Top earning female artists of 2011

Forbes has released its ranking of the top-earning female singers in 2011. The following are the top ten on the list.

1. Lady Gaga ($90 million)

Top earning female artists of 2011

Singer Lady Gaga takes the stage before posing for photographers at the International Emmy Awards in New York November 21, 2011.

Bieber goes home for basketball

Musician Justin Bieber watches the Toronto Raptors play the Indiana Pacers during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Toronto December 28, 2011

Selena Gomez thanks fans for support

Singer Selena Gomez poses on arrival at the 2011 American Music Awards in Los Angeles November 20, 2011.

Selena Gomez has thanked fans for their support following her mother's miscarriage.

The 19-year-old singer-and-actress pulled out of two concert appearances earlier this month when her mother Mandy Teefey lost the baby she was expecting and has now spoken publicly about the tragedy in a Christmas message to her followers.

She wrote on her Facebook page: "Belated Merry Christmas everybody... I can't thank you enough for all of your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate every one of you... I love you all so much and we hope you and your family had a beautiful Christmas!"

In her posting, Selena - who is dating Justin Bieber - revealed the baby was a girl who her mother and stepfather Brian had named Scarlett.

Signing off the message, she wrote: "Me, Momma, Brian and our guardian angel Scarlett."

Last month, the 'Wizards of Waverley Place' actress had spoken of her excitement at becoming a "big sister".

She tweeted: "Momma and Brian are finally letting me share the news... My mommys carrying my baby brother or sister :) I'm the happiest girl in the world! (sic)"

Mandy, a former actress, was married to Selena's father Ricardo Joel Gomez until the Disney star was five years old. She went on to tie the knot with Brian in 2006.

'X Factor' brings wins for 'shocked' Amaro, and Fox

Final contestant Melanie Amaro poses for photographs before a news conference for the television show ''The X Factor'' held in Los Angeles December 19, 2011.

"The X Factor" winner Melanie Amaro said on Friday she was shocked at her victory but believed that singing from her heart had given her the edge over her rivals in the TV contest.

Amaro's triumph also gave broadcaster Fox a ratings win, with Thursday's two-hour finale bringing in 12.4 million viewers, making "X Factor" the most-watched show of the night on U.S. television.

The 19 year-old from Florida won a $5 million recording contract, but said on Friday she was going to keep details of her first album a secret.

"I am going to keep everyone guessing as to what is going to come out, so people will go get it and they will be amazed," she told reporters on a conference call.

But she said she planned to spend some of her winnings on a foot massager and a new house for her mother.

"I feel as though I am in a dream. I feel as though this is not real...I was so thrilled to have won and so shocked," said Amaro.

Amaro's powerhouse vocals had made her a front-runner since her first audition for the show.

But she was cut from competition's early rounds, only to be later reinstated by "X Factor" creator Simon Cowell, in what TV watchers widely considered a manufactured drama to hype interest in the show's first season on U.S. TV.

Amaro on Friday said she did not know whether her initial elimination and call-back had been deliberately staged, but said she genuinely thought she was out of the contest.

"I had no clue Simon was coming to my house. I thought I was out of it ... I kept thinking I wasn't good enough," she said. "All I know is that he (Cowell) apologized about it. Whatever happened in the past, is the past."

Asked why she thought she had won, the modest teen said; "I think doing what I do, with all of my heart, put me apart from some of the other contestants ... I sing to the very, very pit of my soul because singing is something I truly enjoy."

Amaro's win closed a mixed first season for "X Factor", which Cowell brought to the United States from Britain with huge fanfare and predictions it would topple long-running "American Idol", also on Fox, as the nation's most-watched show.

But "X Factor" audiences have been about half those of "Idol" and producers on Friday declined to disclose the number of votes cast by the public in the finale.

Fox executives, however, say the show has been a success and has helped the network win Thursday nights in the fall with the key 18-49 age group for the first time in its history.

Fox also noted that the audience for Thursday's finale was 1.4 million more than that for the summer climax of NBC's rival TV singing contest, "The Voice".

Fox has already renewed "X Factor" for a second season but media speculation is rife over whether heavily-criticized judge Nicole Scherzinger, and British host Steve Jones will be returning in 2012.

Taylor Swift, T-Bone Burnett on 'Hunger Games' album

Singer Taylor Swift accepts the award for Favorite Female Country Artist at the 2011 American Music Awards in Los Angeles November 20, 2011.

