As a band that is known in most households, it's no big surprise that U2 has been named highest paid band in the music industry for 2009. At the top of Billboard Magazine's 2010 money making list, they raked in a nice amount of more than $108 million last year. Placing second is Bruce Springsteen with $57 million, still being beat by more than a whopping $50 million.
If you think it wasn't a surprise to us as listeners, imagine how used to this the band must be. The Irish group has been a top popular band since their big stardom with their debut album, Boy, in the early 80's, and in recent years have been tearing up the world with massive tours. This has been shown in the legendary groups taking of the top title for highest grossing tour in 2009; during which they made about $123 million, which made up for some lacking of record sales for their latest album, No Line on the Horizon. It'd be expected, though, of a band widely appreciated around the world for not only it's music, but the things they have done to help everyone, to be named the highest paid. Fans of the band range from all ages and backgrounds, and they all have varying reasons for loving the band, so there's no wonder about how they came across so many attendees, even during a world recession. The tour that basically put them on top, the U2 360 Tour, which gives concert goers a full 360 degree view of the band performing, hasn't even finished yet, with more than 80 shows total in both North America and Europe.
The tour is separated into four legs, which consist of two legs for each continent. This gigantic tour is scheduled to end in October of this year, which will probably put them back as top contender, or winner of the highest paid band at the end of the year. Along with being named highest paid, they have also been named as a top influential band of the decade by Rolling Stone magazine, and their 2009 tour was the second highest grossing concert in the decade, trailing the Rolling Stones. The people will continue to support U2 as long as they continue to support the people, for example, working to help human rights, as well as many other causes. Many wish to follow in the footsteps of such down to earth, generous musicians, which adds to all the rave of supporting them. There's no doubt that they are talented people, but when you're doing helpful things they do, plus putting out music that people enjoy and look to for comfort, then will you only reach ultimate success. One can only hope they continue to do so for a long time, but we can know that their music will be around forever, truly impacting the music industry and world. From what is shown in U2's history, the music industry hasn't yet gotten the best of them, but once again, only something that time can tell.