Top 7 Earners in Music for 2015

Not surprisingly, Taylor Swift tops the list by a long shot
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted May 6, 2016 12:20 PM CDT
Top 7 Earners in Music for 2015
Taylor Swift performs at the 58th annual Grammy Awards on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

Which musicians are raking in the most dough? Billboard looked at 2015 revenue from music sales, streaming, publishing, and revenue (so, not counting money made from merchandising or sponsorships) to come up with the 40 highest-paid musicians of that year. The top seven:

  1. Taylor Swift: $73.5 million, $61.7 million of it from touring
  2. Kenny Chesney: $39.8 million, $38.1 million of it from touring
  3. The Rolling Stones: $39.6 million, $37.3 million of it from touring
  4. Billy Joel: $31.7 million, $30.1 million of it from touring
  5. One Direction: $24.2 million, $19.6 million of it from touring

  1. Grateful Dead (Dead & Company): $23.8 million, $22.5 million of it from touring
  2. Luke Bryan: $23.1 million, $17.9 million of it from touring
Click for the full list. (More Taylor Swift stories.)

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