Forbes Top 20 Musicians

[Don]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

[S2M]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

And I wouldn't pay $5 to see any of those 'acts'....

[Andrew]

They should rename it "top earning musicians", as well know this ain't a talent list!

[steveo777]

They should rename it "top earning musicians", as well know this ain't a talent list!

What he said

[Rick]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

And I wouldn't pay $5 to see any of those 'acts'....

I would go see two of them for sure. But that's it. And I would bet anyone could name those two. It's the same two you're all thinking of.

[Ehwmatt]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

And I wouldn't pay $5 to see any of those 'acts'....

I would go see two of them for sure. But that's it. And I would bet anyone could name those two. It's the same two you're all thinking of.

I'd see U2, Bruce, AC/DC, and Rascal Flatts.

[Rockindeano]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

And I wouldn't pay $5 to see any of those 'acts'....

I would go see two of them for sure. But that's it. And I would bet anyone could name those two. It's the same two you're all thinking of.

I am not so sure. I have it down to three bands, but not two. 4,11 and 14?

[7 Wishes]

4, 11, 13 (maybe) and 14.

[portland]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

And I wouldn't pay $5 to see any of those 'acts'....

I would go see two of them for sure. But that's it. And I would bet anyone could name those two. It's the same two you're all thinking of.

I disagree....there are some there that put on a good show.......not all but some.

[rockinfayrose]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Jonas Brothers Who's opinion was this list comprised from

Let's see, from this selection I can get it down to 5 easy ...

1. Bruce Springsteen
2. U2
3. Pink
4. Rascal Flatts
5. Madonna (of the 80's & early 90's only)

[Andrew]

Pink is beyond phenomenal....

[Jana]

Pink is beyond phenomenal....

I love her latest album. Way better than the Lady GaGa phenomenon.

[Jana]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Jonas Brothers Who's opinion was this list comprised from

Let's see, from this selection I can get it down to 5 easy ...

1. Bruce Springsteen
2. U2
3. Pink
4. Rascal Flatts
5. Madonna (of the 80's & early 90's only)

You don't love Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna in 2005? I consider it one of her best albums of all time: Deeply personal re her marriage/love, fame, spirituality, and such unique moody ambience flowing from song to song, but still with great dance club beats, which was nice to see her back to her roots that way. .

[rockinfayrose]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Jonas Brothers Who's opinion was this list comprised from

Let's see, from this selection I can get it down to 5 easy ...

1. Bruce Springsteen
2. U2
3. Pink
4. Rascal Flatts
5. Madonna (of the 80's & early 90's only)

You don't love Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna in 2005? I consider it one of her best albums of all time: Deeply personal re her marriage/love, fame, spirituality, and such unique moody ambience flowing from song to song, but still with great dance club beats, which was nice to see her back to her roots that way. .

No I didn't love that one...Bedtime Stories was the last Madonna album I could love, after that her whole sound changed to me

[artist4perry]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

And I wouldn't pay $5 to see any of those 'acts'....

I would go see two of them for sure. But that's it. And I would bet anyone could name those two. It's the same two you're all thinking of.

I'd see U2, Bruce, AC/DC, and Rascal Flatts.

Miley Cyrus and Jonas Brothers? Rick you need to work on your musical tastes a bit!

[Jana]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

I don't own most of these artists, but I can see why they're on the list right now and appreciate why, even if I'm not a fan. And as much as I rag on Britney she has put out two great pop albums in the midst of her breakdown and after, and she has a massive following. Her Circus tour was huge. Her fans don't care that she lipsyncs. They're just glad she's back and putting out catchy songs. She has a great team around her for her songs.

And say what you want about GaGa, but she is truly a phenomenon right now. When someone is getting 230 million hits on a video and has as many radio single hits as she does in the very beginning of a career, which she co-wrote all of them, you can't deny that she deserves to be on there.

[Jana]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

And I wouldn't pay $5 to see any of those 'acts'....

I would go see two of them for sure. But that's it. And I would bet anyone could name those two. It's the same two you're all thinking of.

Not me. I would pay to see Madonna, U2, Pink, ColdPlay, Springsteen. Five. I'm sure you're U2, Springsteen.

[Jana]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Jonas Brothers Who's opinion was this list comprised from

Let's see, from this selection I can get it down to 5 easy ...

1. Bruce Springsteen
2. U2
3. Pink
4. Rascal Flatts
5. Madonna (of the 80's & early 90's only)

You don't love Confessions on a Dance Floor by Madonna in 2005? I consider it one of her best albums of all time: Deeply personal re her marriage/love, fame, spirituality, and such unique moody ambience flowing from song to song, but still with great dance club beats, which was nice to see her back to her roots that way. .

No I didn't love that one...Bedtime Stories was the last Madonna album I could love, after that her whole sound changed to me

I love Bedtime Stories, too. So lush and beautiful. Kind of an R&B follow-up to Erotica. But I actually love all of them after that, Ray of Light, American Life, both I give five stars, stunning albums/masterpieces. (Even though critics bashed American Life). And even like Hard Candy. At first, I tossed HC aside, thin vocals, light fluff, so disappointed after so many great albums. And then after a few repeated listens straight through while driving, that CD is a great, vibrant kind of album (compared to COADF) of retro disco/ hiphop/electropop songs, with great beats and melody. It reminds me of an updated twist on her very early work.

[The Sushi Hunter]

From the Celebrity 100 list released today.

1.Beyonce
2.Lady Gaga
3.Brittney
4.U2
5.Madonna
6.Taylor Swift
7.Miley Cyrus
8.Jay-Z
10.Black Eyed Peas
11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC
15.Jonas Brothers
16.Kenny Chesney
17.Rascal Flatts
18.Toby Keith
19.Sean Combs
20.Lil Wayne

And I wouldn't pay $5 to see any of those 'acts'....

I would go see two of them for sure. But that's it. And I would bet anyone could name those two. It's the same two you're all thinking of.

Bruce Springsteen and AC/DC.

[Sarah]

Hey, if tickets were $5 I'd see any of them!

I've seen Coldplay before, and I'd like to see Madonna and Britney Spears. Beyonce and U2 maybe if it was cheap. No one else though.

[Don]

Forbes uses a formula based on rankings from money, pay, TV/Radio, press, web, and social categories.

[LtVanish]

I'm so pissed Toto isn't on this list.

[Everett]

I'm so pissed Toto isn't on this list.

I'm pissed that styx aren't on the list

[mikemarrs]

KISS is missing

[Arianddu]

They should rename it "top earning musicians", as well know this ain't a talent list!

Not just top earning, but top earning in the last 12 months. I had to laugh when I realised that they include media coverage in their estimation of how influential an artist is, but have absolutely no discriminators on what kind of publicity. So an article on getting busted cheating on your wife gets added to the stats of how influential you are.
Somehow, I think the R&R HOF has more credibility than this list.

[Pstburp]

1.Beyonce




My list

4.U2
5.Madonna



11.Bruce Springsteen
12.Pink
13.Coldplay
14.AC/DC

[mrsromek]

U2 is worth every penny live.

[Rockindeano]

Look at this list again. There are only maybe 3 or 4 on there that have no real talent. Everyone else on there deserves to make what they are making. Just because you may not like their music does not make them untalented.

[brywool]

McCartney's missing.

So am I. Damn! Try as I might, I cannot get on that F'ing list!!!!

[Rockindeano]

McCartney's missing.

So am I. Damn! Try as I might, I cannot get on that F'ing list!!!!

I think the key word missing from the list is 'relevant.' Those on this list are very relevant today. I am sure McCartney could buy half of this list by noon today.