Oprah has held on to the top spot of Forbes‘ annual 100 most powerful and wealthiest celebrities in the world nearly every year for the past seven years but today it’s been announced that Lady GaGa has knocked her off the top spot. In total the full 100 celebrities earned a combined total of $4.5 billion over the past year but the list doesn’t just go based on money, it also goes on social media and other stuff which is how GaGa bumped Oprah because let’s face it when it comes to the media GaGa is the most used name in the world at the moment. Here is the top 10:
01. Lady GaGa
02. Oprah
03. Justin Bieber
04. U2
05. Elton John
06. Tiger Woods
07. Taylor Swift
08. Bon Jovi
09. Simon Cowell
10. LeBron James
You can check out the full 100 list over at Forbes.
The 2011 Grammy Awards took place last year so to celebrate that Billboard have come up with a list of who they think had the top 10 performances of the last 10 years. Take a look and see if you agree with any of them.
10. Gorillaz, Madonna & De La Soul, 2006
The 48th Grammys started off as no other Grammys had before — with an opening band that wasn’t even three-dimensional. Animated act Gorillaz took to the stage to perform the Record of the Year-nominated “Feel Good Inc.,” joined briefly by the real De La Soul and a hologram of Madonna. But when the real Madge appeared onstage moments later to perform her 2005 hit “Hung Up,” with its sexy dancing and ABBA samples, the Grammy crowd truly let loose.
Radiohead may have shunned the music industry in 2007 when it delivered “In Rainbows” straight to fans using a pay-what-you-want online download, but the band proved it could still play to the Academy (literally) at the 2009 Grammy Awards. Joined by the USC Marching Band, Thom Yorke and co. performed a rendition of “15 Step” that was so rousing, even the frontman shared some of his twitchy dance moves. Eat your heart out, Fleetwood Mac.
8. Kanye West & Daft Punk, 2008
When Kanye West released “Stronger” as a single in 2007, it seemed written in the stars that the rapper and Daft Punk, who is sampled on the tune, would join forces and perform together. At 2008′s 50th Grammys, that’s exactly what happened. Note to the Black Eyed Peas: THIS is how you do a light show!
7. Lady Gaga & Elton John, 2010
Lady Gaga’s performance at the 52nd Grammy Awards was classic not only for its over-the-top theatrics, but for Elton John’s appearance on “Speechless” and the duo’s duet on Elton’s classic “Your Song.” The best part? The conjoined mega-piano Gaga and Elton played on, not to mention the pair’s matching rhinestone glasses.
For the 52nd Grammy Awards in 2010, P!nk took a few lessons from Spider-Man and gave a show-stopping performance of aerial, acrobatic brilliance. P!nk may not have walked away with any trophies that night, but thanks to her high-flying rendition of “Glitter in the Air,” she was the artist everyone was talking about come Monday morning.
5. Beyonce & Tina Turner, 2008
Beyonce and Tina Turner were “rolling, rolling, rolling” as they lit up the stage with their performance of Turner’s “Proud Mary” at the 50th annual Grammys. The show-stopping, glitz and glamour-filled duet proved that Tina still had it, and no one –not even B — was going to take it away from her.
4. T.I., Jay-Z, M.I.A., Lil Wayne & Kanye, 2009
It was as though a new rap supergroup (“the rap pack” seems fitting) formed at the 2009 Grammy Awards, when all facets of hip-hop joined forces for one killer performance of T.I. and Jay-Z’s “Swagga Like Us.” Lil Wayne and Kanye West held their own as usual, but it was a pregnant M.I.A. who stole the show in her sheer polka-dot dress. The fiesty diva didn’t just look like she was about to pop — she actually gave birth three days later.
3. Usher & James Brown, 2005
Between Usher’s Michael Jackson-esque moves during the performance of his 2004 single “Caught Up” and James Brown’s fancy footwork on “Sex Machine,” the two R&B titans’ duet at the 47th Grammys was one to remember. Check out the dance-off toward the end of the set — you can almost see the exact moment when the crown was passed.
2. Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone, 2005
Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone may seem like an unlikely pairing, but when you throw Janis Joplin into the equation, it makes perfect sense. Both songstresses possess their own unpolished soulfulness and rock stylings, which proved to be a powerful match in a tribute to Joplin at the 2005 Grammys. Stone started off with “Cry Baby” before being joined by Etheridge, who triumphantly made a return to the stage after being diagnosed with breast cancer one year earlier.
