Country music – you either love it or you hate it.
But figures suggest that there’s been a lot more love than hate in recent years as country music has become more mainstream. In fact, as Forbes reports, country artists are even surpassing mainstream pop in music sales: Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” was the fourth most downloaded song in 2013, ranking above many of the year’s most iconic songs, including Lorde’s “Royals” and Katy Perry’s “Roar.”
This increase in sales also comes at a time when country music is being accused of losing its roots in order to be played on mainstream radio. But regardless of the reason for country’s growth, its increasing prominence can’t be denied. With the vocal prowess of Carrie Underwood or the infectious charm of Taylor Swift, it’s hard not to find oneself drawn to the genre.
So which artists made the cut? Join us as we count down the highest-earning country musicians of 2014.
Image via INFphoto.com
[ new page = Florida Georgia Line ]
10. Florida Georgia Line - $24 million
Florida Georgia Line has had quite the year. The duo burst onto the scene a year and a half ago with their debut album Here’s To The Good Times. Since its release, it’s sold roughly 2 million copies. The biggest song on the album, by far, has been the crossover hit “Cruise.” It has gone 7x platinum, becoming the top-selling country single since the advent of digital downloads.
[ new page = George Strait ]
9. George Strait - $26 million
George Strait is known as the “King of Country,” and for good reason. Coming in at ninth place with a whopping total of $26 million earned in 2014, Strait had the final show of his career in June. The show broke the records for total fans and money grossed for a single-show country concert, with 104,793 fans and an $18 million gross.
[ new page = Rascal Flatts ]
8. Rascal Flatts - $27 million
Rascal Flatts is one of the driving forces behind country’s mainstream success, widening country’s audience since their start in 2000. From old hits like “Bless the Broken Road” and “What Hurts the Most” to their latest No. 1 single, “Rewind,” Rascal Flatts is no stranger to the top of the charts.
[ new page = Keith Urban ]
7. Keith Urban - $28 million
A newbie to this list, Keith Urban has raked in a lot of cash this year. Besides his music career, Urban has also tried his hand at television. In 2011, he joined Australia’s version of The Voice as a coach, and then in 2012, he replaced Steven Tyler as a judge for American Idol. He will continue as a judge for the upcoming season. Check out his latest single below.
[ new page = Zac Brown Band ]
6. Zac Brown Band - $29 million
It’s been said that touring is the new moneymaker in the music industry, and that’s certainly been true for the Zac Brown Band. Despite not releasing an album since 2012, they’re still riding high with their crazy touring schedule and revenue. The group has had 84 shows during the scoring period, thereby solidifying their spot in the top 10.
[ new page = Luke Bryan ]
5. Luke Bryan - $34 million
One of Luke Bryan’s favorite pastimes seems to be breaking records. At the first stop of his “That’s My Kind of Night Tour,” he broke the all-time country record for tickets sold at a concert. He’s also made history as the first artist to hold the top two positions at once on the Billboard Country chart since its start in 1990. The two singles were, respectively, “Play It Again” and “This Is How We Roll.” If that’s not enough, he’s also had 10 No. 1 singles and sold 6.2 million albums and 23.1 digital tracks.
[ new page = Jason Aldean ]
4. Jason Aldean - $37 million
Jason Aldean is cashing in as a crossover act. With a rock edge to his music, Aldean has seen every one of his studio albums go platinum. Like the Zac Brown Band, he also sees the virtue in touring heavily. With 88 shows during the scoring period, Aldean has more than doubled his earnings since last year. Today, “Burnin’ It Down,” a single from his upcoming studio album, hit the top of the Billboard Digital Songs Chart.
[ new page = Kenny Chesney ]
3. Kenny Chesney - $44 million
Kenny Chesney is a staple in country music. With 14 studio albums under his belt and another on the way, Chesney is a pro at staying relevant. His upcoming CD, Big Revival, is set to be released on Sept. 23 and promises to bring a fresh sound to the table. Promising to be more aggressive and expansive than anything he’s released yet, who knows what surprises Chesney has in store. Until September, fans can enjoy the first single from the album, hit song “American Kids.”
[ new page = Taylor Swift ]
2. Taylor Swift - $64 million
With a leap of $20 million over third place artist Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift has once again dominated the field. Thanks to the release of Red, the extensive tour that followed and numerous product endorsements, Swift has had her best year yet monetarily. Unlike many others in the music industry, Swift is quite optimistic about the future of music. Considering her success, it’s no wonder she’s so positive. Her op-ed on the future of the music industry can be found at the Wall Street Journal.
[ new page = Toby Keith ]
1. Toby Keith - $65 million
Claiming earnings of $335 million over the past six years, this is the second consecutive year that Toby Keith has claimed the top spot for country earners. In fact, not only did Keith beat out all other country artists, he also out-earned superstars Diddy and Jay Z. Move over mainstream music, country is taking over.