SoundScan Era - USA's Best Selling Artists and Albums

[Basil]

Top 10 Selling Bands/Artists in the Soundscan Era - 1st January 2014

Key
position 1st jan 2006
position 1st jan 2014
artist
soundscan total (albums) 1991-2013
soundscan total in 2013
soundscan total in 2012
soundscan total in 2011
soundscan total in 2010
soundscan total in 2009
soundscan total in 2008
soundscan total in 2007
soundscan total in 2006

Artists in Red are UK/Irish
Artists in Blue are Commonwealth

(1)-1 - Garth Brooks - 69.424m - 0.807-0.056-0.048-0.150-0.220-0.741-1.371-0.047

(2)-2 - The Beatles - 65.111m - 0.953-0.859-1.233-1.696-3.282-1.393-1.994-2.813

(3)-3 - Mariah Carey - 54.209m - 0.270-0.327-0.427-0.797-0.819-1.632-0.331-1.181

(5)-4 - Metallica - 54.129m - 0.487-0.472-0.498-0.512-1.024-2.466-0.800-0.904

(4)-5 - Celine Dion - 52.159m - 0.400-0.267-0.330-0.229-0.362-0.879-1.297-0.559

(6)-6 - George Strait - 44.781m - 0.849-0.622-0.914-0.553-1.224-1.4481.301-1.851

(12)-7 - Eminem - 44.469m - 2.519-0.784-1.523-4.317-n/a-n/a-0.399-1.619

(11)-8 - Tim McGraw - 41.844m - 0.851-0.824-0.773-0.719-1.086-1.178-2.369-2.658

(9)-9 - Alan Jackson - 40.361m - 0.731-0.770-0.585-0.828-0.927-1.254-0.873-2.353

(10)-10 - Pink Floyd - 38.508m - 0.539-0.741-0.799-0.562-0.654-0.760-1.059-1.362

Top Selling Bands/Artists in the Soundscan Era 11-40 - November 2011

Key
position sep 2005
position nov 2011
artist
soundscan total (albums) 1991-nov 2011

Artists in Red are UK/Irish
Artists in Blue are Commonwealth

(14) - 11 - U2 - 34.715m
(9) - 12 - Kenny G - 34.248m
(7) - 13 - Shania Twain - 34.118m
(22) - 14 - Elvis Presley - 33.656m
(56) - 15 - Michael Jackson - 32.722m
(16) - 16 - Britney Spears - 32.432m
(35) - 17 - AC/DC - 31.489m
(17) - 18 - Pearl Jam - 31.082m
(12) - 19 - Backstreet Boys - 30.958m
(20) - 20 - Dave Matthews - 30.725m
(19) - 21 - Aerosmith - 30.637m
(26) - 22 - The Eagles - 30.611m
(21) - 23 - Eric Clapton - 30.432m
(23) - 24 - Reba McEntire - 29.896m
(29) - 25 - Rod Stewart - 28.811m
(40) - 26 - Toby Keith - 28.761m
(13) - 27 - 2Pac - 28.559m
(37) - 28 - Jay-Z - 28.470m
(27) - 29 - Frank Sinatra - 28.216m
(18) - 30 - N Sync - 28.096m
(25) - 31 - Elton John - 27.256m
(24) - 32 - Creed - 27.079m
(28) - 33 - Dixie Chicks - 26.941m
(33) - 34 - Madonna - 26.935m (+2m with Evita)
(31) - 35 - Enya - 26.623m
(73) - 36 - Kenny Chesney - 26.3443m
(30) - 37 - Santana - 26.331m
(36) - 38 - Jimmy Buffett - 26.141m
(32) - 39 - Nirvana - 25.698m
(38) - 40 - Guns n Roses - 25.453m

Top 100 Selling Bands/Artists in the Soundscan Era 1991-2007

Thank you Hanboo for all these figures.

Key
position sep 2005
position 1st jan 2006
position 1st jan 2007
position 1st jan 2008
artist
soundscan total (albums) 1991-2007
soundscan total in 2007
soundscan total in 2006

Artists in Red are UK/Irish
Artists in Blue are Commonwealth

All other artists USA except Andrea Bocelli (Italy)

(1) - (1) - (1) - 1 - Garth Brooks - 67.402m - 1.371m - 0.047m

(2) - (2) - (2) - 2 - The Beatles - 55.695m - 1.994m - 2.813m

(5) - (3) - (3) - 3 - Mariah Carey - 49.937m - 0.331m - 1.181m
(4) - (4) - (4) - 4 - Celine Dion - 49.692m - 1.297m - 0.559m
(3) - (5) - (5) - 5 - Metallica - 48.670m - 0.800m - 0.904m

(6) - (6) - (6) - 6 - George Strait - 39.171m - 1.301m - 1.851m
(11)-(11)- (8) - 7 - Tim McGraw - 36.413m - 2.369m - 2.658m
(8) - (9) - (7) - 8 - Alan Jackson - 35.266m - 0.873m - 2.353m
(10)-(10)- (9) - 9 - Pink Floyd - 34.453m - 1.059m - 1.362m
(7) - (7) - (10) - 10 - Shania Twain - 33.531m - 0.240m - 0.339m
(9) - (8) - (11) - 11 - Kenny G - 33.072m - 0.396m - 0.595m
(15) - (12) - (12) - 12 - Eminem - 32.870m - 0.399m - 1.619m
(14) - (14) - (13) - 13 - U2 - 32.087m - 0.730m - 1.330m
(13) - (16) - (15) - 14 - 2Pac - 31.417m - 0.492m - 0.939m
(12) - (13) - (14) - 15 - Backstreet Boys - 30.596m - 0.196m - 0.086m

(22) - (22) - (19) - 16 - Elvis Presley - 29.471m - 1.399m - 1.149m
(17) - (17) - (16) - 17 - Pearl Jam - 29.373m - 0.347m - 1.033m
(16) - (15) - (17) - 18 - Britney Spears - 29.215m - 0.731m - 0.129m
(21) - (21) - (21) - 19 - Eric Clapton - 28.746m - 0.760m - 0.666m
(19) - (19) - (18) - 20 - Aerosmith - 28.654m - 0.486m - 0.723m
(20) - (20) - (20) - 21 - Dave Matthews - 28.571m - 0.512m - 0.717m
(26) - (27) - (31) - 22 - The Eagles - 28.311m - 3.583m - 0.632m
(18) - (18) - (22) - 23 - N Sync - 27.978m - 0.037m - 0.196m
(23) - (23) - (23) - 24 - Reba McEntire - 27.972m - 1.567m - 0.463m
(29) - (25) - (24) - 25 - Rod Stewart - 26.901m - 0.754m - 1.616m
(28) - (32) - (25) - 26 - Dixie Chicks - 26.359m -0.712m - 2.163m
(24) - (24) - (26) - 27 - Creed - 25.922m - 0.314m - 0.484m
(25) - (26) - (27) - 28 - Elton John - 25.838m - 0.699m - 0.728m
(35) - (34) - (32) - 29 - AC/DC - 25.686m - 1.136m - 1.352m
(40) - (40) - (34) - 30 - Toby Keith - 25.673m - 1.548m - 2.231m
(27) - (30) - (30) - 31 - Frank Sinatra - 25.610m - 0.799m - 0.929m
(33) - (29) - (29) - 32 - Madonna - 25.263m (+2m with Evita) - 0.372m - 0.858m
(31) - (28) - (28) - 33 - Enya - 25.122m - 0.213m - 0.902m
(37) - (39) - (37) - 34 - Jay-Z - 25.094m - 1.481m - 1.656m


