photo by Leslie Paczosa
Billboard released their annual study of the Top 40 Money Makers in the Music Business, and Country Music flexed it’s muscles in the latest edition. Taylor Swift was #1 on the chart making a whopping pile of dough that comes just shy of $40 million over the past 12 months. Kenny Chesney comes in at #2 on the list, making nearly $33 million. The rest of the top 5 is rounded out by #3 Justin Timberlake, #4 Bon Jovi, and #5 The Rolling Stones.
Also cracking the Top 15 from the Country Music genre are Luke Bryan, who comes in at #8 with over $22 million, Jason Aldean at #14, and George Strait at #15. So one third of the top 15 come from the country genre…it’s no wonder it’s experiencing quite possibly it’s highest level of popularity ever!
Other charting country artists:
- #27 – Blake Shelton
- #30 – Zac Brown Band
- #34 – Rascal Flatts
- #36 – Miranda Lambert
- #38 – Tim McGraw
- #40 – Carrie Underwood