USA's All Time Best Selling Artists and Albums

[whyme]

[quote="Edu"]Hi Basil, just to say that you can easily check on the RIAA site that Madonna's "True Blue" was certified 8 x Platinum (eight million) on 13 of May of 1997. What happened is that for some reason for years people in RIAA forgot to put this certification on the database till finally someone spot the error. It was corrected some time ago.quote]

Are you sure that True Blue was at 8 million way back in 1997? Because when Warner Bros released sales info for Madonna back in 1997, they siad treu blue shipped 7 million, not 8.

[Basil]

Edu was quite right. Check the riaa database and True Blue was certified

3m - 1986
5m - 1987
7m - 1995
8m - 1997

Shows that no matter what the organisations are, they involve people like us recording things and typing into computers and sometimes making mistakes. So the riaa make mistakes and so do record companies. And so do we of course. I'm sure I must have made some mistakes in the postings I've put on this thread and the more they are pointed out the more accurate the information becomes and the better I like it!

Anyone - please post if you see any more errors I've made on this thread.

[MIGUEL]

[quote="MIGUEL"]From the 60's I only have Beatles sales:
Please Please Me - 600,000
With The Beatles - 1.500,000
A Hard's Day Night - 2.000,000 (1.500,000 copies the first month)
Beatles For Sale - 800,000
Help - 700,000
Rubber Soul - 800,000
Revolver - 800,000
Sgt. Pepper - 4.500,000 (500,000 copies the first month)
White Album - 2.000,000
Abbey Road - 2.000,000
Let It Be - 1.000,000


I read on Q magazine (feb97), that Abbey Road had sold 3.200.000, Rubber Soul 2.500.000, White Album 2.200.000 and Revolver 1.750.000.
Exile On Main Street 450.000

[nelson]

May I ask what is "Exile On Main Street"?
Is it Beatles' album?

[MIGUEL]

May I ask what is "Exile On Main Street"?
Is it Beatles' album?

Not

Is Rolling Stones 1972
Uk Sales

[Basil]

the information on this post has been moved to page one.

[Basil]

the information on this post has been moved to page one.

[AutomaticBR]

This final batch all shipped 5 million copies and make up places 246 to 350 on the all time list.

You forgot Mariah Carey's "Emotions"

[Basil]

You forgot Mariah Carey's "Emotions"

Many thanks, that's been fixed and is now on with soundscan figure.

Keep the mistakes coming. One that I've found is that Forrest Gump soundtrack is a double and will be moved from single to double album list.

[nelson]

Thanks for your work.
Here's soundscan info
Janet Jackson/Control - 450,970

[scalcioffa]

Hi Basil.
You have write:
8) The Rolling Stones - 64m - 54.75m - 78,000,000.

I think that 78ml could be really the number.

A friend has sent me this list, but I don't know if it's realistic.

US SALES:
1 1964 England's Newest Hit Makers 0,6
2 1964 12x5 0,8
3 1965 Rolling Stones, Now! 0,8
4 1965 Out of Our Heads 1,4
5 1965 December's Children 1
6 1966 Aftermath 1,2
7 1966 Big Hits 2,5
8 1966 Got live if you want it! 1
9 1967 Between the Buttons 1,2
10 1967 Flowers 1
11 1967 Their Satanic Majesties Request 1
12 1968 Beggars Banquet 2
13 1969 Through the Past Darkly 1,5
14 1969 Let it Bleed 3
15 1970 Get Yer Ya Ya's Out 1,5
16 1971 Sticky Fingers 3
17 1971 Hot Rocks 1964-1971 6,5
18 1972 Exile On Main Street 3
19 1972 More Hot Rocks 0,7
20 1973 Goat's Head Soup 3
21 1974 It's Only Rock 'n Roll 1
22 1975 Metamorphosis 0,5
23 1975 Made in the Shade 1
24 1976 Black and Blue 1,5
25 1977 Love You Live 1
26 1978 Some Girls 6,2
27 1980 Emotional Rescue 3
28 1981 Sucking In the Seventies 0,5
29 1981 Tattoo You 4,2
30 1982 Still Life (American concert 1981) 1
31 1983 Undercover 1,2
32 1984 Rewind 1971-84 0,5
33 1986 Dirty Work 1,2
34 1989 Singles Collection* the London Years 0,5
35 1989 Steel Wheels 2,6
36 1991 Flashpoint (live + studio) 0,8
37 1994 Voodoo Lounge 2
38 1995 Stripped 1
39 1997 Bridges to Babylon 1,3
40 1998 No Security (live) 0,4
41 2002 Forty Licks 2,5
42 2004 Jump Back (the best of the Rolling Stones) 0,5
43 2004 Live Licks 0,5

