Rihanna’s earnings fall 50 per cent in 2015

(Caribbean 360): Barbadian superstar Rihanna ranks No 10 on Forbes’ annual list of the top-earning women in music. Rihanna, who is 27, earned US$26 million in 2015, about half of what she earned the year before.

Citing the reasons for Rihanna’s lower earnings, Forbes said that after seven albums in eight years through 2012, Rihanna has gone quite some time without a full-length release, and she only played nine dates during the magazine’s scoring period, which by the way, runs from the middle of 2014 to the middle of 2015 —resulting in a lower-than-usual finish on the top earners’ list.

Meanwhile, Katy Perry is No 1 on Forbes’ 2015 list of the highest earning women in music.

Thanks to her Prismatic World Tour, which included 126 shows during Forbes’ scoring period, and deals with Coty, Claire’s and Cover Girl, Perry, 31, earned an estimated US$135 million from June 1, 2014, to June 1, 2015, to clinch the No. 1 spot.

In the No 2 position is Taylor Swift, 25, who earned an estimated US$80 million following the launch of her widely successful pop album “1989” in October 2014, which has sold more than 3.6 million copies to date.

The iconic five-member band Fleetwood Mac is in third position, qualifying because they have two female members, Stevie Nicks and the returning Christine McVie. The band earned an estimated US$59.5 million, mainly from touring, clinching the No. 3 spot.

Lady Gaga landed in the No 4 spot with US$59 million, comprised of her 66 shows during the scoring period and deals with fashion house Versace, Mac cosmetics and profits from her Fame fragrance.

And rounding out the top five is Beyoncé with US$54.5 million, courtesy of her On the Run Tour with hubby Jay Z. That tour grossed over $100 million during 19 show dates in North America.