March 12th, 2012
11:50 AM ET
Taylor Swift tops list of music's high earnersTaylor Swift apparently has some pretty deep pockets. The 22-year-old country star is at the top of Billboard's list of the 40 biggest "money makers" in music last year. According to the report, Swift brought in more cash last year than fellow singers Adele, Britney Spears and Katy Perry combined.
Billboard estimates that the six-time Grammy Award winner earned $35.7 million in the 2011 calendar year, with much of her cash coming from sales of her more-than-quadruple-platinum album Speak Now, along with its accompanying tour. That pulled in $88.5 million in the United States alone. Swift’s songwriting skills also reportedly tipped the scales greatly in her favor: She wrote all 14 songs on her third album, so she scored quite a bit in royalties as well. Last year was also an extremely good one for legendary rock band U2. They scored the No. 2 spot on the list, reportedly raking in $32.1 million courtesy of their sold-out 360 Tour. The tour yielded a whopping $736 million over the course of two years, including $50 million in merchandise sales and more than $1.4 million in digital track sales. Country star Kenny Chesney clocks in at No. 3 with $29.8 million, followed by Lady Gaga at No. 4 with $25.3 million, made up of sales from her hugely popular Monster Ball Tour, which brought in more than $51 million. Rap star Lil’ Wayne rounds out the top five with $23.1 million. He made $44.7 million in tour grosses as well as $12.3 million in digital track sales, not to mention money off projects from Young Money Entertainment artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj. Other artists landing in the top ten are: Sade (No. 6, $16.3 million), Bon Jovi (No. 7, $15.8), Celine Dion (No. 8, $14.2 million), Jason Aldean (No. 9, $13.4 million) and Adele with $13 million. Her album "21" sold 6.7 million copies last year alone.
« Previous entry'The Walking Dead' changes the rules
 |
  About this blog
Our daily cheat-sheet for breaking celebrity news, Hollywood buzz and your pop-culture obsessions.  |
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Help | Advertising Practices
This is really interesting, You're an excessively professional blogger. I have joined your feed and look ahead to in quest of more of your great post. Also, I've shared your website in my social networks
Proof that anybody can get rich and that country fans are the most idiotic in the world. What a talentless girl. Meanwhile, vets go homeless.
Hello there Taylor Swift. If you are reading this, can I get into those pants of your and shove my weener in that white hole of yours and make some babies! Call me at (510)....-.911.
P.S.
=========================================================================>
Wow, what a pathetic loser you are.
So if I buy one of her albums it will be over the top and totally unnecessary. Ok then.
Taylor Swift is the featured cover on Pickura!
http://www.pickura.com
The only song I've heard her sing is a duet along with Paula Fernandes called 'Long Live'. That was cool, a blend of Portuguese and English dance-alternative. That apart, I'm not much into Country music.
So sad when this generation makes someone like her a six time grammy winner. Sure she writes her own music but that's where her accomplishments end. She's overrated and can't sing, her style reminds me of a pre schooler and her whole essence is just so boring especially from what I've seen from concert videos. Her songs are all the same and personally I wish she would just stop...
Hopefully she will grow up a bit and mature so that she doesn't spill the sordid details of every failed relationship she has in her songs. Very childish..
Not a huge fan but of what I have seen and heard of her seems to indicate she is an ambitious, talented young lady. What ever young guy knocks her up will be set for life.
You should have left the word "talented" off your comment. If there's one thing she's not, it's talented. She can't sing for crap.
She'd do well in p0rn with a face like that. $$$$$$$
I would lick her rich feet
Taylor , if your tastes ever turn to 59 year old men with a little bit of a chubby belly would you please marry me.?
Fargo,you're like eeeewww gross and all you could totally like be my grandfather.Keep your nasty looking tee shirt on please OMG the nerve of some people.
She is very talented. Good for her!
A
Lol!
Jealous much? I thought the comments are supposed to be deem appropriate for posting! Obviously not, or else the personal responsible is sitting on his brains and needs to pull his head out and get some much needed fresh air. Some of the comments are nothing short of disgusting. CNN, step up your game.
