Forbes' Highest Paid Celebrities, FM #24

[Newzchspy]

Don't get too excited about those numbers. Remember, in accountancy, its NOT what you make, its what you take. Those are all pre-tax and pre-expense/fee figures. In other words, that's a gross figure, NOT anywhere near a Net or Net after taxes. Not to minimize the figure, BUT if you've ever seen the "artists compensation" contracts, the artist (FM for example) gets a fixed rate or fee from the promoter. That may be net after expenses or before, depending on the terms of the contract. What you have to subtract from the $53 M figure are the expenses first, management fees, venue fees, promoters fees, roadies, production company, transportation etc. Then you get an AGI from which you then figure taxes. Even assuming a 5% or 10% net after expenses and taxes, there's NOT a whole lot of money left. Trust me, NONE of them are poor from this tour, BUT remember too that the Rumors Tour IIRC (in the late 70s) made little or no money after all were paid.

The semi-real $$ to be made is on the T shirts, beer etc. (Most venues keep the food/drink/beverage income and the band gets the t shirt and goody sales). Think Chris Nicks back in the day.

The real money is in the publishing, licensing and ownership of the "songs" , titles and catalog(s). That's where someone like SN was very smart to keep "ownership" & control of her songs. (Think Landslide and all its uses in marketing, Dixie Chicks covers etc.)