SoundScan Era - USA's Best Selling Artists and Albums

[blackandblue]

The 100 Best-Selling Albums of the SoundScan Era
Week Ending April 08, 2012

TW Pos (TW var) RTD - Title - Act (last update) - TW Sales (% Change) LW Sales

1 ( = ) 15,765,652 Metallica - Metallica (08/04/2012)
2,192 (-4%) 2,292

2 ( = ) 15,516,000 Come on over - Shania Twain (11/03/2012)


3 ( = ) 14,732,106 Jagged little pill - Alanis Morissette (08/04/2012)
1,855 (+75%) 1,060

4 ( = ) 12,168,000 Millennium - Backstreet Boys (01/01/2012)


5 ( = ) 12,042,929 1 - The Beatles (08/04/2012)
2,337 (+14%) 2,059

6 ( = ) 12,001,932 The bodyguard (OST) - Whitney Houston (08/04/2012)
6,035 (-16%) 7,163

7 ( = ) 11,772,000 Supernatural - Santana (01/01/2012)


8 ( = ) 11,574,000 Human clay - Creed (01/01/2012)


9 ( = ) 11,122,000 No string attached - 'N Sync (01/01/2012)


10 ( = ) 11,012,170 Legend - Bob Marley and The Wailers (08/04/2012)
3,624 (+6%) 3,428

11 ( = ) 10,811,860 Come away with me - Norah Jones (01/04/2012)
12 ( = ) 10,790,000 Falling into you - Céline Dion (01/01/2012)
13 ( = ) 10,583,397 The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem (08/04/2012) 3,686 (+14%) 3,237
14 ( = ) 10,556,897 ...Baby one more time - Britney Spears (22/05/2011)
15 ( = ) 10,300,000 Cracked rear view - Hootie & The Blowfish (01/01/2012)
16 ( = ) 10,153,568 Titanic - Soundtrack (08/04/2012) 3,745 (+53%) 2,453
17 ( = ) 10,116,000 Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (02/10/2011)
18 ( = ) 10,056,339 The Eminem show - Eminem (08/04/2012) 2,000 (+12%) 1,790
19 ( = ) _9,975,865 Confessions - Usher (08/04/2012) 2,137 (+11%) 1,919
20 ( = ) _9,938,227 Hybrid theory - Linkin Park (08/04/2012) 1,616 (+11%) 1,460

21 ( = ) 9,937,471 Ten - Pearl Jam (08/04/2012) 2,096 (+42%) 1,481
22 ( = ) 9,571,000 Ropin' the wind - Garth Brooks (02/11/2008)
23 ( = ) 9,568,571 Let's talk about love - Céline Dion (08/04/2012) 1,844 (+8%) 1,700
24 ( = ) 9,307,782 The dark side of the moon - Pink Floyd (08/04/2012) 2,700 (+10%) 2,447
25 ( = ) 9,202,039 Oops! ...I did again - Britney Spears (22/05/2011)
26 ( = ) 9,169,048 Greatest hits - Bob Seger/Silver Bullet Band (08/04/2012) 2,538 (+6%) 2,387
27 ( = ) 9,072,939 Devil without a cause - Kid Rock (12/04/2009)
28 ( = ) 9,010,000 No fences - Garth Brooks (02/11/2008)
29 ( = ) 8,967,032 Nevermind - Nirvana (08/04/2012) 4,171 (+116%) 1,932
30 ( = ) 8,766,000 'N Sync - 'N Sync (05/10/2008)
31 ( = ) 8,724,000 Hell freezes over - The Eagles (22/05/2011)
32 ( = ) 8,713,000 Wide open spaces - Dixie Chicks (22/05/2011)
33 (+1) 8,643,647 21 - Adele (08/04/2012) 153,268 (+26%) 121,234