(30) - (31) - (33) - 35 - Santana - 24.896m - 0.537m - 0.528m
(36) - (35) - (35) - 36 - Jimmy Buffett - 24.623m - 0.616m - 1.048m
(32) - (33) - (36) - 37 - Nirvana - 24.312m - 0.428m - 0.554m
(38) - (38) - (40) - 38 - Guns n Roses - 23.641m - 0.718m - 0.957m
(41) - (37) - (39) - 39 - The Rolling Stones - 23.576m - 0.598m - 0.953m
(34) - (36) - (38) - 40 - BoyzIIMen - 23.429m - 0.383m - 0.196m
(46) - (42) - (41) - 41 - Green Day - 22.864m - 0.385m - 1.147m
(45) - (45) - (46) - 42 - Led Zeppelin - 22.056m - 1.422m - 0.853m
(39) - (41) - (42) - 43 - Michael Bolton - 21.925m - 0.097m - 0.340m
(73) - (57) - (49) - 44 - Kenny Chesney - 21.693m - 1.814m - 1.921m
(47) - (47) - (43) - 45 - Brooks & Dunn - 21.584m - 0.764m - 1.139m
(54) - (54) - (45) - 46 - Red Hot Chilli Peppers - 21.547m - 0.872m - 2.334m
(43) - (44) - (47) - 47 - R Kelly - 21.414m - 1.161m - 0.369m
(42) - (43) - (44) - 48 - Nelly - 20.883m - 0.107m - 0.499m
(52) - (49) - (51) - 49 - Mannheim Steamroller - 20.848m - 1.251m - 0.556m
(75) - (71) - (55) - 50 - Mary J Blige - 20.598m - 1.639m - 2.486m
(48) - (48) - (50) - 51 - Barbra Streisand - 20.146m - 0.278m - 0.260m
(44) - (46) - (48) - 52 - Alanis Morissette - 20.041m - 0.111m - 0.223m

(50) - (51) - (52) - 53 - Leann Rimes - 19.809m - 0.576m - 0.455m
(67) - (68) - (74) - 54 - Linkin Park - 19.709m - 2.624m - 0.468m
(88) - (90) - (57) - 55 - Prince - 19.690m - 0.667m - 0.894m
(---) - (---) - (66) - 56 - Johnny Cash - 19.503m - 1.691m - 4.862m
(53) - (53) - (53) - 57 - Janet Jackson - 19.304m - 0.127m - 0.753m
(49) - (50) - (54) - 58 - Limp Bizkit - 19.264m - 0.094m - 0.164m
(51) - (52) - (56) - 59 - Usher - 19.083m - 0.165m - 0.229m
(60) - (62) - (64) - 60 - Kid Rock - 19.073m - 0.996m - 0.570m

(56) - (56) - (59) - 61 - Michael Jackson - 19.041m - 0.509m - 0.407m
(63) - (59) - (58) - 62 - Faith Hill - 18.965m - 0.412m - 0.703m
(59) - (60) - (60) - 63 - Snoopy Dogg - 18.901m - 0.370m - 0.904m
(55) - (55) - (61) - 64 - Beastie Boys - 18.827m - 0.370m - 0.317m
(62) - (63) - (62) - 65 - Luther Vandross - 18.613m - 0.394m - 0.849m
(68) - (66) - (67) - 66 - Queen - 18.508m - 0.757m - 0.993m
(57) - (58) - (63) - 67 - REM - 18.318m - 0.185m - 0.237m
(71) - (73) - (69) - 68 - Bob Seger - 18.294m - 0.756m - 1.483m
(80) - (78) - (79) - 69 - Bruce Springsteen - 18.209m - 1.464m - 1.128m
(58) - (61) - (65) - 70 - Vince Gill - 18.196m - 0.269m - 0.362m

(85) - (80) - (72) - 71 - Bob Dylan - 18.125m - 0.899m - 1.733m
(---) - (87) - (81) - 72 - Bon Jovi - 18.120m - 1.838m - 1.403m
(69) - (70) - (68) - 73 - Sarah McLachlan - 17.949m - 0.335m - 1.050m
(61) - (64) - (70) - 74 - Van Halen - 17.909m - 0.453m - 0.311m
(83) - (77) - (77) - 75 - Korn - 17.784m - 0.982m - 1.128m
(64) - (65) - (71) - 76 - Alabama - 17.778m - 0.389m - 0.563m
(65) - (67) - (73) - 77 - Billy Joel - 17.481m - 0.294m - 0.482m
(---) - (---) - (76) - 78 - Bob Marley - 17.376m - 0.563m - 1.196m
(---) - (---) - (---) - 79 - Josh Groban - 17.374 - 4.835m - n/a
(70) - (72) - (75) - 80 - Outkast - 17.230m - 0.179m - 0.678m

(66) - (69) - (78) - 81 - Yanni - 16.828m - 0.082m - 0.187m
(82) - (74) - (80) - 82 - Destiny's Child - 16.719m - 0.135m - 0.574m
(---) - (---) - (90) - 83 - Andrea Bocelli - 16.672m - 1.211m - 2.525m
(92) - (88) - (85) - 84 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - 16.623m - 0.736m - 1.020m
(72) - (76) - (82) - 85 - DMX - 16.459m - 0.239m - 0.458m
(---) - (---) - (---) - 86 - Rascal Flatts - 16.365m - 3.129m - n/a
(74) - (75) - (83) - 87 - Sade - 16.364m - 0.264m - 0.336m
(---) - (---) - (---) - 88 - Norah Jones - 16.356 - 1.952m - n/a
(84) - (86) - (87) - 89 - Van Morrison - 16.245m - 0.554m - 0.577m
(90) - (93) - (92) - 90 - Bone Thugs N Harmony - 16.220m - 0.805m - 0.838m

(76) - (79) - (86) - 91 - Fleetwood Mac - 16.188m - 0.307m - 0.335m
(---) - (---) - (---) - 92 - Nickelback - 16.185m - 2.169m - n/a
(89) - (84) - (84) - 93 - Sheryl Crow - 16.121m - 0.191m - 0.662m
(79) - (83) - (89) - 94 - Smashing Pumpkins - 16.051m - 0.546m - 0.203m
(95) - (97) - (96) - 95 - James Taylor - 15.990m - 0.833m - 0.832m
(87) - (89) - (97) - 96 - Ozzy Osbourne - 15.791m - 0.729m - 0.296m
(78) - (81) - (88) - 97 - Offspring - 15.759m - 0.141m - 0.201m
(93) - (94) - (94) - 98 - Def Leppard - 15.712m - 0.459m - 0.758m
(---) - (---) - (98) - 99 - Christine Aguilera - 15.534m - 0.533m - 1.470m
(77) - (82) - (91) - 100 - TLC - 15.459m - 0.041m - 0.066m

Hanboo has pointed out that these figures normally exclude Soundtracks and collaborations.

And so demotion for these 4 acts.

(81) - (85) - 93 - (out) - No Doubt
(97) - (92) - 95 - (out) - Neil Diamond
(86) - (91) - 99 - (out) - Sting
(96) - (98) - 100 - (out) - The Doors

[Basil]

An Alternative History of Rock and Roll:-

From Mantovani to Adele - The Top Shipping Albums Annually
January 2016

1955 - Mantovani - Hits From Theatreland - 0.5m
1956 - Original Cast - My Fair Lady - 3.0m
1957 - Elvis Presley - Christmas Album - 3.0m (plus 10.0m for re-issue)
1958 - Elvis Presley - Golden Records Vol One - 6.0m
1959 - Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue - 4.0m
1960 - Dave Brubeck - Time Out - 1.0m
1961 - Soundtrack - West Side Story - 3.0m
1962 - Peter Paul & Mary - Peter Paul & Mary - 2.0m
1963 - Nat King Cole - Christmas Song - 6.0m
1964 - The Beatles - Meet the Beatles - 5.0m
1965 - The Beatles - Rubber Soul - 6.0m
1966 - The Beatles - Revolver - 5.0m
1967 - The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper - 11.0m
1968 - The Beatles - White Album - 9.5m
1969 - The Beatles - Abbey Road - 12.0m
1970 - Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled 8.0m
1971 - Led Zeppelin - Four - 23.0m
1972 - Simon & Garfunkel - Greatest Hits - 14.0m
1973 - Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of the Moon - 15.0m
1974 - Elton John - Greatest Hits - 16.0m
1975 - Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic - 8.0m
1976 - The Eagles - Greatest Hits 71-75 - 29.0m
1977 - Fleetwood Mac - Rumours - 20.0m
1978 - Steve Miller - Greatest Hits 1974-78 - 13.0m
1979 - Pink Floyd - The Wall - 11.5m
1980 - AC/DC - Back in Black - 22.0m
1981 - Journey - Escape - 9.0m
1982 - Michael Jackson - Thriller - 30.0m
1983 - Def Leppard - Pyromania - 10.0m
1984 - Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA - 15.0m
1985 - Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston - 13.0m
1986 - Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet - 12.0m
1987 - Guns n Roses - Appetite - 18.0m
1988 - Journey - Greatest Hits - 15.0m
1989 - Garth Brooks - Garth Brooks - 7.0m
1990 - Garth Brooks - No Fences - 14.0m
1991 - Metallica - Metallica - 16.0m
1992 - Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard - 17.0m
1993 - Tom Petty - Greatest Hits - 10.0m
1994 - Hootie & Blowfish - Cracked Rear View - 16.0m
1995 - Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little - 16.0m
1996 - Matchbox 20 - Yourself or Someone - 12.0m
1997 - Shania Twain - Come On Over - 20.0m
1998 - Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces - 12.0m
1999 - Santana - The Supernatural - 15.0m
2000 - The Beatles - One - 11.0m
2001 - Creed - Weathered - 6.0m
2002 - Norah Jones - Come Away With Me - 10.0m
2003 - Evanessence - Fallen - 7.0m
2004 - Usher - Confessions - 10.0m
2005 - Nickelback - All the Right Reasons - 8.0m
2006 - Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift - 5.0m
2007 - Josh Groban - Noel - 5.0m
2008 - Taylor Swift - Fearless - 7.0m
2009 - Susan Boyle - I Dreamed A Dream - 4.0m
2010 - Taylor Swift - Speak Now - 4.0m
2011 - Adele - 21 - 11.0m
2012 - Taylor Swift - Red - 4.0m
2013 - Soundtrack - Frozen
2014 - Taylor Swift - 1989 - 5.0m
2015 - Adele - 25 - 8.0m

