Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Glee, Make Billboard Music’s Top Money Makers List

Billboard magazine released their 5th annual list of Music’s Top 40 Money Makers, and of course, a few of our favorite Idols have ended up on the list

Daughtry came in at #35 having earned $4, 852, 769 last year. Carrie Underwood is in the Top 20 at $13, raking in $13, 501, 387.

Susan Boyle had a very good year at #40 bringing in $4, 770, 339. That’ll buy a lot of Tender Vittles! And the Glee Cast, at #28 collectively, earned $8, 830, 710 through their tour dates and iTunes sales.

#1 on the list is Lady Gaga, earning a whopping $30, 556, 342! Born to be rich, baby.

More details on the list, after the jump.

#36 – Susan Boyle – $4, 770, 339

The extraordinary story of former “Britain’s Got Talent” contestant Susan Boyle and her YouTube-fueled shot to worldwide stardom continued to capture the imagination of older music consumers in 2010. Her 2009 debut album, “I Dreamed a Dream, ” remained a brisk seller while hotly anticipated follow-up “The Gift” sold nearly 1.9 million units in the final two months of the year, generating combined U.S. sales of 2.7 million units and netting her about $4.7 million in royalties. Boyle didn’t tour the United States in 2010, which makes her appearance on this touring-dominated list all the more astounding.

#35 – Daughtry – $4, 852, 769

Former “American Idol” finalist Chris Daughtry’s five-piece rock outfit spent the past year touring behind sophomore album “Leave This Town, ” which has sold 1.2 million units since its July 2009 release, including 343, 000 units in 2010. After launching its first arena tour in fall 2009, the group joined Nickelback in early 2010 for European dates before returning to the United States for the second leg of Daughtry’s North American tour. The group grossed $10.8 million stateside. Meanwhile, high-profile TV performances — including an appearance on the “top four” results episode of “American Idol” in May — helped drive digital track sales, which reached nearly 2 million in 2010.

#28 – “Glee” Cast – $8, 830, 710

As much a music success story as a TV one, “Glee” makes an impressive debut on the Money Makers list thanks to the fact that fans don’t just tune in to the Fox program, but actively seek out what they heard on it afterward. Digital track sales of songs reinterpreted by the show’s cast added up to 12.9 million copies, while sales of its various soundtrack albums totaled 3.6 million. As its debut season came to a close last May, the show’s cast hit the road for a string of tour dates that grossed $5 million.

#13 – Carrie Underwood – $13, 501, 387

The “American Idol” victor reigned as country music’s top female touring artist in 2010. Underwood launched her North American tour last March in support of her 2009 album “Play On, ” performing 108 shows in the United States and Canada. By the time the tour wrapped, Underwood had played to 1 million fans, grossed $33.2 million and netted about $11 million. During the fall leg of the tour, the Academy of Country Music’s two-time entertainer of the year donated 36 cents from every ticket to Save the Children’s U.S. programs. Underwood also racked up total U.S. album sales of 1 million.

About mj santilli 34829 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!