Bob Marley would be making bank in 2021-22 from platforms Youtube, Instagram, and Spotify if he were alive today.
This according to a study by money.co.uk, which revealed that Marley would be making “an estimated US$1,667,878 each year from streaming and his social posts alone”, more than any other performer on the list.
Following the reggae superstar is Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and Frank Sinatra, with annual earnings of US$1,604,033, US$1,396,461, and US$1,360,528, respectively.
The study covered icons from Jimi Hendrix to Frank Sinatra. It analysed official Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram accounts of 50 of the biggest stars from yesteryear and ranked the estimated earnings of each based on the number of streams and followers they currently have.
Marley’s biggest income would, unsurprisingly, be from the music streaming service Spotify, thanks to his 12,438,220 monthly streams generating nearly US$695,500 each year, with multiple generations listening to hits like Redemption Song and No Woman No Cry. Marley’s enduring influence also continues through to social media, with over 6 million fans following his official Instagram account.
Elvis Presley is the second-highest earner, with the beloved Blue Suede Shoes rocker taking home narrowly less than Marley, with an estimated US$1,604,033 per year when combining his streams and followers across these modern platforms. Following Presley is British star David Bowie, another musical icon who influenced many contemporary artistes. The study estimates that the Life on Mars singer could be earning nearly US$1.4 million.
Female musicians also feature among the top 20 earning artistes, including the Queen of Soul herself, Aretha Franklin, who rounds off the top 10 as a result of her estimated earnings coming in at a healthy US$740,121. Etta James and Ella Fitzgerlad also feature on the list of legendary musicians, who would still be earning big alongside current chart-toppers.
James Andrews, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said the ranking points to the artistes’ longevity. “Given most haven’t released a new track for decades, let alone been snapped with a new partner in an A-list hotspot, it’s a testament to the enduring power of their work to inspire and move people who weren’t born when they first stepped into a recording studio,” he said.
He said that their social media numbers show that they still have significant pull. “With their predicted earnings totalling some impressive sums on platforms that didn’t exist when most of their albums came out, it’s clear to see that they’re still loved by modern audiences, be it through a listen on Spotify or a follow on Instagram,” he said.
Read the full research here, and see the full list below.
The Top 20 legendary musicians who would earn the most on Spotify and social media
1. Bob Marley — US$1,667,878
2. Elvis Presley — US$1,604,033
3. David Bowie — US$1,396,461
4. Frank Sinatra — US$1,360,528
5. Johnny Cash — US$1,083,196
6. Prince — US$1,016,836
7. Marvin Gaye — US$1,011,156
8. John Lennon — US$880,269
9. Bob Dylan — US$818,694
10. Aretha Franklin — US$740,121
11. George Harrison — US$634,913
12. Jimi Hendrix — US$606,315
13. Louis Armstrong — US$578,815
14. Sam Cooke — US$464,032
15. Nat King Cole — US$434,780
16. Etta James — US$433,307
17. Dean Martin — US$426,737
18. Chuck Berry — US$398,479
19. Ray Charles — US$390,685
20. Ella Fitzgerlad — US$387,371
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