Queen :: Charts & Sales History

[HUR]

Thank you, and yes, that sounds more realistic.

Thanks to Sniper, in Russia:

CD Chart
6 dec - 13 dec 1995

01 EAST 17 - "Up All Nights"
02 Chris Rea - "The Best of"
03 Cabballero - "The Elements"
04 Queen - "Ballads"
05 Ace Of Base - "The Bridge"
06 Army of Lovers - "Greatest Hits"
07 Video Kids - "The Invasion of The Spacepeckers"
08 Smokie - "20 Greatest Hits"
09 Valery Meladze - Sera
10 Vladimir Vysorsky - Serebyanye struny
11 V.A. - "Best Ballads 95"
12 V.A. - Europa Plus 2
13 Louis Armstrong - "The Ultimate Collection"
14 V.A. - DJ Hits 28
15 Vladimir Vysorsky - Gololed, na zemle gololed
16 Queen - "Made in Heaven"
17 Elton John - "15 Greatest Ballads"
18 Mashina Vremeni - "Unplugged"
19 The Cranberries - "No Need to Argue"
20 Filipp Kirkorov - Skazhi solncu Da!
21 Yury Vizbor - Raspakhnutye vetra
22 Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here"
23 Chris De Burgh - "Beautiful Dreams"
24 Harajuku - "Just one Look"
25 Yello - "Zebra"
26 V.A. - "Maxi Power 6"
27 New Order - "The Rest..."
28 Garik Krichevsky - Luchshee
29 ABBA - "Gold Black"
30 Leonid Agutin - Bosonogy malchik

Year 1996
According to weekly Russian albums charts
Best selling international group: Queen

Top International Albums 1996
01 George Michael - Older
02 George Michael - Jesus To a Child
03 Nick Cave - Murder Ballads
04 Queen - Made in Heaven
05 Madonna - Something To Remember
06 Sting - Mercury Falling
07 Ozzy Osbourne - Ozzmosis
08 Robert Miles - Dreamland
09 Celine Dion - Falling Into You
10 Deep Purple – Perpendicular


And more claims about Billboard:

Czechoslovakia

"But towards the end of last year and in the first quarter of this year the picture changed again. Around 250,000 ready-made albums were imported from CBS Austria and EMI in London, mainly contemporary Western pop titles. One Michael Jackson sold around 100,000 units here. A remarkably high figure for an import in Czechoslovakia.
Among other big-selling artists were Queen (around 70,000 units), and David Bowie (around 50,000), while Bruce Springsteen thus far has registered sales of some 20,000 albums in this territory." (Billboard, 20 Apr., 1985)

So I guess that "The Works" represented a big share of those 70,000 units, which don't include domestic sales nor imports from other Sociaalist countries.

Poland

“But Tompress also has the largest range of licensed recording in Poland, and top-selling artists over the past couple of years have been Queen, Kate Bush, Jerry Lee Lewis, Thomas Ledin, Doris D., and the Pins and Little Richard.” (Billboard, 8 May 1982: 57).

UK

“Advance sales for Queen album “A Day At The Races” exceeded 250,000 10 days before release, highest ever for EMI LP not tv-advertised or on sale-or-return basis...” (Billboard, 4 Dec., 1976).

Netherlands

“Queen Net Awards.
ROTTERDAM –During a visit to Holland, the four members of U.K. group Queen, and its manager John Reid, each received two platinum and two gold disks. The platinum was for the albums “A Night At The Opera” and “A Day At The Races,” and the gold for the “Sheer Heart Attack” album and the single “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The awards were made at a party after a Queen show in a packed Ahoy Hall there. The group also received the Dutch Top 40 award for the chart-topping single “Somebody To Love.” (Billbard, 25 Jun., 1977).

South America

“Last year, Queen went to South America with its complete stage show, playing dates primarilly in Argentina. But Alexander says he doubts a band could do that again. Since the Queen tour, he says, the Argentine currency has been devaluated by half, a now a tour like that would be much too expensive.
Another important aspect of the Queen tour was that they had tremendous local sales in Argentina and Brazil. “Another One Bites The Dust” was a huge hit befote they ever set foot in those markets, so their timing was excellent, “ he adds.” (Billboard, 13 feb 1982: 61).

