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Revision as of 11:41, 26 September 2007

The world's best-selling music artists cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization that has recorded global music sales in the manner that the RIAA does in the United States. This page lists those artists who have had claims made to be among the top sellers. Within their sales brackets, artists are listed in alphabetical order, rather than by number of records sold. Equal weight is given to album and single sales, as well as paid downloads. Sources are typically fan sites, record labels, newspaper articles or manual addition of figures from various official sources. This means that these figures should be considered claims, not facts.

Constraints in establishing best-selling status

Although the criteria for the following list are intended to be expansive (including comparisons for total sales for all recording artists) there are certain limitations and constraints that may limit the conclusions that can be derived from this data.

Such constraints include:

  • Bias towards acts who have had success in a specific country or region. The RIAA tracks and certifies sales for recordings sold in, or originating from, the United States, the world's largest single music market. While the RIAA's method and scope are exhaustive in this respect, figures for recordings produced and sold in other nations are not included, or at best are incomplete, in RIAA statistics. Since there are few authoritative or comprehensive counterparts to the RIAA which track the international music market, the RIAA's more certain sales figures tend to inflate the relative importance of the American market.
  • Bias towards modern artists. Comparatively less successful modern artists will have sold more records, as both global spending power and population have increased (even though most of the world reside in poorer countries that buy little or no music). In 1950, the world's population was 2.5 billion; by 2000 it had risen to 6 billion. Also, older artists suffer from bias as their record sales are less likely to have been accurately tracked, and estimates of their early sales are likely to be more vague.
  • Bias towards older artists. Particularly, those artists who began their recording careers since 1990 may have suffered in sales from illegal downloading of tracks.
  • Fan sites, press articles, certification authorities and record companies have been known to inflate record sales claims.
  • Inflated claims for artists who performed in different acts during their careers. Sometimes all of the sales data is attributed to an individual artist. For the purposes of this list, an effort is made to separate the individual acts (e.g., the sales figures for The Beatles and Paul McCartney & Wings are mutually exclusive).

World's best seller

Main article: Best-selling music artist

The best-selling musical act in history can not be accurately determined. U.S. sales data before 1952 are incomplete. International sales, particularly in the developing world, continue to be poorly tracked, and sales data before the 1980s is rare or dubious. The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley have all been given the title by various sources. Claims are made for a number of less common artists.

In alphabetical order

Artists claimed to have sold 1 billion records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s Rock and Roll / R&B / Gospel / Blues / Jazz / Folk / Country / Rockabilly
The Beatles UK 60s-70s Rock / Pop

Artists claimed to have sold 500 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
Michael Jackson U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Soul
Frank Sinatra U.S. 30s-90s Pop / Swing / Easy Listening

Artists claimed to have sold 250 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
ABBA Sweden 70s-80s Pop / Disco
Alla Pugacheva Soviet Union 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Folk
Bing Crosby U.S. 20s-70s Pop / Jazz / Swing
Cliff Richard UK 50s-00s Pop / Rock
Elton John UK 60s-00s Folk / Pop / Adult Contemporary / Rock
Julio Iglesias Spain 60s-00s Pop / Latin
Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Folk Rock


Nana Mouskouri Greece 50s-00s Pop / Folk / Jazz
Madonna U.S. 80s-00s Pop / Dance / Electronica
Pink Floyd UK 60s-90s Rock
Queen UK 70s-00s Hard Rock / Pop Rock / Glam Rock / Heavy Metal
Tino Rossi France 30s-80s Pop / Swing