The first 10 million seller was released in 1967. The first 20 million seller in 1971.

The most successful artists:-

The Beatles - 7 titles
Taylor Swift - 5 titles

[Basil]

Top Selling Albums Annually - Soundscan - 1955 to 2015

1955 - Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours - 183,000 jan 2006
1956 - Miles Davis - Birth Of Cool - 359,000 jan 2006
1957 - Elvis Presley - Christmas Album - 1,020,000 nov 2005
1958 - Elvis Presley - Golden Records - 1,356,000 dec 2005
1959 - Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue - 3,319,000 apr 2013
1960 - Dave Brubeck - Time Out - 1,274,000 jan 2013
1961 - Elvis Presley - Blue Hawaii - 336,000 jan 2006
1962 - Chipmunks - Christmas With - 508,000 jan 2006
1963 - Nat King Cole - Christmas Song - 2,530,000 jan 2013
1964 - The Beatles - Hard Day's Night - 1,491,000 jan 2013
1965 - Vince Guaraldi - Charlie Brown Christmas - 3,410,000 nov 2014
1966 - The Beatles - Revolver - 2,346,000 jan 2013
1967 - The Beatles - Sgt Pepper - 4,570,000 mar 2014
1968 - The Beatles - White Album - 3,925,000 mar 2014
1969 - The Beatles - Abbey Road - 5,016,000 mar 2014
1970 - Van Morrison - Moondance - 2,666,000 jun 2013
1971 - Carole King - Tapestry - 3,966,000 jul 2013
1972 - Simon & Garfunkel - Greatest Hits - 3,318,000 aug 2013
1973 - Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of the Moon - 9,831,000 nov 2014
1974 - Elton John - Greatest Hits - 4,623,000 may 2006
1975 - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - 3,476,000 ma2 2014
1976 - James Taylor - Greatest Hits - 7,201,000 mar 2014
1977 - Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell - 4,753,000 jun 2012
1978 - Soundtrack - Grease - 6,019,000 apr 2013
1979 - Pink Floyd - The Wall 6,022,000 mar 2014
1980 - AC/DC - Back in Black - 7,167,000 nov 2014
1981 - Blondie - Best Of - 2,116,000 dec 2005
1982 - Michael Jackson - Thriller - 6,208,,000 feb 2013
1983 - Metallica - Kill 'Em All - 2,575,000 may 2009
1984 - Bob Marley - Legend - 11,673,000 nov 2014
1985 - Jimmy Buffett - Songs You Know - 6,676,000 jul 2013
1986 - Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill - 5,876,000 mar 2014
1987 - Guns n Roses - Appetite - 5,310,000 mar 2014
1988 - Journey - Greatest Hits - 8,625,000 nov 2014
1989 - Garth Brooks - Garth Brooks - 4,100,000 feb 2013
1990 - Garth Brooks - No Fences - 9,010,000 feb 2013

From below the soundscan era starts, so these are the total shop sales for each title. The figures are still interesting though.

1991 - Metallica - Metallica - 15,860,000 feb 2013
1992 - Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard - 12,062,000 feb 2013
1993 - Tom Petty - Greatest Hits - 8,068,000 feb 2013
1994 - Hootie & Blowfish - Cracked Rear View - 10,284,000 feb 2013
1995 - Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little - 14,820,000 feb 2013
1996 - Celine Dion - Falling Into You - 10,813,000 feb 2013
1997 - Shania Twain - Come On Over - 15,526,000 feb 2013
1998 - N'Sync - N'Sync - 8,841,000 feb 2013
1999 - Back Street Boys - Millenium - 12,215,000 feb 2013
2000 - The Beatles - One - 12,161,000 feb 2013
2001 - Creed - Weathered - 6,442,000 feb 2013
2002 - Norah Jones - Come Away With Me - 10,913,000 feb 2013
2003 - 50 Cent - Get Rich - 8,179,000 feb 2013
2004 - Usher - Confessions - 10,075,000 feb 2013
2005 - Nickelback - All the Right Reasons - 7,910,000 dec 2015
2006 - Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift - 5,520,000 dec 2015
2007 - Josh Groban - Noel - 5,820,000 dec 2015
2008 - Taylor Swift - Fearless - 7,001,000 dec 2015
2009 - Susan Boyle - I Dreamed a Dream 4,050,000 feb 2013
2010 - Eminem - Recovery 4,401,000 feb 2013
2011 - Adele - 21 - 11,370,000 dec 2015
2012 - Taylor Swift - Red - 4,160,000 dec 2015
2013 - Soundtrack - Frozen
2014 - Taylor Swift - 1989 - 5,650,000 dec 2015
2015 - Adele -25 - 7,600,000 dec 2015


Extraordinary how some very old albums have sold since 1991.

Earliest at 1 million
1957 - Elvis Christmas Album

Earliest at 3 million
1959 - Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue

Earliest at 4 million
1967 - The Beatles - Sgt Pepper

Earliest at 5,6,7,8 and 9 million
1973 - Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

Earliest at 10 and 11 million
1984 - Bob Marley - Legend

and the most successful artists?

The Beatles - 6 titles
Taylor Swift - 4 titles
Elvis Presley and Pink Floyd - 3 titles each.

Thanks to Hanboo for the vast majority of these figures. Also AutomaticBR, thebigham and Dane.

[Zuzu18]

Brandy-Brandy-4 Million
Never Say Never-5.8Million
Full Moon-1.2 Million
Afrodisiac-500,000

=11.5Million (USA)

[Basil]

• Top Ten's per Decade

The Tens 2010-2019

RIAA shipments

2011 - Adele - 21 - 10m
2010 - Taylor Swift - Speak Now - 4m
2012 - Taylor Swift - Red - 4m
2010 - Eminem - Recovery - 3m
2010 - Lady Antebellum - Need You Now - 3m
2010 - Justin Bieber - My World 2.0 - 3m
2010 - Susan Boyle - The Gift - 3m

Soundscan

2011 - Adele - 21 - 10,396,000 feb 2013
2010 - Eminem - Recovery - 4,401,000 feb 2013
2010 - Taylor Swift - Speak Now - 4,312,000 feb 2013
2010 - Lady Antebellum - Need You Now - 3,970,000 feb 2013
2012 - Taylor Swift - Red - 3,436,000 feb 2013
2010 - Justin Bieber - My World 2.0 - 3,263,000 feb 2013
2011 - Michael Buble - Christmas - 3,077,000 feb 2013

6 of the 7 titles are on both lists. Susan Boyle hasn't reached 3m on soundscan and the Michael Buble album hasn't been certified at all.
Even at this early stage in the decade it is difficult to see any album beating Adele. First, it is still selling - second, downloads of individuals songs are far greater than complete albums - and third, all the older artists (like The Beatles) are very unlikely to have 10 million selling new compilations.