TOTAL = 67

[pagronek]

Basil, R.Kelly's "R" is the double album I think. And current Eminem's Soundscan numbers are "Marshall Mathers" 9.7m, The Eminem show 9.3m. Great thread, btw.

[Basil]

Thanks for your work.
Here's soundscan info
Janet Jackson/Control - 450,970

Thanks Nelson that has been fixed. I think the soundscan figures for Madonna, MJ, Janet Jackson, Whitney & Mariah are now the latest ones - at least I hope so.

Cheers

[Basil]

Basil, R.Kelly's "R" is the double album I think. And current Eminem's Soundscan numbers are "Marshall Mathers" 9.7m, The Eminem show 9.3m. Great thread, btw.

Much thanks pagronek. The Eminem figures have been updated. The "R" album has been shifted to the double album list. I put that on the wrong list somehow - brain malfunction!

Cheers

[Basil]

Hi Basil.
You have write:
8) The Rolling Stones - 64m - 54.75m - 78,000,000.

I think that 78ml could be really the number.

A friend has sent me this list, but I don't know if it's realistic.

TOTAL = 67

Thanks scalcioffa. First here is my list with yours for comparison in brackets

England's Newest - 0.8m - (0.6)
12X5 - 0.8m - (0.8)
Now - 0.8m - (0.8)
December's Children - 1.2m - (1.0)
Flowers - 1.2m - (1.0)

Out of Our Heads - 1.5m - (1.4)
Aftermath - 1.5m - (1.2)
Between the Buttons - 1.2m - (1.2)
Satanic Majesties - 1.2m - (1.0)
Beggars Banquet - 1.7m - (2.0)
Let it Bleed - 3.0m - (3.0)

Big Hits Vol 1 - 2.5m - (2.5)
Big Hits Vol 2 - 1.5m - (1.5)
Hot Rocks - 6.7m - (6.5)
More Hot Rocks - 1.0m - (0.7)
London Years - 0.5m - (0.5)
Metamophosis - 0.5m - (0.5)

Got Live - 0.7m - (1.0)
Get Your Ya Ya's - 1.8m - (1.5)

Sticky Fingers - 4.0m - (3.0)
Exile on Main Street - 2.5m - (3.0)
Goat's Head Soup - 3.5m - (3.0)
It's Only Rock n Roll - 1.5m - (1.0)
Black & Blue - 1.5m - (1.5)
Some Girls - 6.8m - (6.2)
Emotional Rescue - 2.7m - (3.0)
Tattoo You - 4.8m - (4.2)
Undercover - 1.5m - (1.2)
Dirty Work - 1.5m - (1.2)
Steel Wheels - 2.7m - (2.6)
Voodoo Lounge - 2.1m - (2.0)
Bridges to Babylon - 1.3m - (1.3)

Love You Live - 1.0m - (1.0)
Still Life - 1.2m - (1.0)
Flashpoint - 1.0m - (0.8)
Stripped - 0.8m - (1.0)
No Security - 0.4m - (0.4)
Live Licks - 0.4m - (0.5)

Made in the Shade - 1.8m - (1.0)
Sucking in Seventies - 0.7m (0.5)
Rewind - 1.0m - (0.5)
Jump Back - 0.5m - (0.5)
Forty Licks - 2.5m - (2.5)

As you see the figures agree quite closely. A few I disagreed with. For instance Flashpoint definitely sold more than Stripped.

My information came from studying the chart performance of each album with any certification dates. Then I used available soundscan figures to gauge how each album sells annually. In addition I used information from the many Rolling Stones sites on the internet and from various books on them. Putting all this information together led to the above estimates and a total all time USA sale of 77,800,000 copies.

I was very conservative in my estimates and didn't include such things as imports - just the official USA releases.

In the end, both lists are estimates and your list is good. My total comes out a little higher - perhaps it is more current.