Debbie you should add when they pull their they should immediately start licking their balls,they'll get nice and juicy.
Taylor Swift should thank Kanye West for that idiotic display that probably got her so much public and fan support.
I wonder what else she did for that little man besides model his clothing lol.
I'd like to get Taylor swiftly in the rear.
I'm glad to hear about her being the richest and stuff. Not knowing was making me all itchy and stuff. But now I know and stuff. She's rich and stuff, because she's awesome and stuff. Yay, America...and stuff.
How is that possible ? She and Justin Bieber have one thing in common: Neither can sing for crap.
She is so hot and talented.
She deserves it ... brilliant lyrics and music.
Apparently you don't get it. Taylor went to Nashville at age 11 with demo tapes and was rejected. Later, RCA signed her to a development contract at age 13 that she walked away from because RCA wouldn't let her record her own songs. Who does that ! Under a new label the first song she wrote & recorded went number 1 on both country and pop charts and she has been going ever since. All while remaining what everyone agrees is a "nice person". You can't tell me that she has not earned her stardom. As for talent; she has one of the most loyal fan bases that exists and that is why she has earned her way to the "top earning entertainer" in 2011. Apparently millions of fans like what she does !
One of the best post I have read about her you are absolutely correct. She is also very intellegent. Haters just get jealous and hate. I have said it and will say it again you know you have made it to the big time!! when you have haters!!!
I am sick of hearing how much these stars grammy winners etc. Make. I'd much rather hear about what they gave to charities.what contributions did they make to society other than their talents.How many millions did they give?how about it!
Ah dont cry!! Just cause she has worked and notice I said worked!!!! her way up the chain and is now a weathy celebrity and you seem extremely jealous. She by far donates her share to charity what about you though oh thats right you have to have a job to donate anything.
Looks like she spent most of it on her makeup.
If Swift is making $35 million a year for singing, I guess the economy is doing okay, because she couldn't do it if so many people couldn't afford to see her concerts and buy her music.
Rat face.
Obviously you just looked in the mirror and decided you had to comment on your self. Your a probably a fat ugly sk))))k
I guess pre-teens have a lot of money to blow. I only wish she could actually sing live, my daughter was so disappointed.
Well apparently you need your hearing checked because I have seen her live and she is great. In addition the song she sang at the grammy's live!!! (mean) was outstanding so I dont know what either of your problems are other than you are probably just being a troll!!!
Proof that one need not have anything that resembles a quality singing voice as long as they are cute and perky and daddy has the bucks to buy her into Nashville. Worst singing ever.
Your jealousy is totally unbecoming!!I have 35.7 million reasons and that is just last year!!that doesnt include before or so far this year that say you are dead wrong. She has more talent in her little pinky that you would have in 10 lifetimes. At its highest your talent level is scrubbing toilets so get to it and stop playing on the internet!!
Would be interested to see how much money she actually has in her bank account my guess is of the $100M between record sales and concerts if she has more than $5M bucks to her name she is lucky record labels are notorious for ripping off artists especially a young star who probably was just happy to sign a record deal and not worry about what was in the contract, they probably own her for 5 to 10 years before she can get out and make money on her own.
A wrong!!! You obviously are of limited intelligence also!! This is Taylor Swift we are talking about and I have followed her along for a few years now. This girl is smarter than the average bear and much more mature than her age would dictate. She is chairman and CEO of her company so I totally doubt very seriously she has any less that the 35.7 mill that is her salary!!
She looks like she should be on the stage at a Vietnam war protest.
Amazing how Americans will settle for mediocrity.
I'd absolutely adore her if she named her next album that: Settle For Mediocrity (love it!)
Last night I saw three teenage Italian boys called Il Volo on the PBS channel. They were amazing! True talent. How can someone like her make so much money and receive so much recognition when she can't sing? She is a cutsie little girl with a rich daddy who made it happen for her. Please bring back real music.
