We all can’t live without music, right? As much as we love it, we also know that it can be a tricky career choice. However, there are also songwriters who have successfully made a name for themselves in the industry. Moreover, there are people who have earned millions of dollars as a musician. Let’s see which artists have managed to earn the most in the competitive music industry. Do you think your favorite songwriter made the cut?
Sia
The Australian record producer, singer, songwriter, and music video director is best known for her hit songs and amazing voice. Sia is the person behind songs performed by other artists as well. Just take a look at Rihanna’s “Diamonds” if you need an example. She has enjoyed a lengthy career, but she had not always been commercially successful. Nonetheless, she kept making new works and finally made it big when she released the 2013 album called 1000 Forms of Fear. “Chandelier” became a big hit and the music video starred little Maddie Ziegler from Dance Moms.
Sia
Beck
Beck David Campbell, better known as simply Beck, is popular for his extraordinary ability to go into different musical styles and genres. Over the course of his career, he has written songs in different genres like Americana, alternative, folk, hip-hop, pop, and more. He is an incredibly talented musician, that’s for sure. His mainstream success began when his 1994 single called “Loser” came out. The song went on to become even more popular when it was released in his album Mellow Gold later that same year. It shot him to international stardom and it did not take long before record labels began fighting over him.
Beck
John Mayer
We all know who John Mayer is, but do you know his story? He attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music, dropped out, and went on to become a multi-millionaire. Even though he had humble beginnings, he managed to become a successful artist early on in life. Room for Squares was initially released on the internet but Columbia Records remastered it for a release. His songs “Your Body is a Wonderland” and “Why Georgia” were soon heard blaring on the radio. His second album is called Heavier Things and while it did not perform as well on the market, it was still positively received. He now has a net worth of $40 million!
John Mayer
Ariana Grande
Everyone first got to know Ariana Grande as Cat Valentine when she starred in the Nickelodeon TV show, Victorious. After this, she achieved the status of a teen idol and it did not take long before she entered the music scene. She started performing in 2011 when she provided a soundtrack for the show. She has three albums now: Yours Truly, My Everything, and Sweetener. She is a familiar face on the Billboard 200 and she made a name for herself as the first female artist after Kesha to have made it to the top of the charts with her debut. We love you, Ari!
Ariana Grande
Paul Simon
During the days when he was working with Art Garfunkel, Paul Simon penned some of their greatest hits like “Mrs. Robinson”, “Bridge over Troubled Water”, and “The Sound of Silence”. The duo became incredibly popular, though they decided to go their own ways in 1970. Simon then launched a solo career, and this proved to be a great choice. He has since earned sixteen Grammys, three of which were for the Best Album of the Year award. His most popular hits include songs like “Kodachrome”, “Loves Me Like a Rock”, and “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”.
Paul Simon
Michael Bublé
There has been some confusion about the future of his career. In particular, no one is sure if he is planning to retire any time soon. In October 2018, he informed Daily Mail that he is leaving the music industry. However, his management later called the statements mere “tabloid stories”. Did you know that he had a rather unusual breakthrough? In 2000, an aide to Brian Mulroney, the former Canadian prime minister, saw him perform and then handed his boss the album. Mulroney then invited Bublé to perform at his daughter’s wedding ceremony and it was there that he met the producer David Foster.
Michael Bublé
Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend first made waves when he was a member of the English rock band, The Who. He worked as the main songwriter of the band and ended up writing more than 100 songs for the 11 albums the band released over the years. Fascinatingly, he has also penned numerous magazine and newspaper articles. However, he received his big break when they released their third single called “My Generation”. Here is what the writer Mark Wilkerson had to say about the song: “It cemented their reputation as a hard-nosed band who reflected the feelings of thousands of pissed-off adolescents at the time.”
Pete Townshend
Janet Jackson
The youngest member of the Jacksons earned a name for herself when she started singing on “The Jacksons” back in 1976. She went on to appear in other TV shows in those days and launched her music career when she signed with A&M in 1982. Nine years later, she signed a multi-million dollar deal with Virgin. She has since become a pop culture icon and appeared in numerous films. Billboard actually called her the second greatest artist of the ’90s, only bested by none other than Mariah Carey. Jackson has sold more than 100 million records over the years.
Janet Jackson
Sting
Born Gordon Matthew Thomas Summer, Sting is a well-known actor, singer, musician, and songwriter. Of course, he first came under the spotlight when The Police was formed in 1977. However, he was also able to launch a solo career in 1986. Early on in his career, “Roxanne” and “Every Breath You Take” became huge hits. When you combine both acts, he has taken home 16 Grammy awards and sold around 100 million records. Impressively, his debut solo album called The Dream of the Blue Turtles went triple platinum. The same goes for his third album, which included the song “Desert Rose”.
