Who Are the Highest Paid Musicians? - TheStreet Jonathan Lyndale Kirk released his third studio album, Blame It on Baby, in April 2020, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and produced his highest-charting song, Rockstar featuring Roddy Ricch. Q-Tip, co-founder of the alternative hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, has been on point for over 30 years. Queen, which owns its masters, ranked second in sales royalties with $5.3 million thanks, in part, to the 2020 rerelease of its $500-plus limited-edition colored vinyl Studio Collection box set of the bands 15 studio albums. Building a reputation for delivering gritty tales in a laid-back style, accented by deep-toned, rumbling vocals and a signature dark sense of humor, Biggie went on to score 16 Hot 100 hits including two No. The band ranked third in physical sales selling 671,000 copies of its albums, 78% of which were vinyl reissues that are priced higher than CDs and thus pay higher royalties. 1 in video streams with over 1.4 billion; No. The 20 Richest Female Rappers in the World - Wealthy Gorilla The forum calculated she made $13.6 million from flowing and $1 million at the crate office, with an aggregate revenue tallied to be $32.8 million. 5 in digital track sales (close to 1 million). 1, topping the chart for three weeks Wayne successfully exploded onto the mainstream, setting the stage for rap hopefuls and fellow Billboard all-time chart stars Drake and Nicki Minaj, both of whom Wayne helped develop into the global icons they are today by way of his Young Money/Cash Money record label. He received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honor in India, in 2018. After a disappointing debut effort with 2001s Im Serious, T.I. For the first time in the history of Money Makers, concert revenue did not determine the No. Busta Rhymes scene-stealing feature on A Tribe Called Quests 1992 single Scenario introduced a Brooklyn MC that took over the late 90s and early 00s with his animated voice and exuberant rhymes. Ed Sheeran - $200 Million. 25 (7.37 million), Kanye West at No. One fan learned the hard way when she tried to capture the moment. Her 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty established her as a lyrical powerhouse, shortly before she emerged as the First Lady of Young Money, solidifying the labels ineffable trinity of chart-conquering rap beasts with Lil Wayne and Drake. So for example, as estimable as his career is, British rapper Slick Rick isnt on this list. Touring: $0. 1 on the Billboard 200. Over a slew of genre-bending albums (Pink Friday, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, The Pinkprint) and killer guest verses (most famously on Kanye Wests Monster), Nicki has defended her title for over a decade, with incredibly animated flows and alter egos from the soft-spoken, pink-haired Harajuku Barbie to the volatile Roman Zolanski with the British cockney accent. Sales: $4M Whether its her work on Fugees blockbuster 1996 album The Score or her game-changing 1998 debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she has influenced a host of hip-hop artists over the decades. From rap's "golden age" in the 1980s to today's generation of social media-created stars, they all have one thing in common boatloads of money. 1s on the Billboard Hot 100and anotherfour on the Billboard 200 albums chart are nothing to scoff at, as Ludacris chart resum can stand up to just about any of his rap contemporaries. Lil Baby generated over 6.2 billion streams, almost 4.6 million of which were audio, for $9.1 million. Publishing: $1.6M He had a point, and OutKast certainly played a key role in that. At 19 years old, Billie Eilish is indestructible. With his impenetrable streak of commercial success hes currently the Hot 100s all-time hits leader, with nearly 300 entries to his credit he refuses to give his opposition a breather, consistently releasing projects every calendar year, including generation-defining sets like 2011s Take Care and 2013s Nothing Was The Same. Streaming: $3.9M The bubbly and perky Katy Perry (or Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) has remained a staple in the music industry since 2001. More than 20 years after making his debut on the Wus Enter the 36 Chambers, hes not done: a standout verse on Conway the Machines 2020 single Lemon found him just as sharp as ever. Last years rank: No. Revenue from merchandising, synchronization and sponsorship and livestream concerts is not included. The Wu-Tang Clan member possesses it all: unmistakable voice, impenetrable flow, witty rhymes, dark sense of humor, charm and good looks that also translated into Hollywood success. According to Billboard 's report, published on Monday (July 19), rappers Post Malone, Drake, YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Lil