That is your opinion only not the opinion of the masses. She can sing just wonderfully and she gets better all the time so you can go pound salt!!! 35.7 million reasons dictate that YOU!!!obviously dont know anything at all about music so take your hating comments and go jump off the nearest cliff
Jealous of her money, ambition, and her good looks...get a freaking life bozos....
I couldnt agree more!!
Hit it I would.
Is that you, Chris Brown?
Ditto
To bad she can't sing...Martina, Carrie, and Faith...great singers.
Taylor gets all the bubblegum chewing teenage girl votes.
She's definitely not a country singer.
She gets my vote and I am 47. She is one of the best song-writers ever.
Says Dan the country music lovin', gay, christian, Republican
We know the demographic.
Be sure to thank Kanye West for all your fame and success. If it weren't for his foolish stunt that forced your popularity, you'd be a mediocre act.
She was already accepting the award genius.
Taylor has already thanked Kanya by wearing his expensive clothing.What we won't do for fame and cash.
I'm tired of every other song on the radio being sung by this twit. She's called T_wat Waffle for a reason. She preens around the stage like she has something stiff shoved up her backside, sings about things she knows NOTHING about. Look, this thing that thinks she's all that and then some dropped out of high school at 16 to pursue this career she calls singing. Not exactly something to be proud of – being a high school dropout. Twits like her would do well to finish their education FIRST, then pursue their careers later. NOT the other way around.
Entertainers like her are part of the big problem with kids dropping out of school these days. They feel if they can do it, so can I. They don't realize how lucky these people got when they were discovered. She just happen to be in the right place at the right time, sounded and looked a little bit better than someone else. Silly kids don't realize, it's better to have a high school diploma and or college degree to fall back on for a guaranteed source of income. Yes, I said guaranteed. Walmarts and fast food joints have plenty of jobs available, but you need a high school diploma or at least be in high school. That's why I see all of these wanna be singer, rapper and actors struggling on the streets with thier hands out begging for a dollar to eat.
I find it funny that she sings about love with what so many perceive as depth and understanding, yet is unable to hold onto a man for more than a date or two... is it just me or is something suspect here? How can she develop such intense feelings so fast as to write these gut wrenching 'he done me wrong' songs when she doesn't ever even get the chance for the relationships to blossom to the stage where her lyrics may become warranted?
She's a very lucky young lady and doing well for herself. I'm sure she could laugh me all the way to the bank. I just don't care for her singing style. Her songs are very juvenile. But then...she IS 22.
Nothing against her or her music, but she is earning that kind of money, REALLY? Apparently I'm too old to recognize talent!
Better her than Beiber.
I saw one of those in Wal-M*rt once and the next time I went down that isle, I could have swore that the doll had grown bigger!
She has something we all don't...musical talent. I like skinny chicks, so I also thnk she's kind of hot. I don't listen to her music, unless it's playing and I don't even realize it. She must have gone to the Liz Taylor/Michael Jackson school of "Keep your name and pictures in all of the magazines every issue and you will make tons of money" classes at college.
According to another report, Justin Beiber reported over 50Million for 2011.
Why is her hair so yucky and gross looking? I bet it smells.
like Breck and Mavericks?
I'm Taylor Swift
and I have pretty hair
I write my own songs
They all sound the same
And I have pretty hair
If you tick me off
I'll write a song about you
It will sound the same as the others
and I have pretty hair
I'm 22 going on 14
I think what I say is relevant
and I have pretty hair
no you don't. It looks all dirty like. And greasy.
Hahaha...I don't care who you are...that's funny.
An envious fan with an unoriginal username who took the time to write this. That's about as sad as it gets.
Ok....now that was funny as hellm LMAO
I'd change the name from Taylor Switft to Taylor not-so-swift.
Taylor Swift. Music's biggest fraud. She can't sing. Her producers run her off key vocals thru Auto Tune. She lyp synchs to pre recorded Auto Tune vocals.
Plus she has ugly hair.
Oh yea but I see 35.7 million reasons for your jealousy. She has more talent in her pinky fingernail than you would have have in 10 lifetimes so your just continue your hater!!! comments while those of us who actually love and adore her watch as she continues (for you unfortunately)to get bigger and bigger and better and better. So bakc to your Mcdonalds job and keep up the hating!!