[jcguzman]

I think Hur That 125.000 copies for each compilation in Chile sounds ok.Those figures are huge for the Chilean market.Besides the studio albums have done pretty well specially in the 70s and even the 80s.

[HUR]

You know I figured that Sheer Heart Attack, A kind of Magic and Innuendo should all probably be certified platinum by now in the states and Jazz double platinum. Also Queen Classics 4x and Greatest hits difinately 9x or even 10x platinum. Also the first two Queen albums I would have thought are probably quite close to platinum states as well dont you think HUR? what about the We will rock you compilation as well...

Well, some are very difficult to gauge, but let's see:

"Queen" (1973) and "Queen 2" (1974): these ones are above the gold mark for sure, with the former having been certified gold as early as 1977. Sadly, they aren't selling many copies on catalog right now, otherwise they would be both on course to reaching the platinum. They might eventually reach the million mark, but surely it will take time.

But putting the focus on the albums you mantioned, I agree, except for "Innuendo", which I can't see that high.

However, I do think that "Sheer Heart Attack", "Hot Space", "The Works" and "A Kind Of Magic" are on or close to the million mark, which means that they might reach the platinum status.

-"Sheer Heart Attack" has definitely sold over a million, in my opinion. It had a good chart performance in 1975 and was certified gold at the end of that year. I think that it was already close to 1,000,000 already at the time of "A Night At The Opera" and then it continued to sell well at least until about 1982. It sold 165,000 between May 1991 and Dec 2005, according to Nielsen Soundscan.

-"Hot Space" shipped over 800,000 copies by Sep 1982, after being certified gold. It shipped 90,000 between May 1991 and Dec 2005. This means that, with further sales between the rest of 1982 and the first part of 1991, this one might be close to shipping a million copies.

-"The Works", similar performance to the above album and over 100,000 copies during the Soundscan era. This one too might be on that mark.

-"A Kind Of Magic" is another one that had already reached 1,000,000 based on my calculations. It shipped over 600,000 copies between May 1991 and Dec 2005. Its chart performance was one of the band's poorest ones. It barely peaked at #46 and spent 13 weeks on the Billboard top 200. Surely, it sold some 200,000 to 250,000 copies upon release. We have missing sales for the period between 1987 and early 1991, as well as between early 2006 and now. So yes, a million seller.

I hope that if those albums ever reach 1,000,000, their record company certifies them all as such. Why?. Because that would give the band a very nice string of consecutive platinum or multi-platinum album between 1974 and 1986, when they released 9 studio albums. 5 of them have already sold over a million units, and 4 others that have sold as much as or are close.

As for "Jazz", as I said, I now think it has sold over 2,000,000 in USA, based on that WEA's claim.

"News Of The World" around 4,600,000, if not a bit more.

"The Game" around 4,500,000. It had already sold 4,000,000 by Sep 1982.

"Classic Queen" is still far from its fourth platinum, sadly. Its last Soundscan figure was of 3,274,000 retail sales, as is selling poorly.

"Greatest Hits 1" is probably close to the diamond award (10,000,000), but only adding the "We Will Rock You Edition", otherwhise it should be on "just" 9,000,000+ or close.

"Greatest Hits I&II" should be certified double platinum for over a million units (it is a double package).

"Platinum Collection" is about to be certified double platinum, given the fact that it is a triple box-set and its total Soundscan put it at 632,000 as of early this year, denoting shipments of over 700,000 copies.

Thanks HUR for the figures.As you know already Queen received an award for sales of more than 500.000 albums in Chile in 2008 which is huge for this market.

I dont have the breakdown of the sales but the radio and TV are playing Queen music on a regular basis even today.

Queen rock Montreal is at number 8 this very week in Chile and Greatest Hits VOL 1 should be back in the charts anytime soon.

Thank you. The DVD "Queen Rock Montreal" has been in and out of the Chilean top 10 since it was released.

Thanks to a Chilean fan, we know that it was #1 there in Chile.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_vP2ovMLDsOU/R ... magen1.jpg

It reached the top on Dec 2007, at the highest period of sales of the year.

