Rhythm and blues singers can earn a very healthy income. From Alicia Keys to Ray Charles, rhythm and blues musicians have proven that they can be highly profitable if their performances are up-to-par.
Boyz II Men and Usher were instrumental in modernizing male R&B, while The Weeknd is another rising star who’s leading this charge.
2. Abel Tesfaye
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, commonly known by his stage name The Weeknd, is a Canadian singer-songwriter renowned for combining elements of R&B, electronica and dark romantic lyrics into his musical style. Over his career he has received multiple awards as he sold millions of records – becoming one of the best-selling artists ever and being listed on several top-10 charts.
Singer/fashion icon Ed Sheeran has become a fashion icon himself. His clothing line reflects his musical style. Additionally, he has collaborated with major brands like Puma, Marvel and Alexander Wang as well as launching his own merchandise brand known as XO which generates considerable funds for the musician.
Although snubbed by the Grammys, The Weeknd has enjoyed an exceptional career both musically and commercially. His songs have been streamed over 2 billion times on Spotify; his albums have made the top-10 sales charts; he has sold more than 70 million records worldwide.
The Weeknd maintains an active social media presence and is an enthusiastic supporter of charity. He works closely with many different organizations to raise awareness of their causes, particularly HIV/AIDS and mental health concerns. Recently, The Weeknd gave $50,000 to University of Toronto so they could establish a course in Ge’ez – Ethiopia’s traditional language.
3. The Weeknd
The Weeknd is one of the leading male R&B singers who has helped transform R&B music. His dark, confessional style explores themes like love, lust, and drug use; his music has reached millions around the globe while inspiring an entirely new generation of artists.
Abel Tesfaye is an accomplished producer who has collaborated with some of today’s premier artists such as Drake and Rihanna to craft hit songs that have gone on to be classic hits. His production style draws influence from R&B, hip hop and pop music genres for an inimitable sound.
Jacquees, another R&B singer hailing from Atlanta, has found great success over recent years. With his smooth sound and lyrics that frequently address complex topics, Jacquees has established himself as an important voice in contemporary music scene. His music videos and lyrics have also received critical acclaim.
6lack has emerged as an impressive talent within R&B music. After making waves with his debut album Free 6lack from Maryland, his presence within the industry has only expanded ever since. His unique blend of sounds has set him apart from other R&B artists – and only continues to increase his fan base.
4. Future
Future is widely recognized for his unparalleled rapping and singing talents, making him one of the highest-earning R&B singers. His first two albums both achieved double platinum sales; each has gone on to sell over 10 million copies! Additionally, Future has enjoyed success as an actor appearing in movies and television shows alike.
Mary Jane Blige is another influential R&B singer with an enormous fortune, having made waves when she entered the music industry back in 1992. Her iconic vocal talent quickly made her one of the world’s favorite artists and remains so to this day. Alongside being a phenomenal singer, Mary Jane is also an exceptional songwriter and actor having featured prominently in both Broadway plays and reality shows.
Alicia Keys completes our list of the highest-earning R&B singers with hit singles like “Fallin,” “Girl on Fire,” and “Follow You Down,” as an award-winning recording artist who’s also earned recognition for her acting skills. A New York City native herself, Keys has gone on to win five Grammy Awards and earned herself a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Are you looking for the perfect musician to add soul and excitement to your next event? Take a look through our directory of local R&B singers available for hire – there is no shortage of talented musicians that will elevate any gathering! Simply tell us the type of vibe you’re going for and we will connect you with some of the finest talent available in town.
5. DaBaby
DaBaby, an up-and-coming rapper, has garnered much acclaim due to his success as an artist at an early stage in their career. According to DaBaby himself, he claimed a million dollar earnings within one month which is certainly an impressive feat!
DaBaby made his rapping debut with the release of Nonfiction album in 2015. Later that year he attended Austin Texas to participate in South by Southwest music festival where his musical skills began getting noticed. Within one year of that he released Kirk album which proved more successful than its predecessor and even reached the #1 position on Billboard charts!
His success has put him in high demand as a guest verse performer, with reports suggesting that he charges anywhere from $50,000-100k for featuring on songs by artists like Post Malone, YG and Lizzo.
He makes significant money through live shows, having sold out multiple venues and boasting about his ability to star in five films this year alone. If he remains out of trouble and his net worth keeps growing!
6. Lil Uzi Vert
Rappers and hip-hop artists dominate this year’s Money Makers list due to their high concert grosses. R&B artists also make significant contributions towards its overall earnings; streaming makes a particular impactful statement about R&B artists’ contribution – many leading male R&B singers today represent an emerging movement taking rhythm and blues into new eras.
Symere Basil Woods, more popularly known by his stage name Lil Uzi Vert, is an Philadelphia-based rapper, singer-songwriter and performer renowned for their dark subject matter and unique melodic approach to contemporary trap music. They rose to fame as part of 2016 XXL Freshman class and gained mainstream notice by participating in a “freshman cypher” with Denzel Curry, 21 Savage, Kodak Black. Lil Uzi Vert released their first mixtape entitled Lil Uzi Vert vs the World which helped propel their rise. Their debut single, “Money Longer,” along with subsequent mixtape releases propelled their rise in fame.
Jacquees, an emerging male R&B singer based out of New York, has quickly earned a following on social media due to his modern, smooth style and soulful voice. Additionally, Rotimi, another multi-talented entertainer from New Jersey who’s making waves as an up-and-coming male R&B singer is receiving recognition for both his music and acting skills; with multiple hit singles under his belt already released he’s one of today’s rising male R&B singers.