Little did they know back in 1976, when they formed in the streets of Dublin, that they’d one day become the world’s biggest and most wealthy rock & roll bands. Irish quartet U2 have once again topped the annual Billboard magazine Money Makers list, a countdown of the highest earning acts in the world.
Taking out pole position with a whopping AUS$121 million in 2009, the majority of the Bono-led “Vertigo” outfit’s earnings comes from their current 360 Degrees world tour – officially turning into the highest earning tour in music history.
With a list compiled from concert revenue, publishing, album and single sales, online monies and more, taking out second place is working class hero Bruce Springsteen, who hit the road in his home country to pocket $64 million. Pop icon Madonna rounded out the top three, with more than $53 million made over the last 12 months.
Also featured in the top ten are Australia’s most legendary rockers – AC/DC (who took in $48 million), followed closely behind by Britney Spears, who earned $43 million in 2009 thanks to her Circus world trek. Rounding out the rest of the top ten is: Pink ($41 million), Jonas Brothers ($38 million), Coldplay ($31 million), Kenny Chesney ($30 million), Metallica ($29 million).