Juan, do you know how much both Queen compilations, "Greatest Hits 1" and "Greatest Hits 2", may have sold?. I know they were big sellers, but what kind of sales would be enough?. I'm guessing between 150,000 and 200,000 copies, which would be like 25% to 30% of what they did in Argentina.

[borderwolf]

Argentina
DVD
monthly (april) shipments chart

#9 Live in Japan
(QUEEN)

[jcguzman]

Thanks HUR for the figures.As you know already Queen received an award for sales of more than 500.000 albums in Chile in 2008 which is huge for this market.

I dont have the breakdown of the sales but the radio and TV are playing Queen music on a regular basis even today.

Queen rock Montreal is at number 8 this very week in Chile and Greatest Hits VOL 1 should be back in the charts anytime soon.

[nucleardolphin]

You know I figured that Sheer Heart Attack, A kind of Magic and Innuendo should all probably be certified platinum by now in the states and Jazz double platinum. Also Queen Classics 4x and Greatest hits difinately 9x or even 10x platinum. Also the first two Queen albums I would have thought are probably quite close to platinum states as well dont you think HUR? what about the We will rock you compilation as well...

[HUR]

As I said in another topic, I was disappointed by the fact that Billboard didn't publish many Queen figures on their issues. I managed to find a few ones here and there, some of which I will share now, although I would have loved to get some more.
The surprising thing is that I found several claims about Queen being big in certain regions, but without any sales figures. If they did have such numbers, was it so dificult to publish them in their magazine?.

BRAZIL

“EMI-Odeon’s Queen can vouch for that: after touring Brazil in 1980, they sold 130,000 units of “The Game” that year, and 110,000 units of “Greatest Hits” the next, according to Deluz.” (Billboard, 26 Jan., 1985: 36).

Queen actually toured in Brazil in 1981, so they maybe meant that the album shipped that much during and after their visit in 1981. "Greatest Hits 1" too, was maybe released in early 1982 unlike Europe and USA, as there was always a bit of delay back then.

Based on codes, "The Game" shifted 15,000 copies from Jun 2003 to 2008, which makes me think this album has sold about or close to 200,000 copies there.

CHILE

“Even though sales in Chile favor foreign material, especially such artists as the Bee Gees, Julio Iglesias, Abba, Queen, Camilo Sesto, etc., the national record companies still produce Chilean acts such as Fernando Ubiergo, Buddy Richard, Cristobal, among others.” (Billboard, 24 Oct., 1981).

GERMANY

“U.K. group Queen has German sales in excess of 450,000 on its album “News Of The World”” (Billboard, 20 Jan., 1979).

This figure is a surprise to me. I always thought that this title had sold only about 300,000 to 350,000 on first two years, but not this many.

BELGIUM

“Gold disk from BMI Belgium for 55,000 plus sales of Queen’s album “Jazz...” (Billboard, 14 Apr., 1979).

The album was still selling back then. I would say that it ended up at about 70,000 copies by the end of that year, and maybe close to 100,000 by now. Big success for Queen there in Belgium.

USA

"According to Posner the Eagles' "Hotel California" sold 2.5 million units internationally and seven million in the U.S.; Jackson Browne's "Running On Empty" did 350,000 on foreign markets and 2.5 domestically, and Queen's "News Of The World" did 600,000 for E/A internationally plus another three million in the States. Elektra has Queen only in U.S., Canada, the Far East, and Austral-Asia; EMI has it in Europe.)" (Billboard, 29 Jul., 1978).


It would look like "News Of The World" is much more closer to 5 million than "just" 4 million in USA. But well, MJDangerous has it on some 4,4 million, but I do think it shipped at least 4,600,000 if not more. Those 600,000 "international sales" were only in the markets where Queen were under contract with WEA, which included Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. We have to remember that nearly at the same time these numbers were reported, the album was certified triple platinum in Canada for sales of 300,000 (see CRIA), with real shipments more likely on about 350,000 up through that point.

And the shipments figures achieved by the above album helped their follow-up, "Jazz". About Queen's "Jazz", WEA reported:

“Reminded that the latest Queen album was considered a disappointing by some because it sold about two million units rather than the five to seven million whch had been predicted for it.” (Billboard, 31 Mar., 1979).

