AC/DC :: Charts & Sales History

[Dane]

US

Key
year of US release
riaa shipment
year of last US certification
title
soundscan
BMG record club 1990-2003

Studio Albums
1976 3,000,000 2005 High Voltage - 1,716,000 jun10
1977 2,000,000 1997 Let There Be Rock - 446,000 nov08
1978 1,000,000 1990 Powerage - 408,000 jul06
1979 7,000,000 2006 Highway to Hell - 2,188,000 dec12
1980 22,000,000 2007 Back in Black - 7,167,000 nov14 - 1,330,000
1981 6,000,000 2001 Dirty Deeds - 1,799,000 apr09
1981 4,000,000 2001 For Those About to Rock - 706,000 nov08
1983 1,000,000 2001 Flick of the Switch - 225,000 jul06
1984 1,000,000 2001 Jailbreak '74 - 225,000 jul06
1985 1,000,000 2001 Fly on the Wall - 227,000 jul06
1988 1,000,000 1988 Blow Up Your Video - 208,000 jul06
1990 5,000,000 2006 Razor's Edge - 2,618,000 nov08
1995 2,000,000 2001 Ballbreaker - 1,162,000 nov08
2000 1,000,000 2001 Stiff Upper Lip - 966,000 jul10
2008 2,000,000 2008 Black Ice - 2,168,000 jul10
2014 500,000 2015 Rock or Bust - 485,000 feb15

Live Albums
1978 1,000,000 1990 If You Want Blood - 497,000 nov08
1992 3,000,000 2001 Live - 4,194,000 apr09
1992 1,000,000 2001 Live Collectors (double) - 1,239,000 feb09
2012 - none Live At River Plate 65,000 mar13


Compilations/Soundtracks
1986 5,000,000 2001 Who Made Who - 1,813,000 nov08
1997 200,000 2001 Bonfire (5disc) - 179,000 jul06
2007 - none Sight & Sound Collection (2cd/1dvd Walmart excl.) 30,000 (after 3 weeks)
2009 - none Backtracks (standard 2cd/1dvd boxset) 43,000 (after 6 weeks)
2010 500,000 2012 Iron Man 2 596,000 may13

Music Videos

1980 - none AC/DC: Let There Be Rock* 69,000 dec05
1985 - none Fly On The Wall 1,200 dec05
1986 50,000 1988 Who Made Who 5,500 dec05
1991 - none Clipped 27,000 dec05
1992 600,000 2005 Live At Donington (dvd in 2003) 912,000 apr08 (111k+801k)
1996 500,000 2008 No Bull (dvd in 2008) 110,000 dec05
2001 50,000 2002 Stiff Upper Lip - Live 136,000 dec05
2005 500,000 2007 Family Jewels (2dvd) 491,000 apr07
2007 250,000 2007 Plug Me In (2dvd**) 188,000 apr08
2011 - none Live At River Plate 92,000 dec12
2011 - none Let There Be Rock 41,000 may12

* Filmed in 1979, theatrical released in 1980, VHS release date in US unknown, DVD release in 2011.
** 3dvd set also released. I dunno if counted seperately by RIAA/Soundcan.


Total RIAA album shipment is 70,200,000.
Total RIAA video shipment is 1,950,000

Total Soundscan album sales is 26,400,000 oct08


Note the 1.33m club sales for "Back in Black" is from the BMG record club only. If any of their other titles were available from this club they sold less than 300,000.
The AC/DC catalog was available at Columbia House music club too.

Looks like at least "Ballbreaker" and "Live Collectors Edition" must have had strong club sales too. In 2001 "Ballbreaker" went double platinum (2M albums shipped) with less than 1.1M scans and "Live Collectors Edition" went double platinum (1M albums shipped) with around 430K scans!!!

[Basil]

Excellent Thomas - I never did a thread on this band because I presumed you would do it - you must have loads more info than I have. I like the soundscan breakdown of old and remastered versions

Can you do a similar list of the main countries - UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe (since 1994) - or anywhere else that has a decent set of certifications.