1. Eminem & Elton John, 2001
Eminem infuriated the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation with the homophobia-tinged lyrics on his 2000 album “The Marshall Mathers LP,” and the organization protested the 2001 Grammys because of his involvement. But gay activist Elton John crossed the picket lines and joined Em’s performance of “Stan” at the ceremony in a move that was musically powerful, as well as political.
I agree with most of these but I would have added Christina Aguilera‘s performance of It’s A Man World to the list and maybe ranked Kanye West higher.
There’s always celebrities on the cover of magazines showing off their new babies but rarely is it a gay couple so this makes a nice change. Elton John and David Furnish are on the cover OK! Magazine showing off their new baby son, Zachary Jackson Levon.
Zacharay was born on Christmas Day after the couple used surrogacy (using Elton’s sperm) and is the first child for both of them, but it isn’t the first time they tried for a baby because ever since 2009 they have been trying to adopt two Ukrainian orphans but kept getting shut down.
Elton on holding Zachary for the first time: “I’ve never felt anything like it in my life. You’re so awestruck, I will never forget that feeling ever.”
Elton on not spoiling him: “I’m ready to have a child and lavish my love on our son and not spoil him materially.”
David on finding a home for the two children they tried to adopt: “We feel awful. We keep hitting red tape. But we’re not giving up until they’re out and in a safe, supported home.”
It’s nice that even though they now have their own child they are still trying their best to find a home for the two orphans, it’s also ridiculous they couldn’t adopt the children. I hate when people get all upset over gay people trying to have children. I say congratulations to them both.
source: Sir Elton John and David Furnish present baby son Zachary in World Exclusive interview [OK!]
Ellen DeGeneres has not had a very good time with American Idol, and has been pretty vocal about it to FOX execs for the past few months.
With Simon Cowell leaving the show, FOX was not pleased about the prospect of losing Ellen too, and told her that she would need to stay on until they found a replacement. FOX was in talks with Jessica Simpson briefly, but has locked down Jennifer Lopez to replace DeGeneres.
Nobody knows yet who will replace Simon Cowell, and everyone involved in the show really wants Elton John. It’s rumored that Sir Elton is asking for too much money and has touring commitments that can’t be changed, however.
Here is FOX’s official statement:
Ellen DeGeneres has decided to bow out from her role as a judge on AMERICAN IDOL next season. DeGeneres served as a judge during the ninth season of IDOL, the No. 1 hit series on television.
“A couple months ago, I let FOX and the AMERICAN IDOL producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” said DeGeneres. “I told them I wouldn’t leave them in a bind and that I would hold off on doing anything until they were able to figure out where they wanted to take the panel next. It was a difficult decision to make, but my work schedule became more than I bargained for. I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings. I loved the experience working on IDOL and I am very grateful for the year I had. I am a huge fan of the show and will continue to be.”
“We love Ellen and understand and support her decision to bow out of IDOL,” said Peter Rice, Chairman of Entertainment, Fox Networks Group. “We were fortunate to receive the humor, energy and love for talent that she brought to the show.”
“It was a joy to work with Ellen,” added Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “She brought an incredible spirit to IDOL and was a great new addition to the team. While we’re saddened by her decision, we are very appreciative that she gave us ample notice so that we could work through it together.”
“I loved Ellen’s passion for the artists and her nurturing skills,” said IDOL creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. “She brought honesty and optimism to our judging panel and I will miss her greatly.”
“We will miss Ellen, she has been the consummate professional throughout her time on the show, and she’ll always be part of the AMERICAN IDOL family,” added Cecile Frot-Coutaz, IDOL executive producer.
AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc. and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.
source:JENNIFER LOPEZ IS NEW IDOL JUDGE! Replaces Exiting Ellen DeGeneres Who Told Fox: “It’s Not Been Fun” [deadline]
Rolling Stone has put together a very interesting compilation of images showing Lady Gaga next to the various artists that she has completely copied in style. So much for her being “unique”.
Marianne Faithfull (1973) / Lady Gaga (2010)
Peter Gabriel (1970s) / Lady Gaga (2009)
Sir Elton John (1970s) / Lady Gaga (2010)
Lady Gaga (2010) / Grace Jones (1987)
Lady Gaga with Madonna
Madonna (1987) / Lady Gaga (2010)
Peaches (2003) / Lady Gaga (2010)
Cher (1970s) / Lady Gaga (2009)
Lil' Kim (1990s) / Lady Gaga (2009)
source: (find more pictures here) Before Lady Gaga: Madonna, Elton John and More Monster Influences [Rolling Stone]
A man who posted a video of himself on the Internet holding a sign that said “Elton John must die” has been arrested for making terroristic threats.
