List of best-selling music artists

history

This list documents the world's best-selling music artists alphabetically as well as by record sales. This page lists those artists who have had claims of over 50 million or more records in sales. The list is divided into numerous record-sales brackets within each of which, artists are listed in alphabetical order, rather than by number of records sold. The artists on the list are supported by third-party reliable sources, the sales-figures within which should represent a total number of sold albums, singles, compilation-albums, music videos as well as downloads of singles and full-length albums.

Constraints

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 these data.

Such constraints include:

  • Bias involving acts who have had success in a specific country or region.

  • Bias involving older artists; there is a broader genre spectrum of music to listen to in the 2000s which limits the number of listeners.

  • Bias involving modern artists. Comparatively fewer successful pre-modern artists will have sold more records, as both global spending power and population have increased. 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.

  • Fan websites, press articles and record labels 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).

  • Inconsistencies between the sources of the various statistics. For example, in some cases world sales are compared to US (RIAA certifies US sales only).

Artists by reputed sales

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- !width="190"| Artist !width="120"| Country of origin !width="120"| Period active !width="120"| Genre !width="215"| Total certified sales
(From available markets) !width="150"| Claimed sales |- | The Beatles | United Kingdom | 1960–1970 | Rock, pop | US: 196.6 million
UK: 5.5 million
GER: 7.2 million
FRA: 3 million
BRA: 500,000
CAN: 12.5 million
AUS: 2.7 million
SWE 485,000
ARG: 1.4 million
SWI: 350,000
AUT: 470,000
Total available certified sales: 230.7 million |align="center"|1 billion
600 million |- | Elvis Presley | United States | 1954–1977 | Rock and roll, pop, country | US: 176.6 million
UK: 4.2 million
GER: 1.5 million
FRA: 2.4 million
CAN: 2.7 million
AUS: 1 million
NLD: 520,000
SWE 360,000
Total available certified sales: 189.2 million | align="center"|1 billion
600 million "300million records during his lifetime". "300 million since his death." |- | Michael Jackson | United States | 1964–2009 | Pop, R&B |US: 89.3 million
UK: 18 million
GER: 10.9 million
FRA: 10.1 million
CAN: 4.5 million
MEX: 3.3 million
AUS: 5.4 million
SPA: 720,000
NLD: 1.9 million
SWE: 930,000
SWI: 900,000
FIN: 336,326
AUT: 1,080,000
POL: 385,000
Total available certified sales: 147.7 million |align="center"| 750 million
350 million
300 million |- | ABBA | Sweden | 1972–1983 | Pop |US: 12.7 million
UK: 12,2 million
GER: 12.2 million
FRA: 2.7 million
CAN: 4.5 million
AUS: 1 million
SPA: 580,000
NLD: 1.2 million
SWE: 730,000
SWI: 600,000
FIN: 652,605
Total available certified sales: 49 million |align="center"| 370 million
300 million |- | Queen | United Kingdom | 1970–1997 | Rock | US: 41.3 million
UK: 17.8 million
GER: 11.1 million
FRA: 4.1 million
CAN: 1.5 million
AUS: 1.9 million
BRA: 960,000
NLD: 1.8 million
ARG: 1,040,000
FIN: 366,152
SWI: 1.2 million
POL: 730,000
AUT: 920,000
Total available certified sales: 84.7 million |align="center"|300 million
150 million |}

Notes

  • Certification systems have been established periodically throughout the past half century, thus databases are not able to cover all sales. Some (or all) records released and sold prior to the certification system's establishment year may not be accurately published within the relevant searchable certification database. Year of establishment:
    • 1958: USA
    • 1973: United Kingdom
    • 1975: Germany, Canada
    • 1968: France
    • 1999: Mexico
    • 2004: Spain (Promusicae began publishing certifications in 2004, however there is evidence of earlier certifications)
    • 1990: Brazil, Austria
    • 1997: Australia (ARIA began publishing certifications in 1997, however there is evidence of earlier certifications)
    • 1978: Netherlands
    • 1987: Sweden (published at end of each year)
    • 1980: Argentina
    • 1989: Switzerland (began publishing certifications in 1989, however there is evidence of earlier certifications)
    • 1971: Finland
    • 1995: Poland

  • Note that the certified-sales-figures will be periodically updated as some records have yet to reach a level of either the gold or the platinum award-levels, and some records have yet to reach a multi-platinum status. Note that the tables are to include certified sales of those markets, the databases of which contain figures of 300,000 and above.

  • Certification numbers might overstate sales if stores order more albums than they are able to sell, due to certifications generally being determined by shipments, not actual sales. Record labels must also pay a fee; therefore, they may not always apply for a certification each time a record reaches an accredited status, meaning certifications might not be visible in the databases for more than a short period of time after an album is released.

