Ozzy's Family Among Rock's Richest

By Stephen M. Silverman

Wednesday February 26, 2003 01:00 PM EST

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Ozzy Osbourne and his uncanny clan may have tumbled from the top of the Nielsen ratings list, but they are among the leaders of a music-industry ranking of rock's richest, according to Britain's Heat magazine.

Ozzy, 54, and his manager wife, Sharon, 50, are at No. 3 in the income league for British stars, says the publication, whose analysts credit the Osbournes cash roll to their sponsorship deals (Pepsi Twist ads, remember?), publishing contracts and a video/DVD deal for their MTV show, "The Osbournes."

They also benefited from their Ozzfest touring rock festival.

Still, their earnings of $60 million last year were just a third of what Paul McCartney, 60, made. He tops the list with a staggering 2002 income of $180 million.

The former Beatle bagged his fortune from a hugely successful tour of the United States and more than $1.6 million from Gareth Gates's chart topper "Unchained Melody" (McCartney's company owns the publishing rights).

The Rolling Stones, another act that toured the U.S. last year, were No. 2 on the list, with$112 million.

And "A Rush of Blood to the Head" Grammy winner Coldplay, fronted by Gwyenth Paltrow's squeeze Chris Martin, were a new entry at No. 10, with earnings of around $8.7 million.

Talking about the list, and focusing on the Osbournes, Heat editor Mark Frith told the BBC: "Although this is a music rich list, it shows how TV can be a huge marketing tool.

"Sharon is such a sharp operator, which is why we've listed them together, and she has basically been promoting the whole Ozzy brand, which has in turn promoted the Ozzfest ... It shows that self-promotion can really make a difference.

"She has done it really, really well and takings are up, but they have also earned a fortune from advertising as well."