Artists claimed to have sold 100 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
A. R. Rahman India 90s-00s Film score / Soundtrack / World Music
AC/DC Australia 70s-00s Hard Rock / Pop Rock / Heavy Metal
Aerosmith U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal
Backstreet Boys U.S. 90s-00s Pop
Barbra Streisand U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Adult Contemporary / Classical / Easy listening / Showtunes
Barry White U.S. 70s-00s Pop / R&B / Disco
The Beach Boys U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop
The Bee Gees Australia/UK 60s-00s Pop / Disco / Soft Rock / Blues / Blue-eyed Soul
Billy Joel U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Rock / Dance
Bob Dylan U.S. 60s-00s Folk / Rock / Pop
Bon Jovi U.S. 80s-00s Hard Rock / Glam Metal / Heavy Metal / Pop Rock
Boney M Germany 70s-90s Pop / Disco
Brenda Lee U.S. 50s-00s Country / Pop
Bruce Springsteen U.S. 70s-00s Rock
The Carpenters U.S. 60s-80s Pop / Country / Adult Contemporary
Celine Dion Canada 80s-00s Pop / Rock
Charles Aznavour France 30s-00s Pop / Chanson
Cher U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Dance / Electronica / Rock
Chicago U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop Rock / Folk Rock / Blues / Jazz
Creedence Clearwater Revival U.S. 60s-70s Rock
Dalida France/Italy 50s-80s Pop / Disco
David Bowie UK 60s-00s Folk Rock / Glam Rock / Hard Rock /Soul / Funk / Dance / Electronica
Deep Purple UK 60s-00s Hard Rock / Pop Rock / Heavy Metal
Diana Ross U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B / Soul / Disco / Jazz
Dionne Warwick U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B / Soul / Soft Rock / Adult Contemporary
Dire Straits UK 70s-90s Rock / Classic Rock
Dolly Parton U.S. 50s-00s Country / Pop / Folk / Bluegrass
Donna Summer U.S. 70s-00s Disco / Pop / R&B / Rock
Duane Eddy U.S. 50s-80s Rock and roll
The Eagles U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Pop Rock / Country
Engelbert Humperdinck UK/U.S. 50s-00s Pop / Jazz / Gospel / Rock and Roll / Easy Litsening
Fats Domino U.S. 40s-00s Rock / R&B
Fleetwood Mac UK/U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop / Blues
Frankie Laine U.S. 40s-00s Jazz / Pop / Gospel / Country
Garth Brooks U.S. 80s-00s Country
Gene Autry U.S. 30s-70s Country
Genesis UK 60s-00s Progressive Rock / Pop Rock
Gheorghe Zamfir Romania 70s-00s Instrumental
The Jackson 5 U.S. 60s-90s Pop / Disco / Funk / R&B
Janet Jackson U.S. 80s-00s Pop / R&B / Soul / Dance / Rock
Johnny Hallyday France 50s-00s Pop
Johnny Mathis U.S. 50s-00s Pop
Joni James U.S. 50s-60s Pop
Kenny Rogers U.S. 50s-00s Country / Pop / Rock
Lionel Richie U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B / Soul / Soft Rock / Adult Contemporary
Luciano Pavarotti Italy 60s-00s Opera
Mariah Carey U.S. 90s-00s Pop / R&B
Mireille Mathieu France 60s-00s Pop
Modern Talking Germany 80s-00s Pop
Neil Diamond U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Rock
Patti Page U.S. 40s-00s Country / Pop
Perry Como U.S. 30s-00s Pop / Swing
Phil Collins UK 80s-00s Pop / Rock
Prince U.S. 70s-00s R&B / Rock / Pop
Ricky Nelson U.S. 50s-80s Pop
Roberto Carlos Brazil 60s-00s Pop / Latin
Rod Stewart UK 60s-00s Rock / Pop
The Rolling Stones UK 60s-00s Rock / Pop Rock / Hard Rock
Tina Turner U.S. 60s-00s R&B / Rock / Pop / Soul / Dance
Scorpions Germany 70s-00s Hard Rock
Status Quo UK 60s-00s Rock
Stevie Wonder U.S. 60s-00s R&B / Pop / Soul / Funk
Tommy James U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Rock
U2 Ireland 70s-00s Rock / Pop Rock
Wei Wei China 80s-00s Pop
Whitney Houston U.S. 80s-00s Pop / R&B / Adult Contemporary / Soul / Gospel / Dance
The Who UK 60s-00s Rock / Hard rock / Pop / Art rock

