HIghest-earning musician

[Redlight]

OK - who do you think was the highest earning musician in the world last year?

I bet you're wrong...

(click to show/hide)

https://en.mediamass.net/people/garth-hudson/highest-paid.html

[hubner]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2019/12/06/the-worlds-top-earning-musicians-of-2019/

To determine our rankings, we consider income from touring, music and outside business ventures with the help of Pollstar, Nielsen Music and interviews with industry insiders including many of the stars themselves. Our list measures pretax earnings and does not deduct fees for agents, managers or lawyers.

THE WORLD’S TOP-EARNING MUSICIANS 2019

1. Taylor Swift – $185 million
2. Kanye West – $150 million
3. Ed Sheeran – $110 million
4. The Eagles – $100 million
5. Elton John – $84 million
6. Jay-Z – $81 million (tie)
6. Beyoncé – $81 million (tie)
8. Drake – $75 million
9. Diddy – $70 million
10. Metallica – $68.5 million
11. Rihanna – $62 million
12. Travis Scott – $58 million
13. Justin Timberlake – $57.5 million (tie)
13. Katy Perry – $57.5 million (tie)
15. Pink – $57 million (tie)
15. BTS – $57 million (tie)
17. Billy Joel – $52 million
18. Bruno Mars – $51 million
19. Jimmy Buffett – $50 million (tie)
19. Eminem – $50 million (tie)
21. Fleetwood Mac – $49 million
22. Paul McCartney – $48 million (tie)
22. Ariana Grande – £48 million (tie)
24. The Chainsmokers – $46 million
25. Guns N’ Roses – $44 million
26. Jennifer Lopez – $43 million
27. Luke Bryan – $42.5 million
28. Rolling Stones – $41 million
29. The Weeknd – £40 million (tie)
29. Marshmello – $40 million (tie)
29. DJ Khaled – $40 million (tie)
32. Lady Gaga – $39.5 million
33. Dave Matthews Band – $39 million
34. Calvin Harris – $38.5 million (tie)
34. Kendrick Lamar – $38.5 million (tie)
35. Zac Brown Band – $38.5 million (tie)
37. Shawn Mendes – $38 million
38. Celine Dion – $37.5 million
39. U2 – $37 million
40. Migos – $36 million

[Redlight]

Whoops - within minutes of my original post, a disclaimer has appeared on the original story, suggesting that it's false.

[Peter]

Before people get hysterical about these lists being a reflection of music sales and public taste, an awful lot of the people on this list have smart investors.  For example, Jimmy Buffet who is a great performer of average songs with a whopping 3 chart successes to his name, makes his money out of restaurant chains, not his songs.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Whoops - within minutes of my original post, a disclaimer has appeared on the original story, suggesting that it's false.

It does read like a piss-take. But assuming it's true, it simply illustrates the difference between "a musician who is rich" and "someone who earns a lot of money from making music".

[mattc]

Before people get hysterical about these lists being a reflection of music sales and public taste, an awful lot of the people on this list have smart investors.  For example, Jimmy Buffet who is a great performer of average songs with a whopping 3 chart successes to his name, makes his money out of restaurant chains, not his songs.

just so we're clear, is that just a rather long-winded pun?

[rogerzilla]

I've never understood Ed Sheeran's popularity.  Does he just offend the fewest people?

[hubner]

Before people get hysterical about these lists being a reflection of music sales and public taste, an awful lot of the people on this list have smart investors.  For example, Jimmy Buffet who is a great performer of average songs with a whopping 3 chart successes to his name, makes his money out of restaurant chains, not his songs.

His dad's name must be Warren.

[Peter]

Before people get hysterical about these lists being a reflection of music sales and public taste, an awful lot of the people on this list have smart investors.  For example, Jimmy Buffet who is a great performer of average songs with a whopping 3 chart successes to his name, makes his money out of restaurant chains, not his songs.

just so we're clear, is that just a rather long-winded pun?

Now you mention it....!

[ian]

I've never understood Ed Sheeran's popularity.  Does he just offend the fewest people?

Me neither, and I think you're right, it's the Coldplay thing. He's the sort of thing David Cameron would fire up if wanted to be down with the youth.

Mind you, I can't stand Billie Eilish either, which also seems to be the manufactured edginess for people who want you know they're too edgy to be associated with Ed Sheeran.

[T42]

Meanwhile: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43976334

Nearly half of the UK's classical musicians don't earn enough to live on

[Wowbagger]

I suspect that there's a discussion to be had about the precise meaning of the words "earning" and "musician". 

[T42]

 

[spesh]

I've never understood Ed Sheeran's popularity.  Does he just offend the fewest people?

People pretend to like him in an attempt to assuage the guilt they feel over their gingerphobia?

[Redlight]

I suspect that there's a discussion to be had about the precise meaning of the words "earning" and "musician". 

I take some elitist comfort in the fact that I have never even heard of (let alone heard) more than 40% of that list.