The Queen Monster has remained one of the biggest names in the music industry for nearly a decade, pushing limits with over-the-top performances and outrageous fashion statements. Aside from playing 66 shows during our scoring period, Gaga also cashed in from deals with Versace and MAC, as well as her own Fame fragrance.
9. Fleetwood Mac ($59.5 million)
Long after the peak of its popularity in the 190s, Fleetwood Mac is still rocking—and making millions. The group's On With The Show tour included 86 concerts during our scoring period; it also boasted a staggering secondary ticket price of over $300, the highest of any act at one point this year.
8. Diddy ($60 million)
The only member of the top ten who’s not touring extensively, Diddy rakes in cash from non-musical ventures: stakes in TV network Revolt, clothing line Sean John, alkaline water brand Aquahydrate, tequila DeLeon and an outrageously lucrative deal with Diageo's Ciroc vodka that accounts for the bulk of his bucks.
7. Justin Timberlake ($63.5 million)
Far from a newcomer to high earnings, Timberlake has been pulling in millions ever since his *NSYNC days. Now a solo singer and actor who made most of his cash from the 59 tour dates he played during our scoring period, he also earns big from endorsements deals with Bud Light and Sony, as well as his own Sauza tequila.
6. Calvin Harris ($66 million)
The Scottish-born DJ made headlines for capturing the heart of Taylor Swift, but he also captured quite a bit of cash thanks to six-figure DJ fees and endorsements with the likes of Giorgio Armani. Added bonus: he and Swift were named the highest-paid couple in show business, even beating Jay Z and Beyoncé.
5. The Eagles ($73.5 million)
The classic rock band hasn’t had a No. 1 single in years, but The Eagles are still alive and well on the road. The 57 shows they played in our scoring period as part of the History of the Eagles tour helped them edge younger names like Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga.
4. Taylor Swift ($80 million)
Barely a year after the launch of 1989—the top release of 2014 with over 3.6 million copies sold—Swift is still selling. Her latest single, “Wildest Dreams,” ascended to the top of the charts, and her 1989 Tour is grossing some $4 million per city, making her a top contender for the No. 1 spot on our list next year
3. Garth Brooks ($90 million)
The country icon came back from semi-retirement to launch a long-promised concert tour, grossing well over $1 million at every stop, often with back-to-back shows in the same arena on the same night. He'll continue touring well into 2016, raising the chances of another comeback—on this list
2. One Direction ($130 million)
The biggest boy band in the world is also the top-earning band of any sort, at least when it comes to earnings over the past year. With 74 dates during our scoring period—and seven-figure grosses at every stop—One Direction's payday is twice that of the Rolling Stones
1. Katy Perry ($135 million)
The "Roar" singer is not only the highest-paid musician of the past year, but she’s also the top-earning celebrity on the planet after Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. She grossed more than $2 million per city over the course of her Prismatic World Tour.