Sting
Tim Rice
The English musician is best known for the songs he wrote for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Together, they collaborated on Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He has also worked with Dreamworks, ABBA, and Elton John. It was in 1966 that he first launched his career under EMI Records. The lyricist has gone a long way and he has since won an Academy, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, and Tony award. In 1994, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and earned his very own spot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Tim Rice
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is better known as Lady Gaga. The pop sensation made a name for herself with her visual experimentation and catchy pop hits. We adore her! You might not know that she has worked as a songwriter for artists like Fergie, Britney Spears, The Pussycat Dolls, and Britney Spears. We daresay she deserved her big break after helping these celebrities with their careers! She released The Fame, which contained her songs “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”, in 2008. It bagged the top spot of the charts in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe.
Lady Gaga
Nana Mouskouri
If you are not from Europe, this might be the first time that you hear of this talented musician. The Greek singer Iōánna Moúschouri, better known as Nana Mouskouri, is one of the best-selling musicians on the planet. She has released 200 albums and singles in 12 languages! How impressive is that? Anyway, she first made it big when she sang “The White Rose of Athens”. It was recorded in the German language even though it was an adaptation of a Greek song. She mostly works in genres like Greek folk, pop, jazz, and folk. Give her a listen if you haven’t yet!
Nana Mouskouri
Julio Iglesias
You probably know who Enrique Iglesias is, though you should not sleep on his father Julio! Like his son, he is a wonderful singer-songwriter as well. Hailing from Madrid, the older Iglesias has recorded songs in 14 languages, sold over 250 million records, and won many accolades. He earned international renown with his Latin pop songs, but his list of talents does not end there. When he was younger, he took up law and played pro football! Although he was doing well as an athlete, he got into a car accident that put a stop to his sports career. The incident led him to study the guitar to regain some dexterity. And as they say, the rest is history.
Julio Iglesias
Justin Bieber
Are you old enough to remember when Justin Bieber was just starting out? He caught everyone’s attention after Scooter Braun discovered his YouTube videos. In 2008, he signed onto RBMG and it was not long before he released his debut EP. The full-length album came out in 2010 and everyone began singing to his hit song, “Baby”. He has come a long way from the long-haired adolescent we knew back then and earned a bit of a bad boy reputation. He has since won numerous awards, came out with four albums, appeared on the big screen, and threw the tabloids into frenzy multiple times.
Justin Bieber
Cher
Cher is an Armenian-American actress and singer who first entered the industry when she performed with her then-husband, Sonny Bono. As Sonny & Cher, the couple released different 60’s hits such as “I Got You, Babe”. She launched her solo career around the same time and everyone enjoyed her songs like “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”. She has appeared in film projects like Witches of Eastwick and Moonstruck as well. After the death of Sonny, she continued making music and earning a different level of fame. She has even been dubbed the “Goddess of Pop”! Her most recent album is called Dancing Queen and she is currently in Las Vegas for a residency.
Cher
Taylor Swift
You probably know that there are songwriters who prefer to keep their lyrics vague. Taylor Swift is definitely not like them. She first made it big when she signed an artist development contract with RCA Records and worked with the songwriter named Liz Rose. According to Rose, she was more like an “editor” since Swift did not need a lot of help with songwriting. Swift later joined Big Machine and came out with a self-titled album that reached a previously untapped market: teen girls who like country. The 29-year-old musician has since sold over 40 million albums! It is also impressive to learn that she has brought home 23 Billboard awards, 10 Grammy awards, and 12 Country Music Association awards.
Taylor Swift
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger is one of the most prominent veterans of the music biz. The former frontman of The Rolling Stones has also launched a successful solo career. Now 75 years old, he continues to fill arenas and sell out shows. Did you know that he once matriculated at the London School of Economics and considered becoming a politician or journalist? In 1963, he dropped out and focused more on his music career. The Rolling Stones soon signed a deal with Decca and got three times the regular royalty rate for new acts. When he went solo, Mick Jagger recorded three albums, the most recent of which is Goddess in the Doorway.
