Rolling Stones earn the most

Mick Jagger(R) and Keith Richards
? AFP/File Gabriel Boyus

THE Rolling Stones are rolling in cash, leading Forbes magazine's list of top money makers in the music industry in 2006 with $US150.6 million ($193 million) in earnings.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the rest of the band "don't sell many discs these days, but they have little trouble luring fans to see them live," the magazine wrote in its latest issue.

The group's Bigger Bang tour grossed a whopping $US138.5 million ($177 million) last year, the magazine said.

With the advent of the internet, the Stones and other music stars no longer earn big money from selling their recordings but by performing on the road, the magazine wrote.

Behind the Stones, the country music couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ranked second with earnings of $US132 million ($169 million), country trio Rascal Flatts followed with $US110.5 million ($141 million) and Madonna came in fourth at $US96.8 million ($124 million).

While her recordings no longer generate major sales as in past decades, singer Barbara Streisand came in fifth with her 20 US concerts raking in a total of $US95.8 million ($122). Average tickets for her concerts cost nearly $US300 ($385).

By contrast, Streisand's album sales came to less than $US4 million ($5 million), the magazine said.

The rest of the top ten music money makers were singer Kenny Chesney at $US90.1 million ($115 million), Canadian pop star Celine Dion at $US85.2 million ($109 million), Bon Jovi at $US77 million ($99 million), Canadian rockers Nickelback at $US74.1 million ($95 million) and the Dave Mathews Band with $US60.4 million ($77 million).

The Forbes' list was based on revenues from North American concert tours reported by trade magazine Pollstar and US album and digital sales from Nielsen SoundScan.