This year's Billboard Top Money Makers took me by surprise. Well, comparing the list from last year, I was actually expecting to see more singers from today like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. However, the list this year went the other way around because the top five money makers were musicians from the Music's golden era and they rose to fame during the late 60's and 80's (except for Chesney who has been embracing himself in the Money Makers list for consecutive years). So here's the top five among the 40 musicians listed by Billboard and hailed as this year's Top Money Makers.
TOP FIVE HIGHEST PAID MUSICIANS OF 2013 (BILLBOARD)
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TOP 5 HIGHEST PAID MUSICIAN OF 2013
"KENNY CHESNEY"
He is indeed a country superstar (I prefer to hear Tim Mcgraw and Keith Urban though or even Brad Paisely ). He has been in the annual list of Billboard for consecutive years and it is good enough to prove that this guy truly has the guts. Most of his songs are truly inspirational just like every Country singer does and I love his "Who You'd be Today" and "Boys of Fall" the most.Chesney released his thirteenth studio album, Welcome to the Fishbowl which includes a duet with Tim Mcgraw ("Feel Like a Rock Star" in particular)which is also the second-highest debuting country song since the Billboard charts were first tabulated. Apart from his album , Chesney's tour and concerts made a big contribution to his earnings ranging to $19,148,525.24 . Not to mention the impressive amount of digital downloads that he gained.
TOP 4 HIGHEST PAID MUSICIAN OF 2013
"VAN HALEN"
Here comes a band who rose to fame during the early 70s. The band features guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony. Record wise,Van Halen is one of only five rock bands that have had two albums sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S. They also had the most #1 hits in the history of Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. The group was disbanded and eventually reunited introducing Wolfgang Van Halen as their new bassist. They also released their 12th studio album last year entitled " A Different Kind of Truth" and it is followed by successful tours which helped them earn an overwhelming amount of $20,184,709.91.
TOP 3 HIGHEST PAID MUSICIAN OF 2013
"ROGER WATERS"
You probably know him more as Pink Floyd member. Waters managed to regain his career through a series of concerts. For the first half of 2012, Waters' tour topped worldwide concert ticket sales having sold more than 1.4 million tickets globally. In 2010, he began The Wall Live, a worldwide tour that features a complete performance of The Wall. The tour finished as the fifth-highest-grossing of all time, with a total gross of $377,895,537 and total attendance of 3.3 million from 192 shows worldwide. Not a Pink Floyd fan but among their hits, I adore "The Comfortably Numb" the most. Roger Waters earned $21,160,131.06 for the past 12 months.
You probably know him more as Pink Floyd member. Waters managed to regain his career through a series of concerts. For the first half of 2012, Waters' tour topped worldwide concert ticket sales having sold more than 1.4 million tickets globally. In 2010, he began The Wall Live, a worldwide tour that features a complete performance of The Wall. The tour finished as the fifth-highest-grossing of all time, with a total gross of $377,895,537 and total attendance of 3.3 million from 192 shows worldwide. Not a Pink Floyd fan but among their hits, I adore "The Comfortably Numb" the most. Roger Waters earned $21,160,131.06 for the past 12 months.
TOP 2 HIGHEST PAID MUSICIAN OF 2013
"BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN"
Springsteen has sold more than 65 million albums in the United States and more than 120 million worldwide in his career.Springsteen's 17th studio album, Wrecking Ball, was released on March 6, 2012. The album consists of eleven tracks plus two bonus tracks. Three songs previously only available as live versions, "Wrecking Ball", "Land of Hope and Dreams," and "American Land," appear on the album. He was also reunited with his former E Street Band and did several tours with them. Wrecking Ball became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the United States tying him with Elvis Presley for third most No. 1 albums of all-time. The album surprisingly knocked out Adele's 21 Album on the Billbopard charts. All these success gave Springsteen an impressive $33,443,606.64 earnings for the past 12 months.
THE HIGHEST PAID MUSICIAN OF 2013
"MADONNA"
Source: Billboard Top 40 Money Makers 2013
If there is one musician here who knows how to reinvent her image over the years, it is definitely Madonna. It is so impressive how she managed to stay in the limelight despite of her age. Her craft is truly dynamic and I am not surprised to see her name here after her successful MDNA tour. Her twelfth studio album, MDNA, was released in March 2012. The album was well received by music critics. The lead single "Give Me All Your Luvin'", featuring guest vocals from Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., became Madonna's record-extending 38th top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Madonna earned $34,577,308.62.
Source: Billboard Top 40 Money Makers 2013