They were expecting "Jazz" to sell over 5 million in USA and the other markets under WEA.

But this figure makes me think that "Jazz" may be close to 2,000,000 by now in USA with a few catalog sales. With two million shipped in USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand combined, the sales in each country were probably like this:

USA: 1,600,000 (certified platinum within days of going of sale)
Canada: 150,000
Japan: 120,000 (106,000 Oricon sales, during 29 weeks)
Australia: 35,000
New Zealand: 10,000

With as many as 1,600,000 in USA (rough estimate) already by early 1979, I think this one has sold about 2,000,000 in USA alone. It sold 176,000 between May 1991 and Dec 2005.

[borderwolf]

Argentina
DVD
biweekly sales chart
2nd part of april

9 Live in Japan
(QUEEN)

[zeus555]

The OCC gave 'Greatest Hits II', a (rounded), UK
Total, (since 1991), of 3,740,000, to January 3rd
this Year. (Inclusive of the Chart of 3rd January).
It will have sold a few thousand since then.

Zeus555

[HUR]

Some great figures there HUR!! Incredible how you find this information. Where are you from?

Thank you. Yes, very good numbers. Although their catalog sales are heavily dominated by their compilations, 8 of their studio albums have sold more than 100,000 copies (enough for a gold), apart from their "Live At Wembley '86" (enough for a platinum on catalog alone) and "Live Magic" (gold). Very solid.

Knowing how much they shipped since july 1992, we can take their certifications prior to that date and get a combined and confirmed total for the band. From BPI:

Queen - 100,000
Queen 2 - 100,000
Sheer Heart Attack - 300,000
A Night At The Opera - 300,000
A Day At The Races - 100,000
News Of The World - 100,000
Jazz - 100,000
Live Killers - 100,000
The Game - 100,000
Flash Gordon - 100,000
Greatest Hits 1 - 3,300,000
Hot Space - 100,000
The Works - 300,000
A Kind Of Magic - 600,000
Live Magic - 300,000
The Miracle - 300,000
Innuendo - 300,000
Greatest Hits 2 - 1,500,000*
Live At Wembley '86 - 100,000
Five Live EP - 400,000**

Total shipments - 8,600,000

*Big problem with this one. It was certified 5 times platinum (1,500,000) in june 1992 and went on to sell a further 1,837,607 from july 1992 to december 2008 (without counting any club sales during the secnd half of 1992 and the first half of the following year). This would mean 3,337,607 . However, it was certified 8 times platinum in early 2000 (2,400,000); and if we cut its sales since then, based on anual shipments figures, the minimum total is lower than the above figure of 3,337,607.
**It charted as a single, and was certified as such. However, in most countries, there was a single version and the mini-album called "Five Live EP", the former of which charted on the single charts and the other one on the albums charts. I do considere it as a mini-album, and therefore, I add it as part of their tally.

Anyway, combining their certifications before july 1992 (which add up 8,600,000) and their sales after that (which are 11,059,956) we get a minimum of 19,659,956.

But, obviously, most of their albums were certified withing days or months of going on sale and never updated by their record company. This meant that there are plenty of missing sales before 1992.

Their overall sales are over 24,000,000 in UK. Unbelievable success there.

[nucleardolphin]

Some great figures there HUR!! Incredible how you find this information. Where are you from?

[HUR]

Live Killers (Shop Sales)
1992 --- 4,051
1993 --- 3,292
1994 --- 5,060
1995 --- 5,599
1996 --- 4,496
1997 --- 3,587
1998 --- 1,883
1999 --- 2,386
2000 --- 1,511
2001 --- 1,713
2002 --- 2,997
2003 --- 2,099
2004 --- 4,246
2005 --- 11,218
2006 --- 13,893
2007 --- 1,838
2008 --- 485
Totals Sales --- 70,354

Live Killers (Club Sales)
1993 --- 81
1994 --- 1,985
1995 --- 690
1996 --- 1,498
1997 --- 2,443
1998 --- 1,387
1999 --- 1,071
Totals Sales --- 9,155

