Queen :: Charts & Sales History

[MJDangerous]

Hur, I don't know which figures you checked, but obviously not mines. I have Led Zeppelin at just 2m, which is much less than Queen. If you tell about average album sales then well, I do not see the problem of an average Zep album selling as much as an average Queen album.

You should realise that Queen studio albums sold poorly in catalog in comparison to such giants. Even Houses of the holy of Led Zep 3 were certified Gold for sales of the remasters only. In the last 15 years, they both sold 100k+ in Spain. They were huge in Spain, topping charts as early as in 1969.

An album like Delicate Sound Of Thunder may be a very bad catalog seller in comparison to Dark Side, but it sold for sure like 5 times more than an average Queen album in catalog, and as much as an album like ANATO.

[nelson]

But you cited the figure for "Greatest hits 2", thatīs the reason why I talked about it. And why do you call it "unkown"?. It was a massive seller all over Europe. In Spain, it was #1 during 2 weeks and was high on the charts during the Christmas month back in 1995. I have already posted the mails, Nelson, take a look at my previous posts. We are making up these figures.

I talked about email "address" not about the email "message", in order to check the source.

[HUR]

An album like Delicate Sound Of Thunder may be a very bad catalog seller in comparison to Dark Side, but it sold for sure like 5 times more than an average Queen album in catalog, and as much as an album like ANATO.

But at least, "A night at the opera" re-entered the charts twice, in 2005 and 2007. I think that your comment is a bit over-pretentious.

I have your Led Zeppelin sales estimation, and they all account for as much as 2,600,000 (roughly) in your site. Maybe typo mistakes?. I know they are very successful in Spain, I didnīt dispute that, just in case that you understood that from my comment.

Also, accoprding to you, it looks like Pink Floyd sold like 5 million and Michael roughly 4 million over there. Yet, you say that Queen sold 3,2 (as claimed by EMI) and nothing more. Can that be possible?. With all the respect I have for you, but have Floyd had such a big lead over Queen in Spain?. Look at your figures:

-The dark side of te moon: 600,000
-Wish you were here: 900,000
-Animals: 500,000
-The wall: 1,000,000

I understand they are huge, but with those four albums alone, they sold as much as Queen with their entite catalog according to you. The same for Michael Jackson too.

But well, you have already decided it like you said, so I donīt understany why you post your comment here, if you wonīt change your mind. Of course, it is your work and you have to do whatever you want. In the end, there will be a lot of effor put into it as always, and thatīs what we should care about. Surely, it will be quality work as usual with yours...

Another point I can raise, though, is that the "Platinum collection" was certified twice platinum in 2004 for sales of 200,000 copies. I donīt know the accurate date, but on the figures reported by EMI for it (197,000 copies), assuming they are comprehensive, that isnīt quite enough for that award but just close. Those figures are from 20th december 2004 by the way.

[HUR]

But you cited the figure for "Greatest hits 2", thatīs the reason why I talked about it. And why do you call it "unkown"?. It was a massive seller all over Europe. In Spain, it was #1 during 2 weeks and was high on the charts during the Christmas month back in 1995. I have already posted the mails, Nelson, take a look at my previous posts. We are making up these figures.

I talked about email "address" not about the email "message", in order to check the source.

Mate, you are a nightmare, sorry. Do me favour, believe what you want. Why donīt you give a mail address to ask for Queen certifications in Honk Kong?. When you do that I will give you the address...

[MJDangerous]

Wish We Were Here 20 weeks at #1
Animals 8 weeks
The Wall 15 weeks

That said it all. Queen GHII was #1 for 8 weeks and sold close to 700k. When it was #1 I do not doubt it was selling more than Queen albums, but still, with such massive runs at 1 and giant catalog sales, that's not a surprise to see them that high. You can't imagine how incredibly big Floyd are in Spain/Portugal, seriously, that's insane.