[Dane]

UK

Key
year of UK release
year of last UK certification
title
bpi shipment

Studio Albums
1976 2013 High Voltage - 100,000
1976 2013 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - 100,000 + 60,000*
1977 2013 Let There Be Rock - 100,000
1978 2013 Powerage - 100,000
1979 2013 Highway to Hell - 300,000
1980 2013 Back in Black - 300,000
1981 2013 For Those About to Rock - 100,000 + 100,000*
1983 1990 Flick of the Switch - 100,000
1984 none Jailbreak '74
1985 1986 Fly on the Wall - 60,000
1988 1988 Blow Up Your Video - 100,000
1990 1990 Razor's Edge - 100,000
1995 2013 Ballbreaker - 100,000
2000 2013 Stiff Upper Lip - 60,000
2008 2008 Black Ice - 300,000

*DDDDC and FTATR are certified twice under slightly different titles.

Compilations
1986 2013 Who Made Who - 60,000
1997 none Bonfire
2010 2010 Iron Man 2 - 300,000

Live Albums
1978 1980 If You Want Blood - 100,000
1992 1993 Live - 100,000
1992 none Live Collectors (double)
2012 2013 Live At River Plate - 60,000

Total album shipment is - 2,700,000

Music Videos

2001 2013 Stiff Upper Lip Live - 25,000
2003 2013 Live at Donington - 100,000
2005 2013 Family Jewels - 100,000
2007 2013 Plug Me In - 50,000
2008 2013 No Bull - 25,000
2011 2013 Live at River Plate - 50,000
2011 2014 Let There Be Rock - 50,000

Total video shipment is 400,000

[Dane]

Re: AC/DC Sales Thread

Canada

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
cria shipment

Studio Albums
1976 none High Voltage
1977 none Let There Be Rock
1978 none Powerage
1979 1981 Highway to Hell - 200,000
1980 1989 Back in Black - 1,000,000
1981 none Dirty Deeds
1981 none For Those About to Rock
1983 none Flick of the Switch
1984 none Jailbreak '74
1985 none Fly on the Wall
1988 none Blow Up Your Video
1990 1991 Razor's Edge - 500,000
1995 none Ballbreaker
2000 2000 Stiff Upper Lip - 100,000
2008 2008 Black Ice - 400,000

Compilations
1986 none Who Made Who
1997 none Bonfire

Live Albums
1978 none If You Want Blood
1992 1993 Live - 100,000
1992 none Live Collectors (double)

Total shipment is 2.3m.

Strange patterns here. Back in black is a Diamond album, but none of the following albums up to (the 5 x platinum) The Razors Edge are certified at all!
Either the record company hasn't applied for the certifications or CRIA has holes in their database.

Looking through the 'Top 50 Metal' soundscan charts in Canada you'll find out AC/DC is still selling there. This week they have two entries, but often more. Both Back in black and Live have charted every week since re-release in February 2003 (150 weeks)

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/METAL.html

[Dane]

Re: AC/DC Sales Thread

Germany

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
ifpi/Germany shipment

Studio Albums
1976 1995 High Voltage - 500,000
1976 2003 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - 500,000
1977 2001 Let There Be Rock - 500,000
1978 1991 Powerage - 250,000
1979 1991 Highway to Hell - 750,000 *
1980 2003 Back in Black - 1,000,000
1981 1993 For Those About to Rock - 500,000
1983 2000 Flick of the Switch - 250,000
1984 none Jailbreak '74
1985 1995 Fly on the Wall - 250,000
1988 1991 Blow Up Your Video - 250,000
1990 2001 Razor's Edge - 1,000,000
1995 1995 Ballbreaker - 250,000
2000 2002 Stiff Upper Lip - 300,000
2008 2009 Black Ice 1,000,000

Compilations
1986 2003 Who Made Who - 500,000
1997 none Bonfire

Live Albums
1978 2000 If You Want Blood - 500,000
1992 1994 Live - 250,000
1992 1994 Live Collectors (double) - 250,000

Total shipment is 8,8m. (Gold: 100,000/250,000 & Platinum: 200,000/500,000 - depending on date of release)

* Highway To Hell was certified gold in 1980, platinum in 1988 and then gold in 1991?

Strong sales. Unlike in the UK and Canada, German certifications seems fairly up-to-date.
The Razors Edge equals sales of Back In Black in Germany. It might challenge Highway To Hell as their 2nd biggest seller worldwide.

