How much it costs to hire popular (and unpopular music acts)

I'd rather hire "The Real Deal" CH Band.

I was amazed at how many bands (who obviously feel they are well known enough to ask for a lot of scratch) I have never heard of...
 
I also couldn't help but remember this dream I had at least 12 years ago where ZZ-Top played at my birthday party. 

Jessica Simpson still gets 150K? Amazing. But I'm guessing the Weightwatcher ads are more lucrative anyway.
 
I find the list encouraging. It shows that there is still money in live performance, in most cases far more than in record sales. Once upon a time that formula was reversed, when bands really only toured to promote records and figured they did OK if they just broke even. There were exceptions, of course; the Grateful Dead made a fortune gigging, and kept most of the money themselves. 
 
Over the past couple of decades, the record companies have been wringing their hands and suing people trying to hold on to their somewhat-obsolete business model. This has led many to announce the death of the music business. Nope, the business is still alive for the people who actually make the music. Just not quite as rosy for those who sell overpriced plastic. This, IMO, is how it should be.

What does it cost to Not hear Britney Spears? That's what I'd like to know.

I've heard Mooch paid Bapu not to perform...