From left to right: Mr 8.75 million, Ms 3.28 million, Ms 2.66 million

French artists are hardly known outside their own country, but that doesn’t seem to affect their bankability.

The Figaro has just published its annual list of moneymakers in the French music industry.

Big winner, again, is aging rock star Johnny Hallyday (aka The Man Who Wanted To Become Belgian But Couldn’t And Then Moved To Switzerland Because He Thinks He Pays Too Much Tax). He took home 8.75 million euros in 2006.

Second is Mylène Farmer, who made her 3,28 million nearly exclusively by giving a dozen concerts in Paris. One of her most successful singles had the very French title Fuck Them All.

Third is female rapper Diam’s, good for 2.66 million. Her trademark noise is “pum pum“, which can refer to anything from sex, to aggressiveness. It is included in almost every song she has composed.

The rest of the top-10 earners in 2006 were (figures in million euros): Bénabar (2.18), Renaud (2.02), Anaïs (1.5), Olivia Ruiz (1.4), Yannick Noah (1.16), M (1.13), and Marc Lavoine (1.08).

The total income for the ten artists was in excess of 25 million euros. Until they follow Hallyday in his self-imposed exile, they all pay their taxes in France.

Source (in French)