Billboard released the latest list of biggest music money makers of 2012. It is as not as surprising from their last year's ranking since you'll be seeing the same people in their newest list. You can also check our TOP Five last year listed by Forbes Magazine here.
Anyway, here's Top Five Biggest Music Money Maker from Billboard's Top 40 Money Makers of 2012.
TOP FIVE BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKERS OF 2012
TOP 5 BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"LIL WAYNE"
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (born September 27, 1982), better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper.Lil Wayne gained most of his success with the group's major selling album Guerrilla Warfare, released in 1999. Also in 1999, Lil Wayne released his Platinum debut album Tha Block Is Hot, selling over one million copies in the U.S. His most successful album, Tha Carter III, was released in 2008 and sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. its first week of release. His newest album "Carter IV" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 964,000 copies sold in its first week, making it Lil Wayne's third chart topping album of his career. Wayne also moved 12.3 million digital tracks, driven by Hot 100 top 10s like "6 Foot, 7 Foot" and "She Will," and continued to prove himself on the road. His I Am Still Music tour grossed $44.7 million from 67 shows and 695,291 tickets sold.
TOP 4 BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"LADY GAGA"
Lady Gaga came to prominence as a recording artist following the release of her debut album The Fame (2008), which was a critical and commercial success that topped charts around the world and included the international number-one singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". Born This Way sold 1.1 million units during its first week, marking the biggest single sales frame for an album release in 2011. Combined with her previous sets The Fame and The Fame Monster, Gaga moved 2.8 million albums last year. Meanwhile, Born This Way spawned four singles that all reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and helped the singer move 12.7 million digital tracks. Despite holding off on another traditional tour when her 19-month Monster Ball trek wrapped last May, Gaga's Boxscore revenue equaled $51.4 million in 2011, after reaping $70.4 million the year before. Expect Born This Way to keep delivering in 2012, with the Born This Way Ball ready to roll overseas in April.
TOP 3 BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"KENNY CHESNEY"
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. Kenny Chesney rejuvenated himself by taking time off from touring in 2010, and fans responded by turning out in record numbers to see him last year. As with most leading country live acts, Chesney also sells a healthy amount of recordings while touring: more than 650,000 physical album units (buoyed by hit-laden 2010 album Hemingway's Whiskey) and 4.3 million-plus digital tracks. Chesney's fans worship his romantic, hard-drinking lifestyle, so he derives additional revenue streams from various merchandise, a laid-back clothing line, ringtones, DVDs and even a sponsorship deal with the beverage firm that makes Corona.
TOP 2 BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"U2"
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion). U2 have released 12 studio albums and are among the all-time best-selling music artists, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. U2 also sold a significant amount of recorded content, including 1.4 million digital tracks, since the tour drew fans' attention to catalog favorites. Combining digital and physical units, however, U2 moved the least number of albums among the top 10 Money Makers. Today's music business is all about the live thing, and U2 stands high on the mountaintop in that regard.
THE BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"TAYLOR SWIFT"
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress. Fearless and Taylor Swift finished 2008 at number-three and number-six respectively, with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million.Swift released her third album Speak Now on October 25, 2010, which sold 1,047,000 copies in its first week. From this album, her song "Mean" was awarded Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards. Her Speak Now album and its accompanying tour was a smash, which jetted through Asia and Europe in addition to making its way across North America. Grossing $88.5 million in the U.S. alone, the tour netted Swift a remarkable $29.8 million. Honored as Billboard's Woman of the Year in December, she racked up U.S. album sales of 1.8 million units last year-led by booming business for late 2010's Speak Now, which sold 967,000 units and digital single track sales of 7.8 million.
Anyway, here's Top Five Biggest Music Money Maker from Billboard's Top 40 Money Makers of 2012.
TOP FIVE BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKERS OF 2012
TOP 5 BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"LIL WAYNE"
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (born September 27, 1982), better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper.Lil Wayne gained most of his success with the group's major selling album Guerrilla Warfare, released in 1999. Also in 1999, Lil Wayne released his Platinum debut album Tha Block Is Hot, selling over one million copies in the U.S. His most successful album, Tha Carter III, was released in 2008 and sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. its first week of release. His newest album "Carter IV" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 964,000 copies sold in its first week, making it Lil Wayne's third chart topping album of his career. Wayne also moved 12.3 million digital tracks, driven by Hot 100 top 10s like "6 Foot, 7 Foot" and "She Will," and continued to prove himself on the road. His I Am Still Music tour grossed $44.7 million from 67 shows and 695,291 tickets sold.TOP 4 BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"LADY GAGA"
Lady Gaga came to prominence as a recording artist following the release of her debut album The Fame (2008), which was a critical and commercial success that topped charts around the world and included the international number-one singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". Born This Way sold 1.1 million units during its first week, marking the biggest single sales frame for an album release in 2011. Combined with her previous sets The Fame and The Fame Monster, Gaga moved 2.8 million albums last year. Meanwhile, Born This Way spawned four singles that all reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and helped the singer move 12.7 million digital tracks. Despite holding off on another traditional tour when her 19-month Monster Ball trek wrapped last May, Gaga's Boxscore revenue equaled $51.4 million in 2011, after reaping $70.4 million the year before. Expect Born This Way to keep delivering in 2012, with the Born This Way Ball ready to roll overseas in April.TOP 3 BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"KENNY CHESNEY"
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. Kenny Chesney rejuvenated himself by taking time off from touring in 2010, and fans responded by turning out in record numbers to see him last year. As with most leading country live acts, Chesney also sells a healthy amount of recordings while touring: more than 650,000 physical album units (buoyed by hit-laden 2010 album Hemingway's Whiskey) and 4.3 million-plus digital tracks. Chesney's fans worship his romantic, hard-drinking lifestyle, so he derives additional revenue streams from various merchandise, a laid-back clothing line, ringtones, DVDs and even a sponsorship deal with the beverage firm that makes Corona.TOP 2 BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"U2"
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion). U2 have released 12 studio albums and are among the all-time best-selling music artists, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and in 2005, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. U2 also sold a significant amount of recorded content, including 1.4 million digital tracks, since the tour drew fans' attention to catalog favorites. Combining digital and physical units, however, U2 moved the least number of albums among the top 10 Money Makers. Today's music business is all about the live thing, and U2 stands high on the mountaintop in that regard.THE BIGGEST MUSIC MONEY MAKER OF TOP 2012
"TAYLOR SWIFT"
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress. Fearless and Taylor Swift finished 2008 at number-three and number-six respectively, with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million.Swift released her third album Speak Now on October 25, 2010, which sold 1,047,000 copies in its first week. From this album, her song "Mean" was awarded Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards. Her Speak Now album and its accompanying tour was a smash, which jetted through Asia and Europe in addition to making its way across North America. Grossing $88.5 million in the U.S. alone, the tour netted Swift a remarkable $29.8 million. Honored as Billboard's Woman of the Year in December, she racked up U.S. album sales of 1.8 million units last year-led by booming business for late 2010's Speak Now, which sold 967,000 units and digital single track sales of 7.8 million.
