As the concert business rebounded in 2011, touring remained the
biggest source of income for the top earners in the U.S. music
business. Billboard’s sixth annual Money Makers ranking includes
veteran road warriors U2, Kenny Chesney and Bon Jovi, as well as
other artists emerging in recent years as A-list arena headliners,
from Taylor Swift to Lady Gaga. But not all of the 40 artists on the
Money Makers list relied heavily, if at all, on touring income.
Thanks
to the breathtaking sales of sophomore album “21,” Adele made a top
10 showing despite vocal cord problems limiting her ability to
perform publicly before she was forced to cancel 10 sold-out U.S.
dates in the fall. Sales of the Beatles’ classic catalog-powered by
impressive digital album sales at iTunes-enabled the Fab Four to
make their Money Makers debut. And who says kids don’t buy music
these days? Justin Bieber enjoyed such robust album and digital
track sales that even his absence from the U.S. touring market
didn’t keep him from making the cut.