34 ( -1) 8,573,000 II - Boyz II Men (05/10/2008)
35 ( = ) 8,489,000 Country grammar - Nelly (30/01/2011)
36 ( = ) 8,289,000 Fly - Dixie Chicks (02/11/2008)
37 ( = ) 8,214,171 Christina Aguilera - Christina Aguilera (22/05/2011)
38 ( = ) 8,142,423 Tragic kingdom - No Doubt (22/05/2011)
39 ( = ) 8,100,000 Dookie - Green Day (11/03/2012)
40 ( = ) 8,098,346 Get rich or die tryin' - 50 Cent (08/04/2012) 4,726 (+117%) 2,176
41 ( = ) 8,090,000 Yourself or someone like you - matchbox 20 (05/10/2008)
42 ( = ) 8,060,384 Journey's Greatest hits - Journey (08/04/2012) 4,116 (-11%) 4,602
43 ( = ) 8,037,381 Breathless - Kenny G (05/10/2008)
44 ( = ) 7,968,000 All the way... A decade of song - Céline Dion (11/09/2011)
45 ( = ) 7,961,534 Greatest hits - Tom Petty/Heartbreakers (08/04/2012) 2,128 (+6%) 2,012
46 ( = ) 7,825,269 The lion king - Soundtrack (08/04/2012) 485 (-3%) 502
47 ( = ) 7,821,000 The hits - Garth Brooks (11/09/2011)
48 ( = ) 7,702,479 O brother, where art thou? - Soundtrack (08/04/2012) 1,912 (-12%) 2,165
49 ( = ) 7,661,419 The woman in me - Shania Twain (22/05/2011)
50 ( = ) 7,626,261 Fallen - Evanescence (08/04/2012) 2,045 (+14%) 1,801
51 ( = ) 7,620,462 Daydream - Mariah Carey (26/02/2012)
52 ( = ) 7,600,000 Unplugged - Eric Clapton (11/03/2012)
53 ( = ) 7,590,058 All the right reasons - Nickelback (08/04/2012) 2,147 (+14%) 1,876
54 ( = ) 7,542,146 Dr. Dre: 2001 - Dr. Dre (08/04/2012) 4,009 (+115%) 1,863
55 ( = ) 7,534,000 Significant other - Limp Bizkit (05/10/2008)
56 ( = ) 7,480,000 Some gave all - Billy Ray Cyrus (15/08/2010)
57 ( = ) 7,412,000 Spice - Spice Girls (05/10/2008)
58 ( = ) 7,387,000 Pieces of you - Jewel (27/02/2011)
59 ( = ) 7,281,000 Crazysexycool - TLC (05/10/2008)
60 ( = ) 7,250,208 Miracles: The holiday album - Kenny G (01/01/2012)
61 ( = ) 7,243,336 Music box - Mariah Carey (19/02/2012)
62 ( = ) 7,185,993 Some hearts - Carrie Underwood (08/04/2012) 2,787 (-2%) 2,833
63 ( = ) 7,106,000 The miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill (08/04/2012)
64 ( = ) 7,025,727 janet. - Janet Jackson (22/05/2011)
65 ( = ) 7,021,309 Greatest hits - James Taylor (08/04/2012) 1,635 (+8%) 1,510
66 ( = ) 6,962,155 Cooleyhighharmony - Boyz II Men (05/10/2008)
67 ( = ) 6,960,025 Ricky Martin - Ricky Martin (24/04/2011)
68 ( = ) 6,953,006 Greatest hits - Queen (08/04/2012) 1,866 (-8%) 2,035
69 ( = ) 6,926,000 A day without rain - Enya (29/11/2009)
70 ( = ) 6,800,000 Hotshot - Shaggy (29/11/2009)
71 ( = ) 6,782,000 Let go - Avril Lavigne (11/03/2012)
72 ( = ) 6,728,000 Time, love and tenderness - Michael Bolton (05/10/2008)
73 ( = ) 6,703,000 Chocolate starfish and the hot dog flavored water - Limp Bizkit (29/11/2009)
74 ( = ) 6,530,887 Fearless - Taylor Swift (08/04/2012) 5,109 (+36%) 3,747
75 ( = ) 6,523,630 Breathe - Faith Hill (22/05/2011)
76 ( = ) 6,514,264 Songs you know by heart - Jimmy Buffett (12/02/2012)
77 ( = ) 6,502,000 The sign - Ace of Base (01/11/2009)
78 ( = ) 6,488,000 Nellyville - Nelly (11/03/2012)
79 ( = ) 6,390,000 Weathered - Creed (14/11/2010)
80 ( = ) 6,382,000 My own prison - Creed (14/11/2010)
81 ( = ) 6,275,366 Sublime - Sublime (08/04/2012) 3,582 (+144%) 1,467
82 ( = ) 6,264,661 Songs in A minor - Alicia Keys (14/08/2011)
83 ( = ) 6,258,000 The writing's on the wall - Destiny's Child (05/10/2008)
84 ( = ) 6,225,289 Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson (08/04/2012) 1,772 (+16%) 1,529
85 ( = ) 6,220,000 Smash - The Offspring (11/03/2012)
86 ( = ) 6,194,876 Greatest hits - Tim McGraw (08/04/2012) 1,568 (+2%) 1,535
87 ( = ) 6,160,000 Unforgettable (With love) - Natalie Cole (05/10/2008)
88 (+1) 6,122,224 Chronicle - Creedence Clearwater Revival (08/04/2012) 3,970 (-12%) 4,526

