Who are the highest paid women in music?

With the gender pay gap still blighting literally almost every job around, we think it’s important to celebrate when women slay their particular industry. That’s why we were so psyched to learn of Forbes‘ highest paid females in music.

While 2016 hasn’t necessarily been smooth sailing for anyone (and rocky waters could still be ahead…), this confusing and tumultuous year has shown us one thing: women in pop music absolutely S-L-A-Y. From Rihanna to Beyoncé; and Barbra Streisand to Britney Spears, some of the year’s best new music has been produced by women and that’s totally and utterly awesome.

So who are the highest paid women in music?

The list, published by Forbes yesterday (November 2nd), takes into account a variety of different factors, mainly revenues generated from record sales, merchandise, endorsements, and touring, and charters that income from between June 2015-June 2016.

Rounding off the top 10 is Celine Dion, who, along with Shania Twain, Jennifer Lopez, and Britney Spears, have seen their incomes bolstered by their residencies in Las Vegas. Similarly, despite not releasing an album since 2013, Katy Perry landed at number six on the list. The singer is currently working on the follow up to her last record, Prism, and earlier this summer released the stand alone single “Rise,” the theme song to NBC’s coverage of the 2016 Rio Olympic games.

Speaking about the success of women, entertainment attorney Lori Landew told Forbes that she was incredibly pleased with how women were faring financially in the music industry.

"I take enormous pleasure and comfort in the fact that female artists are growing in success both in terms of revenues earned and their influence in the music industry, she said. "Many of these artists are enjoying what I see as a continuing cultural shift that allows and enables them to shed prior societal constructs imposed on them about how they should sound or look or dress on stage or on screen in order to appeal to a broader audience."

Tbh, we couldn’t agree more.

Landing at number five is Beyoncé.

As Forbes point out, Bey will probably be a lot higher on the list next year when things like the total slay that was the Formation World Tour are taken fully into consideration. Not to mention that Lemonade has already sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. However, the singer still took home $54 Million. 

Rihanna slips in at number four.

Again, like Beyoncé, RiRi’s position will probably be higher next year due to her incredible ANTi Tour. However, Rihanna also has huge endorsement deals with Puma, Samsung, and Dior to help, too. All of that helped RiRi earn $75 Million. 

Madonna is still the queen at number three.

While Madonna’s last album, 2015’s Rebel Heart, might have been subjected to multiple leaks and production issues, the singer is still THE biggest name when it comes to solo artists going on tour. Her Rebel Heart tour helped the singer take home $76.5 Million. Bitch, she’s Madonna after all.

Hello, it’s me…Adele at number two.

Given that she is currently the best selling female artist out there, it’s no surprise to see Adele near the top of this list. Surprisingly, the singer made most of her money from album sales from her record breaking third LP 25, which sold over 3.38 million copies in its first week in the U.S. Again, Adele’s $80.5 Million will probably be higher next year once the revenue for her recent world tour are taken into consideration.

That means that Ms. Taylor Swift tops the highest paid women in music list.

Of course, event though Taylor Swift released her career defining album 1989 in 2014, the singer’s lengthy 1989 World Tour earned nearly a quarter of a BILLION dollars. Add the fact that she shifted 3 million records during that time and endorsements with Coca-Cola, Keds, and Apple, and Taylor’s $170 million shouldn’t be that surprising.