Total sales --- 79,509

The Game (Shop Sales)
1992 --- 4,925
1993 --- 5,258
1994 --- 4,777
1995 --- 2,484
1996 --- 2,435
1997 --- 1,698
1998 --- 4,078
1999 --- 1,615
2000 --- 1,888
2001 --- 2,337
2002 --- 3,531
2003 --- 5,705
2004 --- 7,095
2005 --- 7,651
2006 --- 11,515
2007 --- 1,285
2008 --- 1,311
Totals Sales --- 69,491

The Game (Music Club Sales)
1992 --- ???
1993 --- ???
1994 --- 1,235
1995 --- 2,357
1996 --- 2,367
1997 --- 1,536
1998 --- 662
1999 --- N/A
2000 --- N/A
2001 --- 31
2002 --- 619
2003 --- 133
2004 --- 107
2005 --- 37
2006 --- 1
2007 --- 0
Totals Sales --- 9,085

Total sales --- 78,576

Flash Gordon
1994 --- 3,691
1995 --- 2,617
1996 --- 2,201
1997 --- 1,575
1998 --- 2,239
1999 --- 1,733
2000 --- 1,598
2001 --- 2,029
2002 --- 2,634
2003 --- 3,387
2004 --- 2,296
2005 --- 5,095
2006 --- 7,442
2007 --- 2,775
2008 --- 1,301
Total Sales --- 42,613

Hot Space
1992 --- 3,353 Jul-Dec
1993 --- 2,284
1994 --- 4,582
1995 --- 3,026
1996 --- 3,080
1997 --- 1,961
1998 --- 2,047
1999 --- 1,685
2000 --- 1,874
2001 --- 2,004
2002 --- 1,920
2003 --- 3,335
2004 --- 1,959
2005 --- 5,082
2006 --- 7,614
2007 --- 723
2008 --- 1,067
Totals Sales --- 47,596

The Works (Shop Sales)
1992 --- 6,844 Jul-Dec
1993 --- 3,836
1994 --- 7,190
1995 --- 4,677
1996 --- 4,208
1997 --- 2,960
1998 --- 3,629
1999 --- 2,239
2000 --- 3,471
2001 --- 6,612
2002 --- 2,877
2003 --- 3,147
2004 --- 1,300
2005 --- 11,666
2006 --- 15,915
2007 --- 1,348
2008 --- 1,305
Totals Sales 83,224

The Works (Club Sales)
1993 --- 146 Jul-Dec
1994 --- 701
1995 --- 4,009
1996 --- 3,180
1997 --- 2,049
1998 --- 1,233
1999 --- ????
2000 --- ????
2001 --- ????
2002 --- 769
2003 --- 150
2004 --- 121
2005 --- 14
2006 --- ????
2007 --- ????
Totals Sales 12,372

Total sales --- 95,596

A Kind Of Magic (Shop Sales)
1992 --- 15,034 Jul - Dec
1993 --- 22,344
1994 --- 18,912
1995 --- 29,378
1996 --- 16,184
1997 --- 14,191
1998 --- 13,933
1999 --- 11,061
2000 --- 8,611
2001 --- 8,222
2002 --- 5,570
2003 --- 10,880
2004 --- 3,211
2005 --- 32,555
2006 --- 22,277
2007 --- 5,910
2008 --- 3,869
Totals Sales --- 242,441

A Kind Of Magic (Club Sales)
1993 --- 2,032 Jul - Dec
1994 --- 817
1995 --- 7,562
1996 --- 6,313
1997 --- 3,435
1998 --- 1,960
1999 --- 3,080
2000 --- 230
2001 --- 141
2002 --- 498
2003 --- 185
2004 --- 125
2005 --- 46
2006 --- 0
2007 --- 117
Totals Sales --- 26,541

Total sales --- 268,753

Live Magic shop sales
1992 --- 15.,839
1993 --- 24,411
1994 --- 15,606
1995 --- 13,515
1996 --- 12,106
1997 --- 10,119
1998 --- 12,668
1999 --- 8,310
2000 --- 9,512
2001 --- 7,158
2002 --- 5,106
2003 --- 8,153
2004 --- 7,916
2005 --- 1,379
2006 --- 7,912
2007 --- 2,664
2008 --- 858
Totals Sales --- 163,252

