Billboard's top music earners of 2011 have just been revealed; so if you want to know who embarked on the record-breaking tours, scored the biggest-selling albums and the most lucrative sponsorship deals, read on...
1. Taylor Swift
Earned Dh128.5 million
How? After a 2010 that saw the Back To December singer bring home Dh162 million, we were sceptical whether Ms Swift's 2011 success would match up, but her album, Speak Now, peaked at the top spot in most major international charts and her tour took her to 97 destinations from Singapore to Madrid, grossing almost Dh360 million. The singer, who was named Billboard's Woman of the Year, sold over 960,000 copies of Speak Now, and the album had more than seven million online downloads. And because the talented country sweetheart pens all her songs herself, she takes home the majority of the royalties. Kerching!
2. U2
Earned Dh115.5 million
How? The veteran Irish rockers are showing no signs of slowing down after 36 years in the bizz. Last year netted them impressive earnings thanks to their two-year 360° world tour, which saw them perform before over seven million people - a world record. With merchandise sales of over Dh180 million and over 1.4 million online downloads of their songs, even though they didn't release a single in 2011, it was a very lucrative year for the boys.
3. Kenny Chesney
Earned Dh107.3 million
How? Renée Zellweger's country star ex-husband's earnings come courtesy of over one million tickets sold for his North American tour and over 650,000 copies of his 2011 album Hemingway's Whiskey. He also has a clothing line, ringtones for download, DVDs and a lucrative sponsorship deal with Corona thanks to his co-written hit, Beer In Mexico.
4. Lady Gaga
Earned Dh91.1 million
How? It comes as no surprise that the woman who has the most Twitter followers in the world (at the time of going to press it was 21 million) is in the top five. This is mostly thanks to 12.7 million online music sales and the fact that Born This Way sold 1.1 million copies in its first week. Plus, the singer wrapped her Monster Ball world tour in May that earned Dh195.84 million in five months alone.
5. Lil Wayne
Earned Dh83.2 million
How? A stint in prison wasn't enough to keep Lil Wayne out of the top 10. His 2011 album, Tha Carter IV hit the top spot in the US chart, selling 964,000 copies in the first week alone, going on to shift 2.7 million copies throughout 2011.
6. Sade
Earned Dh58.7 million
How? When we first saw her name on the list, we thought the British R'n'B star was a mistaken entry, but with over half-a-million album sales and a 59-date world tour that brought her to Abu Dhabi and saw John Legend open for her every night in the US, she's earned her place on the list.
7. Bon Jovi
Earned Dh56.9 million
How? Jon and the guys never seem to be off the road, but their most recent trek, The Circle Tour, ended with a jaw- dropping final take of Dh954 million, accounting for the band's high position.
8. Celine Dion
Earned Dh51.1 million
How? You may be scratching your head trying to remember the last time the Canadian singer released a single (apparently it was in 2010, with Voler only charting in Belgium), but the diva's 57-performance residency at Las Vegas' 4,000-seater Colosseum at Caesar's Palace is what raked in the fils.
9. Jason Aldean
Earned Dh48.24 million
How? The third country star to hit the top 10 thanks to his fourth album, My Kind Of Party, which sold 2.4 million copies. And the album's duet with Kelly Clarkson, Don't You Wanna Stay?, sold 1.5 million copies.
10. Adele
Earned Dh46.8 million
How? "How on earth is she not higher up?" we wondered. Well, due to a severe throat condition, the singer was unable to tour, but her record sales kept her finances soaring, with album sales of over 6.7 million in 2011. Her singles sales kept her at the top of the US chart for over 13 weeks, with only three other female artists achieving this: Judy Garland, Carole King and Whitney Houston.
