Since the onset of the digital era, countless teams have employed a smoke and mirrors approach when relaying the success (or lack-thereof) of their artists. Indeed, daily the masses are sold narratives of success that are more rooted in dreams than reality.
In a bid to plough through the PR spin, industry bible Billboard have compiled a list of Music’s Top 40 Money Makers 2013.
Find out who is (really) shining bright like a diamond after the jump…
The following tally draws on Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen BDS, YouTube and Billboard Boxscore data. Artists are ranked by U.S. earnings, as well as variety of income streams, including touring, recorded-music sales, publishing royalties and revenue from an assortment of digital music and video services for downloads, as well as on-demand and non-interactive streaming.
Due to a lack of sufficient data, Billboard’s figures do not include revenue from sponsorships, merchandise sales or synchronization data.
Billboard’s Music’s Top 40 Money Makers 2013
#1 Madonna $34,577,308.62
#2 Bruce Springsteen $33,443,606.64
#3 Roger Waters $21,160,131.06
#4 Van Halen $20,184,709.91
#5 Kenny Chesney $19,148,525.24
#6 Dave Matthews Band $18,903,334.14
#7 Tim McGraw $18,329,167.89
#8 Jason Aldean $17,578,651.96
#9 Coldplay $17,300,144.34
#10 Justin Bieber $15,944,293.10
#11 Adele $13,906,635.76
#12 Lady Antebellum $12,968,992.17
#13 Celine Dion $12,927,494.01
#14 Brad Paisley $12,848,724.84
#15 Taylor Swift $12,695,783.32
#16 Carrie Underwood $11,942,956.65
#17 Nickelback $11,121,419.71
#18 Eric Church $11,015,773.11
#19 Rascal Flatts $10,777,282.68
#20 Barbra Streisand $10,611,419.16
#21 Neil Diamond $10,498,985.38
#22 Trans-Siberian Orchestra $9,959,362.28
#23 Toby Keith $9,805,764.04
#24 Drake $9,504,992.38
#25 Red Hot Chilli Peppers $9,477,807.56
#26 The Rolling Stones $9,276,084.10
#27 Miranda Lambert $8,818,536.04
#28 Rush $8,719,834.30
#29 Elton John $8,575,518.13
#30 One Direction $7,955,840.71
#31 Phish $7,382,514.39
#32 The Black Keys $7,358,679.41
#33 Maroon 5 $7,159,923.53
#34 Jay Z $7,011,905.17
#35 Journey $6,983,106.58
#36 Andrea Bocelli $6,732,442.76
#37 Zac Brown Band $6,682,797.58
#38 Rod Stewart $6,459,568.26
#39 Mumford & Sons $6,168,737.62
#40 Black Shelton $5,914,591.11
*************
Interesting!
Notable points include Adele being the only featured name who didn’t tour in the window used to measure $$ turnover, as well as the surprising absences of both Beyonce and Rihanna.
That said, in not sensationalising for the sake of, it’s worth stressing that the vast amount of Beyonce’s pot of gold is generated from touring (something she hasn’t done since 2009). What’s more, the omission of endorsements as a relevant revenue stream for inclusion in the list affects her as well as rival Rih – whose talent-challenged approach to music sees her coins almost exclusively generated from outside sponsorship.
In any case….
I understand no gaga or bey but what is rih excuse with an album every november
Her last two albums flopped
OH SHUT UP BYCH
Yet they out sold Katy Perry’s last album. Hello Pot.
UNAPOLOGETIC SANKS……TOUR TICKETS R SINKING HARD RIH S DONE…………..
*reads comments*
My local radio station can’t GIVE me free Rihanna concert tickets!.. I would ask for a $50 Shell gas card or something!!.. Rihanna was struggling to sing “Stay” on the Grammy’s. That has to be the easiest song to sing. “Not really sure how I feel about…!!” See how easy that was!! NO THANKS!!! Congrats to Madonna!!!
What’s to understand? She may release albums nonstop, but her album sales are s***. As I’ve always said, she’s nothing but a gimmick singles queen.
Umm, isn’t Gaga still on tour? I thought her album was so good, shouldn’t it be next to Adele’s since they came out aroun the same time? Guess she’s a flop as well.
Rihanna’s album didn’t outsell Katy’s , though..
Teenage dream did over 2mil in the US alone
Rihanna last album is at 1.2MIL
Unapologetic is at 700k
Country sales >>>>>>>>>>>
They have a secure stanbase !
