Late last week, Billboard released a list of the 50 highest-paid musicians of 2018, totaling the income for artists across genres. EDM artists were noticeably absent, with the exception of The Chainsmokers, who made the list at number 50. The duo’s 2017 album Memories… Do Not Open is credit for the bulk of their income; the album also positioned The Chainsmokers as the fourth most-downloaded artist, according to Billboard’s tally. Other high-earning DJs, including Calvin Harris, are nowhere to be seen.
Country and rock artists dominate the list, primarily via income from nation or world-wide tours. Notably, U2 made the cut for the first time and earned the number 1 spot after their Joshua Tree tour across the U.S. Artists such as Britney Spears, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Panic! at the Disco also made the list, though a large number of artists in the pop and hip-hop genres fall towards the end of the list.
The appearance of an EDM artist on this year’s list marks a stark change from last year’s list of money makers, which excluded the genre entirely. Despite the grim outlook provided by a report on the global EDM market in Ibiza this year, it appears that some artists, like The Chainsmokers, are adjusting remarkably well to changes in the market and are continuing to thrive.
What artists surprised you on the list? What artists do you expect to see make the list in the coming years? Let us know in the comments!
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