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10 Musicians Who Make More From Merch Than Music

When you think of musicians raking in millions, you probably picture streaming hits or sold-out concerts. But for many artists, merchandise—T-shirts, hoodies, vinyl, and even cereal boxes—brings in more cash than their actual music. With streaming platforms paying fractions of a cent per play, merch has become a major income stream. Some stars have turned their logos and slogans into global fashion brands. Here are 10 musicians who earn more from their merch than from their music.

1. Kanye West

Kanye West - musician merchandise - Jimmy Kimmel Live

Image Source: YouTube/Jimmy Kimmel Live

Kanye’s music empire is impressive, but his Yeezy brand made him a billionaire before Adidas ended their partnership. At its peak, Yeezy generated over $1.5 billion annually, with Kanye pocketing a massive royalty share. Meanwhile, his music—though popular—can’t compete with the apparel juggernaut. His merch isn’t just concert tees—it’s streetwear gold. Even post-scandal, his drops still spark major resale demand.

2. Travis Scott

 

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Travis is the king of brand crossovers, turning his music fame into merchandising mastery. From his iconic McDonald’s meal and matching tees to his lucrative Nike deals, his merch eclipses music royalties. His “Astroworld” tour alone pulled in millions in merch revenue. Fans eagerly buy everything from action figures to scented candles. Scott’s branding is a cultural movement as much as a business strategy.

3. Beyoncé

 

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While Beyoncé’s albums top charts, her merch—especially under the Ivy Park label—brings in major profits. Her Adidas collaboration sold out in hours and created global buzz. Tour merchandise from her Renaissance World Tour fetched premium prices, with custom jackets and accessories going viral. Beyoncé blends fashion and fandom seamlessly. Her name alone guarantees sales beyond music platforms.

4. Slipknot

 

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This metal band may not dominate mainstream charts, but they dominate the merch game. Slipknot’s aggressive branding—masks, jumpsuits, and horror-themed gear—has created a cult following. Fans often spend hundreds per show on exclusive merchandise. They even sell replica masks that become collector’s items. For Slipknot, the merch is as iconic as the music itself.

5. Taylor Swift

 

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Taylor’s eras aren’t just musical—they’re merchandise empires. Each album cycle launches themed drops that include everything from cardigans to friendship bracelets. At her Eras Tour, merch lines reportedly stretched longer than some of her songs. Swifties spend big to show off their loyalty. And with Taylor owning her brand fully, most of those profits go straight to her.

6. KISS

 

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KISS turned their theatrical rock persona into one of the biggest merchandising machines ever. With over 5,000 licensed products—from lunchboxes to pinball machines—they’ve earned more from merchandise than from music or touring. Gene Simmons famously said they’ve made more selling their brand than their songs. Even non-fans recognize the face paint and flaming logo. KISS built the blueprint for band-based branding.

7. BTS

 

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This K-pop powerhouse sells out stadiums—but it’s the merchandise that keeps the money flowing. BTS fans, known as ARMY, collect light sticks, clothing, dolls, and even skincare lines. The group’s official merch often sells out in minutes, creating resale frenzies. With limited drops and seasonal collections, their merchandising rivals fashion houses. BTS’s reach proves that merch is global currency.

8. Post Malone

 

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Posty doesn’t just sell music—he sells himself as a lifestyle. From Crocs collaborations to custom beer pong sets, his quirky image powers unique merchandise. His fans love the blend of humor, comfort, and chaos. While his streaming numbers are massive, his exclusive collabs often rake in more per unit. And he’s just getting started with fashion lines and branded beverages.

9. Justin Bieber

 

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Bieber Fever turned into Bieber Fashion with his “Drew House” label. What started as tour merch evolved into a full-blown clothing line worn by influencers and fans alike. Unlike basic tees, Drew House items are fashion-forward and priced like streetwear. Justin’s minimalist smiley face logo has become a retail phenomenon. It proves that musicians can lead fashion—not just follow it.

10. Tyler, The Creator

 

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Tyler’s “Golf Wang” and “Golf Le Fleur” brands are cult favorites that outsell his album earnings. The colorful, creative line reflects his personal style and connects deeply with fans. Tyler’s merch drops feel like limited-edition art collections. His music fuels the hype, but the clothing keeps the cash coming. In his case, the music is the trailer—the merch is the feature.

Merch Is More Than a Side Hustle

For many musicians, merchandise is no longer just tour swag—it’s the backbone of their brand. As streaming pays less and fans crave personal connection, merch gives artists a direct line to loyal followers. The smartest stars aren’t just selling songs—they’re selling identity, emotion, and style. In a world of digital music, tangible items bring fans closer. And those fans? They’re more than listeners—they’re walking billboards.

Which artist’s merch do you own—or want to own? Drop your favorites in the comments and let’s see who’s turning music into money!

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Kanye West Net Worth in 2022

Kanye West is one of the best-selling musicians in the entire world. He has won two dozen grammy awards, among many other awards. He’s also an entrepreneur in the fashion industry. Naturally, he has a lot of money. Billions, in fact. But what exactly is Kanye West Net Worth in 2022?

