1. Dr. Dre ($110 million)
Dre still rakes in cash from old albums, production and the occasional
concert. And then there's that headphone line. The superproducer
collected $100 million pretax when handset maker HTC paid
$300 million for a 51% stake in the company last year, at the beginning
of our scoring period (earlier this year, he and his partners bought
back half of what they sold).
2. Roger Waters ($88 million)
A founding member of Pink Floyd, Waters continues to rake in cash from
his The Wall Live tour, in which he plays the aforementioned album
straight through. According to Billboard Boxscore, he grossed $131
million from November 2011 to May 2012 alone.
his The Wall Live tour, in which he plays the aforementioned album
straight through. According to Billboard Boxscore, he grossed $131
million from November 2011 to May 2012 alone.
3. Elton John ($80 million)
The Rocketman is still going strong with over 100 shows in our scoring
period, including a lengthy Las Vegas stint. His animated film Gnomeo and Juliet brought in $200 million at the box office. He's also got his 30th solo album on the way.
period, including a lengthy Las Vegas stint. His animated film Gnomeo and Juliet brought in $200 million at the box office. He's also got his 30th solo album on the way.
4. U2 ($78 million)
The legendary Irish rockers wrapped up their record-breaking 360
tour—which grossed $736 million over three year—in August of 2011, just late enough to count a summer of touring in our scoring period.
5. Take That ($69 million)
The British boy band's reunion tour grossed a record $61 million for
eight dates at London's Wembley Stadium alone, the highest-grossing
single-stadium stand recorded to that point, while dozens of dates
around Europe provided even more.
eight dates at London's Wembley Stadium alone, the highest-grossing
single-stadium stand recorded to that point, while dozens of dates
around Europe provided even more.
6. Bon Jovi ($60 million)
The veteran New Jersey rock act wrapped a world tour last summer but
still managed to out-earn relative whippersnappers Kim Kardashian, Lil Wayne and Kate Moss combined. Could a breakup be on the horizon?
Frontman Jon Bon Jovi has been spotted duetting with Warren Buffett in the Forbes building
7. Britney Spears ($58 million)
The pop diva returns to the ranks of music's elite earners with millions
from endorsements and a fragrance line with Elizabeth Arden. Her latestalbum, Femme Fatale, earned platinum certification in the U.S.
8. Paul McCartney ($57 million, tie)
Sir Paul continues to rock, playing three dozen shows during our scoring
period, including a rollicking Grammy performance that included a
finale with Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen. Royalty checks from his
Beatles days don’t hurt, either.
period, including a rollicking Grammy performance that included a
finale with Dave Grohl and Bruce Springsteen. Royalty checks from his
Beatles days don’t hurt, either.
8. Taylor Swift ($57 million, tie)
Swift grossed over $1 million per night on the road this year, and also
earns big as one of the faces of CoverGirl. Her latest album, Red, moved 1.2 million units its opening week this fall, the best debut since 2002.
earns big as one of the faces of CoverGirl. Her latest album, Red, moved 1.2 million units its opening week this fall, the best debut since 2002.
10. Justin Bieber ($55 million, tie)
The 18-year-old is the youngest name on our list, thanks to sales of
music and merchandise—and, more recently, stakes in startups including Tinychat, Stamped and Spotify. More: Justin Bieber, Venture Capitalist..
10. Toby Keith ($55 million, tie)
With his Ford sponsorship entering its second decade and his I Love This
Bar And Grill restaurant chain booming, Keith tops country earners for
the second consecutive year. New album Clancy's Tavern helped him sell out shows across the country.
Bar And Grill restaurant chain booming, Keith tops country earners for
the second consecutive year. New album Clancy's Tavern helped him sell out shows across the country.
12. Rihanna ($53 million)
The Barbados-born diva has parlayed the success of her music into
lucrative sidelines: endorsements with the likes of Vita Coco and Nivea,
a fragrance called Reb'l Fleur and a heavy touring schedule, to name a
few.
lucrative sidelines: endorsements with the likes of Vita Coco and Nivea,
a fragrance called Reb'l Fleur and a heavy touring schedule, to name a
few.
13. Lady Gaga ($52 million)
The singer-songwriter still makes plenty of money off of music sales,
padding her coffers with a new tour and new fragrance Fame.
14. Foo Fighters ($47 million)
Fifteen years after their debut smash The Colour and the Shape, the Foos are still rocking, most recently with last year's Wasting Light and the ensuing tour.
15. Diddy ($45 million, tie)
The artist formerly known as Puff Daddy still continues to earn from a
variety of non-musical deals—namely a share of profits from Diageo's
Ciroc vodka—as well as acting gigs, marketing firm Blue Flame and
clothing line Sean John.
variety of non-musical deals—namely a share of profits from Diageo's
Ciroc vodka—as well as acting gigs, marketing firm Blue Flame and
clothing line Sean John.
15. Katy Perry ($45 million, tie)
The only musician besides Michael Jackson to have five No. 1 singles
from the same album, Perry continues to garner considerable airplay—and
dollars. Her California Dreams Tour grossed nearly $60 million.
from the same album, Perry continues to garner considerable airplay—and
dollars. Her California Dreams Tour grossed nearly $60 million.
17. Kenny Chesney ($44 million)
Though he didn't get paid for his Thanksgiving gig in Dallas,
Chesney nearly doubled his touring take over last year, making 48 stops
in the U.S. and Canada on his Corona- and Hooters-sponsored tour during
our scoring period.
Chesney nearly doubled his touring take over last year, making 48 stops
in the U.S. and Canada on his Corona- and Hooters-sponsored tour during
our scoring period.
18. Beyoncé ($40 million)
After giving birth to baby Blue Ivy in January, Beyoncé took a break
from her hectic touring schedule. But she still earns big from old hits,new album 4 and non-musical ventures like her House of Dereon clothing line and endorsement deals with companies like L'Oreal and DirecTV.
19. Red Hot Chili Peppers ($39 million)
Opening week sales of the group's new album I'm with You were just half that of 2006's Stadium Arcadium,
but the Chili Peppers still managed a massive year financially on the strength of a big tour and continued interest in their extensive back
catalogue.
20. Jay-Z ($38 million)
Though he doesn't earn quite as much as his wife, Jay-Z continues to
pull in proceeds from music (touring in support of his album with Kanye West) and business (deals with Duracell, Budweiser and others). For more
on his financial dealings, check out Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z
Went From Street Corner to Corner Office.
21. Coldplay ($37 million)
The British pop-rockers returned to the spotlight with last year's Mylo Xyloto, cashing in from over 50 concerts on the tour that followed.
22. Adele ($35 million, tie)
The big-voiced Brit has sold over 23 million copies of her smash album 21, even more amazing in an era when selling 500,000 copies is a strong showing.
22. Kanye West ($35 million, tie)
The mercurial rapper-producer had a big hit with his Jay-Z collaboration
Watch the Throne and the ensuing tour; he also designs shoes for Nike and a line of women's clothing
24. Michael Bublé ($34 million)
The top-earning Canadian musician not named Bieber pulled in millions
from a long but efficient tour, as well as a multiplatinum Christmas album titled—what else—Christmas.
25. Sade ($33 million)
The reclusive Nigerian-born, Britain-bred singer-songwriter squeaks onto
our list thanks to a lucrative tour that included nearly 100 show datesin our scoring period.
This list is made possible by forbes.com, congrats to all those top earners, wish them more next year.
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