89 ( -1) 6,120,000 E.1999 Eternal - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony (31/12/2006)
90 ( = ) 6,084,011 Thriller - Michael Jackson (08/04/2012) 1,807 (+17%) 1,542
91 ( = ) 6,056,000 American idiot - Green Day (11/03/2012)
92 ( = ) 6,041,000 Home - Dixie Chicks (11/03/2012)
93 ( = ) 6,036,000 Big Willie style - Will Smith (05/10/2008)
94 ( = ) 6,016,000 Double live - Garth Brooks (15/05/2011)
95 ( = ) 6,000,000 Sixteen stone - Bush (26/09/2010)
96 ( = ) 5,998,000 Not a moment too soon - Tim McGraw (02/11/2008)
97 ( = ) 5,993,000 Blue - LeAnn Rimes (02/11/2008)
98 ( = ) 5,982,000 August and everythig after - Counting Crows (05/10/2008)
99 ( = ) 5,976,749 Grease - Soundtrack (08/04/2012) 674 (+17%) 574
100 ( = ) 5,965,559 Vs. - Pearl Jam (24/04/2011)

[thebigham]

^Thanks!

I'm glad the 3 albums on their way to 10 million scanned showed increases this week:

19 ( = ) 9,975,865 Confessions - Usher (08/04/2012) 2,137 (+11%) 1,919
20 ( = ) 9,938,227 Hybrid theory - Linkin Park (08/04/2012) 1,616 (+11%) 1,460
21 ( = ) 9,937,471 Ten - Pearl Jam (08/04/2012) 2,096 (+42%) 1,481

I wonder if their labels know and are discounting the albums to get that 10 million scanned?

[stollar]

Where is Black in Black by AC/DC ?.

[NothingFails]

^Thanks!

I'm glad the 3 albums on their way to 10 million scanned showed increases this week:

19 ( = ) 9,975,865 Confessions - Usher (08/04/2012) 2,137 (+11%) 1,919
20 ( = ) 9,938,227 Hybrid theory - Linkin Park (08/04/2012) 1,616 (+11%) 1,460
21 ( = ) 9,937,471 Ten - Pearl Jam (08/04/2012) 2,096 (+42%) 1,481

I wonder if their labels know and are discounting the albums to get that 10 million scanned?

Usher and Linkin Park have new albums soon, so those should certainly help them too

[thebigham]

Where is Black in Black by AC/DC ?.

It's close:

AC/DC - Back In Black (1980) 5,887,000 (07/2007)

If we got an updated number, it could be in the Top 100.

[NothingFails]

Where is Black in Black by AC/DC ?.

It's close:

AC/DC - Back In Black (1980) 5,887,000 (07/2007)

If we got an updated number, it could be in the Top 100.

According to Dane's thread. 1 million in 5 years makes sense, the album went back into the top 40 in 2008 when Wal-Mart had a sale on their catalog to promote Black Ice

05 1980 AC/DC “Back in black” 6,842,000 feb12

So Back In Black should be #70

[thebigham]

^To make this list, I think it has to be a confirmed SoundScan number.

It cannot be 2 versions added together for 1 SoundScan total.

[NothingFails]

^To make this list, I think it has to be a confirmed SoundScan number.

It cannot be 2 versions added together for 1 SoundScan total.

but Thriller's on the list and that 6 million number has provided a lot of controversy, since pretty much everyone agrees that Thriller is at 5 million (which isn't shabby at all since 2 million of that has come since MJ's passing) and that Sony counted one editions' sales twice. (there's been like five different editions)

[Vanacoring]

How much has sold Dangerous of MJ released in 1991 ?

[BeHereNow1997]

30 ( = ) 8,766,000 'N Sync - 'N Sync
31 ( = ) 8,724,000 Hell freezes over - The Eagles
32 ( = ) 8,713,000 Wide open spaces - Dixie Chicks
33 (+1) 8,643,647 21 - Adele

She's deff 100% gonna be on 31st, but I think she is going to sell 125k, and be in the top 30. Overtaking N'Sync.

After that, for the first time since getting in the top 100 of soundscan, she is going to be in one spot for 2 weeks, since she won't sell 200k the following week to pass the legendary Nevermind album.

[thebigham]

^To make this list, I think it has to be a confirmed SoundScan number.