The Queen of Pop Madonna and the Queen of Country Carrie Underwood snatching weaves
Madonna can be the queen but rihanna is the king
Burger King
Burger King at best
Celine better slay !
I thought Mary J blige would be there
Celine is doing the damn thaaang!
Hmmm
Now it’s Keyshia Cole too? Haha.
Yaaasssss. I caint stand that funky b**** chile lol
so Justin Bieber Made more money than Jay-z ?
DEAD DEAD DEAD and buried !!!!
THATS ONLY FOR MUSIC SIDE AND JAY Z HASN’T RELEASE S*** YET………..
ok i UNDERSTAND BEYONCE HASN’T RELEASE S*** SO FAR SHE JUST RETURN TO THE BIZNESS NOW BUT WHAT HAPPEN TO R****?????????????????? SHE BEEN OPENING HER LEGS UP AND DOWN BARE SINGLES AND ALBUM RELEASED WHAT HAPPEN SHE HASN’T EVEN EARN £5M? DAMNED
No Rihanna lol. Go Figure she can’t make money.
Queen Celine Dion has no English album for 6 years. She is just slaying. Amazing!
And there is only One Queen and that’s Madonna. Everybody else: sit down and learn!
Well you just used the word “queen” for two different people in your own comment lol but I guess I know what you mean…
@PETRUSFORESTER
Amen!.
I don´t trust these lists too much. Specially cos there are like 10 different lists like this one per year and all of them say different things
But this particular one really does make sense, more than any other I´ve seen recently. Yaaaaaaas for Celine Dion always there non stop. Just a couple of months ago we saw another list by I don´t remember which magazine and she wasn´t there and I told you that was impossible. She was top10 every year in the 00´s and now she keeps being top 20 without releasing an album in 5 years
Congrats to Madonna (well not really, she´s going to die from richness lol we really shouldn´t be celebrating what these people earn, just congratulate them for their talent). Good for Adele too. Music industry needs big ones. I´m tired of moderate success, moderate talent, etc
ps: that being said, this list has more talent than the hot 100 any day 🙂
Congrants to those who really work hard for their money Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and Celine Dion, they didn’t have to do this but they love what they do. True greats, those who really rules the Music world.
Al Haill The Queeen though, she is the hardest worker among them all. Hands down, hence she’s the richest.
Exactly! These legends don’t need the money, but they sure as hell work harder than any of the s***** pretenders we have nowadays and it shows in the receipts.
no Britany Spears
Wow Jay-Z is the only black person on the list.
No Bey, no Rih, no Alicia?
Forreal though! I can kinda understand why Beyonce isn’t on the list. Being that she has been off for a cool minute. But no Alicia??? I’m even more surprised that Rihanna isn’t on the list. She’s had countless hits smdh.
Drake is on the list.
I’m sure if you consider Alicia Keys black then Drake is black too.
It isn’t what you or someone else on this bog considers them to be. It’s what society sees them as, especially white people. If drake were to attack a white woman, she including witnesses would say that she was attacked by a light-skinned black man. The same stands for alicia keys a light-skinned black woman.
PEOPLE POSTING ON THIS BLOG APPEAR TO BE TO HUNG UP ON RACE.
Blog is what i meant.
Yaaay! Your Majesty, Ultimate Bad B****, Lolita, Sinner Queen Madge, Always Number1!!!!!
Congraz Everyone!
But Rihanna didn’t tour for Talk that Talk she just played at various festivals and this list does not include endorsements which is why she is not on the list. When performing at festivals does my count as touring b/c thaw artist is paid an appearance/performing fee that is between the festival owners and the artist management so Billboard will not have that information. And Lady Gaga is absent from the list b/f she did your for almost all of 2012 just saying.
What do endorsements have to do with their craft? They are musicians, and this list lists what they earned via music not by posing naked on a magazine.
