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This is a '''list of the best-selling music artists''' of all time. The measure is the total number of singles and albums sold world-wide (singles and albums weighted equally, paid digital downloads included too). This is a '''list of the best-selling music artists''' of all time. The measure is the total number of singles and albums sold world-wide (singles and albums weighted equally, paid digital downloads included too).


Warning: The claims made on this page are only as reliable as the references given. In certain cases on this list, sources are not given at all. Furthermore, the references themselves may be based on estimates made by non-reliable sources such as news articles, fan sites, record label statements (not worldwide), etc. You are therefore advised not to take this list too seriously. Warning: The claims made on this page are only as reliable as the references given. In certain cases on this list, sources are not given at all. Furthermore, the references themselves may be based on estimates made by non-reliable sources such as news articles, fan sites, record label statements (not worldwide), etc. You are therefore advised not to take this list too seriously. In reality, building such a list from a neutral point of view and based on facts, is quite impossible.


{| {{prettytable}} {| {{prettytable}}
!# !! Name !! Albums !! align="center" | Worldwide Sales !! Nationality !! Years Active !! Genre !! Source !# !! Name !! Albums !! align="center" | Worldwide Sales !! Nationality !! Years Active !! Genre !! Source
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| 2 || align="left" |] || 40+|| align="right" | 450,000,000<!-- a source has been provided for this figure, even if you you may disagree.-->|| ] || 60s || Rock/Pop || | 1 || align="left" |] || 40+|| align="right" | 400,000,000<!-- please discuss this artist's sales on the discussion page before changing their sales number -->|| ] || 60s || Rock/Pop ||
See also: Discussion #36 See also: Discussion #36
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| 3 || align="left" |] || 150+|| align="right" | 400,000,000 <!--It's impossible that Elvis sold 1 Billion albums and singles when his official website states that his US sales (which is 166m) account for 60% of his worldwide sales.-->|| ] ||50s-70s || Country/Rock || | 2 || align="left" |] || 14 || align="right" | 350,000,000 <!--Please go to the discussion page for debates/disputes about this artist's sales--> || ] || 70s-00s || Pop/R&B <!--Only the artists main genres should be noted here--> ||
⚫ See also: Discussion #1

⚫ |- align="center"
| 4 || align="left" |] || 14 || align="right" | 350,000,000 <!--Please go to the discussion page for debates/disputes about this artist's sales--> || ] || 70s-00s || Pop/R&B <!--Only the artists main genres should be noted here--> ||
] ]
] ]
See also: Discussion #1 See also: Discussion #1
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| 5 || align="left" |] || 16 || align="right" | 275,000,000 <!--200mil albums and 75mil singles.-->|| ] || 80s-00s || Pop || | 3 || align="left" |] || 150+|| align="right" | 300,000,000 <!--It's impossible that Elvis sold 1 Billion albums and singles when his official website states that his US sales (which is 166m) account for 60% of his worldwide sales.-->|| ] ||50s-70s || Country/Rock ||
⚫ See also: Discussion #1
⚫ |- align="center"
| 4 || align="left" |] || 16 || align="right" | 275,000,000 <!--200mil albums and 75mil singles.-->|| ] || 80s-00s || Pop ||
] ]
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| 6 || align="left" |] || 450 || align="right" | 250,000,000 || ] || 60s-00s || Pop || | 5 || align="left" |] || 450 || align="right" | 250,000,000 || ] || 60s-00s || Pop ||
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| 7 || align="left" |] || 14 || align="right" | 230,000,000 || ] || 90s-00s || R&B || ] | 6 || align="left" |] || 14 || align="right" | 230,000,000 || ] || 90s-00s || R&B || ]
] ]
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| 8 || align="left" |] || 43 || align="right" | ~220,000,000 || ] || 70s-00s || Pop || | 7 || align="left" |] || 43 || align="right" | ~220,000,000 || ] || 70s-00s || Pop ||
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| 9 || align="left" |] || 21 || align="right" | 220,000,000 || ] || 80s-00s || ]/Pop || | 8 || align="left" |] || 21 || align="right" | 220,000,000 || ] || 80s-00s || ]/Pop ||
] ]
See also: Discussion #1
|- align="center"
| 9 || align="left" |] || 9/12 || align="right" | 500,000,000 <!-- It's very unlikely that Led Zeppelin sold just as much singles as they did albums (200m) as they were an AOR artist.--> || ] || 60s-70s|| Rock/Blues ||
See also: Discussion #1
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| || align="left" |] || 80 || align="right" | ~200,000,000 || ] || 70s-00s || Latino Pop || | 10 || align="left" |] || 80 || align="right" | ~200,000,000 || ] || 70s-00s || Latino Pop ||
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| || align="left" |] || 22 || align="right" | 180,000,000 || ] || 70s-00s || Rock || | || align="left" |] || 22 || align="right" | 180,000,000 || ] || 70s-00s || Rock ||
Line 139: Line 150:
| || align="left" |] ||10||align="right"|~80,000,000|| ] || 80's-00's | || align="left" |] ||10||align="right"|~80,000,000|| ] || 80's-00's
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| 60 ||align="left" | ] || || align="right" | ~80,000,000 || ] || 60s-00s || || | 60 ||align="left" | ] || || align="right" | ~80,000,000 || ] || 60s-00s || ||
|- align="center" |- align="center"
| ||align="left" | ] || || align="right" | ~80,000,000 || ] || 60s-00s || Traditional Arab, Modern, Pop || *(35 mil. US) | ||align="left" | ] || || align="right" | ~80,000,000 || ] || 60s-00s || Traditional Arab, Modern, Pop || *(35 mil. US)