  • Modern sales recording began in the US in 1991, when retailers began transmitting sales reports electronically to Nielsen SoundScan. Before then, Billboard's charts relied on rankings rather than absolute sales figures from record stores. SoundScan now covers about 95% of music sales in the US.

  • It should be noted that a large percentage of music markets experienced a decline in sales due to music piracy which began in 1999–2000; consequently, associations opted to reduce their certification volumes. See the changes in Certification-award-levels in the following markets:

  • Note that the tables are to include two sources only for each claimed figure'''.

200 million to 299 million records

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:98%;" !width="200"| Artist !width="120"| Country !width="120"| Period !width="200"| Genre !width="180"| Estimated sales |- | AC/DC || Australia || 1973–present || Hard rock || 200 million |- | Bee Gees || United Kingdom/Australia || 1958–2003 || Pop / Disco || 220 million |- | Celine Dion || Canada || 1981–present || Pop || 200 million |- | Elton John || United Kingdom || 1964–present || Pop / Rock || 250 million»The Telegraph on Elton John |- | Julio Iglesias || Spain || 1968–present || Latin || 200 million |- | Led Zeppelin || United Kingdom || 1968–1980 || Hard rock || 200 million |- | Madonna || United States || 1982–present|| Pop / Dance || 200 million |- | Nana Mouskouri || Greece/France|| 1958–2008 || Pop folk || 200 million |- | Pink Floyd || United Kingdom || 1966–1996 || Progressive rock || 200 million |- | The Rolling Stones || United Kingdom || 1962–present || Rock / Blues rock || 200 million |- |}

100 million to 199 million records

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:98%;" !width="200"| Artist !width="120"| Country !width="120"| Period !width="200"| Genre !width="180"| Estimated sales |- | Aerosmith || United States || 1970–present || Hard rock || 150 million |- | Allah Rakha Rahman || India|| 1992–present || Film score|| 100 million+ |- | Backstreet Boys || United States || 1993–present || Pop || 100 million |- | Barbra Streisand || United States || 1960–present || Pop / Adult contemporary ||140 million |- | Barry White || United States || 1972–2003 || R&B / Soul || 100 million |- | Billy Joel || United States || 1964–present || Pop / Rock || 100 million»BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Billy Joel in Walk of Fame honour |- | Boney M. || Germany || 1975–present || Disco ||140 million |- | Bon Jovi || United States || 1983–present || Hard Rock ||120 million |- | Bruce Springsteen || United States || 1972–present || Rock || 120 million |- | The Carpenters || United States || 1969–1983 || Pop ||100 million |- | Charles Aznavour || France || 1936–present || Pop / Chanson ||100 million |- | Cher || United States || 1964–present || Pop / Dance ||100 million |- | Chicago || United States || 1967–present || Pop rock || 122 million |- | David Bowie || United Kingdom || 1964–present || Rock || 140 million |- | Deep Purple || United Kingdom || 1968–present || Hard rock || 100 million |- | Depeche Mode || United Kingdom || 1980–present || Electro Rock ||100 million |- | Dire Straits || United Kingdom || 1977–1995 || Rock / Pop || 120 million |- | Dolly Parton || United States || 1964–present || Country / Pop || 100 million |- | Eagles || United States || 1971–present || Soft rock / Country rock || 120 million |- | Fleetwood Mac || United Kingdom United States || 1967–Present || Pop rock ||100 million»Fleetwood Mac: Biography : Rolling Stone |- | The Four Seasons || United States || 1960–present || Pop / Rock || 100 million |- | Frank Sinatra || United States || 1935–1995 || Pop / Swing || 150 million |- | Garth Brooks || United States || 1989–present || Country ||128 million |- | Genesis || United Kingdom || 1967–present || Progressive rock / Pop rock ||150 million |- | George Michael || United Kingdom || 1981–present || Pop || 100 million |- | Guns N' Roses || United States || 1985–present || Hard rock || 100 million |- | The Jackson 5 || United States || 1966–1990 || R&B / Soul / Pop / Disco ||100 million |- | Janet Jackson || United States || 1982–present || R&B / Pop ||100 million |- | Johnny Hallyday || France || 1957–present || Rock / Pop || 100 million»BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Profile: Johnny Hallyday |- | Kenny Rogers || United States ||1958–present || Country / Pop || 100 million»CNN - Kenny Rogers, gambling again - October 7, 1999 |- | Lionel Richie || United States || 1968–present || Pop / R&B ||100 million»The Times on Lionel Richie |- | Luciano Pavarotti || Italy || 1961–2006 || Opera || 100 million»BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Pavarotti recovers from surgery |- | Mariah Carey || United States || 1990–present || Pop / R&B || 175 million |- | Metallica || United States || 1981–present || Heavy metal || 100 million |- | Michiya Mihashi || Japan || 1955–1995 || Enka / Min'yÅ ||100 million |- | Modern Talking || Germany || 1984–1987
1998–2003 || Synthpop || 120 million |- | Neil Diamond || United States || 1966–present || Pop / Rock ||115 million»Billboard.com - Biography - Neil Diamond |- | Olivia Newton-John || Australia || 1966–present || Pop ||100 million»The New York Times on Olivia Newton-John |- | Paul McCartney || United Kingdom || 1957–present || Pop rock ||100 million |- | Perry Como || United States || 1933–1998 || Pop / Swing ||100 million |- | Pet Shop Boys || United Kingdom || 1981–present || Synthpop ||100 million |- | Phil Collins || United Kingdom || 1980–present || Adult contemporary || 100 million |- | Roberto Carlos || Brazil || 1950–present || MPB / Brazilian rock || 100 million»The New Tork Times on Roberto Carlos |- | Rod Stewart || United Kingdom || 1962–present || Rock / Pop ||100 million |- | Status Quo || United Kingdom || 1967–present || Rock || 118 million»http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8435144.stm on Status Quo |- | Stevie Wonder || United States || 1961–present || R&B / Soul || 150 million[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-steviewonder9-2008jul09,0,7902544.story The LA Times] on Stevie Wonder |- | Tina Turner || United States || 1955–present || Rock and roll, pop || 180 million»Tina Turner on boston.com |- | U2 || Ireland || 1976–present || Rock || 150 million |- | Udo Jürgens || Austria || 1961–present || Schlager / Chanson Pop || 100 million |- | Whitney Houston || United States || 1977–present || R&B || 170 million |- | The Who || United Kingdom || 1964–Present || Rock Hard rock || 100 million»The New York Times on The Who |-