Baby are among the publication's Top Paid Musicians of 2020. Touring: $0. Hip-hop artists remain music's top money makers. Individually, artist streaming royalties increased a whopping 82% year to year, from $106 million to $193 million, and accounted for just under 50% of the top 40 Money Makers total income. Posty . Hailing from South Jamaica, Queens by way of Trinidad and Tobago, Nicki Minaj earned her crown as the modern-day Queen of Rap with her fierce, braggadocious spirit. Here's their take on the top 20 biggest money makers of 2020, with a YoungBoy surprise at number 9. Weve revealed 10 more rappers each week since, with the final top 10 now unveiled below. The rockers also racked up 1.3 billion in combined streams that translated to $3.9 million in royalties. He was also the beneficiary of almost 1.7 million terrestrial radio spins, which made him the fifth-most-played artist in that format. In 2020, Forbes reported that the English singer-songwriter received $64 million from his singing activities. Eight out of the top 10 artists according to the Nielsen Music mid-year report, are rappers. expunged any doubt about his MC credibility via his grit and lyrical precision. Last years rank: Touring: $313K. Sales: $10M The multi-talented artist may write, rap, produce, act and more but his wealth comes mainly from his clothing line and stakes in companies like Croc Vodka, Revolt TV and Aquahydrate. Other acts in the top 30 include Lil Uzi Vert (No. Last years rank: No. 49. The shows grossed close to $25.8 million, giving the band almost $8.8 million in take-home pay. At this point, hip-hop purists know Nas path to greatness all too well. 1 on the Billboard 200, and its title track did the same on both the Hot 100 and Top Streaming Songs charts, contributing to more than 4 billion combined streams and generating $6 million in streaming royalties. 8 in that category with 612 million streams, which contributed to a total of almost 2.7 billion combined streams, the equivalent of $3.74 million in streaming royalties. The Stones, who were 2019's top Money Maker with $65 million in take-home pay 92% of it from touring placed in the bottom 25% of this ranking without playing a single show in 2020 and . The evolution continued with the R&B, psychedelic soul, and pop-infused DAMN. And he did all of it as one of the Souths first real rap stars, showcasing lyrical complexity and emotional depth in a region that was once wholly dismissed while also making classic cuts with legends from both coasts, like Jay-Z, Nas and 2Pac. Rod Wave is among the many hip-hop artists who dominated last year and earned a spot on Billboard'sranking of the highest-paid musicians of 2020, including Travis Scott, DaBaby, Kanye West, Roddy Ricch, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, and Lil Uzi Vert. Streaming: $6.6M 1 alongside Twista and Jamie Foxx on Slow Jamz. Then came a torrent of beloved albums (Graduation, 808s & Heartbreak and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy). The fledgling labels first album to crack the top 50, Radio spent 38 weeks on the Billboard 200 and claimed platinum status in 1989. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Luke Combs $9.2 million17. Publishing: $3.2M 2021-2022 earnings: $73 million. Shawn Carter leads the rap pack with a career-best total of $470 million. 1 single, HUMBLE, the album won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, the first non-jazz or classical work to do so. 6 He also rolled deep with the Juice Crew, Marley Marls Queens-based squad whose members included MC Shan, Biz Markie, Kool G Rap and Roxanne Shante. ! And with those iconic words from the powerful 1993 anti-domestic violence statement U.N.I.T.Y., Queen Latifah cut through all the misogynistic noise. As is well known, GOAT and similar best-of lists always draw their share of criticism and praise from industry pundits and the public alike. Hip-hop artists remain musics top money makers. Signing to Death Row upon his 1995 prison release formed hip-hops strongest triumvirate, with him, Dr. Dre, and a burgeoning Snoop Dogg leading the way. The group also generated over 1.8 billion streams, which is impressive for a rock band. Albums like AmeriKKKas Most Wanted and Death Certificate still stand as some of raps most provocative works and when he wasnt sharpening his pro-Black commentary against the systemic racism crippling the community, he was equally adept at balancing tongue-in-cheek insights with feel-good storytelling, as on his timeless 1993 hit It Was a Good Day.. Is President, Paid in Full and Microphone Fiend. Rakims influence is felt in all corners of hip-hop: A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, is named after him, DMX and Eminem are self-proclaimed fans, and rappers as big as 50 Cent (via The Games Hate It