@Common Sense artists don’t make a lot of money off of albums contractually, most of the money pays producers so touring and endorsements is how an artist builds a legacy
Kikikikikiiiiiii! I’m fixing to stir this pot.ok..Lady Gaga and Beyoncé have EVERY EXCUSE not to be here.they both have not released singles for two years.and I love bad Girl Rih to death! But why is she not on this list.abd how did Celine (who I also adore) make the list? Jay Z either? Navy? Or should I say the delusional hateful members of the navy that include Honey B**** Chile and Beyfraud…what are the reasons? Your girl has dropped a single every month or two since 2005.she dropped a few this year and a lot last year and sold 500zillion singles according to Wikipedia, where is she? #41 maybe? What did 777 tour generate? Dust obviously. I also keep hearing this stadium tour is sold out…all lies haha.I’ll wait and read all meltdowns responses
Lady Gaga does not have every excused b/c she toured mostly for the year 2012. And if I recall 777 Tour was a promotional tours fans did not buy tickets nor was it a stadium tour. She played at small venues dummy. And yes did release an album in November but if you have any experience in the industry such as internships and actually working you know that it takes time for record labels track the sales and revenue from new releases. To prove my point you can also look at Bruno Mars
Where are The Rihoeanna stans???? They’re always commenting but when they’re gurl comes up short handed, they’re nowhere to b found lol. It don’t suprise me though. Congrats to all on the list. # MISTRESS OF THE UNIVERSE…..BEYONCE
LOL Def Jam and Roc Nation keep Rihead working like a field s**** and that h** couldn’t even nab the #40 spot. That Barbadian trashbag ain’t profitable. All her chump change goes to the IRS. Def Jam and the Roc is probably in the RED with her big forehanded ass!
Sam AKA Beyonce a day wouldnt be a day without your ant Rhianna post. She must have bullied you in high school. you are such a sour grape.
Sam AKA Beyonce. A day wouldnt be a day without your negative ass statements about Rhianna. She mustve bullied you in high school. You should just start a website dedicated tom your hate for Rhianna.Thats what this negative ass website is paying you for. With you broke sorry ass.
Gaga had the 6th highest grossong tour of 2012 but didn’t make the list,definitely not a good look….the ultimate shade is when madonna,bruce springsteen,celine dion,elton john,rod stewart,andrea bocelli,neil diamond and barbara steisand are still making more money than your faves…i wonder how much gaga,bey,rih will make once they become not-so-relevant????
“gaga,bey,rih will make once they become not-so-relevant?” Yup, that’s the operative question. Since Beyonce hasn’t released any new material for a while, it kinda make since when in regards to her. But Rihanna really has no excuse. She has hit, after hit, after hit. Idk why she’s not on this list.
Of course with the Beyonce excuses lmao!!! You f*** kill me
NEXT!!!!! WHEN IS FORBES LIST COMING OUT, I MEA NOBODY IS REALLY TAKING BILLBOARDS LIST IN PERSPECTIVE RIGHT……. WE KNOW RIH MAKING MONEY, THATS A FACT AND THE PROOF WILL BE IN THE PUDDING SOON
Y’all broke b****** are so pressed over other people’s money lmao. Y’all probably can’t even pay y’all $80 cellphone bills on time. Whether beyonce, Rihanna or GaGa are on this random ass list or not doesnt really matter. They all have more money than we’ll EVER see in our basic lives! Y’all worried bout the wrong things p******!
So Mariah would be placed #7 based on her IDOL salary.
Maybe next year since this list is for last year’s earnings.
RiRi, your label really rinse you don’t they.
Think you best telling them you need a year off to make some REAL money!!
INDUSTRY PUPPET!!
Poor bish but at least she’s popular
Not surprised Nicki as Beyonce ain’t even on there… interesting.
I don’t get this chart, is this from money made in 2012> Or is it the first two months of 2013. Maybe I should go to a more professional and reliable site. Be Back.
Ok, I’m back, these are from tours mostly, expect for Adele and Swift, which are mostly form record sales. 96% of Madonna is from touring. So Beyonce made more this year then all of them by signing her name on a Pepsi contract.
I love how Same is trying to hide that “workaholic” Nicki Minaj isn’t on this list. Didn’t she tour last year and sell out arenas? Wasn’t she featured on every rapper’s song? Drake is on there though. Keep trying to protect Nicki Minaj, Sam. I’m sure she pays you enough.
With regard to Celine – THATS ALL SHE MAKES FOR THE YEAR NOW! SHE HAS 00000 ENDORSEMENTS! So Mariah has made more than her in one signing on to American Idol!
On Nicki Minaj’s omission – her endorsements will dry up in 5 years and NO ONE will be on this chick so she’s gonna be no where on this list ever! And arena tours tend to break even….Madonna is doing fricking stadium tours!
What is your life like? Is it really that real h**?
Celine and carrie underwood slaying!!! my queens. where is rihanna though??? -sips pepsi-
No Christina Aguilera or Lana Del Rey?
B**** u tried it!! ————–> _/
That Adele Reign!!…
LOL @ #40. BLACK Shelton
MADONNA BEEN HERE FOR 30 YEARS . DAMN NOBODY WILL STOP MADONNA .
LADY GAGA IS OLD NEWS .
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