Queen, despite being of course a big act, were nowhere near Floyd there. None of their studio albums reached #1 until MIH. Except ANATO, their 70's albums performed very poorly.

Queen and Pink Floyd in Spain is almost the same story as both bands in France, you just can't compare them, even if Queen still a big alltime act.

I counted back my Led Zep figures and counted less than 2,1m.

BTW, I do not say that Queen sold 3.2m in Spain. I haven't update their figures and won't comment results not even compiled by now. But to think that Queen are especialy huge in Spain is wrong. Just like in France or in the US, they reached huge sales with their hits packages and very decent sales all over their career to cum a pretty good figure, but they aren't among the very top sellers like they are in Netherlands or in Germany.

[HUR]

BTW, I do not say that Queen sold 3.2m in Spain. I haven't update their figures and won't comment results not even compiled by now. But to think that Queen are especialy huge in Spain is wrong. Just like in France or in the US, they reached huge sales with their hits packages and very decent sales all over their career to cum a pretty good figure, but they aren't among the very top sellers like they are in Netherlands or in Germany.

But you said the figures reported by EMI were all comprehensive?. And EMI claimed 3,200,000 copies sold for Queen, just for CDs which are, according to you, for all formats. So if they didnīt sell 5 million like I estimate, nor 3,2 M (posted by EMI), then how much have they sold according to you?. And now, you say that Queen arenīt one of the top sellers. Well, like it or not, they are. I understand your comment, how can you seriously compare their popularity in USA to Spain?. In Spain, Queen had at least 4 number one albums, spent more weeks in the charts than any other band and rank high in the all-time chart compiled by Davidalic. In USA, they are nowhere near that.

And you mention that I donīt know how big Floyd are in latin markets of Europe, while I have been the first here in pointing it out their huge dominance. But the fact is that I havenīt seen any evidence about them being bigger than Queen in neither Spain nor Portugal (although in France and Italy, they are).

As for Led Zeppelin, they count roughly 2,1 M but without compilations and box sets. With all their catalog properly added, they should be at 2,6 M as I said, which isnīt that far.

But well, again. Do what you want.

[HUR]

Also you accepted the figures for Madonna, printed on that magazine back in 2005 (without any serious source), and now you dispute what Queenīs record company claimed in Spain. Sorry...

[MJDangerous]

But you said the figures reported by EMI were all comprehensive?. And EMI claimed 3,200,000 copies sold for Queen, just for CDs which are, accordin to you, for all formats. So if they didnīt sell 5 million like I estimate, nor 3,2 M (posted by EMI), then how much have they sold according to you?. And now, you say that Queen arenīt one of the top sellers. Well, like it or not, they are. I understand your comment, how can you seriously compare their popularity in USA to Spain?. In Spain, Queen had at least 4 number one albums, spent more weeks in the charts than any other band and rank high in the all-time chart compiled by Davidalic. In USA, they are nowhere near that.

As for Led Zeppelin, they count roughly 2,1 M but without compilations and box sets. With all their catalog properly added, they should be at 2,6 M as I said, which isnīt that far.

But well, again. Do what you want.

When I say not among the "very top sellers" I mean not among the 2/3 biggest acts ever, the Beatles or Pink Floyd are. Just like in France, they are probably among the second half of the top 10 best selling foreign acts ever (which still huge obviously!).

You shouldn't go by point systems, they always give to much points for long runners, rather than big ponctual sellers. Queen albums never sold huge on a single week until late 91. Most of their albums peaked top 5 during low months of sales.

Again, I have Led Zep at 2.1m with ALL their albums.

And I can't give my figure about Queen in Spain, as I said I can't give the result before doing the study

[HUR]

When I say not among the "very top sellers" I mean not among the 2/3 biggest acts ever, the Beatles or Pink Floyd are. Just like in France, they are probably among the second half of the top 10 best selling foreign acts ever (which still huge obviously!).