The Noughties 2000 - 2009

RIAA shipments

2000 - The Beatles - One - 11m
2000 - N'Sync - No Strings - 11m
2002 - Norah Jones - Come Away - 10m
2000 - Eminem - Marshall Mathers - 10m
2002 - Eminem - Eminem Show - 10m
2004 - Usher - Confessions - 10m
2000 - Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory - 10m
2001 - Britney Spears - Ooops - 10m
2000 - Nelly - Country Grammar - 9m
2005 - Nickelback - All the Right Reasons - 8m

Soundscan

2000 - The Beatles - One - 12,161,000 feb 2013
2000 - N'Sync - No Strings - 11,140,000 feb 2013
2002 - Norah Jones - Come Away - 10,913,000 feb 2013
2000 - Eminem - Marshall Mathers - 10,678,000 feb 2013
2002 - Eminem - Eminem Show - 10,156,000 feb 2013
2004 - Usher - Confessions - 10,075,000 feb 2013
2000 - Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory - 10,058,000 feb 2013
2001 - Britney Spears - Ooops - 9,210,000 feb 2013
2000 - Nelly - Country Grammar - 8,534,000 feb 2013
2003 - 50 Cent - Get Rich - 8,179,000 feb 2013

9 titles appear on both lists.

A very contempary look to the chart except for the Beatles.

Nothing in this decade so far has sold anything like stuff in previous years - that is 20m plus - and doesn't look likely to.

Ironically, N'Sync's No Strings had the biggest ever calender sale in US record history in the year 2000 selling 9,936,104 copies. That figure may never be beaten.


The 1990's

RIAA Shipments

1997 - Shania Twain - Come On Over - 20m
1992 - Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard - 17m
1991 - Metallica - Metallica - 16m
1995 - Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little - 16m
1994 - Hootie & Blowfish - Cracked Rearview - 16m
1999 - Santana - Supernatural - 15m
1999 - Britney Spears - Baby One More - 14m
1997 - Back Street Boys - Back Street Boys - 14m
1990 - Garth Brooks - No Fences - 14m
1999 - Back Street Boys - Millenium - 13m



Soundscan
1991 - Metallica - Metallica - 15,860,000 feb 2013
1997 - Shania Twain - Come On Over - 15,526,000 feb 2013
1995 - Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little - 14,820,000 feb 2013
1999 - Back Street Boys - Millenium - 12,215,000 sfeb 2013
1992 - Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard - 12,062,000 feb 2013
1999 - Santana - Supernatural - 11,733,000 feb 2013
1999 - Creed - Human Clay - 11,640,000 feb 2013
1996 - Celine Dion - Falling Into You - 10,813,000 feb 2013
1999 - Britney Spears - Baby One More - 10,583,000 feb 2013
1994 - Hootie/Blowfish - Cracked - 10,284,000 feb 2013

8 titles appear on both charts.

The 1980's

RIAA Shipments

1982 - Michael Jackson - Thriller - 29m
1980 - AC/DC - Back in Black - 22m
1987 - Guns n Roses - Appetite - 18m
1984 - Bruce Springsteen - Born in USA - 15m
1988 - Journey - Greatest Hits - 15m
1985 - Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston - 13m
1984 - Prince - Purple Rain - 13m
1986 - Bon Jovi - Slippery - 12m
1987 - Def Leppard - Hysteria - 12m
1980 - Kenny Rogers - Greatest Hits - 12m

Soundscan

1984 - Bob Marley - Legend - 11,269,000 feb 2013
1988 - Journey - Greatest Hits - 8,290,000 feb 2013
1980 - AC/DC - Back in Black - 6,855,000 may 2012
1985 - Jimmy Buffett - Songs You Know - 6,580,000 feb 2013
1982 - Michael Jackson - Thriller - 6,220,000 feb 2013
1986 - Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill - 5,712,000 feb 2013
1988 - Metallica - Justice For All - 5,515,000 feb 2013
1980 - Aerosmith - Greatest Hits - 5,466,000 feb 2013
1987 - Guns n Roses - Appetite - 5,231,000 feb 2013
1986 - Metallica - Master Of Puppets - 4,768,000 feb 2013

Only 4 titles appear on both lists.

The riaa list reflects the decade - lots of rock music, MTV and no new country.

The soundscan list reflects what still sells from that decade - lots of rock music. The odd one out is the exceptional performance of Bob Marley. Will Island or whoever own it now, please re-certify this album.


The 1970's

RIAA Shipments

1976 - The Eagles - Greatest 71-75 - 29m
1971 - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin Four - 23m
1977 - Fleetwood Mac - Rumours - 19m
1976 - Boston - Boston - 17m
1974 - Elton John - Greatest Hits - 16m
1976 - The Eagles - Hotel California - 16m
1973 - Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of the Moon - 15m
1977 - The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever - 15m
1972 - Simon & Garfunkel - Greatest Hits - 14m
1977 - Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell - 14m

Soundscan

1973 - Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - 9,439,000 may 2012
1976 - James Taylor - Greatest Hits - 7,107,000 feb 2013
1976 - Creedence Clearwater - Chronicle - 6,308,000 feb 2013
1978 - Soundtrack - Grease - 6,014,000 feb 2013
1979 - Pink Floyd - The Wall - 5,827,000 may 2012
1976 - The Eagles - Greatest Hits 71-75 - 5,538,000 feb 2013
1978 - Steve Miller - Greatest Hits 74-78 - 5,528,000 feb 2013
1977 - Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell - 4,745,000 may 2012
1974 - Elton John - Greatest Hits - 4,623,000 may 2006
1973 - Janis Joplin - Greatest Hits - 4,351,000 apr 2012

4 titles appear on both lists.


N.B. - Will Columbia and Polydor stop messing around and get Dark Side of the Moon and the Grease soundtrack properly certified.

The 1960's

RIAA Shipments

1969 - The Beatles - Abbey Road - 12m
1969 - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin Two - 12m
1967 - The Beatles - Sgt Pepper - 11m
1967 - Patsy Cline - Greatest Hits - 10m
1968 - The Beatles - White Album - 9.5m
1969 - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin One - 8m
1965 - The Beatles - Rubber Soul - 6m
1967 - The Beatles - Magical Mystery - 6m
1963 - Nat King Cole - Christmas Song - 6m
1966 - The Beatles - Revolver - 5m

plus 5 more over 5m
1964 - The Beatles - Meet - 5m
1966 - The Monkees - The Monkees - 5m
1967 - Barbra Streisand - Christmas - 5m
1967 - Bob Dylan - Greatest Hits - 5m
1967 - The Monkees - More Of - 5m

Soundscan

1969 - The Beatles - Abbey Road - 4,910,000 feb 2013
1967 - The Beatles - Sgt Pepper - 4,481,000 jan 2013
1967 - Patsy Cline - Greatest Hits - 4,332,000 apr 2012
1968 - The Beatles - White Album - 3,847,000 jan 2013
1965 - Vince Gueraldi - Charlie Brown Christmas - 3,273,000 dec 2012
1965 - The Beatles - Rubber Soul - 2,805,000 jan 2013
1963 - Nat King Cole - Christmas Song - 2,529,000 dec 2012
1969 - Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin Two - 2,483,000 jan 2013
1966 - The Beatles - Revolver - 2,346,000 jan 2013
1968 - Frank Sinatra - Greatest Hits - 1,946,000 sep 2007

8 titles appear on both lists.

The 2 that don't (Sinatra and Charlie Brown) are both undercertified.

In the 60's (going backwards) we find the first appearance of Christmas Albums.

Obviously this is The Beatles decade, but they don't have things all their own way.

A big surprise is the complete absence of rock music from that time. Led Zeppelin II is there, but was released right at the end of the decade and so almost belongs in the 70's.
The first albums by Jimi Hendrix and The Doors are candidates. However, the Hendrix catalogue has such byzantine complexity that it would impossible to total the sales of an album on all those different labels. Elektra always claimed that a number of years of The Doors sales were "lost".