[john2000]

For germany, that's the date of release who is important not the date of certification

[Dane]

For germany, that's the date of release who is important not the date of certification

What do you mean?

[Dane]

Re: AC/DC Sales Thread

Austria

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
ifpi/Austria shipment

Studio Albums
1976 none High Voltage
1976 none Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
1977 none Let There Be Rock
1978 none Powerage
1979 1990 Highway to Hell - 25,000
1980 1991 Back in Black - 50,000
1981 1991 For Those About to Rock - 25,000
1983 none Flick of the Switch
1984 none Jailbreak '74
1985 none Fly on the Wall
1988 none Blow Up Your Video
1990 1993 Razor's Edge - 50,000
1995 1996 Ballbreaker - 25,000
2000 2000 Stiff Upper Lip - 15,000

Compilations
1986 none Who Made Who
1997 none Bonfire

Live Albums
1978 none If You Want Blood
1992 2000 Live - 25,000
1992 1993 Live Collectors (double) - 25,000

Total shipment is 240,000. (Gold: 15,000/25,000 & Platinum: 30,000/50,000 - depending on date of release)

It seems Austria started certification in 1990.

[john2000]

For germany, that's the date of release who is important not the date of certification

What do you mean?

I mean that for album released before oct 1999 :

Gold = 250 000
Platinum = 500 000

Same thing for austria
before 2000, GOld = 25 000 and platinum = 50 000

[Dane]

For germany, that's the date of release who is important not the date of certification

What do you mean?

I mean that for album released before oct 1999 :

Gold = 250 000
Platinum = 500 000

Same thing for austria
before 2000, GOld = 25 000 and platinum = 50 000

Thanks, I'll update Germany and Austria.

[Dane]

Australia


Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
ARIA shipment

Studio Albums

1975 2013 High Voltage - 350,000
1975 2013 T.N.T. - 630,000
1976 2013 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - 420,000
1977 2013 Let There Be Rock - 350,000
1978 2013 Powerage - 210,000
1979 2013 Highway to Hell - 350,000
1980 2013 Back in Black - 840,000
1981 2013 For Those About to Rock - 350,000
1983 2013 Flick of the Switch - 210,000
1985 2013 Fly on the Wall - 210,000
1988 2013 Blow Up Your Video - 210,000
1990 2013 Razor's Edge - 350,000
1995 2013 Ballbreaker - 210,000
2000 2013 Stiff Upper Lip - 210,000
2008 2009 Black Ice 350,000

Compilations
1986 2013 Who Made Who (Soundtrack) - 350,000
1997 2013 Bonfire - 35,000
2010 2010 Backtracks - 35,000
2010 2010 Iron Man 2 (Soundtrack) - 70,000


Live Albums
1978 2013 If You Want Blood - 210,000
1992 2013 Live - 560,000*
2012 2012 Live at River Plate - 35,000

Total shipment: 6,545,000

* Live released in 1992 was certified 3 x platinum in 2009 and 8 x platinum in 2013... seems odd, but maybe certifications for the single disc and double disc have been combined.


This is a qoute (feb04) from Fifa Riccobono, CEO of Albert Productions in Australia:

AC/DC have started writing for their next album which may be released in 2004.

Fifa Riccobono, CEO of Albert Productions, has confirmed to Undercover that songs have been written for the next record but the band is yet to start recording.

While some incorrect information surfaced last week claiming AC/DC have the second biggest selling album in the world with Back In Black, Fifa points out that Back In Black has sold more than 40 million worldwide.

The title is also Acca Dacca's biggest album in Australia, with Highway To Hell and Live in second and third place. Back in Black has sold almost 900,000 units in Australia and total Australian sales for the catalogue is now over 5.5 million.

Last week they issued a retraction to their original press release saying "The AC/DC press release sent out on the 28th Jan included a statement that the RIAA had certified Back In Black as the second highest selling album in the world . It has come to our attention that this was inaccurate as the RIAA can only certify USA not worldwide sales. Whilst combined world sales of Back In Black are in excess of 40 million there is no international body that certifies world sales".

According to this Highway to Hell was their 2nd biggest album in Australia back in 2004. But now it's well behind T.N.T., Live and even DDDDC. Tied with a bunch of albums for 5th place.

