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Billboard Top Earning Artists 2012 List Includes Country Heavyweights

Tim Boyles, Getty Images

With worldwide tours, multi-platinum-selling albums and multiple TV appearances, country artists are quickly earning a reputation as some of the hardest-working artists in music, and it seems their efforts are paying off, literally. Billboard magazine has compiled a list of the top-earning artists of 2012, including album and ringtone sales, downloads and other means of revenue, and Music City's stars make up one-third of the top 40 spots.

Kenny Chesney is the highest-earning country artist on the list at No. 5, earning a respectable $19,148,525.24, with his Brothers of the Sun touring partner Tim McGraw only two spots and less than one million dollars behind him, making $18,329,167.89.

Jason Aldean is close to Tim in the No. 8 spot, raking in an impressive $17,578,651.96. Award-winning trio Lady Antebellum secured the No. 12 spot, with $12,968,992.17, while Brad Paisley is right behind them with $12,848,724.84. Taylor Swift claims the 15th spot with $12,695,783.32, while Carrie Underwood trails her with an annual paycheck of $11,942,956.65.

Eric Church comes in at No. 18, earning $11,015,773.11, while Rascal Flatts are only a couple hundred-thousand dollars behind him, making $10,777,282.68. Singer and restaurateur Toby Keith lands at No. 23, making $9,805,764.04. Miranda Lambert, with $8,818,536.04, took the 27th spot, edging out her husband, Blake Shelton, by 13 spaces and a few million, with his appearance on "The Voice" helping him nab the final spot on the list with $5,914,591.11. The Zac Brown Band came in a couple slots ahead of Blake at No. 37, with $6,682,797.58.

Madonna tops the list overall, making more than $34,577,308.62. Bruce Springsteen came in at No. 2 with $33,443,606.64, while Roger Waters is at No. 3 with $21,160,131.06 and Van Halen right behind him with $20,184,709.91.

Other artists on the list include Coldplay, Justin Bieber, Adele, Celine Dion, Nickelback, Neil Diamond and Andrea Bocelli. See the complete list here.

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mem

So the guy who gets to dictate which way country music goes (Blake Shelton) made the least money? The current ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR,makes the LEAST out of the rest of the nominees,including his wife?? How is this possible? I thought that award was supposed to go to who had the biggest combo of record sales and ticket sales,yet there are a ton of others who have achieved MORE success?? Interesting, very interesting..

February 27 2013 at 9:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patty

I too am proud of these girls, Miranda Lambert being my favorite. A Small Town Girl thats done good in her Music . I want to thank Billborad for putting this chart out to show we fans where our Favorite Artist ranks. Happy to see these artist such as Jason Aldean and Eric Church doing so well, of course Tim McGraw. Kenny is another of my favorites. These artist have music in their blood and from these # of sales , their fans are happy they do!!... GOOD MUSIC most of us love!!!!!

February 26 2013 at 4:08 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
hylander75

Very PROUD of our country girls Miranda, Carrie, Taylor! Crazy that only 8 (Miranda, Carrie, Taylor, Streisand, Celine, Lady A, Adele and Madonna)acts are women/ a girl in the group out of 40. Shows again how hard it is to make it in the Music industry.

February 26 2013 at 2:50 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply

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