Being a musician can come with a lot of cash if your music reaches a global audience. Every year Billboard releases their top paid musicians for the year prior in the United States and globally. This year’s top 5 highest-paid musicians on a global scale include a range of genres that might surprise you. Check out the list below:
© GettyImages#1. QUEEN
Formed in 1970 Queen is somehow still leading the charts globally. Once led by the late Freddie Mercury, Adam Lambert now tours with the band. They were able to tour pre-pandemic in 2020 and raked in an estimated $15.1 million at the box office. With an estimated $15.3 million from streaming royalties, their total income was $48.7 million.
© GettyImages#2. TAYLOR SWIFT
Taylor Swift is number 1 on the 2020 U.S. Money Makers list and #2 on the Global list because she owns the masters to the two post Big Machine albums she released last year. Billboard estimates she took home 46% of her sales and streaming income which was estimated at $19.8 million. The outlet estimated her total income to be $41.4 million.
© GettyImages#3. BILLIE EILISH
At 19 years old, Billie Eilish is unstoppable. The outlet estimated she made $13.6 million from streaming and $1 million at the box office, with a total income estimated to be $32.8 million.
© GettyImages#4. BTS
The global phenomenon that is K-POP band BTS was the world‘s top streaming act of 2020. It is estimated they made $14.6 million from streaming royalties and their total income was $31.5 million.
© GettyImagesPOST MALONE
Post Malone ranked #5 and was one of the few artists to make money on tours in 2020. He finished 2020 with the equivalent of a $13.2 million paycheck at the box office and ranked number 2 on the U.S list after Swift. Along with an estimated $12 million from streaming, his estimated total income was $29.7 million.