Mick Jagger
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen” first became popular as the leader of the rock band, the E Street Band. This New Jersey native made it big with Born to Run as well as Born in the U.S.A. Over the years, he has sold over 135 million records, so it comes as no surprise to hear that he is one of the best-selling artists ever. He earned his big break in 1975 when he performed in New York City together with his band. He soon began appearing in magazines and going on tours. If you ask us, Born to Run deserves its fame with its political yet poetic lyrics.
Bruce Springsteen
Beyoncé
Did you know that Beyoncé Knowles had a humble beginning? It’s true – her mother worked as a hairdresser while her father worked as Xerox sales manager in Texas. They discovered how talented she was early on and she went to performing arts schools to hone her skills. She and her childhood friends later formed Girl’s Tyme and this later morphed into Destiny’s Child. They later signed with Columbia and earned popularity with “No, No, No”. After the girl group disbanded, Bey decided to go solo. Listen to “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”, “Crazy in Love”, and Lemonade if you are not convinced that this was a great choice.
Beyoncé
Celine Dion
Celine Dion is a Québécoise singer who earned international fame when she won the Yamaha World Popular Song Festival in 1982 and then the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988. She studied the English language and then signed onto Epic Records. In 1990, she released an album in English called Unison. It was positively received in North America and she later released hits such as “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now”, “My Heart Will Go On”, and “The Power of Love”. Even though she is best known for her English ballads, she never stopped releasing records in the French language.
Celine Dion
Jon Bon Jovi
Born John Francis Bongiovi Jr., Jon Bon Javi made a name for himself as the lead singer of the rock band called Bon Jovi. He became popular with the group when their single called “Runaway” made it to the Top 40s chart during the ’80s. True success only came when they released their third album, however. Their fourth album is called New Jersey and it sold more than 10 million copies. In 2009, Jon Bon Jovi was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Bon Jovi was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just last year.
Jon Bon Jovi
Elton John
Did you know that Elton John’s real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight? He launched his music career by playing piano in different pubs. In 1973, his album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road received critical acclaim and shot him into stardom. To this day, his songs like “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”, “Bennie and the Jets”, and “Candle in the Wind” continue to be fan favorites. Aside from his 30 studio albums, he also worked on the soundtrack of The Lion King and Aida. He also performed at the funeral of Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey. He has also received the accolade of Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Elton John
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton first stole our hearts when she appeared on The Porter Wagoner Show. After this, she signed a deal with RCA Records. Unfortunately, her initial efforts did not receive much attention from mainstream audiences. Things changed when she released a single called “Joshua” in 1971, however. She then went on to release hit songs such as “The Right Combination”, “Travelin’ Man”, and “Coat of Many Colors”. From 1974 until 1980, she has been a consistent presence in the Top 10 country charts. Later, she went into pop music and the 1977 release Here You Come Again was her first one to break the million dollar mark.
Dolly Parton
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey became popular for her hit songs “Emotions” and “Visions of Love”. We love her amazing vocals and trademark singing technique! In the ’90s, she became a best-selling artist and signed a jaw-dropping $100 million contract with Columbia in 2000. Over the years, Carey sold over 200 million records all over the world. She might have had a humble background, but her breakthrough happened when Tommy Mottola, head of Columbia, received her demo. Critics and fans praised her debut album and this was the beginning of her awe-inspiring career. Many R&B singers continue to credit her as a huge influence and it is easy to see why.
Mariah Carey
Jimmy Buffett
While he has a “beach bum” persona, do not make the mistake of thinking that Jimmy Buffett is a lazy man! The hard-working singer-songwriter has actually dabbled in business, acting, real estate, and film production as well. He made a name for himself with “Margaritaville” back in 1977. During the ’80s, his concerts were always packed and even earned more money than his albums did. His business savvy led him to capitalize on the trademark Margaritaville lifestyle and opened a store in Key West, his hometown. He also launched a Margaritaville Café franchise and co-developed Cheeseburger in Paradise.
Jimmy Buffett
Madonna
Did you know that Madonna originally relocated to New York City in order to pursue a dance career? However, she landed gigs performing in rock bands and signed a contract with Sire Records. You can find “Lucky Star”, “Borderline”, and “Holiday” in her self-titled debut. Nonetheless, it was her second album that made her the star she is these days. We are talking about Like a Virgin, of course. She has since gone on world tours, appeared on the big screen, created a documentary, directed films, and entered different business ventures. She is also a philanthropist and has earned the most watched Super Bowl Halftime performance ever with 114 million views.
