One Direction and Katy Perry Are The Top Money Earners Of 2015 (So Far)

Billboard has issued its 2015 survey of the top money makers in music and One Direction is number one followed by Katy Perry.

The artists are ranked by estimated money made for the year in album and track sales, streaming revenue, publishing royalties and touring. Other streams of revenue such as merchandise, sponsorships and synchronizations were not included in the totals.

One Direction topped the list, taking in $46 million followed by Katy Perry with $30.1 million and Justin Timberlake with $27.9 million. Then comes the two veteran artists with Billy Joel in fourth with $27.2 million and the Eagles in fifth with $26.2 million. For both artists, the vast majority of their income came from touring with Billy Joel bringing in big money from his monthly residency at Madison Square Garden.

Overall, concert revenue was the main way artists made money, accounting for over 80% of income. Sales of music was 13.3%, publishing 4.2% and streaming 2.1%.

Here is the top ten along with the other veterans that made the top forty.

01. One Direction ($46.0 million)
02. Katy Perry ($30.1 million)
03. Justin Timberlake ($27.9 million)
04. Billy Joel ($27.2 million)
05. Eagles ($26.2 million)
06. Luke Bryan ($25 million)
07. Paul McCartney ($23.5 million)
08. George Strait ($22.5 million)
09. Jay-Z ($22.0 million)
10. Jason Aldean ($20.2 million)
13. Cher ($16 million)
16. Dave Matthews Band ($13.3 million)
23. Jimmy Buffett ($10.1 million)
24. Phish ($9.9 million)
25. Motley Crue ($9.4 million)
26. Journey ($9.1 million)
28. Fleetwood Mac ($9 million)
29. Bruce Springsteen ($8.8 million)
30. Celine Dion ($8.6 million)
34. Marc Anthony ($7.2 million)
35. Elton John ($7.0 million)
37. James Taylor ($7.0 million)
38. Pearl Jam ($6.9 million)
40. Tom Petty ($6.7 million)