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List of best-selling music artists

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The world's best-selling music artists cannot be listed officially, as there is no body that has recorded global music sales in the manner that the RIAA does in the United States. This page lists those artists who have made reasonable claims to be amongst the top sellers.

Within their sales-bands, 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 offical sources. This means that these figures should be considred claims, not facts.

World's biggest seller

Main article: Best-selling artist of all time

The actual biggest selling musician in the world will probably never be known. Records of sales in many countries, particularly in the developing world, are poor and date back less than 20 years. The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley are all, however, regularly cited as being the top sellers. Less common claims are made for ABBA and Alla Pugacheva.

Artists claimed to have sold 250 million records or more

Name Nationality Years Active Genre Source
ABBA Sweden 70s-80s (1974-1982) Pop

The Beatles UK 60-70s, 90s Pop/Rock Guinness estimate
Bing Crosby US 1926-1977 Pop
Nana Mouskouri Greece 60s- (1959-) Pop

Michael Jackson US 1969- R&B/Rock/Pop
Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s (1968-1980) Rock MSNBC
Elvis Presley US 50s-70s Rock, Country

Alla Pugacheva Russia 70s-00s (1976-) Rock/Pop
Cliff Richard UK 50s- (1958-2005) Rock/Pop
Frank Sinatra US 1939-1995 Vocal

Artists claimed to have sold 100 million records or more

This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items.
Name Nationality Years Active Genre Source
AC/DC Australia/UK 70s-00s (1980-1992) Rock

MSN Music

Aerosmith US 70s-00s (1973-1998) Rock
Gene Autry US Country
Charles Aznavour France 50s-00s Pop
Black Sabbath UK 70s-00s Rock
Bon Jovi US 80s-00s (1986-2000) Rock
David Bowie UK 60s-00s (1969-2004) Rock
Garth Brooks US 80s-00s (1989-2001) Country
Mariah Carey USA 90's (1990-) Pop/R&B/
Chicago US 60s-00s (1967-) Rock
Phil Collins UK 80s-00s (1981-1998) Rock
Perry Como US 30s-00s Vocal
Neil Diamond USA 60s-80s Rock 'n' Roll
Celine Dion Canada 80s-00s (1990-) Rock/Pop
Enigma Germany 90-00s Sophisticated pop

Fleetwood Mac UK/US 60s-00s (1975-1990) Rock 2
Genesis UK 70s-00s (1980-1997) Rock
Johnny Hallyday France 50s-00s Pop
Whitney Houston US 80s-00s (1985-2000) R&B/Pop
Janet Jackson US 80s-00s (1986-) R&B/Pop
Joni James US 50s-60s Traditional Pop
Julio Iglesias Spain 70s-00s (1969-) Latino Pop
Billy Joel US 70s-00s (1978-1983,1989-1993) Rock
Elton John UK 70s-00s (1972-1976,1989-1991,1997-) Rock/Pop
Frankie Laine US 1944-2006 Jazz/Pop/Gospel/Country
Vicky Leandros Greece 1965 - 2006 Pop/Rock/International
Brenda Lee US 50s-60s (1958-1963) Pop/Country
Madonna US 80s-90s-00s- Rock/Pop
Mireille Mathieu France 60s-00s Pop
Johnny Mathis US 50s-00s Pop/Standards
Metallica US 80s-00s Rock
Modern Talking Germany 80s-00s (1985-1987,1998-2003) Pop
Ricky Nelson US 50s-80s (1958-1961) Pop/Country/Rock
Patti Page US 40s-2000s Pop/Country/Rock
Dolly Parton US 60s-00s (1981-1983) Country
Luciano Pavarotti Italy 60s-00s (1972-) Opera
Pink Floyd UK 60s-00s (1965-1983,1994-1995) Progressive Rock
Queen UK 70s-00s (1975-1995) Rock R&R HoF, 20011995 source
A. R. Rahman India 90s-00s (1992-) Indian Film Music
Lionel Richie US 80s-00s (1981-1985) R&B
Kenny Rogers US 60s-00s (1977-1983) Country