|}

75 million to 99 million records

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:98%;" !width="200"| Artist !width="120"| Country !width="120"| Period !width="200"| Genre !width="180"| Estimated sales |- | B'z || Japan || 1988–Present ||Rock / Pop rock / Hard rock|| 75 million |- | Britney Spears || United States || 1998–Present|| Pop / Teen pop / Dance-pop|| 83 million |- | Carlos Santana || Mexico || 1966–Present || Rock ||80 million»BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Latin honours for Carlos Santana |- | Eminem || United States || 1995–present || Hip hop || 80 million |- | Eurythmics || United Kingdom || 1980–present || New wave || 75 million |- | Gloria Estefan || United States || 1977–present || Latin / Dance / Pop ||90 million |- | Journey || United States || 1973–present || Arena rock ||75 million |- | Luis Miguel || Mexico|| 1982–Present || Latin pop Bolero Ballad / Mariachi ||75 million |- | Scorpions || Germany || 1969–present || Hard rock || 75 million |- | Spice Girls || United Kingdom || 1996–2000
2007–2008 || Teen pop || 75 million»Times Online | Entertainment | Viva Forever: Mamma Mia creator creates Spice Girls musical |- | Tupac Shakur || United States || 1990–1996 || Hip hop || 75 million |- | Van Halen || United States || 1978–present || Hard Rock|| 80 million + |}

