function hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); bubble.style.display = "none"; } function hide_user_promo_bubble() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 0 } }, 1, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); setTimeout("hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage()", 1100); } function handle_promo_username(params) { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var img = $("user_promo_bubble_image"); var anchor = $("user_promo_bubble_link"); if (params.has_photo == "true") { img.src = "http://images.huffingtonpost.com/profiles/" + params.user_id + "-tiny.png"; } else { img.style.display = "none"; Dom.addClass(anchor, "wide"); } anchor.innerHTML = "Shared by " + params.user_name; anchor.href = "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/" + params.user_name; bubble.style.display = "block"; var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 1 } }, 2, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); } if (HuffPoUtil.getUrlVar("user_promo")) { YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { var parts = document.location.hash.split(","), shared_by = "", badge = "", i; if (parts.length < 2) return; for (i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) { if (parts[i].indexOf("sb=") !== -1) { shared_by = parts[i]; } if (parts[i].indexOf("b=") !== -1) { badge = parts[i]; } } if (shared_by == "" || badge == "") return; var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); if (!bubble) return; var entry_id = HuffPoUtil.GetEntryID(); if (!entry_id) return; var user_id = parseInt(shared_by.substr(shared_by.indexOf("sb=") + 3)); if (!user_id) return; var badge_type = badge.substr(badge.indexOf("b=") + 2); if (!badge_type) return; script = document.createElement("script"); script.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); bubble.appendChild(script); script.setAttribute("src", "/include/share_track.php?a=view&eid=" + entry_id + "&uid=" + user_id + "&b=" + badge_type + "&cb=handle_promo_username"); }); } U2 Made $108 MILLION In 2009

NEW YORK — If money makes the world go round, then U2's latest tour, which is dubbed "360 Degrees," proves this saying true.

The veteran act leads Billboard's 2010 Money Makers list, earning more than $108 million in 2009.

Bruce Springsteen is second with $57 million and Madonna follows with $47 million. AC/DC and Britney Spears round out the top 5 with $43 and $38 million, respectively.

Billboard compiles the list from monies earned through tours, CD and digital sales, publishing royalties and more.

Madonna topped the list last year; Springsteen came in third. Both U2 and Madonna have touring deals with Live Nation.

___

On the Net:

http://www.billboard.com/

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Comments

[LinkMeyer]

Bono is gay

[uglygnome]

I am a U2 fan - or was a U2 fan - from back in the day. The ticket prices for their last few tours have been embarrassingly over-priced. Yes, yes, scream and yell about tour expenses and profit margins, but it does not change the fact that their tickets are so over-priced as to seem out-of-step with what was once a band with a message.

[MiHi]

And this Doucebag has the nerve to chastise his audience and demand that they shovel out more money to Third World despots.

[lrubemp]

Life is great when you're "hip" AND ruling-class. Paternalism in a leather jacket. What the world needs.

[Agentlady007]

This spirit of this group has mopved me in spiritual ways and has lighted up my life when I was a young girl - even though i was told I was already a woman, their music sustained this for me, as I listened to them ....and I never knew what they looked like - they were jusy so cool it never mattered.
http://new.music.yahoo.com/u2/videos/view/mysterious-ways--37310356

[William Coleman]

......"The veteran act [U2] leads Billboard's 2010 Money Makers list, earning more than $108 million in 2009.

Bruce Springsteen is second with $57 million and Madonna follows with $47 million. AC/DC and Britney Spears round out the top 5 with $43 and $38 million, respectively."......

None of them are my style of music but I can certainly understand peoples willingness to spend their money on "their" favorite artist ............................except when it comes to Britney Spears; I cannot see how any adult could find anything unique about her and I cannot see those other adults allowing any money being spent on her by their children, save for those that want their daughters to grow up Trailer Trash too.....

[jessejuju]

That would be your opinion. I'm an adult and would see her...and though her last concert was my least favorite, I'd see her over your so called "artists" anyday. Music snobs are the worst.