Yes, but because (for some reason) you do much more "generous" estimates for acts like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, or Michael Jackson, or Madonna, than for acts like Queen. So obviously, according to you, Queen will never be one of the top or very top acts ever in markets like those ones.

Man, you know the respect I have for you and I have said many times, but we are talking about Queen, not about the Parchis or Panic at the disco. Just a joke.

But really, Queen have sold more records than any other band in the world apart from The Beatles and The Rolling stones on a worldwide basis. Outside North America (USA and Canada put together), they sold more albums and records than any band other than Beatles, and virtually as many albums as Madonna or Michael Jackson (!). Actually, what other act apart from The Beatles that you know about has had similar sales Michael in some many markets like Queen did.

[HUR]

About Led Zeppelin, check again you didnīt count several compilations and box set. Iīm not joking, really.

[MJDangerous]

About Led Zeppelin, check again you didnīt count several compilation and box set. Iīm not kojing, really.

Those few compilations are irrevelant, they haven't even charted and sold for sur less than 100k all together in Spain.

And no, I'm not more generous for others than for Queen.

Look, how can AKOM be at 200k+ on CD alone, while it was certified Platinum at the end of its run on an era when CD sales were close to 0 in Spain. How can that be possible seriously?

[HUR]

Look, how can AKOM be at 200k+ on CD alone, while it was certified Platinum at the end of its run on an era when CD sales were close to 0 in Spain. How can that be possible seriously?

But nobody said they sold over 200k on first year alone. The problem is that I havenīt seen any evidence about CDs being nothing back in the second half of the 80īs. Based on your annual figures, which indicate what share of the market each format represented during years like 1995 or 1996, it would look like cassettes and vinyls (adding them together) were as much as a 30% of the market or so.

Maybe, back in the 80īs, it was a bit like 50% and 50% for each formats, with cassettes having a slight dominance over the CD.

"A kind of magic" reached #2 with 37 weeks inside the top 30 between 1986 and 1987, thatīs the typical running of an album that sells like 150-175k upon release. Asumming the album sold like that on first year, CDs were probably just 70-80k or so. And maybe the album continued to sell on catalog (mainly on CD format exclusively) until it reached 207,000 copies on that format alone, which would be roughly 300,000 overall (including a good share of sales achieved on cassettes and vinyls on its initial chart performance).

Do you know the accurate date of certification for the album "Platinum collection" in Spain?. It went double platinum in 2004, but I donīt know the accurate date, do you?.

[MJDangerous]

Come on HUR, CD sales were nothing until late 80's. Look at the share of the album market in UK :

Year CD%
1984 0,9% of the album market
1985 2,78%
1986 6,45%
1987 12,55%
1988 18,22%

In Spain, the % was for sure lower. Even in UK, the CD hasn't reached 50% of the market before 1992.

Knowing that, do you still believe those Spanish figures are CD only sales ?

We haven't the exact date of the 2xP cert for PC, but we know that it was the last 2xP award of the year.

[HUR]

Come on HUR, CD sales were nothing until late 90's. Look at the share of the album market in UK :

Year CD%
1984 0,9% of the album market
1985 2,78%
1986 6,45%
1987 12,55%
1988 18,22%

I donīt know much about that to be honest. Maybe I should stop arguing with you, just because you decision has already been made and you wonīt change your mind...

So there is no chance for "A kind of magic" to have sold like 150k on catalog alone after its initial chart performance (all of them mainly on the CD format)?. All in all, thatīs probably the only "doubtful" figure I can think of. "Live magic" and "The miracle" make sense, in my opinion.

I think, then, that you should start reviewing your own figures for other acts. But in my opinion, to see an album like "Greatest hits 1" which was #1 in Spain and had 25 years of back catalog, at just 200k or so (which is what you assume for it, I guess) and "Off the wall" at 300k, and many other examples, makes no sense. Sorry mate, thatīs what I think. And the same for your figures for Madonna in Italy and such, some of which are totally unsourced. Thatīs what I mean about you being more "optimistic" with other acts rather than Queen, for example.