or Love It) and Lil Wayne (on Lloyds Girls Around the World) have paid in-song homage to his distinctive flow. From battle rhyming (Shut the Eff Up-Hoe) to heartfelt storytelling (Poor Georgie), Lyte roared into the 90s racking up three gold singles most notably the Puffy Combs-produced Cold Rock a Party (1996), featuring an then-up-and-coming Missy Elliott. His 2002 mixtape Guess Whos Back? Last years rank: Some McDonalds locations refuse to promote the celebrity meal. Last years rank: According to Billboard's 2020 Money Makers list they published today (July 19), Post Malone, Drake and YoungBoy Never Broke Again were the three highest-earning hip-hop artists in 2020, a year that saw the COVID-19 pandemic effectively stop large-scale touring across the entire world. 20 of Instagram's Highest Paid Stars in 2023 - Influencer Marketing Hub Diddy or Puff Daddy: Sean Combs, once the world's richest rapper, has an incredible net worth of $820 million, according to Forbes. With a collection of brilliant solo albums and one of the most unmistakable styles in hip-hop history, Ghostface Killah is arguably the most accomplished rapper within the Wu-Tang Clan, which already has its own stake on any GOAT rap group list. 15, $9.5M), DaBaby (No. Its also no surprise that the dearth of live revenue led to a precipitous decline in the paychecks of musics top earners, who collectively took home $387 million in 2020, down from $969 million in 2019. Last years rank: 40 Richest Rappers of All Time | Work + Money Additionally, the OVO Sound leader earned $635,000 in sales. Jada checks off just about every box as a member of hip-hops hall of fame though a bona fide classic solo album from the Yonkers legend could have vaulted him inside this lists top 20. Wielding words like swords, Wayne is one of the most masterful lyricists of our time, delivering mind-boggling verses for the last quarter century. Last years rank: His robust output yielded a record 20th top 10 entry on the Top Rap Albums chart in 2019, claiming the title belt from Tech N9ne. Whether hes crooning his aches and pains on timeless gems (Marvins Room and Jaded) or slashing down hapless MCs (5 AM in Toronto and Omerta), Drakes virtuosic skillset has made him one of the most gifted (and most accomplished artists to ever touch down in music. Trump Didn't Sing All The Words To The National Anthem At National Championship Game. In 2020, however, they played 20 shows to 215,000 fans behind their 2019 No. Streaming: $2.1M List of East Coast hip-hop artists (rappers and rap group) The Notorious B. Theres Mind Playing Tricks on Me, his 1991 classic hit as a member of Houstons Geto Boys, or Im Dead, from his debut album that same year, Mr. Scarface Is Back. Not surprisingly, they ranked much higher on the Global Money Makers list. Publishing: $1.2M 6 with $14.2 million with most of his revenue coming from streaming ($11.7 million) and publishing ($1.9 million). The Greatest of All Time, aka the GOAT. Following Taylor Swift, who ranks No. Those shows gaveTool almost $4.2 million in take-home pay, the eighth-highest live earnings for the year and the bulk of the acts income. highest paid rappers 2020 billboard. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Billboard Lyrically, she pushed hip-hop beyond its boundaries regarding female empowerment, with a fearlessness that also imbued her innovative and still-influential music videos. Sales royalties, digital and physical, were also up 39%, from $42 million to $59 million; a trend that continues so far this year. KISS managed to play 20 shows in 2020, generating $14.8 million in ticket sales and $5 million in take-home pay, the sole reason the road warriors made the Money Makers list this year (and last year, too). Their lyrical skirmish ended in tragedy when Pac was shot and killed in a Las Vegas shooting in 96, rocking the entire music world. The album served up unapologetic street rhymes, dark humor and some of the stickiest choruses that year, thanks to two Hot 100 No. Streaming: $10.6M The highest-earning musicians, also published as the "highest-paid musicians", have been reported annually by Forbes since at least 1987. After calculating this revenue and deducting a producers fee and the musicians union cut, acts were credited with a 41% split from the SoundExchange payouts from services like Music Choice and SiriusXM. Sales: $874.7K Bring the crowd and Im loud in living color/ It is Weezy Fkin Baby, got these rappers in my stomach, Lil Wayne opens his 2005 deep cut, Best Rapper Alive, foreshadowing the years to come. 5 ranking in overall streaming royalties ($8.1million). Your IP: Singers Quiz. Jadakiss signature laugh and ah-hasqueal have signaled for decades that a lyrical masterclass was on the way. Billboard's findings are different from last year's Forbes' Highest-Paid Celebrities, which placed . It took a minute, but Common (then Common Sense) finally garnered national praise after launching one of the most celebrated three-album runs in rap history: 1994sResurrection, 1997sOne Day Itll All Make Sense and 2000sLike Water for Chocolate. 