Swift's big payday, Bieber hits South by Southwest

Taylor Swift is top earner and Justin Bieber makes surprise appearance ahead of South by Southwest festival. John Russell reports.

Published

over 2 years ago

Categories

Entertainment

Topics

Celebrity

People

Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Kenny Chesney, John Russell, Behati Prinsloo

Places

California

Companies

Victoria's Secret

Transcript

Billboard has released its list of top earners in music for 2013, with country crossover star Taylor Swift at the top with nearly 40 million dollars (USD) in revenue. The "Red" singer earned her keep with a combination of album sales and concert touring revenue, as well as advertising sponsorships with Keds, Elizabeth Arden and Diet Coke. Following Swift is another country star, Kenny Chesney, who made 33 million dollars in 2013, thanks to his chart-topping album "Life on a Rock," and his wildly popular tour, No Shoes Nation. Canadian singer Justin Bieber kicked off South by Southwest with a surprise appearance on Sunday night (March 09), ahead of the official opening of the 27th annual music and film festival. Fans in the small crowd were surprised to see the heartthrob singer come out to sing a couple of his hits. He dedicated his song "As Long As You Love Me" to his "baby," which may be referring to his on and off again girlfriend, Selena Gomez. Supermodels Alessandra Ambrosio and Behati Prinsloo hit up a rooftop pool in West Hollywood, California on Tuesday (March 11) to show off Victoria's Secret's 2014 line of summer swimwear. The models posed for photos and blew kisses to the cameras as they strutted their stuff in tiny bikinis and - new to the clothing line this year - surf inspired shapes.