Artists claimed to have sold 75 million records or more

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items.
Artist Country Period Genre Source
Adamo Belgium 60s-00s Pop
Adriano Celentano Italy 60s-00s Pop
Alabama U.S. 70s-00s Country
The Andrews Sisters U.S. 30s-50s Pop / Swing
B'z Japan 80s-00s Hard rock / Pop rock
Barry Manilow U.S. 70s-00s Pop
Bobby Vinton U.S. 60s-90s Pop
Bonnie Tyler UK 70s-00s Pop / Rock
Britney Spears U.S. 90s-00s Pop
Bryan Adams Canada 80s-00s Rock / Pop Rock / Soft Rock
Depeche Mode UK 80s-00s New Wave / Synthpop / Rock / Pop
Donny Osmond U.S. 70s-00s Pop
The Doors U.S. 60s-70s Rock
Earth, Wind & Fire U.S. 70s-00s R&B / Disco / Pop / Funk
Eddy Arnold U.S. 40s-00s Country / Pop
Eminem U.S. 90s-00s Hip-Hop
Eurythmics UK 80s-00s Pop / Rock / New Wave
Fairuz Lebanon 40s-00s Pop
Gene Austin U.S. 20s-30s Country / Pop
George Michael UK 80s-00s Pop
Gloria Estefan U.S. 80s-00s Pop / Latin-Pop / Dance
Guns N' Roses U.S. 80s-00s Hard Rock
Hank Snow Canada 30s-90s Country
Iron Maiden UK 70s-00s Heavy Metal
Jean Michel Jarre France 70s-00s New Age
Journey U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Pop
Kenny G U.S. 80s-00s Instrumental / Pop Jazz
Kiss U.S. 70s-00s Rock
Linda Ronstadt U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop
Metallica U.S. 80s-00s Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal
Oasis UK 90s-00s Rock / Britpop
The Osmonds U.S. 70s-00s Pop
R.E.M. U.S. 80s-00s Rock / Pop
Roxette Sweden 80s-00s Pop / Rock
Santana Mexico/U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Blues / Pop
Sonny & Cher U.S. 60s-70s Pop
Shania Twain Canada 90s-00s Country / Pop
Van Halen U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock
The Ventures U.S. 50s-00s Instrumental Rock
Tupac Shakur U.S. 90s-00s Hip-Hop
Victor Silvester UK 30s-80s Dance / Pop
Willie Nelson U.S. 50s-00s Country / Pop

Artists claimed to have sold 50 million records or more

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items.
Artist Country Period Genre Source
a-ha Norway 80s-00s Pop / New Wave
Alanis Morissette Canada 90s-00s Alternative / Folk Rock
Alice Cooper U.S. 60s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Shock Rock
Andre Kostelanetz U.S. 40s-70s Easy Listening
Andrea Bocelli Italy 90s-00s Opera / Classical
Anne Murray Canada 60s-00s Pop / Country
Annie Lennox UK 90s-00s Pop / Rock / Soul
B.J. Thomas U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop

Black Sabbath U.K. 60s-90s Heavy Metal

Blondie U.S. 70s-00s Pop / New Wave
Bob Marley Jamaica 60s-80s Reggae
Bob Seger U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop
Boyz II Men U.S. 80s-00s R&B / Pop / Soul
Camilo Sesto Spain 60s-00s Pop / Latin
Cat Stevens UK 60s-00s Pop / Folk
Charlie Daniels U.S. 70s-00s Country / Rock
Christina Aguilera U.S. 90s-00s R&B / Pop / Soul
The Corrs Ireland 90s-00s Pop
Def Leppard UK 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Pop Rock
Destiny's Child U.S. 90s-00s R&B, pop, dance,
The Diamonds Canada 50s-70s Pop / R&B
The Doobie Brothers U.S. 70s-00s Rock
Don Cornell U.S. 50s-90s Pop
Duran Duran UK 80s-00s New Wave / Rock / Pop
Enya Ireland 80s-00s New Age / Celtic
Foreigner U.S./UK 70s-00s Rock / Pop
Four Tops U.S. 50s-00s R&B
George Strait U.S. 70s-00s Country
Hank Thompson U.S. 40s-00s Country
Herb Alpert U.S. 50s-90s Instrumental Pop / Easy Listening
James Last Germany 60s-00s Instrumental / Classical / Pop
Jethro Tull UK 60s-00s Rock
Jennifer Lopez U.S. 90s-00s Pop / R&B / Dance / Latin
John Denver U.S. 60s-90s Folk / Pop
Johnny Cash U.S. 50s-00s Country
Kylie Minogue Australia 80s-00s Dance / Pop
Luis Miguel Mexico 80s-00s Pop / Latin
Linkin Park United States 00s-present Rock / Metal
Meat Loaf U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Hard Rock
Michael Bolton U.S. 80s-00s Pop
Mills Brothers U.S. 30s-70s Pop
Mina Italy 50s-00s Pop
Mötley Crüe U.S. 80s-00s Heard Rock / Heavy Metal / Glam Metal
The Monkees U.S. 60s-90s Pop / Rock
Mr. Children Japan 80s-00s Pop / Rock
Nat King Cole U.S. 30s-60s Jazz / Pop
Nelson Gonçalves Brazil 40s-90s Samba
New Kids on the Block U.S. 80s-90s Pop
Nirvana U.S. 80s-90s Grunge / Alternative Rock
Oasis UK 90s-00s Britpop / Rock

