Billboard Magazine has compiled a list of the musicians who earnt the most in the United States in 2011.

Due to the concert business rebounding strongly thanks to an improving economy artists who were touring faired the best and touring income was the biggest source of income for these top earners.

Billboard used a variety of sources to calculate artist earnings including touring, recorded-music sales, publishing royalties and payments from an array of digital services.

Their calculations were based on each artist’s net earnings in the United States, not gross revenue.

So sit back, and fantasise about the money you could be making if you were one of the top musicians in America.

40. Linkin Park
$5,190,655

39. Kanye West
$5,363,661

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38. Mötley Crüe
$5,376,272

37. Steely Dan
$5,389,509

36. New Kids On The Block
$5,519,805

35. Justin Bieber
$5,523,459

34. Sugarland
$5,632,406

33. Backstreet Boys
$5,712,050

32. Rush
$5,819,304

31. Foo Fighters
$6,013,257

30. Usher
$6,292,586

29. Rod Stewart
$6,388,756

28. Zac Brown Band
$6,481,564

27. Keith Urban
$6,579,695

26. Lady Antebellum
$6,676,450

25. Paul McCartney
$6,726,519

24. The Beatles
$6,743,863

23. Enrique Iglesias
$7,448,670

22. Rihanna
$7,660,833

21. Brad Paisley
$8,602,374

20. Michael Bublé
$9,027,177

19. Tim McGraw
$9,335,258

18. Rascal Flatts
$9,639,270

17. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
$10,017,031

16. Britney Spears
$10,090,973

15. Toby Keith
$10,413,127

14. Katy Perry
$11,969,426

13. Elton John
$11,973,990

12. Journey
$12,313,822

11. “Glee” Cast
$12,587,771

10. Adele
$13,081,909

9. Jason Aldean
$13,409,011

8. Celine Dion
$14,261,515

7. Bon Jovi
$15,835,856

6. Sade
$16,382,809

5. Lil Wayne
$23,178,722

4. Lady Gaga
$25,353,039

3. Kenny Chesney
$29,837,103

2. U2
$32,116,315

1. Taylor Swift
$35,719,902

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