Forbes: Katy Perry is highest-paid female music star
Katy Perry attends the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala on Nov. 10 in Culver City, Calif. Credit: Getty Images for Baby2Baby/Matt Winkelmeyer
After only reaching the bottom half of the list over the last two years, Katy Perry has reclaimed her No. 1 spot from 2015 on Forbes magazine's annual list of the 10 highest-paid women in music.
While her estimated $83 million earned between June 1, 2017, and June 1, 2018, is less than the $135 million she made to claim the top slot three years ago, the 34-year-old singer made enough to edge out Taylor Swift, 28, who earned $80 million to reach No. 2. Both made the bulk of their money on stadium tours, with Perry additionally earning more than $20 million as a judge on ABC's "American Idol," Forbes said.
Last year's top woman, Beyoncé, 37, comes in at No. 3 with $60 million earned in part from her On the Run II tour and her first joint album with husband Jay-Z, "Everything is Love." Pink, 39, who last made the list in 2014, is No. 4 this year with $52 million gleaned largely from her Beautiful Trauma tour.
Rounding out the top five is Lady Gaga, 32, who last appeared in 2015 and earned an estimated $50 million through touring, contracts with Versace and MAC, her fragrance Fame and her movie star-making turn in the current hit remake of "A Star Is Born.”
Making her debut on the list is Russian star Helene Fischer, 34, at No. 8 with $32 million.
To compile its figures, Forbes used sources including Nielsen SoundScan and NPD BookScan as well as interviews with industry experts to estimate pretax income before fees to agents, managers and others.
