If anyone had any doubt that touring is where the money is in the music business, a quick look at the top Moneymakers for 2008 should hammer the point home.

Regardless of genre, retail sales or radio play, each of the 20 acts on Billboard's Moneymakers list toured in 2008. (Taylor Swift mostly opened for Brad Paisley but doesn't get credit for that revenue). For almost all of them, touring generated the most revenue. And in a year when recorded-music sales declined yet again, many earned more at the box office than ever before.

1. Madonna: $242,176,466
2. Bon Jovi: $157,177,766
3. Bruce Springsteen: $156,327,964
4. The Police: $109,976,894
5. Celine Dion: $99,171,237
6. Kenny Chesney: $90,823,990
7. Neil Diamond: $82,174,000
8. Rascall Flatts: $63,522,160
9. Jonas Brothers: $62,638,814
10. Coldplay: $62,175,555
11. The Eagles: $61,132,213
12. Lil Wayne: $57,441,334
13. AC/DC: $56,505,296
14. Michael Buble: $50,257,364
15. Miley Cyrus: $48,920,806
16. Taylor Swift: $45,588,730
17. Journey: $44,787,328
18. Billy Joel: $44,581,010
19. Mary J. Blige: $43,472,850
20. Kanye West: $42,552,402

The top five Moneymakers are also the five acts that earned the most on tour, and in the same order, according to Billboard Boxscore. Eight of the top 10 Moneymakers are in the Boxscore top 10.

Even more remarkably, the top Moneymaker -- Madonna -- only had the 50th-best-selling album in the country. She ranked 14th on the list of digital track sellers and didn't place on the ringmasters chart. Her place on Moneymakers, like her $242,176,466 income, comes from the highest-earning tour that took place in 2008.

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/...03940730.story

Sorry if this already posted

No beyowulf

where Rihjawnna?

you're an IDIOT. Beysus don't have a tour last year, and she don't release a NEW stuff till October 08.

it's posted, but only top 10

I don't know why, but I'm a little surprised that Mary pulled in that much.

was that english

Great for the queen!

Britney will be on the list next year!!

9. Jonas Brothers: $62,638,814

9. Jonas Brothers: $62,638,814

I'm not. I expected Mary to make that much. For as long as she's been in the game, she has that staying power.

God damn, those are rich teenagers! If I made that much cash at my age...

This pretty much proves that tours are the new way to make money.

Madonna is a smart bitch.

Bow to the Queen

15. Miley Cyrus: $48,920,806
16. Taylor Swift: $45,588,730

<3

is this portuguese?

Yeah because Madonna hasnt done anything else, touring is the only way she makes money.