麥可打趴活人 躺著賺破43億

麥可傑克森去年狠撈1億4千5百萬美元，比任何活著的歌手賺得還多。（歐新社）

記者蔡伯杰／綜合報導

流行天王麥可傑克森就算躺著也賺翻天！辭世近4年的麥可超會搶錢，根據「富比世」雜誌最新公布的2012年最會賺錢的過世歌手排行榜，麥可以1億4500萬美元（約台幣43.4億元）打敗全部活著及過世的歌手，榮登最吸金第1名！

專輯持續熱賣 擁唱片公司股份

麥可自從2009年6月意外身亡後，人氣不墜反升，唱片公司不但為他發新專輯，他過去的經典專輯更是賣得嚇嚇叫，也因為他手上握有索尼唱片的部分股份，旗下歌手賺的錢也會有部分落入麥可的口袋。

此外，太陽劇團精心打造的「麥可傑克森–不朽傳奇世界巡迴」持續為麥可帶來收入，今年6月底還將在台北小巨蛋與台灣觀眾見面。

亞軍貓王過世近36年 魅力不減

貓王的音樂歷久不衰，即使他已經過世近36個年頭，他的相關專輯依然穩定銷售中，讓他名列「躺著賺」的亞軍。

但「富比世」雜誌指出因為他的賭城大秀「貓王萬歲」結束表演，不然他可以賺更多。

去年收入超過500萬美元的過世歌手還包括雷鬼教父巴布馬利、英國傳奇歌手約翰藍儂、美國音樂劇大師理查羅傑斯以及披頭四的另一成員喬治哈里森。

就算不在世上，他們所留下來的音樂仍影響著世世代代的子孫。

==============

Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley Are Top-Earning Dead Musicians

Bob Marley, John Lennon, George Harrison also on Forbes list

Raking in an impressive $145 million in 2012, Michael Jackson tops Forbes' new list of the top-earning dead musicians, which also includes Elvis Presley, Bob Marley, John Lennon, George Harrison and the Broadway composer Richard Rodgers.

The six names on the list all earned more than $5 million from October 2011 to October 2012, and make up about half the names on Forbes' list of the wealthiest dead celebritie, which was topped by Elizabeth Taylor. 

Jackson's third straight year of earning nine figures stems from a handful of clver business deals following the pop icon's death in 2009. His estate also continues to see revenue from other artists thanks to his 50 percent stake in the Sony/ATV publishing catalog. Jackson's largest income stream, however, is the Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour, a joint venture with Cirque Du Soleil that grossed a whopping $160 million during its first leg. 

The Big Business of Rock Estates

Elvis Presley was second on the list with $55 million, while Bob Marley took third with $17 million. Along with the 75 million albums the reggae legend has sold over the past 20 years, Marley's estate has diversified with the launch of the Marley Beverage company and House of Marley, which makes eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products. 

Lennon and Harrison round out the list, thanks to sales of 63 million Beatles albums in the U.S. alone since 1992; while Richard Rodgers' estate benefits from his solo work and collaborations with Lorenz Hart including "Blue Moon" and "This Can't Be Love." (Rodgers' work with Oscar Hammerstein was sold for a reported $200 million in 2009). 

Though it wasn't enough to put them on the Forbes list, Jimi Hendrix, Les Paul and Tupac Shakur all made more than $3 million each. The magazine also notes that Whitney Houston missed making either dead celebs list because her recordings she still haven't earned back the $30-$40 million advance she received as part of her $100 million record deal in 2001, and the singer did not leave much unreleased material behind. 

For more on how these rockers continue to rack up the millions despite being six feet under, be sure to check out our guide to the big business of rock estates.