The 1950's

RIAA Shipments

1957 - Elvis Presley - Christmas Album - 3m + 10m re-issue
1958 - Elvis Presley - Golden Records Vol One - 6m
1958 - Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas - 5m
1959 - Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue - 4m
1956 - Original Cast - My Fair Lady - 3m
1958 - Johnny Mathis - Greatest Hits - 3m
1956 - Soundtrack - Oklahoma - 2m

Soundscan

1959 - Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue - 3,307,000 feb 2013
1958 - Elvis Presley - Golden Records - 1,356,000
1957 - Elvis Presley - Christmas Album - 1,020,000

This is the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. The Miles Davis album probably sold as much in 2012 as it did on initial release in 1959. No other 50's title is in the same ballpark. It is also the only Original Studio album to feature - everything else is Christmas/Greatest Hits.

In 1956, Elvis's first album was the biggest selling album of the year selling 300,000 copies! Compare that to the nearly 10 million copies sold by N'Sync's No Strings in 2000 - over 30 times the amount.

1950's albums still sell, although at low levels, and both Elvis and Johnny Mathis have 7 gold albums from that period now, with 6 for Frank Sinatra.

In addition, compilations from that era can sell considerably. The Complete 50's Sessions Box Set by Elvis shipped over 400,000. A recent set of Sinatra's 50's material is platinum as is Hank Williams' Greatest Hits.

A few of the Christmas albums from the 1950's have also sold consistently well, maybe close to 1m copies. Unfortunately we lack the soundscan data.


1900 - 1949?

OK, no riaa or soundscan figures for albums actually released then. Proper albums only appeared from 1947 onwards - before that they were box sets of 78 rpm records.

However, like the 1950's, material from this time still sells in the form of re-issues.

The Robert Johnson 2CD box from the 1930's went platinum, and material by artists like Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Bing Crosby, Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Glenn Miller and dozens of others from the mists of time sells fine on CD. Anyone got soundscan information on these!!

One certain million seller is Bing Crosby's Christmas Album released in 1949, but several of his albums are so titled but with different tracks - so it is impossible to pin down sales of the "original".

[Basil]

Top Selling Albums - Soundscan Era

Key
Year
Total Sales at End of that Year
One Year Sales


1) - Come On Over - Shania Twain (1997)

1997 - 1.6m - 1,600,000 sold in 1997
1998 - 6,492,526 - 4,900,000 sold in 1998
1999 - 12,110,660 - 5,618,134 sold in 1999
2000 - 13,652,045 - 1,541,385 sold in 2000
2001 - 14,147,017 - 494,972 sold in 2001
2002 - 14,490,470 - 343,453 sold in 2002
2003 - 14,896,911 - 406,441 sold in 2003
2004 - 15,267,050 - 370,139 sold in 2004
2005 - 15,355,000 - 87,950 sold in 2005
2006 - 15,408,533 - 53,533 sold in 2006
2007 - 15,449,000 - 40,467 sold in 2007
2008 - 15,473,000 - 24,000 sold in 2008

Will this still be Top Dog at the end of 2009? Will be neck and neck for sure.


2) - Metallica - Metallica (1991)

1991 - 3.4m - 3,400,000 sold in 1991
1992 - 6.0m - 2,600,000 sold in 1992
1993 - n/a
1994 - n/a
1995 - n/a
1996 - n/a
1997 - n/a
1998 - n/a
1999 - 11,715,533
2000 - 12,441,854 - 726,321 sold in 2000
2001 - 12,981,888 - 540,034 sold in 2001
2002 - 13,332,320 - 350,432 sold in 2002
2003 - 13,803,308 - 470,988 sold in 2003
2004 - 14,213,000 - 409,692 sold in 2004
2005 - 14,545,000 - 332,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 14,819,905 - 274,905 sold in 2006
2007 - 15,077,000 - 257,095 sold in 2007
2008 - 15,319,000 - 242,000 sold in 2008

Annual sales declining of course but ever so slowly - certainly more slowly than the general drop in album sales. An incredibly resilient performance. Can it reach the top in 12 months time? Very likely. The band will be touring heavily this year. Once it gets to #1 what could possibly challenge it in future?


3) - Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette (1995)

1995 - 4.2m - 4,200,000 sold in 1995
1996 - 11.6m - 7,380,000 sold in 1996
1997 - 12.7m - 1,100,000 sold in 1997
1998 - 13.2m - 500,000 sold in 1998
1999 - 13,542,393 - 342,393 sold in 1999
2000 - 13,729,828 - 187,435 sold in 2000
2001 - 13,890,054 - 160,226 sold in 2001
2002 - 14,094,425 - 204,371 sold in 2002
2003 - 14,200,822 - 106,397 sold in 2003
2004 - 14,343,000 - 142,178 sold in 2004
2005 - 14,453,000 - 110,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 14,513,313 - 60,313 sold in 2006
2007 - 14,557,000 - 43,687 sold in 2007
2008 - 14,607,000 - 50,000 sold in 2008

Not a bad performance here - sales are up! Lack of a Greatest Hits helps. Will never move up the list - but may never move down either. Nothing on any horizon to catch it.


4) - Millenium - Back Street Boys (1999)

1999 - 9,445,732 - 9,445,732 sold in 1999
2000 - 11,705,375 - 2,259,643 sold in 2000
2001 - 11,971,132 - 265,757 sold in 2001
2002 - 12,030,804 - 59,672 sold in 2002
2003 - 12,056,675 - 25,871 sold in 2003
2004 - 12,069,000 - 12,325 sold in 2004
2005 - 12,083,000 - 14,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 12,091,491 - 8,491 sold in 2006
2007 - 12,099,000 - 7,509 sold in 2007
2008 - 12,104,000 - 5,000 sold in 2008

This album is so over.


5) - Whitney Houston - The Bodyguard (1992)

1992 - 3.3m - 3,300,000 sold in 1992
1993 - 8.8m - 5,500,000 sold in 1993
1994 - n/a
1995 - n/a
1996 - n/a
1997 - n/a
1998 - n/a
1999 - 11,605,690
2000 - 11,655,923 - 50,233sold in 2000
2001 - 11,689,093 - 33,170sold in 2001
2002 - 11,714,440 - 25,347sold in 2002
2003 - 11,741,779 - 27,339sold in 2003
2004 - 11,761,999 - 20,220sold in 2004
2005 - 11,778,000 - 16,001sold in 2005
2006 - 11,789,552 - 11,552 sold in 2006
2007 - 11,798,000 - 8,448 sold in 2007
2008 - 11,805,000 - 7,000 sold in 2008

Once an album drops below 10,000 a year it has to be officially declared dead.


6) - The Supernatural - Santana (1999)

1999 - 4,732,589 - 4,732,589 sold in 1999
2000 - 10,590,413 - 5,857,824 sold in 2000
2001 - 10,961,112 - 370,699 sold in 2001
2002 - 11,165,842 - 204,370 sold in 2002
2003 - 11,333,627 - 167,785 sold in 2003
2004 - 11,437,000 - 103,373 sold in 2004
2005 - 11,530,000 - 93,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 11,588,453 - 58,453 sold in 2006
2007 - 11,643,000 - 54,547 sold in 2007
2008 - 11,673,000 - 30,000 sold in 2008

Seemed set to reach the 12 million mark at one point, but no longer.


7) - Human Clay - Creed (1999)

1999 - 2.1m - 2,100,000 sold in 1999
2000 - 8.7m - 6,600,000 sold in 2000
2001 - 10,490,972 - 1,850,000 sold in 2001
2002 - 11,078,203 - 587,231 sold in 2002
2003 - 11,291,067 - 212,864 sold in 2003
2004 - 11,422,000 - 130,933 sold in 2004
2005 - 11,463,000 - 41,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 11,483,557 - 20,557 sold in 2006
2007 - 11,504,000 - 20,443 sold in 2007
2008 - 11,525,000 - 21,000 sold in 2008

Can you spot when they released a Greatest Hits? Mind you, what a consistent (if low level) performance in the past 3 years. However it is the weakest sales of all the rock albums in the Top 10.

