31. Drake: $33 million
Revenue Streams: Arena tour, Nike endorsement, New album (4 million copies worldwide).
Canadian rapper and songwriter. First known for his role as Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation.
30. Lady Gaga: $33 million
Then made the rise as a rapper and hit it big when he signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment Label in June 2009.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: Extensive Touring
American singer and songwriter. Initially performed in theater, appearing in high school plays, and studied at CAP21 through New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts before dropping out to pursue a musical career.
29. Luke Bryan: $34 million
After being dropped from a contract with Def Jam Recordings, Gaga worked as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing. When there, Akon noticed her vocal abilities and helped her to sign a joint deal with Interscope Records and his own KonLive Distribution.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Album Sales for Crash My Party
American country singer-songwriter.
28. Muse: $34 million
Big break when signing with Capitol Records in Nashville, Tennessee in 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Extensive Touring
Seasoned British Rock Group (20 years). Formed in 1994.
27. Celine Dion: $36 million
The band consists of childhood friends Matthew Bellamy (lead vocals, lead guitar, piano, keyboards, keytar), Christopher Wolstenholme (bass guitar, vocals, keyboards) and Dominic Howard (drums, percussion, synthesisers).
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Concerts, Las Vegas residency.
Canadian singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and occasional actress. Her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record.
26. Miley Cyrus: $36 million
In 1990, she released the English-language album Unison, breaking through in North America and other English-speaking areas of the world.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: Various Unknown American singer, songwriter, and actress. Her father is country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.
25. Jennifer Lopez: $37 million
She had the main role in a Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana. She signed to Hollywood Records in 2007 and released her debut album "Meet Miley Cyrus" which went quadruple-platinum.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: American Idol Show and Live Shows
American actress, author, fashion designer, dancer, producer, singer, and songwriter. First big break was as a Fly Girl dancer on In Living Color in 1991 and then pursued acting in 1993.
24. Jason Aldean: $37 million
She jumped in to the music industry in 1999 with her debut studio album, "On the 6."
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Album Sales
American country music singer.
23. Katy Perry: $40 million
Since 2005, Jason Aldean has recorded for Broken Bow Records, a record label for which he has released six albums and twenty-one singles.
Source: Wikipedia
Streams: Endorsements and own line of fragrance, Killer Queen
American singer and songwriter.
22. Kenny Chesney: $44 million
After being dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records, she signed a deal with Capitol Records in April 2007.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: Stadium shows, Liquor brand Blue Chair Bay rum. American country music singer.
21. Elton John: $45 million
Chesney has recorded 15 albums and sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Lucrative Arena Shows English singer, songwriter, composer, pianist, record producer, and occasional actor.
20. Roger Waters: $46 million
Elton John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: The Wall Live Tour (grossed nearly half a billion dollars) English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer.
19. Rolling Stones: $47 million
In 1965, he co-founded the progressive rock band Pink Floyd with drummer Nick Mason, keyboardist Richard Wright and guitarist, singer and songwriter Syd Barrett.
Source: Wikipedia
18. Rihanna: $48 million
Stream: Touring
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: Album Sales And Touring Barbadian singer, actress, and fashion designer.
17. Michael Bublé: $51 million
Signed a contract with Def Jam Recordings after auditioning for its then-president, hip-hop producer and rapper Jay-Z.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Touring Canadian singer, songwriter and actor, who is also a naturalized Italian. His 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible reached number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, the UK Albums Chart, the U.S.
16. Pink: $52 million
Billboard 200 albums chart, the Australian ARIA Albums Chart and several European charts.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Live Shows American singer, songwriter, and actress. Rose to fame as an R&B artist with her debut solo album, Can’t Take Me Home in 2000.
15. Justin Timberlake: $57 million
Her second album in 2001, Missundaztood sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: Arena shows alongside Jay Z. Acting roles, A Restaurant and Clothing line American singer, songwriter, and actor.
14. Bruno Mars: $60 million
First known for Star Search and The All-New Mickey Mouse Club as a child he rose in popularity with the boy band NSYNC then establishing his solo career. From 2007 through 2012, Timberlake focused on his acting career.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Touring American singer, songwriter, record producer, voice actor, and choreographer.
13. Diddy: $60 million
Mars has produced songs for other artists, co-founding the production team The Smeezingtons.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Diageo’s Ciroc Vodka American rapper, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. Talent director at Uptown Records before founding Bad Boy Records in 1993.
12. Jay Z: $60 million
He signed The Notorious B.I.G. and profited from the success of the artists he signed.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: Stadium Co-Bill Tours, And Ventures D’Ussé, Armand de Brignac and Roc Nation American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs in America.
11. Taylor Swift: $64 million
In 2014, Forbes estimated Carter’s net worth at nearly $520 million. He is one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, having sold more than 100 million records, while receiving 19 Grammy Awards for his musical work.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: World Tour American singer-songwriter. At the age of 14 she signed with the independent label Big Machine Records, and became the youngest songwriter ever hired by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house.
10. Toby Keith: $65 million
The release of Swift’s self-titled debut album in 2006 established her as a country music star.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: Record Label, Mescal Line and Restaurant Chain American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor.
9. Calvin Harris: $66 million
Keith released his first four studio albums—1993’s Toby Keith, 1994’s Boomtown, 1996’s Blue Moon and 1997’s Dream Walkin’, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of Mercury Records before leaving Mercury in 1998.
Source: Wikipedia
8. Paul McCartney: $71 million
Revenue Stream: DJ Gigs and Producing hits for Rihanna and other Scottish singer, songwriter, record producer and DJ.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: World Tour Sir James Paul McCartney MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer.
7. One Direction: $75 million
Fourth member of the legendary BEATLES.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Streams: Live Shows, Pepsi commercials, No. 1 album, Midnight Memories British pop boy band based in London.
6. Justin Bieber: $80 million
They signed with Simon Cowell’s record label Syco Records after forming and finishing third in the seventh series of the British televised singing competition The X Factor in 2010.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Live Shows Canadian singer and songwriter. Discovered through his YouTube videos in 2007.
5. Bruce Springsteen: $81 million
Bieber was signed to RBMG, and then to an Island Records recording contract.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Touring American singer and songwriter. He is best known for his work with his E Street Band.
4. Bon Jovi: $82 million
His concerts from the 1970s to the present run over three hours in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Touring American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983.
3. The Eagles: $100 million
In 1986, Bon Jovi achieved widespread global recognition with their third album, Slippery When Wet. The band’s fourth album, New Jersey was equally successful in 1988.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: Touring American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner. With five number-one singles, six Grammy Awards, five American Music Awards, and six number one albums, the Eagles were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s. Hotel California is ranked 37th in Rolling Stone ‘s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and the band was ranked number 75 on the magazine’s 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
2. Beyoncé: $115 million
The Eagles are one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time, having sold more than 150 million records—100 million in the U.S. alone—including 42 million copies of Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and 32 million copies of Hotel California.
Source: Wikipedia
Revenue Stream: World Tour, Surprise album, Endorsements with Pepsi and H&M American singer, songwriter, and actress born and raised in Houston, Texas. Rose to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of R&B girl-group Destiny’s Child. Her album Dangerously in Love in 2003, established her as a solo artist worldwide; it sold 11 million copies, earned five Grammy Awards and featured the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles “Crazy in Love” and “Baby Boy”.
She has sold over 118 million records as a solo artist, and a further 60 million with Destiny’s Child, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She has won 17 Grammy Awards and is the most nominated woman in the award’s history.
Source: Wikipedia