Music News for Monday

Jul 23, 2018 | 6:00 AM

BRUNO MARS AND ED SHEERAN AMONG BILLBOARD’S TOP 50 MONEY MAKERS OF 2017: Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran were among the artists who raked in the dough last year, according to Billboard’s newly released list of the Top 50 Money Makers of 2017. The two made the top five on the list, which ranks the earnings of music acts based on their U.S. concert grosses and royalties generated from domestic sales, streaming and publishing. Bruno comes in at No. 4 with $40.7 million and Ed ranks at No. 5 with $31.3 million. Both did not even make the tally last year. Other artists on the list include Lady Gaga at No. 6, The Weeknd at No. 12 and John Mayer at No. 25. Celine Dion, Elton John, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift also made the top 50. The No. 1 spot goes to U2, followed by Garth Brooks and Metallica rounding out the top three.

JENNIFER HUDSON, TAYLOR SWIFT JOIN ‘CATS’ MOVIE ADAPTATION: Jennifer Hudson and Taylor Swift have joined Working Title’s movie adaptation of Cats. Deadline confirmed the 36-year-old singer and actress and 28-year-old pop star will star in the big-screen version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical. The Late Late Show host James Corden and Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen have also signed on to the project. Additional casting is in the works. Hudson will play Grizabella, the “Glamour Cat” who performs the well-known song “Memory.” Details have yet to emerge about Swift, Corden and McKellen’s roles. Cats is based on the T.S. Eliot book Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. The West End musical starring Elaine Paige as Grizabella debuted in 1981, while the Broadway version with Betty Buckley opened the next year.

HARRY STYLES RAISED $1.2 MILLION FOR CHARITY WHILE ON TOUR: Harry Styles didn’t just give fans a good time on his first solo tour – he also gave back to charity. According to Live Nation, the singer raised $1.2 million in charity donations for 62 charities around the world during his 10-month trek. The donations were raised from ticket contributions, combined with contributions from promoter Live Nation and the GLSEN PRIDE campaign. Harry also facilitated more than 5,000 direct connections between fans and local charities. He also registered hundreds of new votes via Headcount and made a major push for water conservation that saved the equivalent of 10,000 water bottles by fans and 3,200 by the band and crew. More than 6,500 gallons of water was recycled from buses, offices, dressing rooms, and backstage areas. Harry’s tour rcently wrapped in Inglewood, California. He told fans on Instagram, “I’m off to write some more music and I hope I’ll be seeing you again very soon.”

PINK OPENS UP ABOUT TOURING THE WORLD WITH HER TWO KIDS: In a sneak peak at an upcoming episode of Reese Witherspoon’s new series Shine on With Reese, Pink opens up about what it’s like to take her children on tour with her. “Going on tour with children is really tricky. It’s exhausting. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” remarked Pink, who is currently on tour in Australia. “But I’m very, very fortunate that I get to bring my kids with me and that I kind of get to integrate them into my [work] life.” The 38-year-old singer and husband Carey Hart are parents to son Jameson Moon, 18 months, and daughter Willow Sage, 7 – both of whom are currently in Australia with their mother.