Top Selling Music Artists. Three Jacksons, Dirty Dancing, The Beatles and Adele: the world's best-selling music albums The best singers of all time
Aerosmith is one of the oldest living bands in history (almost forty-five years) and claims to be the best-selling American rock band in history with over 150 million sold worldwide. Despite this fact, no one can be sure that cumulative sales of any artist worldwide, from what we know from available markets worldwide, Aerosmith has not sold more than 95 million albums.
Barbra Streisand - 97 million
With fifty-one gold, thirty platinum and thirteen multi-platinum albums and 71.5 million albums sold in the United States alone, Barbra Streisand is the best-selling female artist in US history and one of the very few to have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony. However, its worldwide sales total of over 250 million are wildly exaggerated, especially considering that its commercial success was never as strong overseas as it was in the domestic market.
Bruce Springsteen - 100 million
"The Boss" has always been a hard-working man who has earned numerous awards for his music, including an incredible twenty Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award, among others. Additionally, he was inducted into both the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame in 1999 with his latest album, High Hopes. It reached the magic number of 100 million certified unit sales worldwide.
Billy Joel - over 100 million
Billy Joel, although not very widely known among Millennials, is the third best-selling artist in the US behind Elvis and Garth Brooks with his Greatest Hits Vol. 1 & 2, it was certified platinum twenty-three times, making it the third best-selling album of all time in the United States. A member of the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Billy Joel is also one of the best-selling albums ever with official certified sales of over 100 million.
The Rolling Stones - over 100 million
It may surprise many readers, but the Rolling Stones, the liveliest band in history, have not sold as many albums as one might think. Their estimated sales figures are believed to be over 200 million, but their certified units sold, to put it another way, with no more than half that figure.
U2 - 105 million
U2 started out as a small experimental band from Ireland and took the world by storm, largely thanks to their charismatic lead singer Bono. During their epic career, they won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other group, and in 2005 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Additionally, their U2 360° Tour set an incredible record for the highest-grossing concert tour with $736 million in ticket sales, as well as over 7.2 million tickets sold. Not bad, right?
Queen - 105+ million
With eighteen number one albums, and eighteen number one singles in the US, UK and European charts combined with classic hits such as “We Will Rock You”, “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “ We Are the Champions,” are kings in music history. Additionally, their Greatest Hits (1981) album is the best-selling album in UK history with 6 million and total sales ranging from 150 to 300 million, and over 105 million certified copies sold.
AC/DC - 110 million
AC/DC are estimated to have sold over 200 million albums worldwide, including 71.5 million in the United States alone, while their epic album Back In Black sold around 40 million units worldwide with 22 million of them in the USA. Their certified sales are 110 million worldwide, but it is obvious that they have sold more.
Whitney Houston - 112 million
Whitney broke several records during her short but legendary life: She is the only performer to have seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits; her 1985 debut album, Whitney Houston, became the best-selling debut by a woman at the time, and her famous remake of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" became the best-selling female single in music history, while Bodyguard is one of the best-selling soundtracks to date. With certified sales of over 112 million and countless awards and accolades to her name, Whitney Houston's greatest legacy will always be her incredible voice.
Eminem - 115 million
Eminem is the best-selling hip-hop artist of all time and the best-selling artist of the 2000s. Official album sales reach 45 million in the United States alone. His album and single sales (including digital) are over 155 million, but we only calculated physical sales like we did for the rest of the artists on our list.
Pink Floyd - 115+ million
According to their record company, the legendary group has sold more than 250 million records worldwide, including 74.5 million certified units in the United States. Despite their undeniable commercial success, however, it is claimed that their fame and musical legacy can be attributed to their unique use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, and live performances, which had a huge influence on many of the famous groups and solo artists that followed them.
Celine Dion -125 million
Celine Dion is the only female artist to have two singles sell over a million copies in the UK, and her 1995 album D'Eux is a bestseller on French, the album of all times to date. Not bad for a girl who started her music career from Eurovision. In 2004, she was presented with Chopard's Diamond Award at the World Music Awards, becoming the best-selling female artist of all time, an award that has been highly controversial for its accuracy.