2022s Its Almost Dry earned the rapper his firstNo. The Disturbing Tha Peace label co-founders industry acclaim finally caught up to his mainstream appeal when he took home the Grammys for best rap album and best rap song Grammys in 2007, thanks to the introspective Release Therapy and its Pharrell-featuring smash lead single Money Maker., Gucci Mane went from teenage drug dealer to Atlanta rap deity in the 200s, with sedated raps and a Hollywood story Spike Lee couldnt script. Snoop Lion. He earned $2 million in publishing and $712,500 in sales. Jay-Z, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Kanye West all grabbed spots among the top five with their own 9-figure sums, most of it earned not from . Streaming: $3.7M 3 in 2020 digital album sales (295,000 copies) and No. He also performed unusually well, for a country artist, in streaming, generating 595.7 million plays on web radio, which lifted his combined streams to 1.6 billion and revenue of $2.1 million. Her fans fascination with her music videos helped her rack up nearly 671 million video streams putting her at No. Click to reveal 35 ($5.82 million). Streaming: $4.96M BILLIE EILISH. These days Kendrick's name is on every hip hop lover's lips. Rounding out the top 10 is Lil Baby with $11.7 million. In determining these rankings, the Billboard and Vibe editorial teams opted first to limit the rap arena to North America. Three 2020 releases Map of the Soul: 7, Map of the Soul: 7 The Journey and Be helped BTS sell almost 1.5 million CDs. Top 15 Rap Artists of 2022 - MSN Forbes: Highest Paid Rappers Of 2019 (Top 11-20) The act made another $1.33 million from the 785.6 million combined streams it amassed, which is typical for a group whose fans have been slow to adopt streaming. James is the 6th richest female rapper in the world. His executive producer status grew as he created his Junior Mafia clique writing and producing their 1995 Conspiracy album, then releasing JM breakout star Lil Kims Hard Core debut in 1996. 6 spot in box-office revenue. (1989) were eloquent hood testimonies. Celine Dion $17.5 million4. Under his now-retired moniker Mos Def, Brooklyn native Bey broke into the underground scene on Rawkus Records influential 1997 compilationSoundbombingwith a charismatic presence that recalled the early 80s chief rocker days of Busy Bee Starski. Wave had zero physical sales last year. He also remains a streaming giant with $8.1 million in overall royalties, plus an additional $2 million from publishing. . They also placed No .7 in publishing royalties ($2.4 million) because the original members wrote all of their songs. Sales: $215K Top earning rappers. Last Played. 17 ($9.1 million), Future at No. He was crowned the Chosen One from the jump, and had LeBron-like expectations to overcome. Sheeran landed on the Hot 100 twice in February 2020. He led Run-DMC to historic heights, as they became the first hip-hop group to flex B-Boy minimalism to the masses(Sucker MCs), go gold (1984s King of Rock), appear on MTV, reach multiplatinum status (with 1986s landmarkRaising Hell, punctuated by the boundary-breaking Aerosmith collab Walk This Way), headline arena tours and ink a major endorsement deal (Adidas). see charts legends And no conversation about that can be had without mentioning The Neptunes, Clipse and the latter duos enduring breakout star Pusha T. After reaching legendary status in the 00s alongside older brother Gene aka No Malice, Pusha later began grinding out a solo career, signing with G.O.O.D. The Highest-Paid Entertainers 2022 - Forbes While the pandemic had a disastrous effect on touring revenue, it lifted other royalty streams as music fans listened to more recorded music from the relative safety of their homes, through radio, streaming platforms or the turntable setups they bought with the money they ordinarily would have shelled out for concerts and festivals. Billboard, on the other hand, is all about the statistics. Beyonce Knowles-Carters husband has succeeded in every era, spitting regal-scented rhymes that speak to the struggle, and to the opulence that follows an intensely self-made greatness. He has definitely earned his place as one of the world's highest-paid rappers, with annual earnings of $21 million in 2020. Sales: $66.4K He wasnt necessarily the best lyricist, nor did he possess the craziest flow. Lonnie Rashid Lynn was seemingly carrying the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the entire Chicago rhyme community on his back with 1992sCan I Borrow a Dollar? Drake, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Baby