The Barbados-born singer grossed $1 million per night in 38 shows over the past 12 months; added more with strong sales of new album Loud, digital singles and endorsements with CoverGirl, Secret and others.
24. Kenny Chesney ($30 million)
The sexiness of his tractor aside, Chesney has a lot to sing about this year. He grossed nearly $40 million on 24 shows in support of his new album, Hemingway’s Whiskey.
23. Rascal Flatts ($34 million)
The country stars grossed $45 million on 61 shows over the past 12 months, adding to their coffers with heavy radio play and endorsements from JC Penny and others.
18. Muse ($35 million, tie)
The Britain-based rock group grossed $76 million on 63 shows in the last year and has landed songs on all three Twilight soundtracks--leading bassist Chris Wolstenholme to say: "You have to take every opportunity ... and sometimes you have to sell your soul."
18. Tim McGraw ($35 million, tie)
A jack of all trades, McGraw made big bucks in 2010 despite his label's decision to delay his new album. In addition to a lucrative tour, McGraw starred in Country Strong with Gwyneth Paltrow and his line of cologne is among the best selling celebrity scents.
18. Beyoncé Knowles ($35 million, tie)
The Houston-born diva ranks unusually low on our list because she didn't tour or release an album this year. In the absence of new music revenue, business-focused Beyoncé cashes in on clothing line Dereon and endorsement deals with L'Oreal, DirecTV, General Mills and others. For more on the business of Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z, check out Zack’s new book Empire State of Mind.
18. Sean "Diddy" Combs ($35 million, tie)
Music now accounts for less than 20% of earnings for the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy, thanks to big stakes in clothing lines Sean John and Enyce, record label Bad Boy and marketing firm Blue Flame. But it's his Ciroc vodka deal that led Forbes to estimate his net worth at $475 million. Under terms he struck with beverage giant Diageo, Diddy gets an annual cut of profits plus a big piece of the pie (likely nine figures) if Ciroc is ever sold.
18. AC/DC ($35 million, tie)
Scotland-born and Australia-bred, AC/DC continued to shake audiences all night long, grossing nearly $60 million on the road.
17. Jay-Z ($37 million)
The Empire State of Mind rapper out-earned wife Beyoncé for the first time since their 2008 nuptials, thanks revenues from the tail end of a world tour, endorsements and a broad portfolio of business interests. For more, check out Zack’s business-focused biography of Jay-Z.
16. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers ($38 million)
Some acts seem to have an infinite shelf life on the road, and Tom Petty is one of them--the bulk of the band's annual take comes from 46 dates over the past 12 months.
15. Brad Paisley ($40 million)
Country star had a banner year, thanks to strong touring backed by sponsorships from Chevy, Skinny Water, and Sea Ray boats.
14. Katy Perry ($44 million)
Perry's album Teenage Dream is one of nine in history to boast four chart-topping singles. No stranger to business, Perry shills for Proactiv, Adidas and Ubisoft, and has her own perfume line, Purr.
13. Taylor Swift ($45 million)
Country or pop? Either way, there's no question that Swift is a moneymaking machine: new album Speak Now was certified triple-platinum barely a month after its October release; touring grosses some $750,000 per night.
12. Usher ($46 million)
The R&B crooner credited with discovering Justin Bieber had quite a year himself, playing a lucrative concert tour to support his extended play album Versus while picking up a pair of Grammy awards.
11. Toby Keith ($50 million)
It’s not just music that makes money for this country star: Keith also profits from an endorsement deal with Ford, a mezcal line and a restaurant chain called I Love This Bar And Grill.
10. Dave Matthews Band ($51 million)
Still touring after the success of 2009’s Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, the band grossed over $1 million per night over the course of 68 shows in the past 12 months.
9. Justin Bieber ($53 million)
At age 17, Bieber is the youngest on the list, raking in cash from an international tour, new album, biopic Never Say Never and even a perfume line.
8. The Eagles ($60 million)
The ageless rockers continue to take it to the limit -- especially on the road, where they make the bulk of their money.
7. The Black Eyed Peas ($61 million)
The business-friendly rockers grossed $68 million on 62 shows around the world over the past 12 months and added to their coffers with lucrative endorsement deals with Samsung, Pepsi, Honda, Verizon, Chase and others.
6. Paul McCartney ($67 million)
The former Beatle could just sit back and collect checks -- he's the most commercially successful songwriter in the history of popular music, according to Guinness World Records -- but the road beckons. McCartney grossed $130 million on a mere 30 shows over the past 12 months.
5. Michael Bublé ($70 million)
The Canadian crooner rode a lucrative concert tour, heavy radio play and strong album sales all the way to a spot among music’s top five earners.
4. Lady Gaga ($90 million)
The Queen Monster grossed $170 million on 137 shows in 22 countries over the past 12 months. Though high production costs significantly reduced that sum, Gaga rakes in additional cash for heavy radio play, recorded music sales and endorsement deals from Polaroid, Virgin Mobile, Monster Cable, Viva Glam and others.
3. Elton John ($100 million)
Sir Elton has sold 250 million records worldwide over the past 30 years and isn't slowing down, grossing $204 million on 102 live shows in the past 12 months. The Rocket Man still has time for family. With partner David Furnish, he welcomed surrogate son Zachary in 2010; Lady Gaga is the tyke's godmother.
2. Bon Jovi ($125 million)
Who says you can't go home? Bon Jovi opened New Jersey's New Meadowlands Stadium with three consecutive sold out concerts last May and another in July. The band grossed $200 million playing 74 shows over the past 12 months and released a greatest hits album. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi was named to the White House Council for Community Solutions by President Obama.
1. U2 ($195 million)
The ageless rockers are wrapping up the most lucrative tour in the history of music: By the time U2's two-year trek ends this summer, the band will have sold $700 million worth of tickets over two years and played to more than 7 million people.
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