Madonna
Bono
It seems like Larry Mullen Jr. AKA Bono is capable of doing anything you can think of! The Irishman is a philanthropist, singer, businessman, songwriter, venture capitalist, and Grammy award winner. He would be a totally different person if he did not join U2. The band was formed in 1976 when he and the other members responded to an ad created by Larry Mullen Jr. They achieved their first success when they released Boy in 1980. It earned great reviews and “I Will Follow” went on to reach the 20th spot on the charts. Bono has made a name for himself for his charity work and business ventures as well.
Bono
Dr. Dre
He is not a medical professional, but he definitely worked hard on making those sick beats. Andre Romelle Young, better known as Dr. Dre, first achieved success as a DJ and producer for the hip-hop act called N.W.A. The group featured the likes of Eazy E, DJ Yella, and Ice Cube. He later became a producer and solo artist. The Chronic was his first solo work and it was produced by none other than the infamous Suge Knight. It goes without saying that Dre later decided to break it off with Knight. He went on to produce successful artists, launched Aftermath Entertainment, appeared in different films, and co-produced Straight Outta Compton.
John Lennon
To this day, Lennon remains an incredibly popular icon. He became popular when he co-founded the legendary rock band, The Beatles. The musical group attained mainstream success back in 1963 after an appearance on the UK television program called Royal Variety Show and the US television program called The Ed Sullivan Show. They began to explore new visions when they released Abbey Road and The White Album. The band split up in 1969 and he then pursued different musical avenues and launched activism efforts with his partner, Yoko Ono.
John Lennon
Sean Combs
Sean Combs has gone by a variety of names over the years: Puff, Diddy, Puff Diddy, P. Diddy. Most people recognize him from his work on the MTV program called “Making the Band”. However, it was the music ventures that ended up becoming more lucrative. The actor, singer, rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, and producer achieved prominence when his debut album was released. It was called No Way Out and went seven times platinum! To say the least, this was rare for debut albums. He followed this up with other well-received albums. He has entered the world of business as well.
Sean Combs
Michael Jackson
Love him or hate him, there is simply no way we can deny that he was one of the biggest musicians of the 20th century. He first attained stardom as a member of the Jackson 5 alongside his siblings Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Tito. In 1971, he began his highly successful solo career under Motown Records. He released timeless songs like “Bad”, “Thriller”, and “Dirty Diana”. He is actually the third best-selling artist in history! He is believed to have sold more than 350 million records over the years. He passed away at the age of 50, but needless to say, he will never be forgotten.
Michael Jackson
Herb Alpert
Jazz music artist Herb Alpert is also a music executive at the label called A&M Records. As a matter of fact, the ‘A’ in the name of the company stands for his name! The latter half stands for Jerry Moss. It was later sold to Polygram, though most remember the label for its impact on the music industry. He learned music from his parents when he was a young boy in Los Angeles. He later formed bands of his own and composed songs for Sam Cooke and other musicians. Other accomplishments include 28 Billboard chart albums, nine Grammys, 15 gold albums, and 14 platinum albums. Impressively, he has managed to sell over 72 million albums!
Herb Alpert
Jay-Z
Jay-Z might just be one of the most famous rappers in history! Born Shawn Corey Carter, Jay-Z has earned the most albums by a solo artist to have reached the top spot of the Billboard 200 chart. He is also the first rapper to have made it to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He paid his dues to make it big in the music industry and he has even sold records from his car! His debut album earned him a distribution deal and it ended up reaching the 23rd spot on the Billboard 200. Oh, did we mention he is the husband of Beyoncé herself?
Jay-Z
Paul McCartney
Hold up, don’t forget to talk a ‘sir’ before his name! He began his musical career as a member of the Beatles. We will never forget his legendary violin bass and harmonization with John Lennon! His notable songwriting efforts for the band include “Hey Jude”, “Paperback Writer”, and “Yesterday”. Before the band broke up, he pushed for the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band first. Fans were heartbroken when they learned of the disbandment, but it also marked the beginning of his solo career. He has since become one of the richest musicians in history. He is actually a billionaire by now!
Paul McCartney
Andrew Lloyd Webber
If the title of the wealthiest songwriter in the world does not impress you, maybe the fact that Andrew Lloyd Webber is an EGOT winner will. If you don’t know that is, it means he is an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award winner! He was already passionate about music even when he was a young boy. At the age of 15, he set music to a book called Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Yup, this was the beginning of the hit musical Cats! Webber pursued his passion in musical theater when he studied at the Royal College of Music. He was just a teenager when he started working with Tim Rice, who ended up becoming his longtime collaborator. Together, they went on to make some of the best-loved musicals the world has ever seen.
Andrew Lloyd Webber