As the concert business rebounded in 2011, touring remained the biggest source of income for the top earners in the US 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 US dates in the fall.
And who says kids don’t buy music these days? Justin Bieber enjoyed such robust album and digital track sales that
