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The following references may be useful when improving this article in the future: Talk:List of best-selling music artists/Artists · Talk:List of best-selling music artists/Index

edit It is essential to provide reliable sources when editing this article. For examples, see the references section. Unsourced or unreliably sourced additions will be removed immediately. The list is frequently edited in good faith to update the certified sales figures; however, claimed sales figures need to be supported by reliable sources, preferably from news organizations. Artists with claimed sales figures below 75 million may not be added to the list. Whilst we encourage editors to be bold, it is highly recommended to discuss changes on this talk page before editing. Below you can get an understanding as to when certifications for songs are added to the total certified sales of the listed artists. One lead artist and one featured artist. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both, the lead artist and the featured artist as both will have almost equal amount of part). Two lead artists. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both lead artists as both will have almost equal amount of part). Two lead artists and one featured artist. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both lead artists as well as the featured artist. Both lead artists will play a significant part in a song and the part of the featured artist also should be significant enough). One lead artist and two featured artists. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of the lead artist and to the total of both featured artists as almost all should have equal amount of part). The year next to markets below indicates how far back the certification systems go in each country. The percentages stand for the global market share based on a 2007 IFPI report. USA: RIAA (1958) (31.6%) Japan: RIAJ (Physical certifications since (1989)(16.5%) UK: BPI (1973) (10.6%) Germany: BVMI (1975) (8.4%) France: SNEP, Infodisc (albums), Infodisc (singles) (1973) (5.8%) Australia: ARIA (1990) (2.23%) Canada: Music Canada (1975) (2.22) Italy: FIMI (2009) (1.95%) The Netherlands: NVPI (1978) (1.52%) Spain: PROMUSICAE (1979) (1.48%) Austria: IFPI (1990) (1.10%) Mexico: AMPROFON (1999) (1.08%) Brazil: PMB (1990) (0.97%) Belgium: Ultratop (1995) (0.91%) Norway: (Archived certification-database) (1993) (0.86%) Switzerland: Schweizer Hitparade (1989) (0.84%) Sweden: IFPI (Archived certification-database), Sverige Topplistan (Chart-database) (1987) (0.81%) Denmark: Hitlisten (Chart-database), IFPI Denmark (2001) (0.67%) Ireland: IRMA (2005) (0.52%) Poland: ZPAV (1995) (0.51%) Finland: IFPI (1971) (0.49%) Argentina: Capif (1980) (0.48%) New Zealand: Recorded Music NZ (1978) (0.37%)

Drake

The RIAA database claims that Drake has 291.5 Million certified units, so how come his entry cites sales of over 400 million? Is this a typo?

https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=awards_by_artist#search_section

Never17 (talk) 07:22, 20 December 2024 (UTC)

The 291.5 million certified units of Drake only include his certifications as a lead artist. The 400M+ figure includes his certifications as both a lead and featured artist, and this applies to all artists listed on the page." TheWikiholic (talk) 19:49, 20 December 2024 (UTC)

Ah, that makes sense. Never17 (talk) 23:31, 20 December 2024 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 22 December 2024

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Mariah Carey has 5,315,000 certified units in Canada, Can someone update? Ricsalles (talk) 06:14, 22 December 2024 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. cyberdog958 00:22, 24 December 2024 (UTC)

The Doors

Hi, I don't understand why the entry The Doors sales of recordings in America is not updated. The total sales of the RIAA in the US of 42,850 million are wrong. See the link below of the RIAA in the description. The exact sales are 47 million in the US. Then there would be to add the 600,000 of the video albums for a total of 47,600,000 of total certified sales. The Doors have obtained 47 million certified by the RIAA in US with Gold Units: 32 Platinum Units: 22 Multi Platinum Units: 8 Diamond Units: 1 Format: All types https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?advance_search=1&tab_active=awards_by_artist&type_option=ST&type=all#search_section 82.55.102.140 (talk) 14:07, 22 December 2024 (UTC)

Billy Murray

all sources show he had 300 million sales, why is he not included on this list? 2600:1015:B10F:CA54:4166:7EC5:1555:381C (talk) 15:30, 22 December 2024 (UTC)

Bing Crosby and Henry Burr?

both sold well over 200 million records, why does it seem like this list only includes arists from the 1950s to present? 2600:1015:B10F:CA54:4166:7EC5:1555:381C (talk) 15:41, 22 December 2024 (UTC)

I would like to respond in kind to your well researched information on the following turn of the century entertainers, such as Henry Burr, Bill Murray, perhaps Tino Rossi and of course Bing Crosby. In earnest, any sales in music that predates March 14th 1958 would have never been able to be certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) which was introduced on that date. A thorough analysis will indicate that in those days that predated the RIAA, record labels tabulated the sales and thus made their certification listings on available sales data. For example, the first record to be certified "Gold" was bestowed on Glenn Miller for his iconic "Chattanooga Choo Choo given to Miller by his record label (RCA) in 1942. On the other hand Crosby's record label was "Decca" which claimed Crosby sales of upward to 300 million by 1970 according to the Guinness Book of World Records. This best selling listing directory goes by what is considered certification of sales data which is largely nonexistent in correlation to entertainers such as the ones mentioned above. Many contributors including myself and the fine editors of this best selling listing directory are well aware of this issue, and of course are trying to somehow make the proper modifications between Claimed Sales as opposed to Certification of sales. I hope this analogy helps. Victor0327 (talk) 22:37, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