8) - One - The Beatles (2000)

2000 - 5,068,300 - 5,068,000 sold in 2000
2001 - 7,978,300 - 2,910,000 sold in 2001
2002 - 8.67m - 686,832 sold in 2002
2003 - 9.23m - 564,868 sold in 2003
2004 - 9.83m - 657,000 sold in 2004
2005 - 10.37m - 540,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 10,821,222 - 451,222 sold in 2006
2007 - 11,097,000 - 275,778 sold in 2007
2008 - 11,345,000 - 248,000 sold in 2008

Moves up one place to #8 and is the best performer in the Top 10, just edging Metallica. It is a much more recent release, of course. Might overtake Creed this year and (in time) Santana, Whitney and BSB. But looks like it will never disturb the Top 3


9) - No Strings Attached - N'Sync (2000)

2000 - 9,936,104 - 9,936,104 sold in 2000
2001 - 10,891,514 - 955,410 sold in 2001
2002 - 11,023,057 - 131,543 sold in 2002
2003 - 11,069,789 - 46,732 sold in 2003
2004 - 11,085,000 - 15,211 sold in 2004
2005 - 11,093,000 - 8,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 11,099,051 - 6,051 sold in 2006
2007 - 11,104,000 - 4,949 sold in 2007
2008 - 11,109,000 - 5,000 sold in 2008

Seems 5,000 sales is the rock bottom for this and the BSB's one.


10) - Falling Into You - Celine Dion (1996)

1996 - 6m - 6,000,000 sold in 1996
1997 - 9m - 3,000,000 sold in 1997
1998 - 9,640,000 - 640,000 sold in 1998
1999 - 10,224,282 - 584,282 sold in 1999
2000 - 10,357,969 - 133,687 sold in 2000
2001 - 10,438,190 - 80,221 sold in 2001
2002 - 10,525,873 - 87,683 sold in 2002
2003 - 10,614,005 - 88,132 sold in 2003
2004 - 10,683,000 - 68,995 sold in 2004
2005 - 10,728,000 - 45,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 10,752,658 - 24,658 sold in 2006
2007 - 10,768,000 - 15,342 sold in 2007
2008 - 10,777,000 - 9,000 sold in 2008

Sales not holding up at all for this title. Her Top 10 place could be vulnerable to Norah Jones eventually.


11) - Baby One More Time - Britney Spears (1999)

1999 - 8,358,619 - 8,358,619 sold in 1999
2000 - 9,981,434 - 1,622,815 sold in 2000
2001 - 10,269,049 - 287,615 sold in 2001
2002 - 10,416,070 - 147,021 sold in 2002
2003 - 10,472,878 - 56,808 sold in 2003
2004 - 10,507,000 - 34,122 sold in 2004
2005 - 10,519,000 - 12,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 10,525,000 - 6,000 sold in 2006
2007 - tbc

Virtually stopped selling and overtaken by The Beatles in 2006 losing it's place in the Top 10.

12) - Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

10,296,000 jan 2008

A new entry. Will add historical figures when I have them. Still selling strongly so should overtake Britney within 12-18 months.


13) - Cracked Rear View Mirror - Hootie/Blowfish (1995)

1995 - 7m - 7,000,000 sold in 1995
1996 - 8.7m - 1,700,000 sold in 1996
1997 - n/a
1998 - 9.7m
1999 - 9,817,666 - 117,666 sold in 1999
2000 - n/a
2001 - n/a
2002 - n/a
2003 - n/a
2004 - 10,058,000
2005 - 10,103,000 - sold 45,000 in 2005
2006 - 10,123,000 - sold 20,000 in 2006
2007 - tbc


14) - Titanic - Soundtrack (1998)

1998 - 9,330,000 - 9,330,000 sold in 1998
1999 - 9,806,175 - 476,175 sold in 1999
2000 - 9,897,900 - 91,725 sold in 2000
2001 - 9,960,000 - 62,100 sold in 2001
2002 - n/a
2003 - n/a
2004 - 10,057,000
2005 - 10,076,000 - 19,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 10,096,000 - 20,000 sold in 2006
2007 - tbc

Sold only 20k in 2006, but enough to move up one place. Pushed back down to 14th in 2007 by Norah Jones.


15) - Back Street Boys - Back Street Boys (1997)

1997 - 1.3m - 1,300,000 sold in 1997
1998 - 7m - 5,700,000 sold in 1998
1999 - 9,258,265 - 2,300,000 sold in 1999
2000 - n/a
2001 - n/a
2002 - n/a
2003 - n/a
2004 - 10,074,000
2005 - 10,084,000 - 10,000 sold in 2005
2006 - 10,091,000 - 7,000 sold in 2006
2007 - tbc

Sales were so poor that is was overtaken by Titanic in 2006 and Norah Jones in 2007.


16) - Marshall Mathers - Eminem (2000)

2000 - 7,922,000 - 7,922,000 sold in 2000
2001 - n/a
2002 - n/a
2003 - n/a
2004 - n/a
2005 - 9,919,000
2006 - 10,010,000 - sold 91,000 in 2006
2007 - tbc

A new entry in 2006.


So 16 albums have scanned more than 10,000,000 in US stores.


None of the albums over 9m soundscan look likely to reach the 10m mark in 2008.

[whyme]

This is a great analysis!!! good job.
please post more information like this.

Would have yearly sales for no doubt's Tragic Kingdom?

[Fedepeti]

Great information, thanks Basil.

[Basil]

Brandy-Brandy-4 Million
Never Say Never-5.8Million
Full Moon-1.2 Million
Afrodisiac-500,000

=11.5Million (USA)

Sure, I've had a look at her catalogue and I'll take that figure. Will add to list.

Many thanks Zuzu.

[Basil]

This is a great analysis!!! good job.
please post more information like this.

Would have yearly sales for no doubt's Tragic Kingdom?

Many thanks whyme. Because all this information is in fragments and from many different sources, it really does take a long time to put together.

I've nothing ready on yearly sales immediately, but will continue to work on it until there is more to present.

I don't have No Doubt yearly sales to hand, but if I find any I'll post them for you.

[Basil]

Great information, thanks Basil.

Thanks for your appreciation Fedepeti. I've Part Three to post as soon as figures are ready.

By the way, well done with your help on the Rolling Stones thread by scalcioffa. Do you have any information from South America for that thread? The Stones sold plenty of tickets for River Plate, do they sell many albums there?

[pagronek]

Great thread with credible info. Basil, you are becoming one of the stars of this forum.

[juan]

Basil,do you have sales in the soundscan era for the Bee gees .The record and one night only have sold well over 1 million and still waters ,number ones ,bee gees greatest and saturday night fever have been all good sellers.

THanks so much in advance

[Fedepeti]

Great information, thanks Basil.

Thanks for your appreciation Fedepeti. I've Part Three to post as soon as figures are ready.

By the way, well done with your help on the Rolling Stones thread by scalcioffa. Do you have any information from South America for that thread? The Stones sold plenty of tickets for River Plate, do they sell many albums there?

They are very big here, and the most famous artist among the young people: 15-25 years old boys and girls with Stones t-shirts, gangs of Stones fans hanging around in the streets and hundreds of local bands "a la Rolling Stones".
With that amazing fan base, every album since Flashpoint made the Top 4 here.
We don't have Rap here, that music is trash for the 90% of the country. The same goes for country and 80% of the Billboard Hot 100.
The taste of music here is like the 70's.

Look the current Top 10 Airplay in Argentina:
tw / lw / wks on chart / artist-song
1 2 9 DIEGO TORRES Y VICENTICO - Usted (LATIN)
2 6 7 CHAYANNE - Contra vientos y mareas (LATIN)
3 1 24 ARBOL - Pequeños sueños (Stones clone)
4 7 11 GREEN DAY - Boulevard of broken dreams
5 12 7 U2 - Sometimes you can't make it on your own
6 3 13 BAHIANO - Oyelo (Stones clone)
7 5 15 JUANES - Volverte a ver (LATIN)
8 4 24 CATUPECU MACHU - Magia veneno (Stones' clone)
9 8 15 ATTAQUE 77 - Arrancacorazones (Stones' clone)
10 9 17 ROBBIE WILLIAMS - Misunderstood

[Herkenrath]

A most splendid thread!

[scalcioffa]

Wow!
Basil, your work is incredible!
Great care of the details.

....I want to live in Argentina!

[Basil]

Great thread with credible info. Basil, you are becoming one of the stars of this forum.

Much thanks for your appreciation pagronek.

