Britney Spears is the highest-earning female musician of 2012, according to a Forbes study released today. The Femme Fatale singer passed competitors Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to take the number one spot.
The best part of Spears becoming the #1 female earner of 2012 is that she never went on tour or released an album. She earned $58 million thanks to residual income from her Femme Fatale Tour; her latest album, Femme Fatale, being certified platinum; her $15 million X Factor salary; sales from her fragrance line with Elizabeth Arden and numerous celebrity endorsements.
“I think people love the comeback story—Britney never really finished her run as a superstar,” author Steve Stoute told Forbes.
Entertainment attorney Lori Landew, who helped Spears sign her first record contract, commented, “Britney has an electricity that connects with audiences on screen and off, and it is that intangible quality that always seems to leave her fans, old and new, breathless.”
Taylor Swift barely missed first place, coming in second with a whopping $57 million. The “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” singer grossed over a $1 million per night and sold over 1.2 million copies of her fourth studio album, Red.
The Top 10 Highest Paid Female Musicians of 2012 are as follows:
- Britney Spears – $58 million
- Taylor Swift – $57 million
- Rihanna – $53 million
- Lady Gaga – $52 million
- Katy Perry – $45 million
- Beyonce – $40 million
- Adele – $35 million
- Sade – $33 million
- Madonna – $30 million
- Shakira – $20 million