Billie Jean

Recently, the page for Billie Jean only had the physical singles listed for Canada. But the actual certification website cited an additional 800,000 units for it's digital sales as of April 2024, which i had to add. Is this already accounted for here? Never17 (talk) 04:03, 24 December 2024 (UTC)

"Music Canada's recent updates typically combine physical and digital sales. As a result, separate digital certifications for songs like 'Billie Jean' (Gold, Platinum, and Double Platinum) are not listed individually in the database. My latest edit fills this gap by adding certifications for 'Billie Jean', 'Beat It', 'Black or White', and 'This Is It', which were previously missing from the list." TheWikiholic (talk) 14:34, 24 December 2024 (UTC)

Tank you Never17 (talk) 17:44, 24 December 2024 (UTC)

Elvis is the highest selling solo artist in hx ( CLAIMED AND CERTFIED)

Brookville Record sales cannot at present be certified (7 x platinum – 2 albums) Another 5 to 7 million sales of Pickwick releases cannot be fully certified. Numbers are known, but they come from an audit report and not from actual sales accounting Missing sales info on pre computer sales Missing international sales reports. Elvis was not with RCA in many countries Missing SUN sales figures (small numbers I know, but!!!) About 400 U.S. album releases (RCA, Special products and more) all between one of other level of certification. RIAA only counts full millions. So if any album sold 1.999,999, it still counts as 1 million 24.218.114.189 (talk) 22:12, 14 December 2024 (UTC)

There is also the fact that in the four months after his death, an estimated 200 million Presley records were sold worldwide. None of those sales have ever been certified. Henceforth the billion records he sold worldwide figures. Victor0327 (

161.11.160.60 (talk) 14:27, 24 December 2024 (UTC)

The subject of raising sales figures

Just came up with this idea, so we have a threshold of 100,000 units minimum before new sales are added. Well how about if a artists certified sales go up by 100 million their claimed sales will be increased or adjusted. Like let's say using ABBA as a hypothetical scenario, right now they are claimed to have sold 150 million as of 2021, but we also have claims citing sales upwards of 300 million or more. If they were to have their sales units increase by 100M since 2021, then that would be enough of a jump for us to adjust their claimed sales figure to the higher estimate (300 Million) Never17 (talk) 01:48, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

I think is an excellent idea. We could also apply the same adjustments in the tabulations of acts such as Julio Iglesias, The Doors and others whose claimed sales have been disputed or have been tagged as erroneous. That would be a step in the right direction. To reiterate, an excellent idea. Victor0327 (talk) 16:36, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

And yet, I wonder if the acts mentioned can still sell that many units through certifications in order to make the aforementioned adjustments. Food for thought..... Victor0327 (talk) 16:56, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

True, but it's probably the least conflict method of updating them. Pretty full proof for the most part since it's much harder for older acts to get large jumps in certifications, so we could take them at face value compared to newer artists. Never17 (talk) 22:33, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

Yes I agree. Moreover we must keep striving in making the proper adjustments in order to somehow satisfy all Wikipedian contributors. And yet, you have raised a good point; "it's the least conflictive method of updating the sales data. Victor0327 (talk) 22:44, 25 December 2024 (UTC)

Julio Iglesias

The values on Julio Iglesias are not even close to be correct. The values are wrong with over 150 million in both certified and claimed values. The source referenced in this article does not say anything about records sales at all. Almost all souces states that it is claimed that Julio has sold over 300 million records (for example the official Julio Iglesias website) which means the 150 million stated in this article is very wrong and cannot be backed up by any reliable source. And the certified sales is also just plain wrong. A simple google search shows that julio has much much more than 51.7 million sales. For example according to "JULIO IGLESIAS album sales" from the bestsellingalbums.org Julio has sold over 220 million records worldwide which is ceritified. Thats a 326% increase and wrong with about 168 million records, so the values in this article is extremely wrong. Julio also got a guiness world record for most sold latin artist of all time, where it is stated that he has sold 250 million records. Julio sold most of his records in the 70-90s which means the values in this arcticle has never been close to being correct. The claimed record sales should be changed to 300 million and the total certified units should be changed to 220 million +. I cannot change in this article so maybe someone else can help. Thanks JannePotatis (talk) 14:00, 26 December 2024 (UTC)

The Doors

I don't understand the reason, why the entry The Doors total sales in America, certified by the RIAA in the link below in the description of 47 million, then we should add the 600,000 of the sales of video albums, for a total of 47,600 is not corrected, instead it is always stopped at 42,850. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?advance_search=1&tab_active=awards_by_artist&type_option=ST&type=all#search_section 82.55.102.140 (talk) 14:10, 27 December 2024 (UTC)

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