Make Billboard's 'Top Paid And he hasnt gone more than four years without releasing an album since 1993. Drake & Others Listed As Highest Paid Rappers Of 2020 - Thirsty for News The Coming, Rhymes 1996 major label debut album, couldnt have sported a better title to describe his explosive entrance. This year's top 5 highest-paid musicians on a worldwide scale encompass a variety of genres that may stun you. Lil Baby eked out a tour run before the pandemic, which helped him gross $253,000 along with $152,000 in sales. Touring: $0. Income: $110 million. Sales: $970K 2 with $23.2 million, most of which came from streaming ($8.1 million) and touring ($12.4 million) before he had to shut it down due to the pandemic. Lucky for us, Jay found his early in life, and has since become your favorite rappers favorite rapper. The duos 1994 debut, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, used gospel-influenced tracks (produced by Organized Noize)to introduce the many nuances and characters of Atlanta. Sales: $310K Snoop Doggy Dogg. 1 as a guest on Rae SremmurdsBlack Beatles.. Publishing: $1.5M Streaming: $7.3M And rap artists have similarly dominated the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2020 as well. The majority of Sheeren's earnings this year were from touring. Some of the names on the list are expected . In 1987, MC Lyte bumrushed her way into hip-hops boys club with a throat-grabbing voice and dynamic lyricism that seemed well beyond her 16 years. For artists like Taylor Swift and The Rolling Stones who own only a portion of their recorded masters catalog, a blended royalty rate was used. Tariq Trotter, co-founder of the legendary Roots crew and the long-running Phillybands lead MC, still amazes rap fans with electrifying stream-of-consciousness radio freestyles and brilliant live performances. Rhymes about experiencing a mental health crisis? Streaming royalty rates applied were 22% for new hit artists; 33% for superstar artists, 46% for heritage artists and 74% for artists that own their master recordings. It's impossible to overstate the influence of rap on popular culture. We're always a bit suspicious of Forbes highest-paid musician lists, as there seem to be some shenanigans involved with their accounting. Top 10 Richest UK Rappers In 2021: Their Net Worth And Pictures Streaming: $3.2M Cheryl James is an American songwriter and rapper who is best known for being a member of the rap trio Salt-H-Pepa which also includes Sandra Denton and Spinderella. Billboard has released its highest-paid musicians of 2020. Chuck held everyones feet to the fire: crack dealers in the Black community (Night of the Living Baseheads); purveyors of systemic racism (Fight the Power); a ravenous press (Welcome to the Terror) and greedy corporations (Shut Em Down). Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2ad8190c8c380f Sales: $485K 1 spot on the list and because of the pandemic had little influence over the ranking in general. Grande was 2019s No. Em also certifiably spits a mile a minute, breaking Guinness World Records like fastest rap in a hit single with Godzilla, where he rapped 225 words in a 30-second segment. (Only living acts were included on this list.) Pink Floyd hasnt released a studio album since 2014 and it still managed to finish at No. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. The South got something to say, Andr 3000 said in rebuttal to the New York crowd booing OutKast for their best new rap group win at the 1995 Source Awards. The rollout began with the Jan. 11 reveal of the rappers ranked 50-41. Touring: $0. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news. In 1991, Large Professor tossed him an alley-oop on Main Sources posse cut Live at the Barbeque, and Escobar delivered a rim-rocker of a performance. Sales: $591.7K Last years rank: 5 most-played act of 2020 the band also generated nearly $4.9 million in income from its recorded masters, which is almost 30% of the bands overall earnings. Publishing: $5.7M Featuring Lamars first solo No. So it took a lot of deliberation and deep discussion to reason our way to what we believe is a well-thought-out, authentic list that reflects hip-hops foundational pioneers, evolutionary trailblazers and contemporary mainstays. The former honors student dropped out of school at 14 to focus on his music career, five years after entering the mentorship of Cash Money Records co-founder Birdman. Like other hip-hop artists, he lags in sales royalties, taking home $161,000. 26. YoungBoy Never Broke Again breaks into Money Makers for the first time, due almost entirely to the prodigious number of streams his music generated. Unfortunately, the same demons that bore his provocative art led to his unfortunate demise: he died of a cocaine-induced heart attack in 2021.