Swift, Chesney Top ‘Money Makers’ List

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney lead Billboard‘s ranking of top “Money Makers” for 2013. For these superstars, and most others on the list, touring was the single biggest source of income.

Artists were ranked by U.S. earnings, which were calculated from touring, recorded music sales, publishing royalties, and revenues from digital music and video streaming. Revenue from sponsorships, merchandising and synchronization was not included.

Swift’s earnings for 2013 totaled $39,699,575.60, placing her at the pinnacle of the list. Her Red Tour alone brought in an estimated $30 million. The publication predicts she grossed an additional $10 million in merch sales and endorsement deals.

Kenny Chesney. Photo: Shaun Silva

Chesney’s income for 2013 topped $32,956,240.70, due in large part to his major outing the No Shoes Nation Tour, which earned $90 million. The superstar’s past 10 consecutive tours topped 1 million in attendance.

Justin Timberlake, Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones rounded out the magazine’s Top 5 Money Makers for 2013.

Luke Bryan danced his way to No. 8 on the list, with $22,142,235.98. Much of the income is thanks to 2.7 million albums and 7.6 million digital tracks sold. He also brought in $15.4 million from touring in 2013.

Jason Aldean was listed at No. 14 with $17,896,191.98 of yearly income. His amphitheater trek brought in $15.2 million. He didn’t release a new album in 2013, but sold nearly 5 million digital tracks and raked in $505,000 in streaming royalties.

George Strait landed at No. 15 on the list, bringing in $16,002,761.63. His The Cowboy Rides Away farewell tour earned in $13.8 million. The icon also earned the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year trophy in November 2013.

Blake Shelton slid into the No. 27 slot with $10, 349,774.77. He banked $5.9 million from tour dates, and racked up about 1.7 million album sales (physical and digital), and almost 7 million track sales. Shelton’s coaching gig on The Voice added to his bankroll.

Zac Brown Band rounded out the top 30 on the list. Most of their $9,888,213.32 tally came from touring, with an additional $230,000-plus earned from streaming royalties.

Scoring places in the Top 40 were No. 34. Rascal Flatts ($9.215 million), No. 36 Miranda Lambert ($8.831 million), No. 38 Tim McGraw ($8.761 million) and No. 40 Carrie Underwood ($8.051 million).