The USA is one of the best markets for the Rolling Stones. I can't really estimate worldwide sales, but the figure could not be higher than double the USA total - around 150 million - and is likely to be a little lower. Perhaps around 130-140 million maximum. The band's biggest strength is in concert tickets sold.

[Basil]

Another update of all the sales postings. All the information provided so far by members of the forum on this thread has been incorporated.

Two rogue double albums - Forrest Gump and R Kelly R have been moved from single to double album lists.

Total number of single albums selling at least 5 million copies now stands at 349 after the latest riaa certifications were published for march 2005.

[scalcioffa]

Thanks Basil.
Your information are interesting.
However I think that Stones has passed 130-140 million worldwide.
I think approximately 160-170 ml.
Rolling Stones don't have albums with high sales (only HOT ROCKS 64-71 and SOME GIRLS close to 10ml), but they have a good standar of sales.
They are really strong in the (center-north) European markets.

For example:
-"Rolling Stones N°2", NORWAY: #1 for 3 weeks and 75 on chart.
-"Between the buttons", AUSTRIA: #1 for 8 weeks.
-"Their satanic..", AUSTRIA: #1 for 4 weeks.
etc...


They have 26 different N°1 Worldwide (UK,USA,CANADA,ITALY,GERMANY,HOLLAND,SWISS,AUSTRIA).
'60= 9
'70s= 8
'80s= 6
'90-'00= 3
TOT= 26, N°1 albums Worldwide.

[Basil]

Thanks Basil.
Your information are interesting.
However I think that Stones has passed 130-140 million worldwide.
I think approximately 160-170 ml.

Hi scalcioffa

First thing, regarding the comparison of our lists above, the total of yours was 71.6 million - not 67 million. The total of mine was 77.8 million, so we were very close.

I realise the Stones are particularly popular in places like Germany and Holland. However, in a recent Stones book, Prince Lowenstein who has overseen their financial affairs for 30 years, comments that before the early 70's the vast majority of their sales were in the USA. Sure they have since sold better around the world and I am a big fan. However, their best market has always been the USA and this is half the world market for western type rock music. Because of this I must stick to my worldwide estimate of "only" 130-140 million. As a fan I wish it was more.

[Basil]

the information in this post has been moved to page one.

[scalcioffa]

Hi Basil!

You have write:
"First thing, regarding the comparison of our lists above, the total of yours was 71.6 million - not 67 million. The total of mine was 77.8 million, so we were very close".
Ok!! It's true.

You have write:
"I realise the Stones are particularly popular in places like Germany and Holland. However, in a recent Stones book, Prince Lowenstein who has overseen their financial affairs for 30 years, comments that before the early 70's the vast majority of their sales were in the USA. Sure they have since sold better around the world and I am a big fan. However, their best market has always been the USA and this is half the world market for western type rock music. Because of this I must stick to my worldwide estimate of "only" 130-140 million. As a fan I wish it was more".
Ok, but before 1968 albums sales were generally low.
This way the predominance of the US'sales, they would be able not to influence the total number.

I don't know if your estimate were more correct than mine.
Moreover, in many web site I have read 180ml!!

For example (http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19754)
HANBOO wrote:
Which artists sold more than 100 million albums?
Best-selling Album Artists Worldwide
Please keep in mind that all sales are estimates, there is no worldwide body like the RIAA or BPI.
(rank, estimated world album sales in millions, US album sales if known, artist)

425 165 The Beatles
390 190 Elvis Presley
250 08 Abba
220 54 Elton John
220 00 Julio Iglesias
200 85 Led Zeppelin
190 57 Madonna
180 58 Rolling Stones
180 53 Pink Floyd
.......
.......


Now, I launch a new topic new topic regarding the Rolling Stones's sales.
I hope someone can help us.

[Basil]

For example (http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19754)
HANBOO wrote:
Which artists sold more than 100 million albums?
Best-selling Album Artists Worldwide
Please keep in mind that all sales are estimates, there is no worldwide body like the RIAA or BPI.
(rank, estimated world album sales in millions, US album sales if known, artist)

425 165 The Beatles
390 190 Elvis Presley
250 08 Abba
220 54 Elton John
220 00 Julio Iglesias
200 85 Led Zeppelin
190 57 Madonna
180 58 Rolling Stones
180 53 Pink Floyd

Thanks scalcioffa. While I can't estimate worldwide sales on these artists I think I can still make an exception with the Rolling Stones. Every Fan wants their artist to have sold the most possible. I am trying to be realistic and still think 180m for the Stones is too high. I think 140m is the maximum. They are strong in some countries, but average or weak in others.