Rod Stewart UK 60s-00s Rock/Pop
Rolling Stones UK 60s-00s (1964-1981) Rock
Donna Summer US 70s-90s (1977-1983) Disco
The Bee Gees Isle of Man/Australia 60s-00s (1975-1979) Rock
The Eagles US 70s-00s (1974-1979) Rock
The Royal Canadians Canada 30s-50s Big Band
The Jacksons US 60s-80s (1969-1988) R&B,Pop,Disco
U2 Ireland 80s-00s (1980-) Rock
Barry White US 70s-00s Pop/R&B/Disco
Wei Wei China 80s-00s (1986-) 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.
Ayumi Hamasaki || Japan ||90s-00s || J-pop ||
Name Nationality Years Active Genre Source
Salvatore Adamo Belgium 60s-00s
Bryan Adams Canada 80s-00s Pop/Rock
A-ha Norway 80s-00s (1985-1993,2000-) Pop

Alabama US 70s-00s Country
Paul Anka Canada 50s-00s Pop
Eddy Arnold US 40s-90s Country source
Gene Austin US 20s-30s Pop/Crooner
B'z Japan 80s-00s Rock/Pop
Backstreet Boys US 90s-00s (1999-2000,2005-) Pop
Bay City Rollers UK 70s (1974-1976) Pop/Rock
Tony Bennett US 50s-00s Standards/Jazz
Michael Bolton US 80s-00s Pop
Boyz II Men US 80s-00s R&B/Pop
Adriano Celentano Italy 60s-00s Pop
Roberto Carlos Brazil 60s-00s
Johnny Cash US 30s-00s Country
Nat King Cole US 30s-60s Jazz
Dalida France 50s-80s (1956-1987)
Def Leppard UK 80s-80s (1987-1988) Rock
John Denver US 60s-00s Rock
Depeche Mode UK 80s-00s) Rock
Duran Duran UK 80s-00s (1981-Present) Pop/Rock
Bob Dylan US 60s-70s (1965-1976) Folk/Rock
Earth, Wind & Fire US 70s-00s (1975) R&B/Funk/Disco/Pop
Enya Ireland 80s-00s (1988-1991) New Age/Celtic
Eminem US 90s-00s (1996-) Rap ]
Gloria Estefan US 80s-00s (1988-1991) Latin Pop
Foreigner US/UK 70s-90s Rock/Pop
Iron Maiden UK 70s-00s Rock
Jean-Michel Jarre France 70s-00s (1976-1978) Synth Pop source
Journey US 70s-00s (1981) Rock/Pop
KISS US 70s-00s Rock
Andre Kostelanetz US 70s-00s Classic
Annie Lennox UK 90s-00s
Barry Manilow US 70s-00s Pop/Standards
Bob Marley Jamaica 70s Reggae
Meat Loaf US 70s-00s Rock
Luis Miguel Mexico 80s-00s Latin Pop
Kylie Minogue Australia 80s-00s Pop
Alanis Morissette Canada 90s-00s Rock
Olivia Newton-John Australia 70s-00s Country/Pop
Nirvana US 80s-90s (1987–1994) Grunge
Pearl Jam US 90s-00s Grunge
Linda Ronstadt US 60s-00s (1980-) Rock, Pop, Country
Santana US 60s-00s (1970-1972,1999-) Rock
Britney Spears US 90s-00s (1999-) Pop
Bruce Springsteen US 70s-00s (1980-1995,2002-) Rock
George Strait US 70s-00s Country
Barbra Streisand US 60s-00s (1963-1980) Pop
Hank Snow Canada 30's-90's Folk
The Carpenters US 60s-80s (1970-1975) Pop/Rock
The Doobie Brothers US 70s-00s Rock
The Doors US 60s-70s Rock
The Police UK 70s-80s Rock
The Seekers Australia 60s, 90s-00s Rock/Pop/Folk
The Ventures US 50s-00s (1959-) Rock
Hank Thompson US 40s-00s Country
Three Dog Night US 60s-70s Rock
Tupac US 90s (1991-1996) Rap
Tina Turner US 70s-00s R&B
Shania Twain Canada 90s-00s (1999-) Country/Pop
UB40 UK 80s-00s (1980-) Reggae

Van Halen US 70s-00s (1984-1996) Rock
Stevie Wonder US 60s-00s (1972-1985) R&B

See also