Neal Horsley, 65, was arrested early Wednesday in Carrollton, Georgia, about 50 miles (80 kilometres) west of Atlanta, said Atlanta Police Sgt. Curtis Davenport. He would not say whom Horsley is accused of threatening, but Horsley’s son, Nathan, said he thought the arrest was connected to the video about the musician.
In the video posted Feb. 28 on YouTube, Horsley held the sign in front of a building where he said John has a condo. John’s publicist, Fran Curtis, confirmed that John has an Atlanta apartment but declined further comment.
Horsley was upset that John, who is gay, told Parade magazine in an interview last month that he thought Jesus was a “compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.”
“What Elton John has done is desecrated the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, blasphemed the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Horsley founded the Creator’s Rights Party and has declared himself a candidate in the 2010 governor’s race. He kicked off his campaign July 4, 2008 in downtown Carrollton, wearing a placard showing the head of an aborted fetus while singing an anti-abortion song.
The state ethics commission, which oversees election filings, has no record of Horsley’s campaign.
He previously gained notoriety in the late 1990s for his role in establishing a Web site that published the names and addresses of doctors who performed abortions. Planned Parenthood officials called the site a “hit list for terrorists.”
Fulton County jail records showed Horsley also faces charges of criminal defamation and disseminating terroristic threats over the Internet.
He was being held Thursday in the Fulton County jail on $40,000 bond. As conditions for his release, a judge said he must live with his son in a house with a phone landline and must pay 10 per cent of his bond in cash.
Horsley’s son said his father doesn’t have an attorney.
Looks like Neal HorsleyMust Get Sued.
source: U.S. man who posted ‘Elton John must die’ arrested [ctv news]
Billboard have come up with their list of the biggest money makers from 2009 by just including the music scene such as tours (where most artists make their money), CD and digital sales, publishing royalties… they did not include any endorsements or movie deals.
15. Miley Cyrus : $21,285,996
Miley Cyrus is No. 4 on the 2010 Money Makers list in terms of CD royalties with more than $4.3 million; her one new release during the year was the Walmart-exclusive EP “The Time of Our Lives.” Cyrus’ Wonder World tour earned her slightly more than $15 million, according to Boxscore. Not included in this tally, but still of note: Her feature-film debut, “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” grossed $79.5 million at the box office, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
14. Elton John : $22,141,315
As half of the most successful co-headlining tour in history with Billy Joel, as well as being very active on his own, Elton John again struck box-office gold in 2009. Even without an album of new material, John still moved a quarter of a million physical units in the United States.
Nonstop touring and continued radio play were two of the factors that contributed to Nickelback’s 2009 success. The band sold 1.9 million albums, the majority of which came from its most recent release, 2008′s “Dark Horse,” which sold 1.4 million copies. And fans didn’t stop seeing Nickelback in concert, either. During the year, the group played 73 amphitheater and arena shows that earned it $18.3 million and drew more than 1 million people.
11. Fleetwood Mac : $24,751,540
The baby boomer idols land on the list for the first time thanks to the group’s $24 million take from its Unleashed tour, its first in five years. The trek grossed $71.2 million from 65 shows reported to Boxscore and landed at No. 14 on Billboard’s top tours list last year. Fleetwood Mac earned less than $700,000 in the United States from its album sales, with its 1988 “Greatest Hits” moving 135,000 copies — about half its U.S. album total for the period.
10. Metallica :$25,564,234
Metallica had at least two things to celebrate in 2009: its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the release of “Guitar Hero: Metallica.” Along with touring revenue — the band pulled in $22.8 million from 55 arena shows reported to Boxscore that drew more than 968,000 fans — Metallica sold 694,000 albums in 2009. The majority of those sales came from its Rick Rubin-produced 2008 release, “Death Magnetic” (297,000). Album sales revenue totaled $1.6 million. And most of Metallica’s track download earnings came from its 1991 hit “Enter Sandman,” which sold 450,000.