It cannot be 2 versions added together for 1 SoundScan total.

but Thriller's on the list and that 6 million number has provided a lot of controversy, since pretty much everyone agrees that Thriller is at 5 million (which isn't shabby at all since 2 million of that has come since MJ's passing) and that Sony counted one editions' sales twice. (there's been like five different editions)

Yes, but that's the official SoundScam number for Thriller.

I think SoundScan was contacted about the Thriller number and nothing was done.

This list closely matches the Top 100 SoundScan list that Paul Grein at Yahoo frequently references.

[BeHereNow1997]

Well I knew she would jump to 31st, but she didn't sell 125k as I predicted, but rather almost 91k. So she's at...

30) 8,766,000 'N Sync - 'N Sync
31) 8,734,484 21 - Adele
32) 8,724,000 Hell freezes over - The Eagles

[NothingFails]

oh well, I doubt she's losing sleep worrying that she is still a week off from passing N'Sync

[FliplovesMC]

oh well, I doubt she's losing sleep worrying that she is still a week off from passing N'Sync

Remember when people were doubting the possibility that this album will cross 10million sold and now it'll happen this year, with the way she's selling 11million by next year isn't even preposterous

[NothingFails]

oh well, I doubt she's losing sleep worrying that she is still a week off from passing N'Sync

Remember when people were doubting the possibility that this album will cross 10million sold and now it'll happen this year, with the way she's selling 11million by next year isn't even preposterous

Admittedly the boost it had earlier this year was unforeseen. When the album was kicking around 4-5 million for the longest time and people were saying diamond was a certainty I really doubted it.

[thebigham]

Paul Grein at Yahoo for the 4/29 BB charts:

Reba McEntire this week becomes just the second female country artist to top the 30 million mark in album sales since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales for Billboard in 1991.

Shania Twain is #1 with sales of 34,175,000.

But keep in mind that McEntire was a force in country music for nearly 10 years before Nielsen SoundScan scanned its first bar code. (She first hit Top Country Albums in October 1981 with Heart To Heart.) Twain's tally, on the other hand, counts every album she ever sold. (She first charted in July 1993 with Shania Twain.)

[Luminator]

How did

49 ( = ) 7,661,419 The woman in me - Shania Twain (22/05/2011)

get to 12xplatinum????

That's a discrepancy of 4,339,000 million copies!

SoundScan: 7,661,419
BMG Music Club: 1.240.000
= 8.901.419

That still leaves 3,099 million copies of discrepancy.

[Dane]

Where is Black in Black by AC/DC ?.

Two versions:
original - 4,023,000
remaster (2003) - 2,825,000 (03/2012)

Total - 6,848,000

Hopefully it's SS figures will be combined someday.

[NothingFails]

How did

49 ( = ) 7,661,419 The woman in me - Shania Twain (22/05/2011)

get to 12xplatinum????

That's a discrepancy of 4,339,000 million copies!

SoundScan: 7,661,419
BMG Music Club: 1.240.000
= 8.901.419

That still leaves 3,099 million copies of discrepancy.

Columbia House was bigger than BMG in the 90s

[GUS]

How did

49 ( = ) 7,661,419 The woman in me - Shania Twain (22/05/2011)

get to 12xplatinum????

That's a discrepancy of 4,339,000 million copies!

SoundScan: 7,661,419
BMG Music Club: 1.240.000
= 8.901.419

That still leaves 3,099 million copies of discrepancy.

Columbia House was bigger than BMG in the 90s

3 million sold through Columbi House? Huge!
I hope one day they will relese their numbers.

It's the same case for a lot of albums.

[jimmypages59]

The remaining 3m will not just be Columbia House, it will also be One Stops and other retail outlets, that were not covered by Soundscan.

It could also include shipments to such things as Military Bases (although I can't see many buying Shania albums!) or maybe exported copies (as US a version) to foreign territories, who have no ability to manufacture on home soil.

[TIfan]

I find it hard to believe that album sold 12 million.

[FliplovesMC]

I find it hard to believe that album sold 12 million.

Well technically it shipped 12 million, it isn't necessarily sold, there could be .5 mil unsold in retail stores, I was gonna say record stores but nobody knows what that is anymore

3 million-ish is a huge discrepancy though, I agree

[NothingFails]

One thing people need to consider pre-2005 compared to now is that nowadays the labels are far more conservative when it comes to shipping albums and certifying them. In 2000, Backstreet Boys would be certified for 8 million sold after two weeks on the market because they pressed 8 million copies. Today there could be 10 million copies of "21" that have been pressed and yet Sony will wait until sales are 9.8-9.9 million before giving it the diamond cert.

[rocker99]

Where is Black in Black by AC/DC ?.

Where is Led Zeppelin - KING of Hardrock music in History of music?