Madonna tops Forbes highest-paid musician list

NEW YORK CITY - Agence France-Presse

Singer Madonna arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" in New York, in this May 6, 2013 file photo. REUTERS photo

Business magazine Forbes named Madonna the highest-paid musician in the world Nov. 19, estimating her earnings at $125 million in the year to June.

Revenues from her MDNA concert tour plus sales of Madonna-related products and merchandise put the Material Girl, 55, well ahead of Lady Gaga at $80 million.

The Mother Monster's income would have been higher had a hip injury not forced her to abandon a global concert tour, Forbes said.

Veteran rocker Bon Jovi placed third at $79 million, followed by country star Toby Keith ($25 million) and British band Coldplay ($64 million).

Forbes based its list, posted on forbes.com, on pretax income from ticket sales, royalties, merchandising, endorsements and other ventures.

It doesn't take into account fees for agents, managers and lawyers.

Only living artists can make the list -- otherwise, Forbes said, Michael Jackson would have been number one with a posthumous income of $160 million.