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2016 was the year of Beyonce, Lemonade and her Formation World Tour. It was also the year of Adele’s epic, 107 show Europe and North America concert.
But Taylor Swift has out-earned both women and all her other contemporaries – Rihanna, Madonna, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and more – to bring home a whopping USD $170 million for 2016, according to Forbes.
So, why?
The Bad Blood singer muscled her way to the top of the Highest-Earning Women in Music list thanks to income from her 1989 World Tour. Although it wrapped in 2015, she may have not seen much of the profit until this year. The tour grossed USD $250 million, breaking the North America record set by the Rolling Stones.
Advertising deals with Apple, Keds and Diet Coke also made significant contributions. But as noted, many of her contemporaries have recently undertaken major tours and signed big endorsement deals with brands. But Taylor is able to command more money for almost everything she does because of the loyal fan base she has cultivated since her teen years, and also thanks to her broad appeal.
“She has been building her fan base for years, and that fan base crosses multiple market segments,” entertainment attorney Lori Landew of Fox Rothschild told Forbes. “It’s this ability to appeal to younger and older audiences, and those in between, that makes Taylor such a sure bet with both concert promoters and brands who want to affiliate with her and with the community she has cultivated.”
It’s worth noting Adele, the second highest-earner on the list at USD $80.5 million, has chosen to never do endorsement deals, so her income has been from music and touring alone. Meanwhile Beyonce will be stiff competition next year, as some of her Formation World Tour earnings were not counted this year.
The highest-earning women in music for 2016 according to Forbes are:
- Taylor Swift ($170 million)
- Adele ($80.5 million)
- Madonna ($76.5 million)
- Rihanna ($75 million)
- Beyoncé ($54 million)
- Katy Perry ($41 million)
- Jennifer Lopez ($39.5 million)
- Britney Spears ($30.5 million)
- Shania Twain ($27.5 million)
- Celine Dion ($27 million)
