Queen :: Charts & Sales History

[Mael]

Sweden
Top 20 DVDs, week 17

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

[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.

[nucleardolphin]

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

[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.

[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

[borderwolf]

Argentina
DVD
biweekly sales chart
2nd part of april

9 Live in Japan
(QUEEN)

[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.

[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...

[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.

[borderwolf]

Argentina
DVD
monthly (april) shipments chart

#9 Live in Japan
(QUEEN)

[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.

[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]

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).

[nucleardolphin]

once again HUR, thankyou!!

[Mael]

Sweden - week.20 (Top 20 DVDs):

#4 (4) Live At Wembley - Queen (135th week)

[zeus555]

Did you see that Paul Rodgers will no longer be
working with Queen?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8049927.stm

Zeus555

[HUR]

Some interesting news from 1995:

“At the EMI meeting in Dublin, Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor are presented with awards to mark the worldwide sales of Queen’s first and second “Greatest hits” albums” (Billboard, 21 Oct., 1995: 48).

Take a look at the picture (page 48):
http://books.google.com/books?id=mw4EAA ... INES&hl=es

Yet another example of them knowing detail sales and not bothering to publish them in their magazine.

As you can see in the picture, there are as many as 33 "disks" on the pic, including 17 above the album covers's photos and 16 below the photos.

Assuming that each "disk" represents a million copies shipped, that would mean sales of 33,000,000 combining both compilations, "Greatest Hits 1" and "Greatest Hits 2", arguably including 17 million for their first one and 16 million for their second one. The above "disks" are supposed to be for the first compilation, "Greatest Hits 1", while the "disks" that are below the photos more likely about "Greatest Hits 2".

Those sales are in the countries where Queen were under contract with Emi, which is supposed to exclude:

-Sales in USA and Canada.
-Sales in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia prior to 1984.

Can that be possible?. Does anybody have or know of other in-the-house awards for worldwide sales?. What does each "disk" on the pic generally denote?. Examples?.

Those sales, if true, would denote worldwide sales of 32,000,000 for "Greatest Hits 1" and 24,000,000 for the second one, "Greatest Hits 2"?.

This is what Queen's "Greatest Hits 2" had more or less sold by Oct 1995:

Europe: 11,000,000
Including UK (2,600,000+), Germany (2,100,000), Italy (1,100,000), France (1,400,000), Spain (600,000), Netherlands (450,000), Switzerland (250,000), Austria (close to 200,000), Finand (100,000), Sweden (300,000).

Latin America: 1,600,000
Including Brazil (450,000+), Argentina (450,000), Mexico (400,000).

Australia: 400,000
New Zealand: 125,000
Japan: 100,000

Those regions are supposed to add up 13,200,000, which means that the album needs to have sold some 2,800,000 or so in Africa, Middle East and Asia to reach those 16 million units I stated above.

Their "Greatest Hits 1" is bit more tricky.

[nucleardolphin]

Queen rock!!

[HUR]

Some interesting news from 1995:

“At the EMI meeting in Dublin, Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor are presented with awards to mark the worldwide sales of Queen’s first and second “Greatest hits” albums” (Billboard, 21 Oct., 1995: 48).

Take a look at the picture (page 48):
http://books.google.com/books?id=mw4EAA ... INES&hl=es

Yet another example of them knowing detail sales and not bothering to publish them in their magazine.

As you can see in the picture, there are as many as 33 "disks" on the pic, including 17 above the album covers's photos and 16 below the photos.

Assuming that each "disk" represents a million copies shipped, that would mean sales of 33,000,000 combining both compilations, "Greatest Hits 1" and "Greatest Hits 2", arguably including 17 million for their first one and 16 million for their second one. The above "disks" are supposed to be for the first compilation, "Greatest Hits 1", while the "disks" that are below the photos more likely about "Greatest Hits 2".

Those sales are in the countries where Queen were under contract with Emi, which is supposed to exclude:

-Sales in USA and Canada.
-Sales in Japan, New Zealand, and Australia prior to 1984.

Can that be possible?. Does anybody have or know of other in-the-house awards for worldwide sales?. What does each "disk" on the pic generally denote?. Examples?.

Those sales, if true, would denote worldwide sales of 32,000,000 for "Greatest Hits 1" and 24,000,000 for the second one, "Greatest Hits 2"?.

This is what Queen's "Greatest Hits 2" had more or less sold by Oct 1995:

Europe: 11,000,000
Including UK (2,600,000+), Germany (2,100,000), Italy (1,100,000), France (1,400,000), Spain (600,000), Netherlands (450,000), Switzerland (250,000), Austria (close to 200,000), Finand (100,000), Sweden (300,000).

