Gaga pulled in $90 million dollars, more than the combined earnings of No. 2 Taylor Swift ($45 million) and No. 3 Katy Perry ($44 million).
The Queen Monster grossed $170 million on 137 shows in 22 countries over the past 12 months. Though high production costs significantly reduced that sum, Gaga rakes in additional cash for heavy radio play, recorded music sales and endorsement deals from Polaroid, Virgin Mobile, Monster Cable, Viva Glam and others.
Forbes reports that the earnings estimates were compiled with the help of data from Pollstar, RIAA and others, as well as extensive interviews with industry insiders including lawyers, managers, concert promoters, agents and, in some cases, the musicians themselves. The totals encompass all pretax income earned from May 2010 to May 2011, before subtracting agent and manager fees.
2011 Top-Earning Women in Music
Forbes magazine
01 – Lady Gaga ($90 million)
02 – Taylor Swift ($45 million)
03 – Katy Perry ($44 million)
04 – Beyonce ($35 million)
05 – Rihanna ($29 million)
Lady GaGa
Lady Gaga – The Edge Of Glory
See also:
Lady Gaga tops the popmusiclife Pop 10
VIDEO: Lady Gaga on Ellen this Friday preview
Lady Gaga visits White House to discuss anti-bullying initiatives
VIDEO: Lady Gaga discusses Marry The Night
RUMOR: Lady Gaga planning 450-date world tour
VIDEO: Lady Gaga’s Vanity Fair photo shoot
VIDEO: Lady Gaga – Marry The Night
VIDEO: Lady Gaga’s ELLE cover shoot
Lady Gaga releases holiday EP
Rihanna, Lady Gaga leads this week’s new releases
VIDEO: Lady Gaga Thanksgiving special promo
VIDEO: Lady Gaga performs Marry The Night on UK TV
NEW VIDEO: Lady Gaga – Marry The Night Prelude preview
VIDEO: Lady Gaga reads the foreword to her photo book
New Lady Gaga video due Thursday
Lady Gaga: NYC book signing set for November 22
Lady Gaga drops her creative director
Lady Gaga rocks X Factor
Lady Gaga: Gaga’s Workshop comes to Barneys New York
Lady Gaga dress & prop gun up for auction
VIDEO: Lady GaGa performs Marry The Night at MTV EMAs
VIDEO: Lady Gaga dominates 2011 MTV EMAs
ABC announces Lady Gaga Thanksgiving special
Lady Gaga launches Born This Way Foundation
VIDEO: Lady Gaga rocks India
Lady Gaga tops the popmusiclife Pop 10
Lady Gaga to perform at Grammy Nominations Concert
Lady Gaga releasing live DVD and Remix album