50 million to 74 million records

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:98%;" !width="200"| Artist !width="120"| Country !width="120"| Period !width="200"| Genre !width="180"| Estimated sales |- | Ace of Base || Sweden || 1987–present || Europop || 50 million |- | Alan Jackson || United States || 1989–present || Country || 50 million |- | | Alice Cooper || United States || 1965–present || Hard rock / heavy metal || 50 million»Alice Cooper - Bio of Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper Lives in Phoenix |- | Andrea Bocelli || Italy || 1994–present || Pop / Classical / Opera || 70 million |- | Anne Murray || Canada|| 1969–present || Country / Adult contemporary|| 50 million |- | Ayumi Hamasaki || Japan || 1994–present || J-Pop || 50 million |- | Black Sabbath || United Kingdom || 1968–present || Heavy metal || 50 million |- | Bob Dylan || United States || 1959–present || Folk / Rock || 70 million |- | Bob Seger || United States || 1961–present || Rock || 50 million |- | Boston || United States || 1976–present || Arena rock || 50 million |- | Boyz II Men || United States || 1990–present || R&B || 60 million»Save The Music 2002 , Foreigner Performs To Save The Music - CBS News |- | Bryan Adams || Canada || 1977–present || Rock || 65 million[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=arts/2008/03/30/sv_bryanadams.xml Bryan Adams] |- | Def Leppard || United Kingdom || 1977–present || Hard rock heavy metal || 65 million |- | Destiny's Child || United States || 1998–2005 || R&B / Pop ||50 million |- | Dreams Come True || Japan || 1989–present || Pop / Jazz ||55 million |- | Duran Duran || United Kingdom || 1978–present || New wave / alternative rock ||70 million»Duran Duran To Get Brit Award Honor |- | Enya || Ireland || 1982–present || New age / Celtic || 70 million |- | Four Tops || United States || 1954–present || R&B || 50 million»Payton, Lawrence - Britannica Online Encyclopedia |- | George Strait || United States || 1981–present || Country || 68 million |- | Glay || Japan || 1994–present || Rock / Pop || 56 million |- | Green Day || United States || 1987–present || Pop Punk / Alternative Rock || 65 million |- | Hibari Misora || Japan || 1948–1989 || Enka || 68 million |- | Iron Maiden || United Kingdom || 1975–present || Heavy metal || 70 million |- | James Last || Germany || 1963–present || Instrumental / Classical || 50 million |- | Jay-Z || United States || 1996–present || Hip hop || 50 million»The Times on Jay-Z |- | Jean Michel Jarre || France || 1971–present || New age || 70 million |- | Jethro Tull || United Kingdom || 1968–present || Progressive rock / hard rock || 60 million |- | Johnny Cash || United States || 1955–2003 || Country / rock and roll || 50 million»BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Cash musical heading for Broadway |- | Kiss || United States || 1973–present || Hard rock / heavy metal || 70 million |- | Kenny G || United States || 1982–Present || Smooth jazz || 70 million |- | Kylie Minogue || Australia || 1987–Present || Dance pop || 60 million»The Times on Kylie Minogue |- | Linkin Park || United States || 2000–present || Nu metal / Alternative rock / rapcore || 50 million |- | Meat Loaf || United States || 1968–present || Rock || 70 million |- | Michael Bolton || United States || 1968–present || Pop || 53 million»The Ledger Independent on Michael Bolton |- | Mötley Crüe || United States || 1981–present || Glam metal || 50 million |- | Mr.Children || Japan || 1989–present || Pop rock || 50 million»ãƒŸã‚¹ãƒãƒ«ã€ã‚·ãƒ³ã‚°ãƒ«ï¼†ã‚¢ãƒ«ãƒãƒ ç·å£²ä¸Šæžšæ•°5,000万枚çªç ´ï¼ ニュース-ORICON STYLE, Oricon, 2007-03-19 |- | Nat King Cole || United States || 1936–1965 || Vocal jazz || 50 million»BBC - Radio 2 - Sold On Song - Song Library - Let There Be Love |- | New Kids on the Block || United States || 1984–present || Teen pop || 70 million |- | Nirvana || United States || 1987–1994 || Grunge / alternative rock || 50 million |- | Oasis || United Kingdom || 1991–2009 || Britpop / Rock || 50 million |- | Orhan Gencebay || Turkey || 1966–present || World fusion / Folk || 60 million |- | Pearl Jam || United States || 1990–present || Alternative rock / Grunge || 60 million |- | The Police || United Kingdom || 1977–present || Pop rock / New Wave || 50 million»BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Police fan bands go on patrol |- | Ray Conniff || United States || 1956–2002 || Pop / Easy listening || 50 million |- | Reba McEntire || United States || 1974–present || Country / Country Pop || 55 million |- |Red Hot Chili Peppers || United States || 1983–present || Funk rock / alternative rock || 50 million |- | R.E.M. || United States || 1980–present || Alternative rock || 50 million |- | Ricky Martin || Puerto Rico || 1984–present || Pop / Latin Pop / Dance Pop || 60 million |- | Robbie Williams || United Kingdom || 1990–present || Pop / Pop Rock || 55 million |- | Roxette || Sweden || 1986–present || Pop / Rock || 70 million |- | Sade || United Kingdom || 1983–present || R&B / Sold / Jazz / Soft Rock || 50 million |- | Shakira || Colombia || 1990–present || Latin / Pop Rock || 50 million |- | Shania Twain || Canada || 1993–present || Country Pop || 65 million |- | Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers || United States || 1976–present || Rock || 50 million |- | Tony Bennett || United States || 1949–present || Traditional pop / Jazz || 50 million |- | UB40 || United Kingdom || 1980–Present || Reggae || 70 million |- | Hikaru Utada || Japan || 1993–present || J-pop / Pop / Dance ||50 million |- | Vicente Fernández || Mexico|| 1965–present || Latin / Mariachi ||50 million |- | Village People || United States || 1977–present || Disco ||65 million |- | Willie Nelson || United States || 1956–present || Country || 50 million |- |}

See also

References

home | This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. See full license termsIt uses material from the Wikipedia article "List_of_best-selling_music_artists ". | compliance | March 21st 2010