Since as far as anyone can remember,the amount of money an act makes holds just as much as interest as the music that brings that money in.

So, in a bid to quench the nosy thirsts of fan boys/girls the worldover, Billboard have released their list of Music’s Top 40 Money Makers.

Focusing only on US income, the list takes into account how much each act made in 2011 from publishing, touring and recorded music sales and does not  include finances made from sponsorship or endorsement deals.

It is also worth noting that the list accounts for net earnings and not gross revenue, and so to some extent differs from Forbes annual list.

Peep the top ten below…

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Fans sweet on ‘Candyman’ maestra Christina Aguilera should get into these behind the scenes snaps of the songstress serving up the sexy for ‘Latina’ magazine.  Gracing this month’s cover, ‘The Voice’ judge strikes out on her own to strike a mean set of poses to accompany an interview that finds the outspoken diva certainly living up to such billing.

Coming as one of many covers Christina has landed for promotion of this Sunday’s season premiere of ‘The Voice’, check out more from ‘Latina’s’ Xtina shoot after the jump:

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Since her 2001 introduction with ‘Songs In A Minor’, 14-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys has been making major moves on the music scene.  Aside from sharing stages and studio time with legends Prince, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Bono, and more, Keys has earned the respect of and played co-star to many of today’s contemporary stars (i.e. Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Timbaland, etc).

With anticipation of her nearly completed 5th album, today – her 31st birthday – That Grape Juice seeks to salute the songstress who made it cool to keep your clothes on tickle the keys again.

Her catalog may boast some of the noughties’ biggest hits like ‘Fallin’,’If I Ain’t Got You’,  ‘No One’, and more, but there are some gems that sunk in the shadows of her more acclaimed numbers.

Get into a few of these after the jump:

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Looks like someone’s had a change of heart.

Indeed, after taking his war of ‘subliminals’ with Drake to all new levels with his verse on ‘Stay Schemin’ , Common has confessed that  he is ready to turn a new leaf.

Declaring, that despite the harsh words exchanged between the two, he is actually a fan of the Rapper.

His comments below…

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It’s that time of year again!

The 2012 Grammy Awards nominations were announced just moments ago. The 54th annual ceremony, which will air live on February 12th via CBS, featured singers Adele and Katy Perry as expected frontrunners for the nominations.  However, with fellow divas Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Rihanna all making splashes on charts in the last year, the stiff competition ironically saw Kanye West lead its pack with a whopping 7 nominations.

Who else came out on top?  Get familiar with the full list of nominations below…

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Awards season is soon to be in full swing and the 2012 People’s Choice Awards are the latest to unveil their list of nominations.  The ceremony, set to be held at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater on January 11, 2012, got fans and spectators involved with their preliminary nominations list some time ago.

Now, the official list of nominations (as voted for by you) have been unveiled with Beyonce leading the music pack with 5 nominations.  However, it is chart titan Katy Perry (whose tally includes two non-musical nominations) who is the night’s most mentioned name with a whopping 7 nods!

Get familiar with the full list of nominations below…

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Some time ago, news of a brand spanking new album from the performer Mary J. Blige generated mass excitement within her fan base who have waited some time to hear fresh material from the star. Now the release date of the LP, which is named ‘My Life 2′, has been confirmed.

Arriving a lot sooner than many had previously  believed it would.

Find out when below…

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Comedian/‘DJ Play a Love Song’ singer Jamie Foxx joins an already illustrious list of performers set to honor King of Pop Michael Jackson at the ‘Michael Forever’ tribute in October. The actor’s addition comes as one of many headlines surrounding the event today.  Aside from sister Janet Jackson‘s recent announcement of a planned absence from the event as well as other familial opposition, now fans (who have already purchased tickets) are globally voicing disappointment in the event’s recently announced ticket price slash.

Additionally, the web was set abuzz earlier today with reports that mommy-to-be Beyonce cancelled her via satellite performance at the tribute.  However, reps for the ‘Sweet Dreams’ singer have since slammed such reports.

Ne-Yo, Christina Aguilera, and Smokey Robinson are just a few of the other noted musicians tapped to tribute the ‘Thriller’ singer.

Your thoughts?

One rolling stone met another when The Dream recently sat down with the popular magazine following the release of his free LP ‘1977’.  While the Hip Hop hitmaker is said to be readying a free followup to that LP, he dished with Rolling Stone about his latests –  ‘Love King IV’, label drama, and love.  All of the aforementioned, Dream says, will be explored on his upcoming studio work.

As always, addressing ex-wife Christina Milian also made its way into conversation.  See what the ‘Single Ladies’ craftsman had to say these topics and Beyonce’s pregnancy announcement after the jump:

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Katy Perry may be living her ‘Teenage Dream’, but now she’s inviting fans in for the ride.  The ‘Hot N’ Cold’ songstress has documented her trek on the hotly-selling ‘The California Dreams Tour’, highlighting her favorite spots all over the country. And, while the diva still has quite a few stops to make on journey, fans can see the fun, fashion, and faces behind the scenes on these backstage videos.

See Mrs. Brand behind the madness after the jump:

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All of the monarchs of the music industry are resting securely on cemented thrones.  We have an undisputed Queen of Soul, King of Rock n’ Roll, King of R&B, and of course, a King of Pop.  Even though such title was initially self-proclaimed, there was no denying its delegation.  Interestingly, there is a vacancy on that list…the queen’s chair sits ostensibly empty.  And though many may vie and eye the throne, no woman has boldly professed herself as such (unlike her male counterpart).  So, it begs the question:  Who is the Queen of Pop?   While there are candidates many-a-fan would crown as such, there has been no definitively, unquestioned female pop potentate. And then…

In an age where the merit of ‘pop royalty’ is defined by fly-by-night radio hits and digital downloads, famed music magazine Rolling Stone developed an index of criteria to best crown the genre’s new queen.  For anyone who has been alive for the last three years (inhabitants of the animal kingdom included), it was a no brainer that Lady Gaga would be enthroned the genre’s reigning female monarch.  However, the list, which only included Pop’s active acts, was greeted with so much backlash it was later revised.

But, even the revision still featured Lady Gaga (a relative newcomer) above legends Mariah Carey and Celine Dion (with no mention of Janet Jackson or Whitney Houston).  While the magazine’s attempt to fill the void is applaudable, it is also laughable.  With music’s other matronly monarchs having a spate of success under their individual belts, is it really fair to say the Lady named queen would only have two albums under hers and less than 5 years in the game?

Thusly, That Grape wants to know:  what should be the criteria for determining queenship? Sales? Influence?  Awards?  If so, with so many candidates, who is the Queen[Q1] ?

That Grape Juice has chosen six leading ladies who would probably be the real contenders for the throne.  Each of the succeeding songstresses have, at minimum, 20 years experience,100 million records sold, and immeasurable influence over the industry (especially over those who decorated Rolling Stones’ list).  Did your fave make the cut?

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Rolling Stone’s newly crowned Queen of Pop, Lady GaGa put on a free mini-concert yesterday in Taiwan. Performing nine songs, including standouts from her platinum selling Born This Way LP, GaGa entertained 6,000 fans inside the Taichung Arena, while 40,000 more enjoyed the show from outside via a big screen.

Check out a few of the performances below…

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