Also, with certified sales of 840,000 today "Back in Black" couldn't have been close to 900,000 nine years ago.

[Dane]

Re: AC/DC Sales Thread

France

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
snep shipment

Studio Albums
1976 1980 High Voltage - 100,000
1976 none Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
1977 1980 Let There Be Rock - 100,000
1978 1980 Powerage - 100,000
1979 1981 Highway to Hell - 400,000
1980 2001 Back in Black - 600,000
1981 1981 For Those About to Rock - 400,000
1983 1984 Flick of the Switch - 100,000
1984 none Jailbreak '74
1985 none Fly on the Wall
1988 none Blow Up Your Video
1990 1991 Razor's Edge - 100,000
1995 1996 Ballbreaker - 300,000
2000 2000 Stiff Upper Lip - 200,000

Compilations
1986 none Who Made Who
1997 none Bonfire

Live Albums
1978 1980 If You Want Blood - 100,000
1992 1996 Live - 600,000
1992 none Live Collectors (double)

Total shipment is 3,1m. (Gold: 100,000 & Platinum: 300,000/400,000 - depending on date of certification)

Many albums haven't been updated for a long time, but still healthy sales.

[Dane]

Re: AC/DC Sales Thread

Spain

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
promusicae shipment

Studio Albums
1976 2000 High Voltage - 50,000
1976 2000 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - 50,000
1977 2000 Let There Be Rock - 50,000
1978 2000 Powerage - 50,000
1979 2000 Highway to Hell - 100,000 *
1980 2000 Back in Black - 100,000 *
1981 2000 For Those About to Rock - 50,000
1983 none Flick of the Switch
1984 none Jailbreak '74
1985 2000 Fly on the Wall - 50,000
1988 2000 Blow Up Your Video - 50,000
1990 2001 Razor's Edge - 100,000
1995 1995 Ballbreaker - 100,000
2000 2000 Stiff Upper Lip - 100,000

Compilations
1986 none Who Made Who
1997 none Bonfire

Live Albums
1978 none If You Want Blood
1992 1992 Live - 100,000
1992 none Live Collectors (double)

Total shipment is 950,000. (Gold: 50,000 & Platinum: 100,000)

* These titles received gold in 1981 and gold again in 2000?

It seems the AC/DC got a big certification overhaul in 2000. So the certification level must be pretty much up to date.

[Basil]

This is a neat thread.

Some very solid sales in Europe.

Unfortunately the IFPI awards are for 1994 releases onwards so only Ballbreaker and Stiff Upper Lip qualify - both 1,000,000 each.

Other forum members must have certifications for other countries out there somewhere (particularly other European ones).

The sales would be relatively small, but New Zealand info would be interesting.

[john2000]

Australian Certifications, from 1990 :

Ballbreaker platinum in 1995
Live (double) platinum in 1992
Razor's edge 2x platinum in 1991
Stiff upper Lip platinum in 2001

[Dane]

Hanboo, have you received new Soundscan information on the AC/DC catalog? If so would you please share these?

I appreciate the soundscan figures I got from you last year, but they are scattered and I noticed you have received detailed information on other artists like Pink Floyd since then.

Thanks a lot!

[Classicrock]

Re: AC/DC Sales Thread

Canada

Key
year of release
year of last certification
title
cria shipment

Studio Albums
1976 none High Voltage
1977 none Let There Be Rock
1978 none Powerage
1979 1981 Highway to Hell - 200,000
1980 1989 Back in Black - 1,000,000
1981 none Dirty Deeds
1981 none For Those About to Rock
1983 none Flick of the Switch
1984 none Jailbreak '74
1985 none Fly on the Wall
1988 none Blow Up Your Video
1990 1991 Razor's Edge - 500,000
1995 none Ballbreaker
2000 2000 Stiff Upper Lip - 100,000

Compilations
1986 none Who Made Who
1997 none Bonfire

Live Albums
1978 none If You Want Blood
1992 1993 Live - 100,000
1992 none Live Collectors (double)

Total shipment is 1.9m.

Strange patterns here. Back in black is a Diamond album, but none of the following albums up to (the 5 x platinum) The Razors Edge are certified at all!
Either the record company hasn't applied for the certifications or CRIA has holes in their database.

