Building a music empire takes a lot more than just a hit record. Understanding your musical talent, figuring out how to sell more than just album, and identifying the people willing to spend their hard-earned money on you is the pathway to building a true empire. You wrote one of the best albums of all time? While trying to make another hit, figure out how to collect royalties on the one you already made. Maybe it’s about creating a music-related product like headphones or clothing. Or maybe it’s about working with brands to fund never-before-accomplished feats that change the rules.
Regardless of the number of new artists who seem to be the next big thing at any given moment, there are a ruling few artists whose careers stand the test of time. At a certain point, musicians become their own brands—ones that provide jobs for other people, ones that influence popular culture as a whole, and ones that make a mark on music history for the rest of time.
The people on this list aren’t just musicians; they’re entrepreneurs, thinkers, philanthropists, and public figures. Take note, there’s a reason why these people are on top, and it starts with their promise to never stop going in.
Scroll through the list to get up on the 15 Musicians With the Biggest Empires of All Time.