Live Magic Club sales
1993 --- 335
1994 --- 1,642
1995 --- 2,276
1996 --- 1,608
1997 --- 2,370
1998 --- 1,629
1999 --- 426
Totals Sales --- 10,286

Total sales --- 173,538

The Miracle (Shop Sales)
1992 --- 4,690
1993 --- 6,421
1994 --- 4,306
1995 --- 2,916
1996 --- 3,109
1997 --- 1,979
1998 --- 2,738
1999 --- 1,406
2000 --- 2,035
2001 --- 2,031
2002 --- 5,626
2003 --- 3,617
2004 --- 1,058
2005 --- 8,855
2006 --- 9,161
2007 --- 1,233
2008 --- 269
Totals Sales --- 61,425

The Miracle (Club Sales)
1993 --- 1,050
1994 --- 1,170
1995 --- 1,490
1996 --- 2,301
1997 --- 1,610
1998 --- 1,380
1999 --- 854
2000 --- 871
2001 --- 481
2002 --- 304
2003 --- 93
2004 --- 75
2005 --- 9
Totals Sales --- 11,688

Total sales --- 73,113

Innuendo
1992 --- 26701 --- From July Onwards
1993 --- 23870 ---
1994 --- 14517 --- 6078
1995 --- 13722 --- 3850
1996 --- 1332 --- 3640
1997 --- 11141 --- 2477
1998 --- 10791 --- 2473
1999 --- 8614 --- 1529
2000 --- 5190 --- 1184
2001 --- 5412 --- 700
2002 --- 5365 --- 581
2003 --- 10503 --- 113
2004 --- 4801 --- 90
2005 --- 13923 --- 36
2006 --- 16396
2007 --- 3094
2008 --- 1638
Total Sales --- 199,805

Total sales since july 1992 up through december 2008 (including club sales since july 1993):

Queen: 128,748
Queen 2: 135,588
Sheer Heart Attack: 125,816
A Night At The Opera: 353,286
A Day At The Races: 161,017
News Of The World: 102,567
Jazz: 85,956
Live Killers: 79,509
The Game: 78,576
Flash Gordon: 42,613
Greatest Hits 1: 1,994,263
Hot Space: 47,596
The Works: 95,596
A Kind Of Magic: 268,753
Live Magic: 173,358
The Miracle: 73,113
Queen At The Beeb: 49,835
Innuendo: 199,805
Greatest Hits 2: 1,837,607
Live At Wembley '86: 479,551
Greatest Hits I&II: 194,324
Made In Heaven: 1,400,859
Greatest Hits 3: 608,881
Platinum Collection: 1,770,840
Queen On Fire: 113,507
Return Of The Champions: 86,698
Queen Rock Montreal: 42,839

Total sales: 11,059,956

So Queen have sold at least 11,059,956 since that date.

Thanks to Jimmypage59 for this.

[Mael]

Sweden
Top 20 DVDs, week 17

#5 Live At Wembley - Queen
#18 Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl - Queen

[Lawyeris]

Sony announce 18 Auguat 2009 as release date for SingStar Queen.

---

North American release date for Singstar Queen
Press Release: April the 16th 2009

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced the upcoming North American release of SingStar® Queen for the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2. Available as a standalone disc on August 18, 2009 SingStar Queen marks the franchise’s second foray into artist specific content, providing fans with the ultimate interactive singing experience set to the rock hits of Queen.

SingStar Queen for the PS3 system features 25 chart-topping tracks from the iconic pop-rock group including, ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, ‘We Are The Champions’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Under Pressure’ and many more. With SingStar Queen for the PS3 system, players have additional access to a catalog of hundreds of downloadable songs featuring real artists and videos, via the PS3 online SingStore™. Players can choose songs across multiple genres to create their own personalized party playlists. Providing a truly interactive singing experience, players can share their musical performances with family and friends via the online SingStar community, My SingStar® Online.