We are just giving you all the evidences in front of your face, with accurate numbers and even record companies claims all of which fit with what we are saying. But well, more proof than that, I donīt have.

In the end, my initial point was claim how your estimates for Queen always look on the low side in many countries. For example, "Platinum collection" in Italy and a lot more. But well, you told me that you would be correcting that, so I donīt know. But at least, I hope that you can understand it is a bit annoying to see such high sales for other acts apart from Queen.

[MJDangerous]

Please Hur, I have never said GH1 sold only 200k in Spain. I have it at over 300k since long and will probably upgrade that figure.

That's not about being optimistic or not. Albums like The Miracle or AKOM just can't be at 150-200k on CD alone considering their release date, that's common sense.

[Lawyeris]

BTW, I do not say that Queen sold 3.2m in Spain. I haven't update their figures and won't comment results not even compiled by now. But to think that Queen are especialy huge in Spain is wrong. Just like in France or in the US, they reached huge sales with their hits packages and very decent sales all over their career to cum a pretty good figure, but they aren't among the very top sellers like they are in Netherlands or in Germany.

But you said the figures reported by EMI were all comprehensive?. And EMI claimed 3,200,000 copies sold for Queen, just for CDs which are, according to you, for all formats.

Obviously MJ knows better that EMI itself
I said it before many times, MJ just lacks respect for Queen and isnt interested in real huge their sales, to make others to believe he is right after all.

[HUR]

That's not about being optimistic or not. Albums like The Miracle or AKOM just can't be at 150-200k on CD alone considering their release date, that's common sense.

I donīt think "The miracle" sold that much on CD format. Maybe CDs were already climbing by 1989, so it did just fine on catalog, but now way 150k as the time went by.

As for "A kind of magic", maybe 150k on the CD format, sold on catalog, isnīt wrong. Just to compare, in UK it did 259,000 copies from july 1992 to 2007, which would be roughly 350,000 since about 1988 or so. Enough for a platinum. Based on that, the figure for Spain wouldnīt look that high. That was a fine catalog seller in other parts of the world.

And yes, you didnīt claim that "Greatest hits 1" sold only 200,000, but you did say that figure was comprehensive accroding to you. The CD version was released in january 1985, thatīs the reason why the breakdown started from 1985/1986 onwards. But if you claim that those figure are counting all formats, then there is no reason why you should assume it doesnīt count all sales, according to that logic, that one should be since 1981.

[MJDangerous]

We are just giving you all the evidences in front of your face, with accurate numbers and even record companies claims all of which fit with what we are saying. But well, more proof than that, I donīt have.

Please, all evidences prove exactly the opposite of your claims. Certifications prove it, common see too, market share as well.

About figures from the mail :
- I have not, and you have not as well, see the supposed mail
- It is NOT a figure from EMI but from someone who work for EMI, which is not at all the same. EMI does NOT communicate about those figures.
- Even if mails are true, we do NOT know which data the guy was referring to. He may have very well THINK that those figures were about CDs because they entered "CD" on their database instead of "Album". Don't you found it hard to believe that they got exact CD figures for albums released 20 years ago but ZERO data about other formats, even recent releases ?
- We do NOT know the job of the guy who answered to the mail. Mistakes like a misread of the database happen easily.

I would like to know how 500K in Italy up to 2006 for PC is "on the low side". Do you ever considered the possibility of your figures being on the high side ?

[MJDangerous]

And yes, you didnīt claim that "Greatest hits 1" sold only 200,000, but you did say that figure was comprehensive accroding to you. The CD version was released in january 1985, thatīs the reason why the breakdown started from 1985/1986 onwards. But if you claim that those figure are counting all formats, then there is no reason why you should assume it doesnīt count all sales, according to that logic, that one should be since 1981.

Comprehensive = All formats

That isn't the same as since release. Obviously they haven't figures from before 86, if they got them they should have posted figures of The Works too and so on. Figures start from 85/86.