09. Kenny Chesney : $26,581,141
As one of the elite touring artists in the world, Kenny Chesney has sold more than 1 million tickets for seven consecutive years. In country music, the big ticket sellers also sit atop radio and retail charts, and Chesney is no exception, with physical album sales in the United States running roughly the same as tickets sold. His digital track numbers are also among the highest on this list, and the country star rang up more than half a million ringtones in 2009.
08. Coldplay : $27,326,562
Coldplay didn’t let a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by guitarist Joe Satriani dampen its spirits last year. Despite the legal turmoil (the two parties settled in September and the allegations were dismissed), the band earned $24.7 million touring behind its 2008 album, “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends,” which sold 495,000 copies in 2009. Overall, the group sold 852,000 albums in 2009, bringing in $1 million in revenue.
07. Jonas Brothers : $33,596,576
The Jonas Brothers released their fourth studio album, “Lines, Vines and Trying Times” (Hollywood) June 15, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and setting up the boy band for another fruitful year of album sales and touring. The act racked up almost $1.3 million in CD royalties. The band’s world tour netted them $31.4 million and won the group the Eventful Fans’ Choice Award at the 2009 Billboard Touring Awards.
06. Pink : $36,347,658
Even before she lofted herself onto a trapeze at the MTV Video Music Awards, Pink was already having the best year of her career. She officially shook her underdog status in 2008 with the release of “Funhouse,” but 2009 vaulted her to new heights thanks in part to an international arena tour, which netted her $35 million. Moreover, Pink’s show-stopping 2010 Grammy Awards performance of “Glitter in the Air” — and the track’s subsequent 1,143% digital sales increase — means that her funhouse is still open for business.
05. Britney Spears : $38,885,267
It seemed unlikely that Britney Spears could ever recover professionally from a series of bizarre events that led up to her 2008 “Circus” CD. But the album bowed atop the Billboard 200 in December of that year, and the pop star’s success continued into 2009 with an arena tour that earned her $36.4 million and album sales that totaled 763,000 copies. Digitally, Spears sold 7.5 million downloads; the largest seller was the racy Max Martin-produced single, “3,” which moved 1.6 million downloads.
04. AC/DC : $43,650,466
Although the overwhelming majority of AC/DC’s 2009 earnings came from touring international arenas and stadiums (it pulled in $41.4 million from concerts and ranked No. 4 on Billboard’s 2009 tally of the top 25 highest-grossing tours), the Australian rockers also experienced consistent album sales from their catalog. Indeed, the group’s highest-selling album was its 2008 Walmart exclusive, “Black Ice,” which shifted 227,000 copies. But coming in at a close second was the classic “Back in Black,” with 215,000 copies. In total, the group sold 1.1 million albums in 2009.
03. Madonna : $47,237,774
Like U2, Madonna toured for the first time under a long-term multirights Live Nation deal (hers valued at $120 million), and also like U2 it’s a performance-based pact. Madonna delivered: Her Sticky & Sweet tour tacked on a “victory lap” run of international stadium dates that solidified the trek as the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist. Madonna’s CD sales were well off the pace of her peak hitmaking years, but still more than respectable at physical and digital. Because her songs come from a wide range of writers, the publishing pie is pretty well-sliced. But her branding, licensing and merch efforts are among the most diversified and lucrative in the music business.
02. Bruce Springsteen : $57,619,037
With a new studio album, a Walmart-exclusive hits compilation and a relentless touring schedule, Bruce Springsteen was at the top of his revenue-generating game in 2009. Springsteen’s profile has never been higher, with added-value exposure from the Super Bowl halftime show, Kennedy Center Honors and even a run-in with Ticketmaster all keeping the Boss in the public eye. Springsteen was also a force at retail and on the digital sales front, with more than 2 million tracks downloaded. And since he writes all his own songs, publishing revenue stays at Camp Bruce. Remarkably, Springsteen Inc. is peaking more than 35 years after his debut album.
01. U2 : $108,601,283
Midway through what is destined to be the highest-grossing tour in history, U2 remains the biggest band in the world. Its 360° tour is the group’s first under a 12-year multirights deal with Live Nation that includes worldwide touring, merchandising and the band’s lucrative U2.com Web site, a digital distribution gold mine for all things U2. The act’s current global stadium tour is the most expensive ever mounted — the daily nut is said to be $750,000 — but those costs are well offset by the highest capacities ever from the band’s 360-degree configuration. By even the most conservative estimates, U2 was far and away the top revenue generator in music last year.
I am very surprised that Beyonce isn’t in the top 5, you can see the full top 40 earners at the source.
