The latest list of the highest-paid musicians is out and the BeyHive is rejoicing as it is their Queen who rules supreme as the biggest money maker of 2016 with an astounding $62.1 million in sales, steaming, publishing, and touring revenue. Beyoncé's 2016 haul is a full 20 million more than the #2 earners. The bulk of Beyoncé's payday came from her Formation World Tour, which was in support of Lemonade, her sixth studio album. The Formation World Tour grossed $161 million in ticket revenue on 32 North American stadium dates.
Coming in second is vintage rock group Guns 'n Roses. Their $42.3 million take started with a secret show at Los Angeles club Troubadour. That tour is Axl and the gang's highest grossing tour to date and it is still going on.
The Boss came in third with $42.2 million in 2016. Bruce Springsteen also has the second highest grossing tour behind Beyoncé and a healthy $1.4 million in recording royalties.
Rounding out the top five are Drake with $37.3 million and Adele with $37 million. Drake led all artists in streaming revenue. His summer tour with Future also added to his 2016 bottom line. Adele's 2016 tour was the year's highest grossing and accounts for $28.3 million of her $37 million payday. She also sold 2.2 million albums in the U.S., more than anyone else except for Prince.
Let's take a look at the 15 highest-paid musicians of the past year and how much they made touring, publishing, streaming, and selling records.
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#20. Barbra Streisand – $15.8 million
Sales: $842, 200
Streaming: $22,500
Publishing: $0
Tour: $14.9 million
#19. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – $16 million
Sales: $532,800
Streaming: $153,800
Publishing: $132,800
Tour: $15.1 million
#18. Garth Brooks – $16.02 million
Sales: $7.6 million
Streaming: $75,600
Publishing: $119,600
Tour: $8.2 million
#17. Future – $17 million
Sales: $1.1 million
Streaming: $1.1 million
Publishing: $828,900
Tour: $13.9 million
#16. Paul McCartney – $17.7 million
Sales: $906,200
Streaming: $227,700
Publishing: $141,300
Tour: $16.4 million
#15. Metallica – $18.5 million
Sales: $11.5 million
Streaming: $1.7 million
Publishing: $1.5 million
Tour: $3.8 million
#14. Carrie Underwood – $19.9 million
Sales: $1.3 millio
Streaming: $494,000
Publishing: $340,800
Tour: $17.8 million
#13. Twenty-One Pilots – $21.1 million
Sales: $3.2 million
Streaming: $6.1 million
Publishing: $5.7 million
Tour: $6 million
Sales: $2.5 million
Streaming: $7.6 million
Publishing: $1 million
Tour: $11.2 million
#11. Billy Joel – $23.6 million
Sales: $537,700
Streaming: $223,800
Publishing: $473,900
Tour: $22.4 million
#10. Kenny Chesney – $25.4 million
Sales: $1.4 million
Streaming: $443,800
Publishing: $335,600
Tour: $23.5 million
#9. Kanye West – $26.1 million
Sales: $926,000
Streaming: $7.6 million
Publishing: $2.2 million
Tour: $15.4 million
#8. Luke Bryan – $27.3 million
Sales: $1.4 million
Streaming: $2.1 million
Publishing: $594,700
Tour: $23.3 million
#7. Justin Bieber – $30.5 million
Sales: $2.0 million
Streaming: $1.9 million
Publishing: $952,700
Tour: $25.6 million
#6. Coldplay – $32.3 million
Sales: $1.4 million
Streaming: $2.7 million
Publishing: $2.2 million
Tour: $26.0 million
#5. Adele – $37 million
Sales: $4.9 million
Streaming: $1.2 million
Publishing: $2.6 million
Tour: $28.3 million
#4. Drake – $37.3 million
Sales: $5.2 million
Streaming: $18.1 million
Publishing: $420,300
Tour: $13.6 million
#3. Bruce Springsteen – $42.2 million
Sales: $804,900
Streaming: $167,500
Publishing: $415,200
Tour: $40.9 million
#2. Guns 'n Roses
Sales: $771,700
Streaming: $670,800
Publishing: $499,600
Tour: $40.4 million
#1. Beyoncé – $62.1 million
Sales: $4.3 million
Streaming: $1.9 million
Publishing: $1.3 million
Tour: $54.7 million