Country singer Taylor Swift will lead a host of musicians collaborating with Oscar-winning artist T. Bone Burnett for a companion album to the upcoming film, "The Hunger Games."

Movie studio Lionsgate said on Friday that Burnett has joined forces with Swift, The Decemberists, Arcade Fire and The Civil Wars to create original songs for the film, set for release in March 2012.

"We are thrilled to have such a hauntingly beautiful companion album taking shape," said Joe Drake, co-COO of Lionsgate.

Swift and The Civil Wars' collaborated together on the single "Safe and Sound," which was released on iTunes on Friday and topped the iTunes songs chart.

"The Hunger Games," starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson, is based on the young adult series of novels, and tells the story of teenage boys and girls fighting to the death on a nationally televised event in a country called Panem, built on the remains of North America.

The film is set for release in U.S. theaters on March 23, 2012.

We Found Love' tops chart in milestone for Rihanna

Singer Rihanna performs during a concert as part of her tour for her latest album ''Loud'' in Nilson Nelson gymnasium in Brasilia September 21, 2011.

Rihanna's single "We Found Love" on Thursday held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the eighth straight week, making it the singer's longest-running No. 1 single of her career.

The Barbadian chanteuse's single overtook Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," which stayed at No. 1 for seven weeks earlier this year, and beat her previous top-selling singles, 2007's "Umbrella" and 2010's "Love The Way You Lie" featuring Eminem.

"We Found Love" is the lead single from Rihanna's sixth studio album "Talk That Talk," and the singer will wrap her last concert on her "Loud" tour in London on Thursday.

LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It," notched a seventh week at No. 2 on the singles chart, while Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain" held steady at No. 3, Flo Rida's "Good Feeling" climbed to No. 4 and Katy Perry's "One That Got Away" rounded out the top five.

Katy Perry named '1st artist of year'

Singer Katy Perry arrives at the 2011 American Music Awards in Los Angeles November 20, 2011.

Katy Perry's run of No. 1 singles has earned her the distinction of becoming MTV's first artist of the year.

Perry topped Adele after a spirited discussion among MTV's internal panel of experts, the network said Thursday. Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" was chosen top song of 2011, said Amy Doyle, the network's chief of music programming.

MTV also declared Skrillex its electronic dance music artist of the year over David Guetta.

Different parts of MTV would make "best of" lists in the past, but the network wanted to establish a franchise that brought all its online and TV arms together and emphasized MTV's music roots, Doyle said. The network, established in 1981, hopes it becomes an annual thing.

Seven panelists made the final choice, and their deliberations were featured in MTV programming this week.

"Rolling in the Deep" was an obvious selection as top song, Doyle said. Runners-up were Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" and Rihanna's "We Found Love."

"I loved the song the moment I wrote it," Adele said. "The melody and the beat added some conviction to it. I think that's why people connected with it."

Perry's achievement of tying Michael Jackson's "Bad" as the only albums to yield five No. 1 singles was particularly impressive, Doyle said. Along with the title cut, "California Gurls," ''E.T.," "Firework" and "Last Friday Night" (T.G.I.F.) all topped the charts. She's trying to beat the record with the current single "The One That Got Away."

"You just really felt her presence in pop culture throughout the year," Doyle said.

Skrillex, whose real name is Sonny Moore, describes his music as a combination of "dubstep, electro and glitch." MTV included the category of best electronic dance music artist to pay tribute to the way the style is taking off with its young viewers, she said.

MTV also asked its viewers to vote on their choice of the best live performances shown on MTV all year. Their choice was "Hurricane" by Thirty Seconds to Mars.

Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez to ring in MTV New Year

Singer Demi Lovato performs at the Z100's Jingle Ball concert at Madison Square Garden in New York December 9, 2011.

Hey Justin Bieber - Selena Gomez already has plans for New Year's Eve.

Gomez will be ringing in the New Year in New York City's Times Square with fellow star Demi Lovato for MTV's live special.

MTV said Monday that both are due to perform, along with singer Jason Derulo and rappers J Cole and Mac Miller. The night's festivities will be hosted by Lovato and Tyler Posey of MTV's "Teen Wolf."

The show will air from MTV's Times Square studios. Fans can bid to be part of the audience. Proceeds will go to FWD, to help with the crisis in East Africa.