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Maintenance Use Only: {{subst:afd}} {{subst:afd2|pg=List of best-selling music artists|text=}} {{subst:afd3|pg=List of best-selling music artists}} log

This is a list of the best-selling music artists of all time. The measure is the total number of singles and albums sold world-wide (singles and albums weighted equally, paid digital downloads included too).

Warning: The claims made on this page are only as reliable as the references given. In certain cases on this list, sources are not given at all. Furthermore, the references themselves may be based on estimates made by non-reliable sources such as news articles, fan sites, record label statements (not worldwide), etc. You are therefore advised not to take this list too seriously. In reality, building such a list from a neutral point of view and based on facts, is quite impossible.

# Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Source
1 The Beatles 40+ 400,000,000 UK 60s Rock/Pop Guinness/EMI

See also: Discussion #36

2 Michael Jackson 14 350,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop/R&B MJ Stats

Albums Discography Singles Discography See also: Discussion #1

3 Elvis Presley 150+ 300,000,000 US 50s-70s Country/Rock Elvis.com

See also: Discussion #1

4 Madonna 16 275,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop WBR 2005

Discography

5 Nana Mouskouri 450 250,000,000 Greece 60s-00s Pop

6 Mariah Carey 14 230,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B Albums Discography

Singles Discography

7 Elton John 43 ~220,000,000 UK 70s-00s Pop
8 Celine Dion 21 220,000,000 Canada 80s-00s Pop Music/Pop

Discography See also: Discussion #1

9 Led Zeppelin 9/12 500,000,000 UK 60s-70s Rock/Blues MSNBC

See also: Discussion #1

10 Julio Iglesias 80 ~200,000,000 Spain 70s-00s Latino Pop
Queen 22 180,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock R&R HoF, 2001 1995 source

Queen (band) See also: discussion #11

AC/DC ~180,000,000 Australia/UK 70s-00s Hard Rock AC/DC

MSN Music David Icke

Whitney Houston 10 ~180,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop Discography
ABBA 160,000,000 Sweden 70s-80s Disco/Pop ABBA discography
Garth Brooks ~145,000,000 US 80s-00s Country 105m.US
Pink Floyd ~145,000,000 UK 60s-00s Prog Rock See also: discussion #27
Janet Jackson 130,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/pop Janet Jackson Discography
The Eagles ~120,000,000 US 70s-00s Country/Rock
Wei Wei (韦唯) ~120,000,000 China 80s-00s Pop
20 The Rolling Stones ~110,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock
The Bee Gees 110,000,000 UK/Australia 60s-00s Pop/Disco src.1
Bon Jovi ~110,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock/Hard Rock (100m.alb.)
R.E.M. ~110,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock Note: source is from Misplaced Pages itself, i.e. it cannot be verified(106m.alb.)
Kenny Rogers 105,000,000+ US 60s-00s Country/Pop/Rock