Who Is Kanye West?

It would be really surprising to us if you’ve never heard of Kanye West. He’s one of the most well-known rappers of all time. He’s also known for being married to Kim Kardashian, although they’re now separated. But even though you’ve probably heard about him, we wanted to give you a short timeline of his life and career. Onyx Nightclub has a great post of “A Timeline of West’s Years of Excellence” that provides a solid starting point.

Kanye West’s Childhood

According to their post, he was born in Georgia in June 1977. His parents, Donda Williams and Ray West, named him Kanye Omari West. In 2021, he legally changed his name to Ye (no middle or last name.)

His parents divorced when he was young and by age three he had moved to Chicago with his mother. And it seems like he was always destined to be a star in music.

In fact, he was only 13 in 1990 when his mother helped him pay to make his first record. It was recorded in a cheap basement studio. It certainly wasn’t destined to be the star’s best work. But it speaks to his creativity, commitment, and drive as well as to his mother’s support of his budding career.

However, he also pursued education. It turns out he is creative in many different ways. He studied painting at Chicago’s American Academy of Art and then majored in English lit at Chicago State. That said, he did drop out of Chicago State when his music career began taking off.

Kanye West’s Career

If you take a look at that Onyx timeline, you’ll see that Kanye West has had big career milestones pretty much every year since his early twenties. That’s why the Kanye West Net Worth in 2022 is obviously high. Some of the highlights include:

  • In 1998 he sold his first beats to other rappers for a total of over $10000.
  • In 2000, he began working as a producer for Roc-A-Fella records. This really kicked off his career and began a powerful decade in which he came into his own as the icon he’s known now to be. Within that first year of the decade, he did groundbreaking work with Jay-Z that started establishing his name solidly in the industry.
  • Over the next few years he works with other big names like Beyonce and Alicia Keys. In 2004, he releases his own first solo rap album. It debuted at No 2. on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling almost half a million copies in the first week. He won two grammy awards off of that album.
  • His career continues to grow, both as a producer and a solo rapper. Then in 2009 he branches into big entrepreneurial efforts, partnering with Nike on a pair of Kanye-branded shoes.
  • Albums upon albums keep coming, including a huge collaboration with Jay-Z on “Watch the Throne.” Grammy awards continue stacking up.
  • In 2015, he begins releasing his Adidas Yeezy shoe line, including a debut at New York Fashion Week, really gaining. toehold in the fashion industry. He would continue to grow his fashion business. According to Wikipedia, in 2021 he signed a 10-year deal with GAP, releasing the first piece (a jacket) in the collaboration in June of that year. In the first year, sales reached $1 billion. Forbes explains this then led to a higher-end deal with Balenciaga as well.

Additional Businesses and Achievements

Really, we could go on and on here because Kanye West just doesn’t stop. A quick browse through Wikipedia notes many achievements and entrepreneurial endeavors. Some of the most notable:

  • He has sold more than 160 million records. Six of his albums made Rolling Stone’s 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
  • He has won two dozen granny awards, the tenth most of all time, and the most of any rapper (tied with Jay-Z).
  • Among many other awards, he has appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 over 130 times, the fifth most ever.
  • In 2004, he founded the record label and production company GOOD Music. In 2012, he established the creative content company DONDA. And then in 2018 he launched Half Beast, LLC, a film production company.
  • In 2015, he joined other huge artists including Madonna, Rihanna, and Jay-Z in co-owning music streaming service Tidal.
  • He has done some voice acting and minor roles. He also wrote and directed two short films including one that premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

Kanye West and the Kardashian Empire

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian had their first child together in 2013. They married the following year. They had three more children together, the youngest born in 2019. Then they separated shortly after, and she has filed for divorce as of early 2022.

Their relationship has obviously been a hugely public one, and it’s one that’s as rooted in business together as it is their family life. Many have argued that the success of the whole Kardashian family is due in large part to Kanye’s influence and own success. However, Buzzfeed points out that this is a reductive view, and shares some great insights about their business influences on one another over the years.

 

So What Is Kanye West Net Worth in 2022?

Obviously, he’s rich. But just how rich? Forbes reports that the Kanye West Net Worth in 2022 is $2 billion. They cite that as the fifth-highest net worth of all entertainers. Wikipedia reports that he’s the highest net worth musician with that total.

How will the divorce affect Kanye West’s net worth? Time will tell, but they do have a pre-nup, and Forbes gives a breakdown of what they’re calling a $2.1 billion divorce settlement, because that’s what they reportedly have in shared assets. They say that he has $1.3 billion in assets with Yeezy, which he owns 100% of, but that’s “illiquid” assets. However, he receives about 11% of the brand’s annual revenue. She, on the other hand, has fewer assets at about $780 million in her own beauty business, but hers is more liquid. So, likely, each of them will keep these respective businesses and the related net worth.

Together, they have another $70 million in assets including a mansion, a condo, and two ranches. About $5 million of those assets are in art. They also have shared jewelry, vehicles, and even livestock.

So, as of right now, they cite his net worth as $2 billion but his assets as $1.3 billion.

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