I hope this will be a useful resource for the forum and will try to keep it up to date. Will also add more figures as I get them.

Cheers

[Basil]

Basil,do you have sales in the soundscan era for the Bee gees .The record and one night only have sold well over 1 million and still waters ,number ones ,bee gees greatest and saturday night fever have been all good sellers.

THanks so much in advance

I wish I did have the Bee Gees figures juan. If I find them they'll get posted here.

Ask Hanboo on his US chart thread - I think he has figures on their last 3 releases.

SNF has probably sold 3.5 to 4.5m but I have no definite figure.

However, if you look at their releases since 1991 and their back catalogue before that, it is unlikely that their total soundscan figure would be more than 10 million. I'll keep looking for the figures, though.

[Basil]

A most splendid thread!

Many thanks. I hope to improve it further though.

[Basil]

Wow!
Basil, your work is incredible!
Great care of the details.

....I want to live in Argentina!

Thanks scalcioffa - you've highlighted the most important factor in any figures and statistics - the detail! Trouble is, that's what takes the time.

A small table of figures may take days to complete as you research every figure and date. It's worth it, because the foundations are then always very strong and you can build on them with confidence.

Will post Part Three soon.

[juan]

Thanks Basil for your response ,always willing to help.

[Fedepeti]

Wow!
....I want to live in Argentina!

A great country man!

[Basil]

This is a companion to my thread that deals with All Time USA sales. A mix of the latest riaa awards, soundscan figures per album and record club sales it covers all Top Selling Albums exceeding 5 million sales and all the Best Selling Double Albums exceeding 250,000 sales and can be found at

http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.p ... 47&start=0

In this case, we are dealing with albums scanned in US stores from 25th March 1991. This uses all the figures I amassed that were not appropriate to the other thread.

NOTE - a drop in some figures between sep 2005 and dec 2005 is due to a change in compilation methods.

Historical Totals - Top Selling Artists - Soundscan Era

Top Five Bands

1 - The Beatles

42.2m dec 2001
42.6m mar 2002
44.2m end 2002
47.2m end 2003
49.7m jun 2004
51.2m sep 2005
50.8m dec 2005
51.3m apr 2006
53.7m dec 2006
55.7m dec 2007

Though SS didn't start until 20 after their break-up, they are easily the top band and just continue to sell going further and further ahead.

2 - Metallica

33.2m feb 1999
35.9m may 2000
40.2m mar 2002
44.4m jan 2004
47.6m sep 2005
47.0m dec 2005
47.2m apr 2006
47.9m dec 2006
48.7m dec 2007

They've slowed recently with no new album, but one is finally due in 2008.

3 - Pink Floyd

26.6m dec 2001
31.5m sep 2005
32.0m dec 2005
33.4m dec 2006
34.5m dec 2007

The kings of catalogue sales, it is their studio albums that make the running with the last being in 1994!

4 - U2

25.8m sep 2004
29.6m sep 2005
30.0m dec 2005
31.4m dec 2006
32.1m dec 2007

Decent catalogue sales and new release due in 2008.


5 - Backstreet Boys

29.1m mar 2002
29.5m mar 2005
30.2m sep 2005
30.3m dec 2005
30.4m dec 2006
30.6m dec 2007

Hang on to 5th place despite minimal catalogue sales and new album barely selling. Most likely threat to 5th place is The Eagles perhaps in 2009.

Top Five Male Artists

1 - Garth Brooks

59.8m feb 1999
63.9m dec 2001
64.4m mar 2002
66.1m sep 2005
65.9m dec 2005
66.0m apr 2006
66.0m dec 2006
67.4m dec 2007

At least 95% of his sales are in the Soundscan Era. Huge sales in the 1990's, his sales have really dropped off this decade - even before the Walmart deal effectively froze his soundscan total.

However, he is now back in the game - though with no new release due, his catalogue sales likely to fall in 2008.

2 - George Strait

31.9m jul 2004
35.5m sep 2005
36.0m dec 2005
37.9m dec 2006
39.2m dec 2007

He'll never catch Garth, but another cracking year keeps him comfortably in 2nd.

3 - Tim McGraw

26.3m jul 2004
30.5m may 2005
30.9m sep 2005
31.4m dec 2005
34.0m dec 2006
36.4m dec 2007

Moved to 4th in 2006 and then surged past Alan Jackson. Hot property right now.


4 - Alan Jackson

29.9m jul 2004
31.6m jun 2005
31.7m sep 2005
32.0m dec 2005
34.4m dec 2006
35.3m dec 2007

Climbed into 3rd place during 2006, but has been smoked by Tim McGraw back to 4th. His recent studio albums have not been the usual huge sellers.


5 - Kenny G

27.0m nov 2000
31.7m sep 2005
32.1m dec 2005
32.7m dec 2006
33.1m dec 2007

Plunged from 3rd to 5th in 2006. Looked to lose out to Eminem imminently but that didn't happen as the latter's sales just collapsed.


None of these guys seem to sell much outside the United States

Top Five Female Artists

1 - Mariah Carey

37.7m feb 1999
40.4m dec 2001
40.5m mar 2002
43.0m mar 2005
46.3m sep 2005
48.3m dec 2005
49.1m apr 2006
49.6m dec 2006
49.9m dec 2007

Rose to the top in 2005. Will need decent sales of her new album in 2008 to stay ahead.

2 - Celine Dion

39.2m mar 2002
45.6m jul 2004
46.9m sep 2005
47.8m dec 2005
48.0m apr 2006
48.4m dec 2006
49.7m dec 2007

With the Las Vegas run now over, has made a promising return. Whether or not she can regain the #1 spot depends a lot on release schedules in 2008/9.

3 - Shania Twain

29.1m jul 2004
32.7m sep 2005
32.9m dec 2005
33.3m dec 2006
33.5m dec 2007

Her 3rd place is under no threat, but unlikely to ever catch the Top 2. New album due in 2008.

4 - Britney Spears

28.2m sep 2005
28.3m dec 2005
28.5m dec 2006
29.2m dec 2007

Sales of the new album were disappointing so her 4th place is now looking a bit shakey.

5 - Reba McEntire

25.2m sep 2005
25.9m dec 2005
26.4m dec 2006
28.0m dec 2007

Surprising return to form in 2007 suddenly closes the gap with Britney. However, will need strong new album in 2008 to move up.

[Basil]

Some further Historical soundscan totals.

Eminem
18.6m sep 2002
23.8m sep 2004
28.6m may 2005
29.2m sep 2005
30.6m dec 2005
32.5m dec 2006
32.9m dec 2007

Was motoring, but really hit the buffers in 2007 - all his albums including Curtain Call only sold 399k.

N'Sync
27.6m mar 2005
27.6m sep 2005
27.7m dec 2005
27.9m dec 2006
28.0m dec 2007

Seem to have almost ceased selling.

Aerosmith
25.4m jan 2004
27.0m sep 2005
27.4m dec 2005
28.2m dec 2006
28.7m dec 2007

2 Pac
24.4m dec 2004
28.1m dec 2005
29.1m dec 2006
31.4m dec 2007

Actually sold 492k in 2007. His totals were adjusted upwards for albums under different names. In the soundscan era his collaborations have scanned 1.562m - which would give a total of 33m.

Madonna
23.9m end 2003
24.2m jul 2004
24.0m dec 2005 (+2m with Evita)
24.9m dec 2006 (+2m with Evita)
25.3m dec 2007 (+2.1m with Soundtracks)

Elvis Presley
18.5m sep 2002
26.4m sep 2005
26.8m dec 2005
28.1m dec 2006
29.5m dec 2007

11 million sales in the past 5 years

Elton John
23.0m jun 2004
24.0m sep 2005
24.3m dec 2005
25.1m dec 2006
25.8m dec 2007

Dixie Chicks
23.0m dec 2004
23.4m sep 2005
23.4m dec 2005
25.6m dec 2006
26.4m dec 2007

AC/DC
20.1m jan 2004
22.6m sep 2005
23.2m dec 2005
24.6m dec 2006
25.7m dec 2007

Frank Sinatra
18.7m sep 2002
23.4m sep 2005
23.8m dec 2005
24.8m dec 2006
25.6m dec 2007

His collaborations have scanned 1.8m since 1991, which would raise his total to 27.4m. His first album charted in 1946!

