Katy Perry Was Highest Paid Act of 2015 in USA

Here is the latest list by Forbes detailing the World’s Highest-Paid Musicians of 2015.

Girls are back on top. Katy Perry jumps up from 23rd position in 2014 to top the list with earnings of $135 million following the conclusion of her 17-month “Prismatic World Tour”. There are a further three female musicians in the top 10: Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, and Lady Gaga. Beyoncé is in 14th position, down from second place in 2014.

Dr Dre falls from the top of the list to the bottom. Dre’s $620 million figure in 2014 was the highest amount by a musician ever, thanks to the sale of headphone maker Beats, which he co-founded, to Apple for $3 billion; but his 2015 total of $33 million sees him slide down the list to joint 28th position.

One Direction lead the British top-earners. Despite breaking teenage hearts across the world with the departure of Zayn Malik in March and the subsequent announcement that the band would be taking a break to pursue solo careers, 1D still managed to win second place on the list by earning $130 million in 2015 following their “On the Road Again Tour” and the November release of their fifth album Made in the A.M. One Direction are joined in the 2015 list by fellow Brits Calvin Harris, Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran, Elton John and Paul McCartney.

Thirteen of the 31 artists on the list are veterans who have been recording for twenty years or more with Garth Brooks leading the way. Four of those, Brooks (#3), Toby Keith (#16), Kenny Chesney (#21) and Tim McGraw (tied at #24) are from the country world while two, Jay-Z (#13) and Dr. Dre (tied at #30) are from rap/hip-hop.

The following is Forbes list with veteran musicians in bold:

Katy Perry – $135 m
One Direction – $130 m
Garth Brooks – $90 m
Taylor Swift – $80 m
The Eagles – $73.5 m
Calvin Harris – $66m
Justin Timberlake – $63.5m
Diddy – $60m
Fleetwood Mac – $59.5m
Lady Gaga – $59m
The Rolling Stones – $57.5m
Ed Sheeran – $57m
Jay Z – $56m
Beyoncé – $54.5m
Elton John – $53.5m
Toby Keith – $53m
Paul McCartney – $51.5m
Michael Buble – $45.5m
Jason Aldean – $43.5m
Luke Bryan – $42.5m
Kenny Chesney – $42m
Bruno Mars – $40m
Drake – $39.5m
Foo Fighters – $38m
Tim McGraw – $38m
David Guetta – $37m
Florida Georgia Line – $36.5m
Jimmy Buffett – $36m
Tiesto – $36m
Maroon 5 – $33m
Dr. Dre – $33m