Guns N' Roses and Bruce Springsteen among "Billboard" magazine's top money makers of 2016
Katarina Benzova; Danny ClinchGuns N' Roses and Bruce Springsteen were among the musicians who raked in the most dough last year, according to Billboard's newly released list of the Top 50 Money Makers of 2016.
Guns N' Roses landed at #2 on the tally after bringing in $42.3 million, thanks mainly to the hard rockers' Not in This Lifetime Tour, featuring the return of founding members Slash and Duff McKagan.
Springsteen ranked #3 on the list, taking in $42.2 million. He made most of that money from his massive The River Tour 2016 with his E Street Band, from which earned more than $40 million.
Also high on the list was Billy Joel, who was #11 with $23.6 million in earnings, much of that figure from his ongoing monthly residency at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
Other veteran rock and pop acts who brought in the big bucks in 2016 include Paul McCartney, who was #16 in the list with $17.7 million earned; AC/DC at #21 with $15 million earned; Elton John at #32 with $12.1 million; Grateful Dead spinoff group Dead & Company at #33 with $12.1 million; the late David Bowie at #34 with 11.5; The Rolling Stones at #36 with $10.9 million; Def Leppard at #38 with $10.8 million; Journey at #44 with $9.2 million; Jimmy Buffett at #45 with $9.1 million; James Taylor at #48 with $8.3 million; and
Stevie Nicks at #49 with $8.2 million.
Interestingly, Bowie, who died in January 2016, earned most of his money posthumously, from catalog sales and songwriting royalties.
Topping Billboard's tally was pop superstar Beyonce with earnings of $62.1 million. Check out the whole list at Billboard.com.
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