Taylor Swift is No. 1 again: The singer is the top act on Billboard’s just-released Top 40 Money Makers list for last year.
Swift earned more than $35.7 million, 17 percent more than the take-home pay of last year’s top-earner, Lady Gaga. U2 was second with $32 million. Artists’ rankings were based on U.S. income sources from tours, albums sales and publishing royalties.
Adele took the No. 10 spot on the list. Though she canceled most of her U.S. tour because of issues with her vocal cords, her “21” sold more than 5 million units in 2011. Country artists had a banner year, occupying 11 of the 40 slots on the list, including Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley. Among the other names that made the Top 40 list: Katy Perry, Journey, the Glee cast, Sade, Britney Spears, Bob Seger, Elton John and Motley Crue.
Billboard’s top ten and the earnings.
1. Taylor Swift — $35.7 million
2. U2 — $32.1 million
3. Kenny Chesney — $29.8 million
4. Lady Gaga — $25.3 million
5. Lil Wayne — $23.1 million
6. sade — $16.3 million
7. Bon Jovi — $15.8 million
8. Celine Dion — $14.2 million
9. Jason Aldean — $13.4 million
10. Adele — $13 million
Gannett News Service
