Forbes released their list of the World’s Highest Paid Women in Music for 2017 and it is filled with the usual suspects of our female stars.
Forbes compiled the list after estimating the pretax income for 12 months from June 2016 t0 June 2017, based on interviews with managers, lawyers and some of the stars themselves. It also looked at data from the Pollstar, the Recording Industry Association of America and tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan.
Can you guess which songstress made the top spot?
We’ll give you a hint, it wasn’t Taylor Swift – who was the highest paid woman last year – and who has now slipped down the ranks to third position after pulling in $44 million pretax from June 2016 until June 2017.
However she’ll no doubt be in the running for top spot again next year, as her new album release Reputation is already the best-selling album of 2017, meaning her earnings are steadily on the rise.
The top spot was in fact awarded to the ultimate superstar Beyonce. The R&B singer earned some $105 million from record sales from her album Lemonade as well as from sales from her Formation concert tour. She also has her own Ivy Park fashion line and other business interests, according to Forbes.
Adele, whose album 25 broke first-week US sales records in 2015 and who completed her first major tour since 2011, made second place with an estimated $69 million, despite having no major endorsements for other products.
The number 4 spot is held by Canadian superstar Celine Dion, who earned $42 million dollars for the period June 2016 to June 2017 after taking a break from her Las Vegas residency show.
Jennifer Lopez rounded off the top five with $38 million, which she made through her gigs in Las Vegas and her new show ‘World of Dance’, which she produces and judges.
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However, earning double-digit millions does not guarantee a spot on the list, as proven by near-misses Madonna and Ariana Grande. Also notably missing are Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez, but they are expected to be back in the running next year due to a successful 12 months.
The Top 10 Forbes Highest Paid Women in Music for 2017:
1. Beyoncé – $105 million
2. Adele – $69 million
3. Taylor Swift – $44 million
4. Celine Dion – $42 million
5. Jennifer Lopez – $38 million
6. Dolly Parton – $37 million
7. Rihanna – $36 million
8. Britney Spears – $34 million
9. Katy Perry – $33 million
10. Barbra Streisand – $30 million
AUTHOR: Farah Khalfe
PHOTO CREDIT: Bang Showbiz