(CelebrityAccess) — Forbes has released its latest list of the best paid musical artists in 2016, with Taylor Swift topping the list. Even though Swift's last tour, the 1989 World Tour, wrapped up at the end of last year, some seven-figure endorsements for products such as AT&T, Diet Coke, and Apple helped to push Swift to the top, earning her $170m.
“She not only delivers with solid music and great live concert performance experiences, but she is also young, poised, beautiful and—so far—relatively non-controversial,” attorney Lori Landew of Fox Rothschild told Forbes. “Brands … see her as a safe and reliable spokesperson who is very aware of her brand equity and is strategic about protecting its value.”
British 'boy band' One Direction came in at #2, earning $110 million in 2016. That's despite the band losing a member in the middle of their tour last year and going on hiatus.
British singer Adele took the #3 spot, earning $80.5m in 2016, bolstered by her third studio album "25" which was released last year as well as her current Adele Live tour.
Here are Forbes Highest Paid Artists of 2016:
1. Taylor Swift ($170m)
2. One Direction ($110m)
3. Adele ($80.5m)
4. Madonna ($76.5m)
5. Rihanna ($75m)
6. Garth Brooks ($70m)
7. AC/DC ($67.5m)
8. Rolling Stones ($66.5m)
9. Calvin Harris ($63m)
10. Diddy ($62m)
11. Bruce Springsteen ($60.5m)
12. Paul McCartney ($56.5m)
13. Justin Bieber ($56m)
13. Kenny Chesney ($56m)
15. U2 ($55m)
15. The Weeknd ($55m)
17. Beyoncé ($54m)
18. Jay Z ($53.5m)
19. Luke Bryan ($53m)
20. Muse ($49m)
