 2011|access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref> ''[[Houston Press]]'' journalist John Seaborn Gray attributed U2's pioneering impact on pop-rock music largely to the Edge's unique guitar style.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gray|first=John Seaborn|date=14 October 2009|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/music/the-best-u2-songs-not-actually-written-by-u2-6780573|title=The Best U2 Songs Not Actually Written by U2|newspaper=[[Houston Press]]|access-date=14 June 2021|archive-date=14 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614060056/https://www.houstonpress.com/music/the-best-u2-songs-not-actually-written-by-u2-6780573|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:U2 at the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors Dinner (52542570840).jpg|thumb|U2 were recipients of [[Kennedy Center Honors]] in 2022.]]
U2 received their first [[Grammy Award]] in 1988 for ''The Joshua Tree'', and they have won 22 in total out of 46 nominations,<ref name="grammy-wins-noms"/> more than any other group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2011/07/24/U2-s-success-moves-in-mysterious-ways/stories/201107240243|title=U2: success moves in mysterious ways|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|first=Scott|last=Mervis|date=24 July 2011|pages=E-1, E-3|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref> These include [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group]], [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]], [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]], [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]], and [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]]. In the UK, U2 have received 8 [[Brit Awards]] out of 20 nominations from the [[British Phonographic Industry]], including five wins for [[Brit Award for International Group|International Group of the Year]]. They were the first international group to win the [[Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ireland-at-the-brit-awards-look-back-at-every-irish-winner-and-nominee__25596/|title=Ireland at the BRIT Awards: look back at every Irish winner and nominee|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|first=Jack|last=White|date=19 February 2019|access-date=19 February 2019}}</ref> In Ireland, U2 have won 14 [[Meteor Music Awards]] since they began in 2001. Other awards won by the band and their members include one [[American Music Award]], four [[Ivor Novello Awards]], six [[MTV Video Music Awards]], eleven [[Q Awards]], two [[Juno Award]]s, five [[NME Awards]], and two [[Golden Globe Award]]s. The band were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in March 2005.<ref name="RRHOF"/> In 2006, all four members of the band received [[ASCAP]] awards for writing the songs "[[I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For]]" and "[[Vertigo (U2 song)|Vertigo]]".<ref name="ASCAP1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/prs/2006/completelistofwinners.aspx|title=ASCAP Awards, London&nbsp;– Wednesday, October 11, 2006: Complete List of Winners|website=[[ASCAP]]|access-date=27 February 2013|archive-date=14 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314171544/http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/prs/2006/completelistofwinners.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2022, the group received [[Kennedy Center Honors]] for their contributions in the performing arts,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/04/george-clooney-gladys-knight-among-kennedy-center-honorees.html|title=George Clooney, Gladys Knight among Kennedy Center honorees|website=[[CNBC]]|agency=Associated Press|date=4 December 2022|access-date=5 December 2022}}</ref> making them only the fifth musical group to be so honoured.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/12/05/kennedy-center-honors-2022-cheer-clooney-u-2-amy-grant-gladys-knight/10837040002/|title=Kennedy Center Honors 2022: Julia Roberts salutes George Clooney, Eddie Vedder channels U2|website=[[USA Today]]|first=Melissa|last=Ruggieri|date=5 December 2022|access-date=20 December 2022}}</ref> In May 2025, the members of U2 will receive the [[Ivors Academy]] Fellowship for their songwriting, making them the first Irish songwriters to be so honoured.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/u2-get-highest-honour-britains-ivors-songwriting-awards-2025-03-20/|title=U2 to get highest honour at Britain's Ivors songwriting awards|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=20 March 2025|access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>