I have gone into USA sales in very great detail and, whilst Hanboo has posted an amazing number of truly excellent and accurate facts and figures on this forum, in this case I am forced to differ from him as shown below

Key
Artist
riaa current totals february 2005
adjusted riaa totals february 2005 - effect of extra units removed
Hanboo's USA estimates
My own USA estimates february 2005

Elvis Presley - 117.5m - 97.62m - 190m - 166m
The Beatles - 166.5m - 129.85m - 165m - 161m
Led Zeppelin - 108.5m - 87.6m - 85m - 95m
Elton John - 68m - 66.1m - 54m - 79m
Rolling Stones - 64m - 54.75m - 58m - 78m
Pink Floyd - 73.5m - 57.13m - 53m - 70m
Madonna - 61m - 58.5m - 57m - 61m
Julio Iglesias - 9.8m - 9.7m - NIL - 20m
Abba - 10.5m - 10.5m - 8m - 18m

[rikta]

Hi Basil!

I don't know if your estimate were more correct than mine.
Moreover, in many web site I have read 180ml!!

For example (http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=19754)
HANBOO wrote:
Which artists sold more than 100 million albums?
Best-selling Album Artists Worldwide
Please keep in mind that all sales are estimates, there is no worldwide body like the RIAA or BPI.
(rank, estimated world album sales in millions, US album sales if known, artist)

425 165 The Beatles
390 190 Elvis Presley
250 08 Abba
220 54 Elton John
220 00 Julio Iglesias
200 85 Led Zeppelin
190 57 Madonna
180 58 Rolling Stones
180 53 Pink Floyd
.......

I discovered this listing on a website.

TOP50 - BEST SELLING ARTISTS OF ALL TIME (TOTAL ALBUM SALES OVER 40M)
BIGGEST ALBUM SELLERS OF ALL TIME (WORLDWIDE SALES)

NAME SALES (Millions)

01 The Beatles 232
02 Michael Jackson 142
03 Mariah Carey 132
04 Madonna 131
05 Celine Dion 125
06 Phil Collins 116
07 U2 109
08 Pink Floyd 108
09 Led Zeppelin 105
10 Rolling Stones 94
11 Elton John 94
12 Barbra Streisand 92
13 Genesis 89
14 Metallica 84
15 Bruce Springsteen 82
16 AC/DC 81
17 Bon Jovi 81
18 Billy Joel 81
19 Fleetwood Mac 80
20 Garth Brooks 80
21 Queen 80
22 Dire Straits 76
23 Aerosmith 75
24 Eric Clapton 74
25 Eagles 72
26 Santana 72
27 Elvis Presley 71
28 ABBA 70
29 Britney Spears 70
30 Shania Twain 69
31 Whitney Houston 67
32 Backstreet Boys 66
33 Guns 'N Roses 63
34 Van Halen 62
35 Bee Gees 61
36 Eminem 61
37 Prince 59
38 Bryan Adams 56
39 Def Leppard 56
40 Paul Mc Cartney 51
41 Simply Red 47
42 Janet Jackson 45
43 Bob Dylan 45
44 Duran Duran 44
45 Tina Turner 44
46 Bob Marley 43
47 Julio Iglesias 42
48 Lionel Richie 41
49 Rod Stewart 41
50 George Michael 40

THE BEST SELLING ARTISTS EVER ACCORDING TO GLOBAL SALES DATA, GOLD CERTIFICATIONS, PLATINUM CERTIFICATIONS, DIAMOND CERTIFICATIONS, DIAMOND AWARDS AND NATIONAL ALBUM-CHARTS. IMPORTANT SOURCES: IFPI, NIELSEN SOUND SCAN (USA, CANADA), ORICON & SOUND SCAN (JAPAN), BPI (UK), SNEP / IFOP (FRANCE), MEDIA CONTROL (GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND), ARIA (AUSTRALIA), FIMI / AC NIELSEN (ITALY), HOT100 BR@SIL (BRAZIL), MEGA CHARTS BV (NETHERLANDS), GLF (SWEDEN), VERDENS GANG (NORWAY), AC NIELSEN (DENMARK, BELGIUM), IFPI.FI (FINLAND), RIANZ (NEW ZEALAND), CAPIF (ARGENTINA), AND OTHERS.