U2 11 ~105,000,000 Ireland 80s-00s Rock/Pop 50m.US
Barbra Streisand 100,000,000+ US 60s-00s Standards/Pop 71m.US
Rod Stewart 100,000,000+ UK 60s-00s Rock/Standards
Mireille Mathieu 37 ~100,000,000 France 60s-00s Pop src.
Alla Pugacheva 15 ~100,000,000 Russia 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(10m.US)
30 Johnny Mathis ~100,000,000 US 50s-00s Pop/Standards src. source 2
Ricky Nelson ~100,000,000 US 50s-80s Pop/Country/Rock Note: no references given here
Luciano Pavarotti ~100,000,000 Italy 60s-00s Opera
Brenda Lee ~100,000,000 US 50s-60s Pop/Country Note: No references given here
A. R. Rahman ~100,000,000 India 90s-00s
OmPrakash ~100,000,000 India 90s-00s
Illayaraja ~100,000,000 India 70s-00s
Deep Purple ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Hard Rock
Lionel Richie ~100,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop/R&B 21.0 mililion in US

40 Dolly Parton ~100,000,000 US 60s-00s Country Note: this artist is not listed by RIAA as one of the 200 best selling artists in US See also: discussion #15
Donna Summer ~100,000,000 US 70s-90s Disco Note: reference is from Misplaced Pages itself! src.
Aerosmith ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock
Billy Joel ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop / Rock 78 mil.US,
Fleetwood Mac ~100,000,000 UK/US 60s-00s Pop/Rock 2
Johnny Hallyday ~100,000,000 France 50s-00s Pop src.1
Charles Aznavour ~100,000,000 France 50s-00s Pop
Bruce Springsteen ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(61 mil. albums US)
Def Leppard ~90,000,000 UK 80s-00s Hard Rock 55.5mil.US
Bob Dylan ~90,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk-Rock *35m.US,
Earth, Wind & Fire 90,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Funk/Disco/Pop *(23 mil.US) Note: No references given here for 90 million WW figure
50 KISS 30 ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock source
B'z 14 ~86,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Rock See also: discussion #22
Eddy Arnold 85,000,000 US 40s-90s Country source
Britney Spears ~85,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop *(32 mil. US), src.
Celine Dion 21 ~80,000,000 Canada 80s-00s Pop Music/Pop