[William Coleman]

I wrote "None of them are my style of music" that meant none of them are my style of music .... so how I could be snobbish about bands I declared to be "outside" my taste.....I do afford them respect though ,as musicians, as in "playing their own instruments" and songwriters " writing their own music"
I did have the bad misfortune to work on the B. Spears movie "Crossroads" where she was the butt of many a joke by us, the crew. There, in the height of her fame, she was exposed (to us) to be all shine and no substance. (Not to mention completely out of touch with reality and lacking common decency and humility in the way she treated the professionals that were there to help with her rookie film). She is only as good as her make up artists, stylists, songwriters, cinematographers, choreographers etc etc etc.make her. That is in evidence when her lipsynced concerts fail and the crowd is treated to a Mouseketter without her steroids. The movie was a stinker granted, but it was obvious in the little sing or dance cutaways that we filmed that all of her costars including Zoe Saldana (Avatar) had real talent and not the type that needs smoke and mirrors like Brittany does . My opinion (somewhat professional) is that she is not an artist, she is a reasonable dancer that is a highly produced "Creation " of her very slick production team.

[rock0223]

trash isn't just for trailers anymore

[Bude]

I lost all respect for the band.

$250 for a ticket behind the stage?

Bring some Vaseline!

[JPMac]

Maybe Bono can spend some of his own money to solve the third world debt problem rather than spending our tax dollars...I don't know about you I didn't make 108 million last year.

[NYCforObama]

Maybe they can pay some taxes in Ireland.

Hypocrites!

[Caru]

Feckin tax evaders.

[HannibalV]

To be fair, that's only $21.6 million a piece (everything gets split five ways with their manager), which is about what Kobe Bryant made, and only about 2/3 of Alex Rodriguez's money--or 1/4 what Michael Bay made for directing the first "Transformers".

Sources:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/theyre-worth-all-of-715m----but-u2-still-fall-down-the-rich-list-46842.html
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=110
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3115
http://www.movieline.com/2009/06/discuss-michael-bay-made-80-million-directing-transformers.php

[ArtsyJane]

That is, if the 108 Million figure is an actual profit margin. It could simply be the gross figure.

[sparky73]

U2 are the biggest capitalist republicans in the world. Look at the facts:

-Devoutly religious
-Moved their publishing company from Ireland to Brussells to avoid paying high Irish Income Taxes
-Charge upwards of 200 dollars per ticket

[davidmnc76]

Their tickets are not 200 dollars a piece. Stubhub or some other scalping site might be charging that much but U2 and their management doesnt. i paid 100 for two front row seats in Chicago.

[callajester]

We paid $100 a piece for behind the stage tix several years ago in Minneapolis. I could do without the Sermon/soliciting for donations the last 1/2 hour of the show. First time I saw them was phenomenal, 2nd timw two years later, SAME show!? Not worth it.....

[sparky73]

for the 360 tour the top tickets are $250 bucks, next level $95, then $55 then $30 for the last rows in the stadium.

[sparky73]

Tickets for the 360 tour through ticketmaster: $250 bucks, next level $95, then $55 then $30 for the last rows in the stadium.

[mmonarch]

I was wondering when some liberals would catch on that regardless of his philanthropy, he is stinkin' rich. That would make him the evil corporate entity so hated by progressive Democrats. Can't play his music at Obama fundraisers anymore. Hahaha.

[totalliberal]

Pretty good for a band that only plays one tune.

[MNKen]

So sorry to learn you are tone deaf. I quite enjoy their wide range of music.

[RedDogBear]

Bono is up to 14 courics I've heard. Learn more about Bono's secret here: http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155665

[NewRiver]

Interesting comments. Who's to judge if this is an extreme amount of income or not? Not a big U2 fan, but good for them. Many posts here illustrate an obvious lack of understanding of free markets, capitalism and business. If people are willing to pay the ticket prices and buy the music, then U2's gonna make a lot of money. When consumers stop buying their music and quit paying to go to their concerts, then their income will reflect that as well. Ain't rocket science folks...

[callajester]

They are Irelands largest export, that's the whole country put together, largest export. That is extreme! I saw them because I Love live music, and I hadn't seen them. Twice was enough particularly @ a $100 a tix show

[lemondade]

AND THEY GAVE A LOT OF $$$$$$$$ TO CHARITY.

[mmonarch]

Gave. Were not taxed into giving it. Forced into giving it. Gave freely as the capitalist system allows and endorses.