Forbes’ has released their annual Celebrity 100, with Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Madonna topping the chart of the most powerful musicians on the list.
While the list of musicians is packed with pop stars (Justin Bieber is No. 6), classic rockers (Bon Jovi takes No. 5) and R&B heroines (Rihanna takes the No. 8 spot), Chris Martin and the band Coldplay represent rock in the No. 9 slot.
While Coldplay’s enormously successful world tour in support of the band’s most recent full-length, Mylo Xyloto, is credited as driving the band’s ascension up the Forbes’ power chart (the tour is cited as generating more than $3 million per show), the group’s celebrity associations are also a factor. Martin’s wife, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, lands at No. 71 on the overall celebrity list, with the couple’s friendship with Beyonce and her husband, Jay-Z (he’s No. 32 on the list) also helped propel Coldplay to the No. 9 position, just ahead of pop star Katy Perry at No. 10.
Coldplay was recently revealed as silent financial benefactors for 2012 U.K. music film Spike Island, a fictional tale about fans of the Stone Roses determined to catch the band at their legendary 1990 concert on the British isle.
“It’s nice to see them crossing the line and coming over into helping people out in our line of work,” said 23-year-old actor Elliott Tittensor, who portrays Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown in the movie. Spike Island also stars actress Emilia Clarke, best known for her portrayal of Daenerys Targaryen on breakout HBO series, Game of Thrones.
