Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is Billboard's 'Top Money Maker' of 2013.

The 'I Knew You Were Trouble' singer earned $39.7m from a combination of music sales, royalties, and touring last year, with the large sum placing her ahead of Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and The Rolling Stones on the annual list.

Taylor previously held the title in 2012, before being beaten to the top spot by Madonna last year.

However, the 24-year-old singer's 'Red Tour' helped her to get ahead on the list this year, with six months in the US bringing in a reported $30m.

The staggering sum is notwithstanding the three sponsorship deals which accompanied the tour - due to lack of data - but the trade publication estimates the deals totted up seven figures.

Kenny Chesney has risen to second place, while Justin Timberlake sits behind in third, following his chart comeback last year with 'The 20/20 Experience', his first album in seven years.

Rock acts Bon Jovi and The Rolling Stones round up the top five coming in fourth and fifth place respectively.

Meanwhile, Beyonce's surprise self-titled album released in December has earned her sixth place, gruelling 132 date 'The Mrs.Carter Show World Tour' bringing in an estimated $19.9m in the US leg alone.

Billboard's Top 10 music money makers 2013

Taylor Swift - $39.7m

Kenny Chesney - $32.9m

Justin Timberlake - $31.5m

Bon Jovi - $29.4m

Rolling Stones - $26.2m

Beyonce - $24.4m

Maroon 5 - $22.3m

Luke Bryan- $22.1m

Pink - $20m

Fleetwood Mac - $19m


by for www.femalefirst.co.uk
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