See, there are always discrepencies according to the sources or the way record sales are audited.

[scalcioffa]

Hi Basil.
I'm a fan of the Stones but I don't want to overstate the figures.
I would like to know the truth!

Stones have an immense discography.
They have a good standar of sales worldwide.
Many albums never published in the USA have been success in the world.
For example:
1965: Around and around (compilation), #1 Italy, #4 Germany, #3 Austria.
1966: Bravo Rolling Stones (compilation), #1 Germany (for 4 weeks), #5 Austria.
1976: Story Stones (compilation), #1 Holland.
1990: 1965-1970 (compilation), Top 20 in Italy.
.....
.....


-"Les années Stones" (compilation), GOLD in France (100.000 copies)
-"16 Exitos De Oro Vol. II" (compilation), GOLD in Mexico (100.000 copies)


Seeing all this I have esteemed in 160-170ml.
This is an esteem so it's probable that I'm wrong.

[scalcioffa]

Thanks rikta
Your list is very interesting.

[Basil]

Hi Basil!

I discovered this listing on a website.

TOP50 - BEST SELLING ARTISTS OF ALL TIME (TOTAL ALBUM SALES OVER 40M)
BIGGEST ALBUM SELLERS OF ALL TIME (WORLDWIDE SALES)

09 Led Zeppelin 105
10 Rolling Stones 94
11 Elton John 94
25 Eagles 72
27 Elvis Presley 71

Hi there rikta

I thank you for posting the list.

Please forgive me in advance, though, because I'm afraid that I'm now going to be extremely critical of this list.

This is not against you personally as you did not make the list. It is against the people who DID compile this terrible list.

It is lists like these are the whole reason for this thread. This is definitely not the Best Selling Albums artists of all time.

I'm afraid it's just a list with a bunch of figures. They have no meaning because they are so so inaccurate.

I see where they got it from. They've used a load of certifications from various countries and added them all up. The Actual Certifications are correct but the totals are not.

This is because certifications in most countries around the world only start for albums after a certain date. This completely skews the list towards most recent artists.

I've listed 5 examples above, but every figure on the list is wrong. The Elvis Presley total of 71m for worldwide sales is quite the worst. They have ignored the riaa site which lists USA shipments. Not only is this effectively half the world market, the riaa is the only national association I know of that will certify albums of any age. Their total for Elvis in the US ALONE is 117.5m (98m when you remove multi-disc sales).

They have made no effort whatever to then account for when albums were certified, albums that weren't certified, trends in catalogue sales. Basically no research at all - extremely lazy. Please believe me when I say this list has no value.

Elvis's USA sales are at least 166m when you do all the necessary research. People will disagree with this estimate but only because they will come out with higher figures - not lower.

If Elvis's USA sales are therefore at least 166m (and this is albums only) then what are the worldwide sales? I don't know the answer to this. However, since the Elvis catalogue of several hundred albums sell well around the world, an absolute minimum of 300m is certain. Other estimates go to 400 or even 500m. However, all serious researchers would agree that it is 300m at the very very least. The total of 71m on this list not a discrepancy - it is ludicrous.

The Eagles have sold 85m minimum in the USA, so their worldwide total of 72m is very wrong. It is definitely over 100m.

The very first post of this thread is USA totals for the top artists. To get these figures I researched every single album for every artist looking at year of release, chart performance, year of certification, annual sales patterns and catalogue sales. This was all to get the most accurate figures possible.

There has been lots of help from the forum to get these figures even more accurate again.

We do all this work to try and combat such inaccurate lists as these.

Please ignore lists like these that are all over the internet, they are not what they claim to be.

If you want worldwide sales, there are several excellent threads on this forum with much much more accurate and meaningful figures.

If I want worldwide sales I look at these and trust them more than anything else I've found on the net. The best figures are all on this forum somewhere.

Sorry for the rant, it's just so annoying when I see such poor statistics masquerading as all time sales.

Am I forgiven?