Latin America: 1,600,000
Including Brazil (450,000+), Argentina (450,000), Mexico (400,000).

Australia: 400,000
New Zealand: 125,000
Japan: 100,000

Those regions are supposed to add up 13,200,000, which means that the album needs to have sold some 2,800,000 or so in Africa, Middle East and Asia to reach those 16 million units I stated above.

Their "Greatest Hits 1" is bit more tricky.

I have to say that last saturday I checked my Queen numbers and MJDangerus's with regards to these two compilations.

The bad thing is that I think that those numbers I stated can't be real. I said that Queen's "Greatest Hits 1" was on 17 million and "Greatest Hits 2" on 16 million as of Oct. 1995, based on what was shown on that pic.

For their first compilation to be on that number, it would have needed to sell in very big numbers all over Asia, Middle East and Africa, apart from having bigger sales in Europe than we are expecting them.

According to MJDangerous, the album has sold about 12,000,000, which meant about 9,500,000 by 1995. This should have needed to be on over 11,000,000 by that date or even more.

I checked other in-house or official awards, and the amount of "disks" shown on the pics always denotes the amount of platinums that is being acknowledged, but these numbers can't be true.

[nucleardolphin]

are you sure that all those disks were platinum disks and not gold disks?

[HUR]

are you sure that all those disks were platinum disks and not gold disks?

To be honest, I don't know what they are. Because they were awarding worldwide sales, I was assuming that each "disk" should have represented sales of 1 million units. But the amount of "disks" on the pic might not have to do with the sales they were actually acknowlegding.

All in all, I think that Queen's "Greatest Hits 2" had sold over 15 million by Oct. 1995 (outside North America) and their "Greatest Hits 1" probably the same. We have to remember that the reason why the first compilation sold more than the second one is because of their North American sales (much better for "Greatest Hits 1"), but in the rest of the world, they both had a similar appeal.

I will try to contact Brian May or Jim Beach to see if they can tell what sales those awards represent.

[slightlymad]

are you sure that all those disks were platinum disks and not gold disks?

To be honest, I don't know what they are. Because they were awarding worldwide sales, I was assuming that each "disk" should have represented sales of 1 million units. But the amount of "disks" on the pic might not have to do with the sales they were actually acknowlegding.

All in all, I think that Queen's "Greatest Hits 2" had sold over 15 million by Oct. 1995 (outside North America) and their "Greatest Hits 1" probably the same. We have to remember that the reason why the first compilation sold more than the second one is because of their North American sales (much better for "Greatest Hits 1"), but in the rest of the world, they both had a similar appeal.

I will try to contact Brian May or Jeam Beach to see if they can tell what sales those awards represent.

Hi HUR, after seeing the image of Brian and Roger recieving the Greatest Hits awards in Dublin I knew it rang a bell. I have since tracked down a picture from that day that was printed in the Winter 1995 issue of the Queen Fan Club Magazine. This is what was reported in the previous issue.

Brian and Roger attended EMI's annual conference in Dublin on September 12th 1995, to collect an award presented to them by EMI head Rupert Perry, for sales of over 23 million of their two Greatest Hits Albums.

I hope this helps

[HUR]

Thank you, Lee. I knew my numbers couldn't be real. So 23 million sounds much more realistic, and in line with what they have sold in certain regions. Obviously, those totals don't include any sales coming from USA and Canada nor in Australia, New Zealand and Japan (prior to 1984), nor catalog sales since Sep. 1995 up to now.

Lee, could you please check a few of those magazines?. I know they always used to report some sales numbers and peak positions here and there. I have seen several ones myself. I think they used to publish one every other 3 months or so.

[jcguzman]

Queen rock Montreal is at number 6 in Chile concerning the music DVD charts.

[HUR]

Thank you for the information.

Thank you, Lee. I knew my numbers couldn't be real. So 23 million sounds much more realistic, and in line with what they have sold in certain regions. Obviously, those totals don't include any sales coming from USA and Canada nor in Australia, New Zealand and Japan (prior to 1984), nor catalog sales since Sep. 1995 up to now.

Lee, could you please check a few of those magazines?. I know they always used to report some sales numbers and peak positions here and there. I have seen several ones myself. I think they used to publish one every other 3 months or so.

That guy Rupert Perry, who gave the band this award, used to be the President of Emi Europe back then. Is there any chance that those 23,000,000 sales that were awarded by their record company were in Europe only?. That fits better with their worldwide sales.

I remember someone, although I don't exactly remember who, stating that in the forum. The source was Music and Media.