Guns n Roses
18.7m jan 2004
21.6m sep 2005
22.0m dec 2005
22.9m dec 2006
23.6m dec 2007

Toby Keith
16.1m jul 2004
21.0m aug 2005
21.0m sep 2005
21.9m dec 2005
24.1m dec 2006
25.7m dec 2007

Big new country seller

The Rolling Stones
20.9m aug 2005
21.0m sep 2005
22.0m dec 2005
23.0m dec 2006
23.6m dec 2007

[Basil]

Thanks to thebigham for posting the following updates.

Updates on the Top 10 Artists
Garth Brooks 69.6m jul 2014
The Beatles 65.8m jul 2014
Metallica 54.42 jul 2014 - (53.7m mar2013)
Mariah Carey 54.6m mar 2015 - 54.40m jul 2014)
Celine Dion 52.4m mar 2015
Eminem 45.160m jun 2014 - (42.183m may 2013)
George Strait 44.89m mar 2014
Tim McGraw 41.844m dec 2013
Alan Jackson 40.361m dec 2013
Pink Floyd 38.508m dec 2013

Recent Updates on the Top 40 Artists
Elvis Presley 35.555m jul 2013 - (33.656m nov 2011)
Michael Jackson 34.723m may 2014
Shania Twain 34.5m mar 2015 - (34.250m dec 2012)
Britney Spears 33.1m mar 2015
AC/DC 31.901m dec 2012 - (31.489m nov 2011)
Pearl Jam 31.785m oct 2013
Aerosmith 31.702m aug 2013
Eric Clapton 30.832m jan 2013 - (30.432m nov 2011)
Reba McEntire 30.4m mar 2015 - (30.118m dec 2012)
Rod Stewart 30m jan 2013 - (28.811m nov 2011)
Toby Keith 30m dec 2013
2 Pac 29.235m jun 2014 - (28.962m may 2013) - (28.559m nov 2011)
Jay Z 29.179m jun 2014
Frank Sinatra 28.737m jul 2013
Madonna 28.2m mar 2015
Taylor Swift 27.67m mar 2015
Dixie Chicks 27.2m may 2013 - (26.941m nov 2011)

Recent Updates on other Artists
Nirvana 26.410m oct 2013
Led Zeppelin 25m dec 2012 - (22.056m jan 2008)
Johnny Cash 25m jul 2013
Kid Rock 25m dec 2013
Linkin Park 24.590m jun 2014
Usher 23.8m mar 2015
Nickelback 23.057m jun 2014
Rascal Flatts 22.790m jun 2014
Josh Groban 22.313m jun 2014
Nelly 21.817m jun 2014
LeAnn Rimes 20.500m dec 2012 - (19.809m jan 2008)
Adele 20,28m dec 2015
Faith Hill 20.105m nov 2012 - (18.965m jan 2008)
Queen 20m jun 2011 - (18.508m jan 2008)
Van Halen 20m mar 2013 - (17.909m jan 2008)
Lynyrd Skynyrd 20m nov 2013
Bob Marley 20m jan 2014
Norah Jones 19.013m jun 2014
Alicia Keys 18.4m mar 2015
Coldplay 18.3m mar 2015
Michael Buble 18.055m jun 2014
Christine Aguilera 17.9m sep 2014
Destiny' Child 17.4m dec 2015
Jimi Hendrix 16.7m mar 2013 - (13.4m mar 2005)
Pink 16.062m jun 2014 - (15m mar 2013)
Beyonce 16m dec 2015
Harry Connick Jnr 15m dec 2012
Carrie Underwood 14.667m jun 2014
Kanye West 14.6m mar 2015
Kelly Clarkson 13.429m jun 2014
Justin Timberlake 11.993m jun 2014 - (10m may 2013)
Justin Beiber 10.630m jun 2014
Rhianna 10.3m mar 2015
Jason Aldean 10.1m mar 2015

Some other Artist totals that have scanned more than 1 million albums. Most of these figures are from 2005
Beastie Boys 20.384m jul 2013
Prince 18.5m apr 2014
DMX - 17.124m jun 2014
50 Cent - 16.774m jun 2014 - (15.4m jun 2008) - (13.6m may 2006)
Dr Dre - 15.3m jun 2008 (12.4m 2005)
John Mayer - 14.799m jun 2014
Toni Braxton - 14.5m may 2008
Matchbox Twenty - 14.4m jan 2006
Jewel - 14.3m jan 2006
Ludacris - 14.273m jun 2014
Lenny Kravitz - 14.0m jan 2006
Hootie & The Blowfish - 14.0m jan 2006
Grateful Dead - 13.8m
3 Doors Down - 13.336m jun 2014
Avril Lavigne - 12.305m jun 2014
Kenny Rogers - 11.9m
Stone Temple Pilots - 11.8m
Spice Girls - 11.8m
Ice Cube - 11.7m
Maroon 5 - 11.576m jun 2014
Beach Boys - 11.5m
Nine Inch Nails - 11.5m
Jack Johnson - 11.432m jun 2014
Evanescence - 11.257m jun 2014
Gloria Estafan - 11.1m
Notorious B.I.G. 0 11.1m
Marvin Gaye - 11.0m
Alice in Chains - 11.0m
Disturbed 10.624m jun 2014
Phil Collins - 10.4m
Rage Against the Machine - 10.2m feb 2007
Ice Cube - 10.0m
Billy Ray Cyrus - 10.0m jan 2007
Cypress Hill - 9.86m
Master P - 9.7m
Miles Davis - 9.5m
Whitney Houston - 9.1m
Temptations - 9.1m jan 2007
Ray Charles - 8.9m
Creedence Clearwater Revival - 8.5m
Brian McKnight - 8.4m
Genesis - 8.3m
Depeche Mode - 8.2m nov 2007
Brandy - 8.1m
Simon & Garfunkel - 8.0m
Radiohead - 8.0m
Aaliyah - 8.0m - jan 2006
Bee Gees - 7.9m (plus 1.8m SNF soundtrack)
Tracey Chapman - 7.9m
Motley Crue - 7.7m
Black Crowes - 7.5m
Kiss - 7.4m
Megadeth - 7.2m
System Of A Down - 7.2m
Paul McCartney/Wings - 7.2m jan 2006
Pantera - 7.1m
Tori Amos - 7.1m
Beck - 7.1m feb 2007
The Cure - 6.8m
Earth Wind and Fire - 6.8m
Queensryche - 6.7m
Aretha Franklin - 6.6m
Black Sabbath - 6.6m
Oasis - 6.44m
Linda Ronstadt - 5.9m
Marilyn Manson - 5.9m
Abba - 5.88m
Anita Baker - 5.8m
Poison - 5.3m
Lionel Richie - 5.1m
Gerald Levert - 4.8m
Iron Maiden - 4.6m
Poison - 4.6m
NWA - 4.5m
Tesla - 4.4m
James Brown - 4.2m
Yes - 4.2m
Slipknot - 3.9m
John Lennon - 3.6m jan 2006
Fiona Apple - 3.6m
Slayer - 3.6m
Nicki Minaj - 3.4m mar 2015
Joe Satriani - 3.3m
Daft Punk - 3.3m mar 2015
Hole - 3.2m
O'Jays - 3.2m
Skid Row - 3.1m
ELO - 3.0m dec 2006
Alice Cooper - 3m
Jackson Five - 2.9m
Hall and Oates - 2.9m
Talking Heads - 2.7m
The Mamas and the Papas - 2.6m aug 2006
Arcade Fire 2.6m mar 2015
Donna Summer - 2.5m
Anthrax - 2.5m
Supertramp - 2.3m aug 2006
America - 2.2m
Cream - 2.2m jan 2006
Roxette - 2.1m
Dream Theatre - 2.1m feb 2007
Whitesnake - 2m
Faith No More - 1.9m
Elvis Costello - 1.9m jan 2006
The Strokes - 1.8m
Four Tops - 1.7m sep 2006
The Supremes - 1.7m jan 2007
Diana Ross - 1.8m
ELP - 1.6m dec 2006
Kool & The Gang - 1.6m
Blur - 1.6m
Sonic Youth - 1.6m
P J Harvey - 1.3m
Smokey Robinson - 1.1m sep 2006

Thanks again Hanboo.