SingStar Queen for the PS3 system will come equipped with a new voice control menu which will enable players to scroll through the song carousel and select the track they’d like to sing by simply speaking into the microphone. Players can additionally use the voice control menu to search for and purchase songs through the SingStore. The new feature set will be available early next week via a global patch release and will be compatible with all SingStar PS3 discs. In addition to voice control, the patch provides support for over 30 trophies including ‘Super Singer Gold’, ‘Keep it Cool’ and ‘All Eyes on You’, quick song purchase functionality and an enhanced redesign of the SingStore and My SingStar Online.

The SingStar franchise continues to expand its growing PS2 music library with the addition of SingStar Queen for the PS2 system which features 20 popular hits including, ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ and more.

Members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Queen formed in 1971, and over the ensuing 20 years wrote and recorded such multi-platinum albums as News of the World, The Game, A Night at the Opera, A Day At The Races, A Kind of Magic and Live Killers. Their timeless hits include “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen,” “We Will Rock You,” “We are the Champions” and “Under Pressure.” Queen has sold more than 40 million albums in the United States and bands like Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day and My Chemical Romance have all cited Queen as a major musical influence.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated SingStar Queen for PS2 “T” for Teen. For more information about the ESRB visit www.esrb.org.

[HUR]

The Queen Album gives a bit of a problem. The OCC
told me that it was on 5,652,657 Sales, by January
3rd. To be on 5,766,006 Sales now, it would have
to have sold 113,349 copies since January 10th -
despite not once entering the Top 75.....

Perhaps then there was a typo in the Queen sales figure Music Week report?

(It scanned 805 copies to re-enter at #191 on the Top 200 this week, by the way)

Thank you for the figures. I think that this guy Alan Jones is adding the sales of the "Platinum Collection" towards the individual version of "Greatest Hits 1". Read this from last year: "It will have to wait much longer to pass The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (4,896,399) and may never manage to catch Queen’s Greatest Hits, the all-time number one, with a staggering 5,651,785 sales since its 1981 release." (august 2008).

By now it is supposed to be at 5,766,066, which makes perfect sense.

According to Zeus555's source, they apparently aren't adding any further sales of the triple box set to the individual album. Hence its total of 5,652,657 as of early january 2009.

That is the only explanation I can think of.

Edit: forget about the above.

Héctor and Luca, wonderful post. I hope they certify "We Are The Champions" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" too, in Japan.

The Queen Album gives a bit of a problem. The OCC
told me that it was on 5,652,657 Sales, by January
3rd. To be on 5,766,006 Sales now, it would have
to have sold 113,349 copies since January 10th -
despite not once entering the Top 75.....

Perhaps then there was a typo in the Queen sales figure Music Week report?

(It scanned 805 copies to re-enter at #191 on the Top 200 this week, by the way)

[zeus555]

Irishguy28 is right - the ABBA Album should be on
5,480,989. Alan Jones pointed out that it sold
6,235 last Week - to be added to its 4,574,754.
Then he forgot to add the 6,235 in, when he gave
its Sales To Date.

The Beatles Album has sold 3,021 copies since
the Chart of 10th January - inclusive.
The Oasis Album has sold 14,372 since the 10th January.
The Queen Album gives a bit of a problem. The OCC
told me that it was on 5,652,657 Sales, by January
3rd. To be on 5,766,006 Sales now, it would have
to have sold 113,349 copies since January 10th -
despite not once entering the Top 75.....

5,766,006 Queen - GHs
4,907,564 Beatles - St Peppers
4,574,754 ABBA - Gold (4,580,989)
4,414,372 Oasis - Morning Glory

Zeus555

[borderwolf]

Japan

RIAJ International Digital Certifications March 2009:

Mastertone Tracks (Song Ringtones):

Double Platinum (500,000 copies)

Queen - We Will Rock You

Let's update this with recent information:
4,574,754 ABBA - Gold

Abba are actually on 4,580,989, according to Music Week.

[LostAvenger]

Let's update this with recent information:

New figures for the top 4 biggest selling albums of all time in the UK from Music Week:

5,766,006 Queen - GHs
4,907,564 Beatles - St Peppers
4,574,754 ABBA - Gold
4,414,372 Oasis - Morning Glory

RIAJ (Japan) International Digital Certifications for March 2009:

Mastertone Tracks (Song Ringtones):

Double Platinum (500,000 copies)

Queen - We Will Rock You

[HUR]

Yes, we love them.