Looking through the 'Top 50 Metal' soundscan charts in Canada you'll find out AC/DC is still selling there. This week they have two entries, but often more. Both Back in black and Live have charted every week since re-release in February 2003 (150 weeks)

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/METAL.html

Back in Black must be double diamond in Canada since it enjoys the same stature of A Zeppelin IV or Dark Side of the Moon up here.
The CRIA database is woefully incomplete

[NothingFails]

interesting that the Epic remaster of For Those About To Rock has sold nearly as much in the past 3 years as the Atlantic/ATCO version did from the beginning of Soundscan in 91 till now. I know Wal-Mart is currently advertising the title for $7.50, which could definately help catalog sales.

[Dane]

interesting that the Epic remaster of For Those About To Rock has sold nearly as much in the past 3 years as the Atlantic/ATCO version did from the beginning of Soundscan in 91 till now. I know Wal-Mart is currently advertising the title for $7.50, which could definately help catalog sales.

Most of the AC/DC catalog was remastered in 1994 too (titles older than 1985), I'm pretty sure some figures are missing for "For Those About To Rock" (and others).

Here's an example for "Flick of the switch", taken from the Metal Sludge site:

As Of March 30, 2000

AC/DC "Flick Of The Switch" - 82,738
...re-issue 9/6/94 - 57,984

(This is also why I suspect the sales of "Back in black" between 1991-1994 is missing)

Of course "For those about to rock" (# 1 BB200 album) was much more popular than "Flick of the switch". Which can be seen on the sales figures for the 2003 remasters too.

[Dane]

The first post has been edited with the May 2006 certifications for HTH and TRE.

[MJDangerous]

Re: AC/DC Sales Thread

The sales would be relatively small, but New Zealand info would be interesting.

New Zealand

Key
year of release
title
RIANZ shipment

Studio Albums
1975 TNT - 60,000*
1976 High Voltage
1976 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - 45,000*
1977 Let There Be Rock
1978 Powerage
1979 Highway to Hell
1980 Back in Black - 45,000*
1981 For Those About to Rock
1983 Flick of the Switch
1984 Jailbreak '74
1985 Fly on the Wall
1988 Blow Up Your Video - 7,500*
1990 Razor's Edge - 60,000*
1995 Ballbreaker - 15,000
2000 Stiff Upper Lip

Compilations
1986 Who Made Who
1997 Bonfire

Live Albums
1978 If You Want Blood
1992 Live - 15,000*
1992 Live Collectors (double)

Total shipment is 240,000.

The year of last certification is unknow.

*Those albums was realeased before 1992 so I don't know if their certifications mean 7.5/15k for Gold Platinum (since 1992) or 10/20k (before 1992).

As well as in Canada, many albums are not certified at all.

[Dane]

I have these recent soundscan info on the AC/DC catalog from another board (thanks to Heh).
These numbers contain both original and remastered editions, so I have not updated the first post on this thread.

The new number for "Live" is for multiple versions combined...

U.S. only. Rounded to nearest 1,000. Club sales through BMG, etc. aren't counted. *'s indicate that an album was released prior to 5/25/91, so not all sales are counted.


As of 7/19/06:


AC/DC

* High Voltage - 1,289,000

* Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - 1,515,000

* Let There Be Rock - 388,000

* Powerage - 408,000

* If You Want Blood You've Got It - 430,000

* Highway to Hell - 1,650,000

* Back in Black - 5,548,000

* For Those About to Rock We Salute You - 564,000

* Flick of the Switch - 225,000

* '74 Jailbreak - 225,000

* Fly on the Wall - 227,000

* Who Made Who - 1,750,000

* Blow Up Your Video - 208,000

* The Razor's Edge - 2,469,000

Live - 4,410,000

Ballbreaker - 1,123,000

Stiff Upper Lip - 894,000

Bonfire - 179,000

[johnnyboy]

How can you get over 40 million sales for Back in Black?

[Classicrock]

How can you get over 40 million sales for Back in Black?

If Back in Black sold 40 million than Dark Side of the Moon and Zep IV have sold more

[cidermaster]

Spot on Classicrock,Dark Side Of The Moon and the Four Symbols have without doubt sold more thab Back In Black.

Cheer Cidermaster.