Funny that Adele is considered 'talented' . Ha, she is a fat cow!
But she IS a talented fat cow.
Talent has nothing to do with body size or your misguided idea regarding image.
What does Adele's weight have to do with her talent. I happen to think she's a much, much better singer than Taylor Swift with a far stronger voice. And I also think that morons like yourself who place body image above musical talent are the reason why there's so much garbage on the radio today. You obviously have an untrained ear so can only recognize 'talent' by whether or not someone looks good to you. What an incredibly superficial, shallow human being you are!
Adele has an amazing singing voice....actual and real talent. Swift was created in a Nashville lab.
And you i d i o t s are arguing with Fore-skin here? Jokes on you.
She is a d_oo_dy
She does have n_asty looking hair. Looks like it hasn't been washed in a year. Maybe she is turning crak ho
It's meth...she doen't eat anymore.
He says as he types into his iPhone as he rides the bus to his minimum wage paying Arby's job.
You'd think she could afford a much needed vocal coach. Yikes!
AMEN TO THAT!!!! I find it so alarming that this broad is making so much money on her (ahem) "singing". There must be a ton of tone-deaf people out there going to her concerts....UGH! Maybe she should try out Carrie Underwood's, Celine's or Adele's vocal coach...those women can SING!!!
Envy isn't pretty on you, Stevie-girl.
Jennifer: Maybe she's not the best singer, but she sells a lot of records and she sure can write - and writing is where the big money in music is. So, as you clock-in at your Starbucks job, remember that this young woman is worth close to $100,000,000. And you? A fifteen-year-old Honda Civic and an iPhone?
Spot on about the vocal coach!!!!!!!!!
You guys make me laugh. A good person? LOL…..like you have intimate knowledge of that?
A good song writer? Maybe…….but mostly for her audience (young country girls and some cross over too).
A good singer? nah………maybe an okay vocalist and entertainer….maybe!
Pretty? sure!!!!
I wish I could sing and write music like her.
Taylor is not only very talented, but she's just a good human being as well.
Luis can't write a coherent sentence and so am I.
I love to knock dat up. Spit out a half black half white kid with her.
Hey ! I'm a dumb idiot ! Plus my feet smell.
There sure are a lot of dumb idiots out there.
Thank you, Admiral Obvious.
Oh, he got promoted! Good for him.
JN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
How utterly stupid.
Good luck with that......
Please post something relevant to the article rather than using the forum as a means of shoving your own religion down everyone else's throats.
Swift is on a roll! And she's finally stopped dating half of Hollywood! Her "good girl" image was an absolute joke for a while there....
Since when can't a young woman date around??? You're just assuming what went on was immoral... and according to your standards??? She's a better role than most.
What did she do to her hair? It looks like she washed it in the toilet.
That's from the Grammy Award show. She was dressed in Appalachian clothes and the set looked like a "hoedown".
An amazing accomplishment for a 22 year old. She did it without being sleezy too... AND that is all you have to say about it.. a dig about her hair??? Get out of that Comfy Chair and contribute something positive or get off the planet please.
I thought Richard Fore was gone. Where is Super Tracie ?
I was busy banging your mom and having her lick my balls!
She is doing so much better than your stupid a*s
Thanks White Woman : )
Good for Taylor, She is an amazing young woman.
A good ball player too. I think she'll be a shoe in at the football hall of fame.
Taylor Swift is a tremendous football player. I don't see why the article doesn't mention his prowess on the field as a pro running back.
He is quite good. I love to watch him mow the bush.
ugh.
Yeah. Why is her hair so ugly. She has a goofy looking face. At least she should try to fix up her hair and wear some decent clothes.
Her music is really good so it's no shock to me that she is one of the top money makers in music.
Pedro, your envy is so sad. Her hair? That's the best you could do?
Good thing the only time I lhave to ook at her is when I see the back of her head, know what I mean?
Highest Paid Radio Duo