Updated Soundscan totals for Queen:

647 HOL 34 30 33 QUEEN GREATEST HITS 3,549 3,228 10 6,637,838

26 HOL 59 52 70 QUEEN GREATEST HITS-WE WILL ROCK YOU 2,600 2,614 -1 846,472

The oldest figure I was able to find for this title is from february 2003, where it was at 4,588,046.

As you can see, it is now at 6,637,838, This denotes a rise of 2,049,792, which is what the album sold between february 2003 and april 2009 (average of 341,000 copies per year).

In adition, the "We Will Rock You" edition has now sold 846,472. The overall total is, therefore, 2,896,264 since february 2003, counting both editions.

Why is this significant?. Well, although the album was certified 8 times platinum in 2006, we can use its previous certification as a basis. The album was certified 7 times platinum (7,000,000) on december 2002.

Adding such comprehensive shipments of 7,000,000 to those 2,896,792 sold (between february 2003 and april 2009), that now puts its total sales at 9,049,792. Adding the 2004's edition ("We Will Rock You"), the total should be 9,896,264.

Depending on whether the 2004's edition can be added for certification purposes or not, this album may have sold enough for diamond in USA. If not, it should already be 9 times platinum, dealing with the above information. This could be somehow misleading as there is a bit of a combination of shipments and retail sales in my calculations. But it shouldn't be that far.

[marat2408]

Yes, we love them.

[HUR]

Edwood, I'm afraid that Queen's songs aren't more popular than Led Zeppelin's and Pink Floyd's, at the very most they are as popular. But those are just a couple of tracks, while the other two bands have their airplay much more "spread out" into their whole catalog. But Queen aren't as heard as Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin, overall.

Now that we are talking about radio airplay, though, here some very good stats from Russia:

This is information regarding airplay in San Petersburgh, which covers the period between august 2007 and april 2009 (and samples all of the radio stations in the second biggest city of that country):

Here the most played acts (international only):

Top international acts:

1- Madonna
2- Queen (7577 points)
3- Jennifer Lopez
4- Elton John
5- Britney Spears
6- Sting
7- Pussycat Dolls
8- Abba
9- Chris Rea
10- Mylene Farmer

http://www.piter.fm/charts/artists

Also, since about 2005, virtually all of their albums (including studio, live and compilations, apart from recent titles and re-issues) are being printed in Russia. Sadly, EMI doesn't want to reveal any shipments figures, but they should be very good.

http://agharta.ru/search.php?query=queen

Check the dates of release of each russian item, between the numbers 36 and 88.

Between 1999 and 2000, three very important polls were run by a number of medias there in Russia and they were all topped by Queen:

-Russian 'Maximum' listeners and 'MK' readers voted: The best single of this century:
#1The Show Must Go On


-Russian radio station Europe + and ZD magazine : 50 best songs ever:
#1 The Show Must Go On


-Russian Classica Radio : top 500:
#41 Barcelona
#12 The Show Must Go On
#1 Bohemian Rhapsody

Two of them beaten by "The Show must Go on" (which appears to be their most loved song in that country) and the other one by "Bohemian Rhapsody".

[EdWood]

Ed Wood, fantastic figures, Im amazed though that the Beatles or Pink Floyd are not in that list! and the fact that Queen sold considerably more downloads than Led Zeppelin last year!! I would love to see a full list. Is there anyway that we could get a hold of worldwide figures?

No problem nucleardolphin. Just shows Queen are popular in the US still. I think even if Pink Floyd and Led Zepellin had all their tracks available digitally, Queen would still sell more digital singles there as their most well-known US tracks are commercial - We Will Rock You for instance - and are heard more.

I'd just like to know their full US album sales for last year - doesnt look like Soundscan are releasing this data now.... :-?

[zeus555]

Here is a new Article on Queen, from tomorrow's
'Mail On Sunday'. There is also an Interview with
Brian May:,

http://smurl.name/h5d7

Zeus555