[HUR]

We are just giving you all the evidences in front of your face, with accurate numbers and even record companies claims all of which fit with what we are saying. But well, more proof than that, I donīt have.

Please, all evidences prove exactly the opposite of your claims. Certifications prove it, common see too, market share as well.

About figures from the mail :
- I have not, and you have not as well, see the supposed mail
- It is NOT a figure from EMI but from someone who work for EMI, which is not at all the same. EMI does NOT communicate about those figures.
- Even if mails are true, we do NOT know which data the guy was referring to. He may have very well THINK that those figures were about CDs because they entered "CD" on their database instead of "Album". Don't you found it hard to believe that they got exact CD figures for albums released 20 years ago but ZERO data about other formats, even recent releases ?
- We do NOT know the job of the guy who answered to the mail. Mistakes like a misread of the database happen easily.

I would like to know how 500K in Italy up to 2006 for PC is "on the low side". Do you ever considered the possibility of your figures being on the high side ?

But it wasnīt just a claim by the guy who provided those sales figures as of december 2004. It was also claimed on the press release sent out by EMI back in that year, and copied and pasted on several spanish sites (like the official page of "Los cuarenta principales"). So it isnīt just a person working at EMI who claimed. Rather it is what EMI as company is stating since 2004, whether you accepted or not, of course.

As for Italy, donīt you remember?. You updated your european figures last year, during te last few months (as requested by me ), and then again in early this year. Yet the 500k figure is the same. But actually it shipped 420,000 between january 2002 and the second week of december 2003, even if it had been released already in 2000, which would add up some other shipments. It also charted #3 and charted during 163 weeks in the top 100.

[HUR]

And yes, you didnīt claim that "Greatest hits 1" sold only 200,000, but you did say that figure was comprehensive accroding to you. The CD version was released in january 1985, thatīs the reason why the breakdown started from 1985/1986 onwards. But if you claim that those figure are counting all formats, then there is no reason why you should assume it doesnīt count all sales, according to that logic, that one should be since 1981.

Comprehensive = All formats

That isn't the same as since release. Obviously they haven't figures from before 86, if they got them they should have posted figures of The Works too and so on. Figures start from 85/86.

But why wouldnīt they have access to sales before 1985 or so?.

[davidalic]

CD SALES IN SPAIN
1986- 325.000
1987- 1.125.000
1988- 2.487.000
1989- 4.920.000
1990- 7.393.000
1991- 13.291.000
1992- 19.728.000
1993- 25.000.000
1994- 34.200.000
1995- 33.600.000
1996- 35.400.000
1997- 42.800.000
1998- 50.200.000
1999- 51.800.000
2000- 67.300.000
2001- 71.100.000
2002- 61.700.000
2003- 53.800.000
2004- 44.600.000
2005- 42.400.000

[HUR]

Do you ever considered the possibility of your figures being on the high side ?

I never overestimate the sales of my favourite acts. If there is any "high number", it is because of a clerical mistake, but not because Iīm a fan who inflates sales. You admitted yourself that...

[braca]

HUR and MJD - thanks for giving me a headache

germany site has been updated again
http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank.html

Queen 2008 Return of the champions LP 1x Gold EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG

was on there this is new

Queen 2008 Greatest Video Hits 1 LP 2x Gold EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG

Queen 2008 Greatest Video Hits 1 LP 1x Platin EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG

Queen 2008 Greatest Video Hits 2 LP 1x Platin EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG

Queen 2008 Live at Wembley LP 4x Platin EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG

Queen 2008 Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl LP 5x Gold EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG

is new on this site but this was known since 5th August, 1997
Queen 2008 Made in Heaven LP 5x Gold EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG Parlophone

Queen 2008 Made in Heaven LP 3x Platin EMI Music Germany GmbH & Co. KG Parlophone

[HUR]

Wow, great update over there. Thanks.