Britney Spears is the highest paid
female musician of 2012,
according to an earnings report
released by Forbes. Spears raked
in over $58 million in 2012, beating
out Taylor Swift with $57 million.
The figures represent earnings
from May 2011 to May 2012, a
period where Spears released a
#1 album, Femme Fatale, and went
on a massive world tour. To
create the earnings rankings,
Forbes complied income from
record sales, touring,
endorsements, merchandise and
various business ventures. Tours
are huge money makers, as they
also tend to sell lots of
merchandise. Many of the other
top earners also embarked on
wildly successful international
tours, including Rihanna, Lady
Gaga and Katy Perry.
Beyonce managed to make the list
even with a relatively quiet 2011
and 2012. She released 4 in early
2011, but did not tour to support
the record, taking some time off
to give birth to daughter Blue Ivy.

The rest of the Forbes list
includes:

3. Rihanna, $54 million.
4. Lady Gaga, $52 million.
5. Katy Perry, $45 million.
6. Beyonce, $40 million.
7. Adele, $35 million.
8. Sade, $33 million.
9. Madonna, $30 million.
10. Shakira, $20 million.

www.popularcritic.com/2012/12/13/britney-spears-highest-earning-musician-in-2012-x-factor-future-unknown/