However, Dion undoubtedly remains one of the best-selling female artists of all time, with certified sales of over 125 million copies and her record label celebrating over 200 million albums sold worldwide.
Mariah Carey - 130 million
Let's take a deep breath and start with Mariah's commercial achievements: her duet with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day," spent a record sixteen weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and remains the longest-running number one in US history;
She was the best-selling recording artist of the 1990s; she has eighteen number one singles in the US, making her the artist with the most number one singles in history, and to top it all off, she has a vocal range of five octaves and her use of a signature register The whistle made her famous all over the world.
Eagles - 130+ million
According to official numbers, the Eagles are the best-selling American rock band of all time, with an estimated total of over 150 million records worldwide, which seems realistic when you consider that their certified album sales are over 130 million-plus. and more than 100 million of them in the US alone. Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) shares first place with Michael Jackson's Thriller as the best-selling album ever in the US with 29 million copies sold, which is one of the best-selling albums worldwide with 45 million copies sold worldwide. .
Led Zeppelin - 140 million
According to various sources, official Led Zeppelin record sales should be somewhere between 200 and 300 million units worldwide. With RIAA certified sales of 111.5 million, they are the second best-selling group in the United States behind the Beatles and one of the most commercially successful musical achievements in history.
Garth Brooks - 145 million
Garth Brooks is statistically the best-selling music artist in US history, ranking third behind the Beatles and Elvis Presley. He is the solo artist with the most diamond albums in RIAA history, and six of his albums have achieved sales of over 10 million units. Currently, his albums continue to break records and according to Nielsen SoundScan, his album sales through 2014 are approximately $70 million, making him the best-selling singer in the United States since the advent of the SoundScan era (1991 to present). Simply put, Garth is the absolute musical king of the country.
Elton John - 162 million
Elton John dominated the pop and rock airwaves throughout the 70s, catapulting him to superstar status around the world. By then he was thirty. The 1997 version of "Candle in the Wind," which was rewritten to mark Princess Diana's birthday, has sold more than 33 million copies worldwide and is considered the best-selling single of all time. With estimated sales of over 250 million records worldwide, Elton John is the best-selling British solo artist ever, and the second best-selling British music king of all time, behind only the Beatles.
Madonna - 166 million
Madonna is one of very few singers in history to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of induction. Her record company claims that the phenomenal artist has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. She was also recognized as the best-selling female recording of all time and was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Knowing Madonna's global influence in the music world, we have no reason to doubt any of these facts. However, its certified sales through available official markets barely reach 170 million.
Michael Jackson - $175 million
Despite Michael Jackson's celebrity, his record labels always exaggerate greatly about their sales and achievements, however, there is no doubt that the "King of Pop" set numerous records during his epic career, including the best-selling album of all time (Thriller), the best-selling music video of all time, and has won more music awards than any other musician or group in history. However, the figure of 750 million records sold is inaccurate and his certified sales do not exceed 175 million to date, while his fans have made claims of estimated total sales of around 350-400 million worldwide.
Elvis Presley - 210 million
"The King" is the only solo artist in history to break the 200 million barrier, and the amazing thing is that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) first began tracking sales of Elvis Presley's music in 1958, which means they include many of the successful records released before this year. Even so, Elvis has more gold (90), platinum (52) and multi-platinum (25) album awards than any musician and is the best-selling solo artist of all time in the United States. However, RCA's claim that Elvis sold more than one billion records is ridiculous, considering that Elvis did not sell more than 600 million records worldwide.
The Beatles - 265 million
The Beatles hold first place in the world in terms of sales, and this is not an exaggeration. They have greatest number albums ranked first in the American charts with 19; most number one singles in the US with 20; most number one albums in the UK charts. They have sold more singles in the UK than any other artist. According to the RIAA, the Beatles are the best-selling group active in the United States, with 178 million certified units sold, and they are also the best in the UK, Germany, and the rest of Europe.
