Prince music's biggest owner

Prince's comeback last Spring has placed him at the top of Rolling Stone magazine's list of 2004's top earning music acts.

The Purple Rain singer made a staggering $57m (€44m) from CD sales of his new album Musicology and his back catalogue, as well as ticket sales for concerts.

The diminutive singer narrowly beat Madonna to the top spot - the Material Girl banked $56m (€43.5m) from her Reinvention tour, children's books and her American Life album.

Heavy rockers Metallica took third place in the list with earnings of $44m (€34.2m); Elton John came fourth with profits of $43.7m (€33.9m); and country star Jimmy Buffet ranked fifth with $35.3m (€27.4m.

50 Cent was the highest earning rapper - the In Da Club star banked $25.7m (€20m) last year.