Taylor Swift Leads List Of World's 15 Highest-Paid Musicians

By on May 17, 2016 in ArticlesMusic News

The latest list of the highest-paid musicians is out, and with all due respect to Beyoncé and her very loyal BeyHive, it is Taylor Swift's world. Bow down to Queen Taylor and her girl squad of Swifties. Basically, Taylor Swift has more money than God. Swift made $73.5 million last year. The number two highest-paid musician, Kenny Chesney, netted – only – $39.8 million.

Swift made $61.7 million from touring during her epic 1989 world tour, $4.1 million in publishing royalties – due in no small part to Ryan Adams' brilliant reinterpretation of 1989, and $7.2 million in album sales. The 1989 world tour included cameo appearances by Mick Jagger, Julia Roberts, Joan Baez, and others. The 1989 tour was Swift's fourth tour and it played 85 shows worldwide from May 5th to December 12th, 2015.  The tour is Swift's highest-grossing, with more than $250.7 million in revenue. It was also her most-attended. Swift played to 2,278,647 fans across the globe.

Kenny Chesney nabbed the second spot on the list of the best-paid. His $39.8 million haul is due in large part to his The Big Revival tour, which accounts for $38.1 of his yearly salary.

Adele is the only person in the top 10 who did not tour and still made big money. By and large, to bring in the big bucks in the music industry today, you have to go on the road.

Let's take a look at the 15 highest-paid musicians of the past year and how much they made touring, publishing, streaming, and selling records.

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

#15: Elton John

Total Revenue: $12.4 million

Touring: $11.4 million

Publishing: $189,300

Streaming: $250,60

Album Sales: $614,200

Net Worth: $475 million

#14: Madonna

Total Revenue: $12.7 million

Touring: $11.4 million

Publishing: $237,500

Streaming: $286,100

Album Sales: $778,500

Net Worth: $800 million

#13: Dave Matthews Band

Total Revenue: $14.1 million

Touring: $13.3 million

Publishing: $215,900

Streaming: $271,100

Album Sales: $310,600

Dave Matthews Net Worth: $300 million

#12: Shania Twain

Total Revenue: $14.4 million

Touring: $13.8 million

Publishing: $82,600

Streaming: $112,100

Album Sales: $412,200

Net Worth: $370 million

#11: Jason Aldean

Total Revenue: $18.9 million

Touring: $17.1 million

Publishing: $23,500

Streaming: $161,500

Album Sales: $1.6 million

Net Worth: $60 million

#10: Maroon 5

Total Revenue: $19.2 million

Touring: $13.0 million

Publishing: $2.6 million

Streaming: $796,400

Album Sales: $2.7 million

Adam Levine Net Worth: $60 million

#9: Adele

Total Revenue: $20.5 million

Touring: $0

Publishing: $3.7 million

Streaming: $488,000

Album Sales: $16.3 million

Net Worth: $125 million

#8: U2

Total Revenue: $21.8 million

Touring: $20.6 million

Publishing: $383,800

Streaming: $289,400

Album Sales: $465,800

Bono Net Worth: $700 million

#7: Luke Bryan

Total Revenue: $23.1 million

Touring: $17.9 million

Publishing: $694,900

Streaming: $511,500

Album Sales: $4 million

Net Worth: $47 million

#6: Grateful Dead/Dead & Company

Total Revenue: $23.8 million

Touring: $22.5 million

Publishing: $275,500

Streaming: $114,800

Album Sales: $843,300

John Mayer Net Worth: $40 million

#5: One Direction

Total Revenue: $24.2 million

Touring: $19.6 million

Publishing: $652,700

Streaming: $891,800

Album Sales: $3.1 million

Harry Styles Net Worth: $50 million

#4: Billy Joel

Total Revenue: $31.7 million

Touring: $30.1 million

Publishing: $453,200

Streaming: $339,400

Album Sales: $801,200

Net Worth: $180 million

#3: The Rolling Stones

Total Revenue: $39.6 million

Touring: $37.3 million

Publishing: $509,100

Streaming: $382,600

Album Sales: $1.4 million

Mick Jagger Net Worth: $360 million

#2: Kenny Chesney

Total Revenue: $39.8 million

Touring: $38.1 million

Publishing: $313,200

Streaming: $239,600

Album Sales: $1.1 million

Net Worth: $135 million

#1: Taylor Swift

Total Revenue: $73.5 million

Touring: $61.7 million

Publishing: $4.1 million

Streaming: $564,000

Album Sales: $7.2 million

Net Worth: $280 million

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