KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — Mandopop star Jay Chou has earned the top position as Taiwan's highest earning singer for 2022.

He was the highest earning singer in the first six months of the year, after two years languishing in the second position.

The 43-year-old secured the spot following the release of his long-awaited album Greatest Works Of Art, which sold more than five million digital and physical copies, 8 Days reported.

Album sales alone generated a whopping NT$700 million (RM100 million) in revenue.

Besides that, he also had two global endorsements and seven commercials in China, which earned him NT$380 million (RM54.4 million).

Coming in second is Jam Hsiao who raked in at least NT$60 million (RM8.6 million) from his six endorsements for companies such as Ogenki Energy Drink and Guangzhou Zhujiang Brewery Group.

The 45-year-old also has six co-branding businesses that include a Japanese restaurant, bubble tea brand At Tea, a noodle shop, an instant noodle brand, a shoe brand as well as an alcohol business.

Together with his appearances on variety shows like Jungle Voice 3, The Feast and Our Song, as well as concert gigs and live streams, Hsiao reportedly made at least NT$340 million (RM48.6 million) in 2022.

With 10 endorsement deals under her belt, Cyndi Wang reportedly made close to NT$100 million (RM14.3 million) in 2022, making her the third highest grossing singer in the republic.

Wang's name has been trending on Chinese platforms since recreating her iconic schoolgirl uniform look from 2005 hit song Ai Ni on the first episode of Sisters Who Make Waves 3.

After winning the competition, Wang went on to star in her own variety show Promise For You, a spin-off of Sisters Who Make Waves 3, with Hong Kong singers Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi and Chinese actress Wu Jinyan.

Former S.H.E member Ella Chen also earned big money from endorsement deals last year.

Currently the ambassador for eight brands, Chen, who is married to Malaysian businessman Alvin Lai, is said to have made approximately NT$100 million in the past year.

The 41-year-old had been kept busy last year that saw her starring in the movie Summer, and participated in variety shows such as Law Less Kitchen and Atom Boyz.