Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and Rihanna Lead Forbes 2012 List of Top-Earning Women in Music Industry

Lady Gaga and Katy Perry also land top spots this year

We already know Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and Rihanna make some serious bank.

But according to Forbes, these three fierce femmes actually make the most in the music biz.  

Forbes debuted its list of top earning women in the music industry in 2012 today and Brit-Brit tops the list, raking in a cool $58 million (thanks, in part, to her $15 million X Factor payout, wildly successful Femme Fatale album, and a new fragrance with Elizabeth Arden) followed by Taylor Swift ($57 million) and Rihanna ($53 million). 

This is T.Swift's second consecutive year in the no.2 spot. She's earned millions on her insanely popular tour, has a successful deal with CoverGirl cosmetics and her fourth studio album, Red, has already gone triple platinum. Oh, and did we mention she's only 22?

Lady Gaga—who earned the top spot in 2011—came in fourth this year with $52 million, followed by Katy Perry who cashed in a $45 mil.

And despite her highly publicized (and often nude) antics, Madonna earned a spot on the list, coming in at no. 9 with $30 million.