2/13/2009

in

Cynthia Qi

Madonna becomes the top-earning musician of 2008 with $242.2 million. Her album, *Hard Candy*, ranked 50th best-selling and her digital downloads ranked 14th last year. But, Madonna made her way to the top of Billboard's 2008 moneymakers list with the highest earning Sticky and Sweet Tour.  
  
The number two earner was Bon Jovi with $157 million income; Bruce Springsteen follows closely by $156 million. They are followed by the Police with $110 million, Celine Dion with $99.2 million, Kenny Chesney's $90.8 million, Neil Diamond's 82.2 million, Rascal Flatts' $63.5 million, the Jonas Brothers with $62.6 million and Coldplay ranked #10 at $62.1 million.  
  
It seems that tours are great moneymakers; all the singers on the list went on tour last year, and the top five had the five biggest tours of 2008.