'The Iron Lady' premieres in New York

Actress Anne Hathaway arrives for the New York premiere of the film "The Iron Lady" in New York December 13, 2011

'We Bought a Zoo' premieres in NY

Cast members Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson arrive for the premiere of the film "We Bought a Zoo" in New York, December 12, 2011

All-Star Tribute to CNN Heroes

Actress and musician Miley Cyrus (R) and actor Liam Hemsworth arrive at the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute event at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California December 11, 2011

Justin Bieber 'still learning about girls'

Singer Justin Bieber kisses his girlfriend, singer Selena Gomez, as they arrive at the 2011 American Music Awards in Los Angeles November 20, 2011.

Justin Bieber is "still learning about girls".

The 17-year-old singer - who has been dating actress Selena Gomez since early this year - admitted he doesn't know whether he will ever "really figure out" women, but he is happy to have found love so early in life.

He said in an interview with Atlanta Radio's 'The Bert Show': "I'm still learning about girls. Everyday is different. You have to go through different things. I don't know if you ever really figure it out but it's great!

"Life's all about that - finding the girl you love."

The 'Baby' hitmaker recently explained he is attracted to Selena, 19, because she is "hot" but he also insisted they share a connection because of their similar family backgrounds.

Justin said: "Everybody can see she is hot and that's great, but there is so much more to her than that. She makes me laugh and she puts up with my practical jokes. She has really strong family values as well.

"We were both raised by our moms in single-parent households, and that's given us a lot of the same family values in life."

'Twilight' movie wins slow box office weekend

Actors Robert Pattinson (L) and Kristen Stewart arrive for the British premiere of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn' at Westfield Stratford City cinemas in east London November 16, 2011.

The newest "Twilight" vampire movie ruled the domestic box office for a third time with $16.9 million in ticket sales over one of the slowest movie-going weekends of the year, studio estimates released on Sunday showed.

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1" from independent studio Summit Entertainment beat a pack of family films at U.S. and Canadian theaters. The fourth and second-to-last film in one of Hollywood's most lucrative franchises added $40.2 million at international locations.

After three weekends in theaters, "Breaking Dawn" has soaked up $588.3 million in global ticket sales.

The "Twilight" movies are based on best-selling novels by Stephenie Meyer about a human-vampire-werewolf love triangle.

The third domestic win in a row for "Breaking Dawn" came during the post-Thanksgiving weekend, typically one of the bleakest of the year at movie theaters following big releases a week earlier.

This year, total U.S. and Canadian ticket sales rang up at an estimated $82 million for the weekend, making it the year's second slowest, according to Hollywood.com Box Office. Overall sales only slightly edged the $81.5 million take from the September 9 weekend that followed Labor Day.

With no new films released nationwide, sales also slumped 4.8 percent below the same weekend last year.

After "Breaking Dawn," the rest of the weekend's top five belonged to family fare.

Disney's "The Muppets" starring Jason Segel and Amy Adams alongside Kermit, Miss Piggy and their puppet friends, rang up $11.2 million at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters. The movie represents a comeback for the Muppet characters, last seen in movie theaters in 1999. Worldwide sales for the new film have reached $60.1 million through Sunday.

"Hugo," a 3D family movie about an orphaned boy who lives in a 1930s Paris train station, moved up to third place from its fifth place finish last weekend after expanding to more theaters. The film pulled in $7.6 million domestically, bringing its total after two weekends to $25.2 million.

Animated 3D movie "Arthur Christmas," which explains how Santa delivers presents around the world in one night, pulled in $7.4 million domestically to finish in fourth place. To date, the movie has brought in $70.6 million worldwide.

In fifth place, dancing penguin sequel "Happy Feet Two" earned $6.0 million at domestic theaters. Total global sales reached $85.8 million after three weekends of release.

Walt Disney Co released "The Muppets." Privately held Summit Entertainment released "Breaking Dawn - Part 1." "Arthur Christmas" was distributed by Sony, and Hugo was released by Paramount, a unit of Viacom Inc.. Time Warner unit Warner Bros. distributed "Happy Feet Two."

Star Tracks in December

Jessica Alba Sighting - Los Angeles. Jessica Alba is seen out and about in Los Angeles, USA on Nov 30, 2011

Tom Cruise promotes 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol'

Cast members Paula Patton (L) and Tom Cruise pose at a promotional event for their latest film "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" in Tokyo December 1, 2011. Cruise kicked off the rollout of the fourth installment of his "Mission Impossible" franchise with a limited fan screening in Japan on Thursday ahead of its official world premiere next week

Star Tracks in December

US actor Tom Cruise is pictured upon his arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan, 30 November 2011. Cruise is in Tokyo for the promotion of his latest movie 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol'.