Forbes' dropped a new list on Friday (July 16), the top earning musicians, which is comprised of a list of acts who've been around for years.
The list consists of artists' earnings from June 2009 to June 2010. Atop the ranks rock band U2 who earned a reported $130 million, thanks to its massive 360 tour, while AC/DC came in right behind them with $114 million through touring.
The list's highest-earning female was Beyoncé at the no. 3 spot. The mag said the pop superstar banked a staggering $87 million through major endorsement deals with Nintendo and L'Oreal, as well as her House of Dereon fashion line and world tour.
Her hubby, Jay-Z, landed at no. 6 on the list, and the highest-earning hip-hop act thanks to the release of Blueprint 3 and its corresponding tour, which reportedly earned more than $1 per concert this year. His earnings were $63 million.
Other major artists on the list included Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, country singers Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith, Coldplay, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen.
Closing out the list, tying with Coldplay and Toby Keith at no. 10 was the hip-hop group, the Black Eyed Peas. Their estimated earnings were $48 million, thanks to a worldwide tour where they earned around $800,000 a night. They've also inked endorsement deals with Target, Honda, Bacardi and
For the full rundown, check out the list at Forbes.com.
Below are the rankings:
1 - U2 ($130 million)
2 - AC/DC ($114 million)
3 - Beyoncé ($87 million)
4 - Bruce Springsteen ($70 million)
5 - Britney Spears ($64 million)
6 - Jay-Z ($63 million)
7 - Lady Gaga ($62 million)
8 - Madonna ($58 million)
9 - Kenny Chesney ($50 million)
10 - Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay and Toby Keith ($48 million)
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