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First place on this year’s list of Top Earning Musicians goes to U2 with earnings of $130 million. The list, published by Forbes, considers earnings from June 2009 to June 2010. U2 hit the top spot thanks mainly to their highly successful worldwide tour. U2 aren’t the only long established act to appear on the list. ACDC and Bruce Springsteen are in 2nd and 4th place, respectively, and Madonna took the 8th spot. The only new act on the list is, not surprisingly, Lady Gaga.

Here’s the full list of top earning musicians for 2010:

• 1st: U2 ($130 million) – a hugely lucrative tour which grossed around $10 million per date made U2 the biggest earners
• 2nd: ACDC ($114 million) – the legendary heavy rockers’ 99-date world tour was the second most profitable tour of the year, after U2
• 3rd: Beyonce ($87 million) – the most successful woman on the list earned her place through a world tour, lucrative endorsement deals and her own House of Dereon fashion line
• 4th: Bruce Springsteen ($70 million) – the Boss brought in $70 million from a steady selling back catalogue and very successful world tour
• 5th: Britney Spears ($64 million) – despite her troubles in recent years, Britney is still a force to be reckoned with when it comes to earnings. Her fifth place is the result of a successful 98-date tour and a number of endorsement deals
• 6th: Jay-Z ($63 million) – with his wife in third spot, this was a very prosperous year for the couple. Jay-Z’s earnings came from sales of a new album, the Blueprint 3 tour and a number of investments
• 7th: Lady Gaga ($67 million) – it’s no surprise that Lady Gaga hit the top ten, as she has received huge exposure over the last 12 months. Her earnings came mainly from a 106-date world tour, music sales and marketing deals with companies such as Polaroid and Virgin Mobile
• 8th: Madonna – ($58 million) – a hugely successful tour secured Madonna’s spot in the top ten, just below the artist she so inspired
• 9th: Kenny Chesney ($50 million) – Chesney had the most successful country tour of 2009 and several lucrative sponsorship deals
• 10th (tie): Black Eyed Peas ($48 million) – a world tour and a large number of endorsement deals boosted the earnings of the Black Eyed Peas
• 10th (tie): Coldplay ($48 million) – the British band tied with the Black Eyed Peas in 10th spot thanks largely to the 77-date world tour carried out to support their Viva la Vida album
• 10th (tie): Toby Keith ($48 million) – Keith’s earnings came from a successful tour and a number of business interests, including his stake in several publishing companies and his chain of restaurants.