Who Joined Taylor Swift in Billboard's List of Top Music Moneymakers?

Billboard has just posted its annual list of music’s biggest moneymakers and well, there’s a new queen in town, Taylor Swift. After a lucrative 2013 the country superstar has topped the list, earning nearly $40 million dollars, but who else has been raking in the cash in the past 12 months?

Taylor Swift perfoming on her money making 'Red' tour

Last year Madonna topped the list taking in over $34 million dollars, this year without her hugely successful MDNA tour the Queen of Pop has slipped out of the top 40 entirely. Taking her place at the top is last year's no. 15, Taylor Swift. It’s not surprising, 2013 was a very good year for the singer. Not only did Taylor embark on her mammoth ‘Red’ tour, where she’s said to have made over $30 million, she also earned big bucks from record sales both physically and digitally. She’s also a very savvy business woman having taken lucrative sponsorship deals from Keds, Elizabeth Arden and Diet Coke on her tour.

But Taylor wasn't the only country star making money last year, at number 2 we find fellow country star Kenny Chesney who took nearly $33 million in 2013. Chesney spent 2013 touring stadiums and it's certainly paid off as 2013 saw him setting new attendance records. Whilst Taylor and Kenny might currently be on the top of Nashville, hot on their heels is Luke Bryan, who comes in at number 7. Bryan really hit the big time in 2013, taking over $22 million and shifting 2.7 million albums.

Justin Timberlake's return to making music made 2013 very lucrative

One star who definitely benefited from a break from music making is the number 3 entry Justin Timberlake. Justin returned last year after a 7 year absence released his albums ‘The 20/20 Experience’ and ‘The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2’. He also embarked on a tour with Jay-Z as well as playing to over 1 million fans on his solo outing. Another pop star bringing in the cash is Beyonce, who used the element of surprise to ensure the success of her ‘visual album’ 'Beyonce'. She also pulled in some massive ticket sales during her Mrs Carter world tour.

Next page: who came next on the money-makers list?