AC/DC, Metallica and Kiss among Billboard's top 'money makers'
Ac/Dc, Metallica and Kiss have made Billboard's annual Money Makers list, which is the most comprehensive report card of its kind. For the first time, the ranking is based on the artist's share of revenue as opposed to total dollars generated by each artist in the ranking. Billboard's annual Money Makers list - Top 10:
01. U2 - $108,601,283
02. Bruce Springsteen - $57,619,037
03. Madonna - $47,237,774
04. Ac/Dc - $43,650,466
05. Britney Spears - $38,885,267
06. Pink - $36,347,658
07. Jonas Brothers - $33,596,576
08. Coldplay - $27,326,562
09. Kenny Chesney - $26,581,141
10. Metallica - $25,564,234
#4 - Ac/Dc: $43,650,466
Billboard writes: "Although the overwhelming majority of Ac/Dc's 2009 earnings came from touring international arenas and stadiums (it pulled in $41.4 million from concerts and ranked No. 4 on Billboard's 2009 tally of the top 25 highest-grossing tours), the Australian rockers also experienced consistent album sales from their catalog. Indeed, the group's highest-selling album was its 2008 Walmart-exclusive 'Black Ice', which shifted 227,000 copies. But coming in at a close second was the classic 'Back In Black', with 215,000 copies. In total, the group sold 1.1 million albums in 2009."
#10 - Metallica: $25,564,234
Billboard writes: "Metallica had at least two things to celebrate in 2009: its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the release of 'Guitar Hero: Metallica'. Along with touring revenue - the band pulled in $22.8 million from 55 arena shows reported to Boxscore that drew more than 968,000 fans - Metallica sold 694,000 albums in 2009. The majority of those sales came from its Rick Rubin-produced 2008 release, 'Death Magnetic' (297,000). Album sales revenue totaled $1.6 million. And most of Metallica's track download earnings came from its 1991 hit 'Enter Sandman', which sold 450,000."
#34 - Kiss: $11,833,930
Billboard writes: "Kiss spent 2009 on the road promoting its highest-charting album, the Walmart-exclusive 'Sonic Boom', which debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 and sold 238,000 copies. The new set helped Kiss earn $10.6 million in touring revenue and $879,000 in album sales."
Check out the entire list at this location.