Discography

Jean-Michel Jarre 19 ~80,000,000 France 70s-00s Synth Pop sourceSee also: discussion #19
Santana ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock src.1
Dalida ~80,000,000 France 50s-80s as of 1981 See also: discussion #19
Metallica 10 ~80,000,000 US 80's-00's
60 Salvatore Adamo ~80,000,000 Italy 60s-00s
Fairouz ~80,000,000 Lebanon 60s-00s Traditional Arab, Modern, Pop *(35 mil. US)
Eric Clapton ~80,000,000 UK 80s-00s Rock, Blues *(38 mil. US)
Dream Theater ~80,000,000 US 80s-00s Metal, Progressive *(14 mil. US)
Stevie Wonder ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Soul/R&B/Pop,Disco
Hank Snow ~80,000,000 Canada 30's-90's
Spice Girls 3 ~76,000,000 UK 90s-00s Pop source
Backstreet Boys ~75,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop src.1
Journey ~75,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop 40mil.US,
70 Paul McCartney ~75,000,000+ UK 60s-00s Rock Note: no reference given here
Dire Straits 74,000,000 UK 70s-90s Rock
Shania Twain 4 ~73,000,000 Canada 90s-00s Country/Rock/Pop Note: No references given here
A-ha 10 70,000,000 Norway 80s-00s Pop
The Carpenters 70,000,000 US 60s-80s Pop reference needed
Gloria Estefan ~70,000,000 US 80s-00s Latino Pop src.1,
Enya 5 70,000,000 Ireland 80s-00s New Age/Celtic Note: No references given here for WW figure
Roberto Carlos ~70,000,000 Brazil 60s-00s
Charley Pride ~70,000,000 US 60s-00s Country source
Bay City Rollers ~70,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock
80 Van Halen ~70,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock
Adriano Celentano ~70,000,000 Italy 60s-00s Pop
Kylie Minogue 65,000,000 Australia 80s-00s Synth Pop source
George Strait ~65,000,000 US 70s-00s Country *54 mil. US
Eminem 65,000,000 US 90s-00s Rap *(22 mil. US)
Genesis 60,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock/Pop src.
Phil Collins ~60,000,000 UK Rock/Pop src.
Guns N' Roses ~60,000,000 US 80s-90s Hard Rock 71mil. albumsNote: No references given here
Chicago ~60,000,000 US 60s-80s Jazz/Rock
90 Vicky Leandros 400+ ~60,000,000+ Greece 60s-00s Pop No reference given
Bryan Adams ~60,000,000 Canada 80s-00s Pop/Rock 1
The Doors ~60,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock *(30 mil. US)
Tina Turner ~60,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop
Perry Como ~60,000,000 US 30s-00s Standards
110 Frank Sinatra ~60,000,000 US 40s-90s Standards *(25 mil.US)
Simon and Garfunkel ~60,000,000 US 60s Folk-Rock *(36mil.US)
Pearl Jam ~60,000,000 US 90s-00s Alternative *(29 mil. US)
John Denver ~60,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk/Rock/Country
The Monkees ~60,000,000 US 60s-90s Rock
100 Hank Thompson ~60,000,000 US 40s-00s Country Note: no reference provided
Barry Manilow 60,000,000+ US 70s-00s Pop/Standards
Boyz II Men ~60,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop *(27mil.US),
Paul Anka ~60,000,000 Canada 50s-00s Pop
Alanis Morissette ~55,000,000 Canada 90s-00s Rock/Pop src.1
The Police *53,000,000 UK 70s-80s Rock/Pop 22m.US,
Nirvana *52,000,000 US 80s-90s Alternative 24m.US
Michael Bolton 52,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop
Luis Miguel 55,000,000 Mexico 80s-00s Latin Pop
Andre Kostelanetz 52,000,000 US 70s-00s Classic src.1
Tony Bennett ~51,000,000 US 50s-00s Standards/Jazz
Alabama *~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Country 46m.US
Johnny Cash 4 ~50,000,000 US Country
Motley Crue *~50,000,000 US 80s-00s Hard Rock 22m.US,
Foreigner *~50,000,000 US/UK 70s-90s Rock/Pop 36m.US
140 Oasis ~57,000,000 UK 90s-00s Rock ~50m.albums
Meat Loaf ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock src.2
Olivia Newton-John ~50,000,000 Australia 70s-00s Country/Pop
Bjork ~50,000,000 Iceland 80s-00s Alternative Note: this artist is NOT listed as one of the 200 best-selling artists by RIAA
Gene Autry ~50,000,000 US Country
Nat King Cole ~50,000,000 US 30s-60s Jazz
The Seekers ~50,000,000 Australia 60s, 90s-00s Rock/Pop/Folk
The Doobie Brothers ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock 50mil.US
Three Dog Night ~50,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock src.3
Bob Seger ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
Roger Whittaker ~50,000,000 UK 70s-90s src.1
Annie Lennox ~50,000,000 UK 90s-00s src.1
Ace Of Base ~50,000,000 Sweden 90s-00s Pop/Dance source
David Bowie ~500,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock src.
Reba McEntire 48,000,000 US 70s-00s Country
Andy Lau (劉德華) 48,000,000 Hong Kong 80s-00s Country
Ayumi Hamasaki 46,000,000 Japan 90s-00s J-Pop src.
Willie Nelson 46,000,000 US 50s-00s IRS
Destiny's Child 6 46,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop
George Michael 45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop source
2 Pac ~48,000,000 US 90s Rap *(38mil.US)
Bananarama ~45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop/Rock/Dance 40mil albums
Chris de Burgh 45,000,000 Ireland 70s-00s Pop/Rock src.1
Red Hot Chili Peppers 44,000,000 US 80s-00s Alternative
Milli Vanilli 44,000,000 Germany 80s-90s Pop
Alan Jackson 43,000,000 US 90s-00s Country source
*NSYNC 42,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop *(30 mil. US)
Christina Aguilera 4 ~40,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop 34m.albums
Vicente Fernandez 40,000,000 Mexico 70s-00s Mexican
Waylon Jennings +40,000,000 US Country
Jose Feliciano 40,000,000 Puerto Rico 60s-00s Pop source
Judas Priest 15 ~40,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock source
The Who ~40,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock *(20mil.US)
Ozzy Osbourne ~40,000,000 UK 60s-00s Hard Rock *(27mil.US)
John Lennon ~40,000,000 UK 60s-70s Rock *13.5mil.US
The Beach Boys 40,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Rock
The Cars ~40,000,000 US 70s-1980s Rock/Pop *(23mil.US)
James Last ~40,000,000 Germany
Asha Bhosle ~40,000,000 India 50s-00s src.
Ricky Martin ~40,000,000 Puerto Rico 90s-00s Pop
Anne Murray 40,000,000 Canada Pop

Note: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry proclaimed Michael Jackson the biggest selling artist of all-time in 1993 and again in 1996. This was because his solo sales, combined with The Jacksons sales, exceeded 500 Million (half a billion). But this is not true in fact the Beatles have sold 1,200,000 records since their reign.

See also

External links

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