Olivia Newton-John Australia 70s-00s Country / Pop
Orhan Gencebay Turkey 60s-00s Arabesque / Folk
Paul Anka Canada 50s-00s Pop
Pearl Jam U.S. 90s-00s Grunge / Rock / Hard Rock
Petula Clark UK 50s-00s Pop
The Dave Clark Five UK 60s-70s Pop
The Police UK/US 70s-80s, 00s New Wave / Rock / Pop
Ray Conniff U.S. 50s-00s Pop / Easy Listening
Reba McEntire U.S. 70s-00s Country
Red Hot Chili Peppers U.S. 80s-00s Funk Rock
Richard Clayderman France 60s-00s Easy Listening / Instrumental Pop
Ricky Martin Puerto Rico 90s-00s Pop / Latin
Rocío Dúrcal Spain 60s-00s Pop
Sade UK 80s-00s Pop / R&B
The Seekers Australia 60s, 90s-00s Pop / Folk / Rock
Shakira Colombia 90s-00s Latin / Pop
Simon & Garfunkel US 60s-70s Folk Rock
Simply Red UK 80s-00s Pop
Spice Girls UK 90s-00s Pop
Supertramp UK 60s-00s Soft Rock
Three Dog Night U.S. 60s-70s Pop / Rock
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Pop
Tony Bennett U.S. 50s-00s Pop / Jazz
The Turtles U.S. 60s Pop / Rock
UB40 UK 80s-00s Reggae
Vernon Dalhart U.S. 10s-40s Country
Vicky Leandros Greece 60s-00s Pop
ZZ Top U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock / Blues-Rock

See also

References

  2. Claims over 1 billion in sales globally
  3. Guinness World records estimate over 1 billion records, CDs and singles sold
  4. First there was Beatlemania, now there's Googlemania Maney, Kevin; USA Today; 10 May, 2004; accessed December 2006; claims over 1 billion records
  5. accessed September 2007; claims 750 million; in English language
  6. Frank Sinatra tele.at; accessed December 2006; claims 600 million; in German
  7. Abba, The Book Potiez, Jean-Marie; 15 August 2005; accessed December 2006; claims 350 million records sold as of 2000
  8. It's Abba on the phone making a lot more money, money, money Sherwin, Adam; The Times; April 19 2006; accessed December 2006; claims 370 million
  9. Pugacheva, Alla Borisovna Enyclopedia Britannica Online; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million records in 1997
  10. Bing Crosby by Dr Frank Hoffmann jeffosretromusic.com; accessed August 2007; claims 400 million at the time of his death
  11. Life and Times; Cliff Richard.com; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million; (Primary source)
  12. Sanctuary for Elton Yahoo Music; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million
  13. The Iglesias dynasty Hello!; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million records
  14. Led Zeppelin wins Polar Prize The Local; 7 November 2005; accessed December 2006; claims more than 300 million
  15. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Nana Mouskouri CD Yahoo Shopping; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
  16. UNICEF Biography on Nana Mouskouri UNICEF website; accessed June 2007; claim 300 million
  17. accessed December 2005, claims 250 million records
  18. Dreamsville.net, claim 250 million, retrieved 2 August2007
  19. Worldticketshop 2006 claims 250 million
  20. Surge Radio claims 300 million
  21. Queen Proves There's Life After Freddie Ohmy News; January 25 2006; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
  22. Tino Rossi Ajaccio Tourist Information; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
  23. Indian film composer for Rings
  26. Aerosmith News
  29. Biography - Barbra Streisand
  30. Obituary: Barry White
  32. BeeGees - Sales
  50. www.paris.fr Official Paris Website. Over 125 mln records
  83. Mariah Carey Receives six prestigious BMI awards and see success with tour
  95. http://www.barrystickets.com/concert-tickets/rod-stewart-tickets.php
  97. enote: Contempory Artists - Tina Turner biography(Claims over 180 million records sold by the year 2000)
  132. Iron Maiden BBC News Official Website; accessed February 24, 2007; claims 80 million records sold
  170. Destiney's Child Music World/Columbia Records: Music World/Columbia Records Announce the Release of 'Ms. Kelly,': claim 60 million: accessed 26 June 2007
  175. Enya.com Enya's official Web Site, from the FAQ. Accessed on May 8, 2007. Claims more than 70 million sold.
  193. www.motley.com
  198. Upperstreet: Danny
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