Despite all the recordings they have made and being the most famous musical group of the twentieth century, their claim to 1.5 billion records worldwide has been proven false, even if it seems very possible for them. They may become the first musicians in the near future and break the 300 million certified sales barrier if their albums continue to sell over the past two decades.
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Musician maybe brilliant, talented and very famous, however, in modern world the objective measure of success is money, namely, profit from the sale of his creations. And how else can you accurately determine the global popularity of an artist other than by counting the number of “records” sold?
1. Thriller by Michael Jackson
Tops the honor list Thriller music album from the king of pop Michael Jackson. This album is considered the best-selling music album of all time. Thriller was released on November 30, 1982 and was Michael Jackson's sixth studio album. For this album, Jackson wrote four songs himself: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "The Girl is Mine" with Paul McCartney.After the release of the first single from the Thriller album, "The Girl Is Mine" - a duet with Paul McCartney, some music observers believed that the album would not be a big success, however, after the release of the second single, "Billie Jean", the album rose to the top of the charts.
In particular, according to Billboard magazine, which publishes music charts, Thriller included in the best-selling albums record 122 weeks.
Michael Jackson's Thriller is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling album in the history of popular music. The total number of sales of the famous record amounted to 110 million copies.
2. The Dark Side of The Moon by Pink Floyd
The second and third positions are practically shared by two cult rock bands, which, according to various estimates, have sold approximately the same number of copies of music albums - about 50 million copies. These are the British group Pink Floyd and the album The Dark Side of The Moon, as well as the Australian AC/DC with the album Back in Black.The Dark Side of The Moon - eighth studio album Pink Floyd, released March 24, 1973. This the group's most successful album. Due to the enormous popularity of the album and the number of its sales, there was a legend in the 70s according to which, At any given time, the album is theoretically listened to by at least one person in the world. According to another legend, there was a factory in Germany that produced only copies of this record.
The total number of sales in the world, according to Bloomberg, is more than 50 million copies.
3. Back in Black by AC/DC
The rock band AC/DC, which was abandoned by critics after the death of lead singer Bon Scott, released a record in 1980 Back in Black which became one of the best-selling music albums of all time. The album cover was made almost entirely black, in memory of the band's late lead singer Bon Scott. The album was remastered twice and was re-released in 1997 as part of the Bonfire set and in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series. Back in Black has sold approximately 50 million copies.
4. The Bodyguard by Whitney Houston
The soundtrack from the film "The Bodyguard" includes both songs by Whitney Houston and compositions by other artists. It was released on November 17, 1992. The popularity of the film and its main musical theme was so high that Whitney Houston became the first singer to succeed sell over a million copies of the album in one week. In addition, the soundtrack won a Grammy in the category "Best Album of the Year". The album currently has cumulative worldwide sales of over 44 million copies, making the soundtrack one of the best-selling albums in history.5. Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf
American music album singer Meat Loaf- Bat Out of Hell, released October 21, 1977. It is noteworthy that the author gained worldwide fame, after releasing his trilogy of three albums: Bat Out of Hell (“Bat from Hell” - author), Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell (“Bat from Hell 2: Back to Hell” " - author) and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster is Loose ("Bat from Hell 3: defeat of the monster" - author).In total, since 1977, more than 43 million copies of the Bat Out of Hell album have been sold worldwide. And for more than 30 years, the album has sold about 200 thousand copies annually.
6. Their Greatest Hits
Collection of hits from the group Eagles - Their Greatest Hits- released in 1976, sold 29 million copies. Along with Michael Jackson's Thriller album, the group's compilation is the most popular album in the US. In total, their albums have sold 65 million copies in America, making them the third most popular band of all time in the United States after The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.
7. Dirty Dancing
Soundtrack to the movie "Dirty Dancing" went down in the history of the recording industry as one of the best-selling albums. The music for the film “Dirty Dancing” was acquired long ago phenomenon status. Sixteen years after its initial release, the film's original soundtrack and three subsequent releases have sold over 32 million copies. What is especially surprising and without a doubt the main reason for the long-term popularity of the soundtrack is the amazing combination of music from the 60s, in which the events in the film take place, with the sound of the 80s - the time of the film's production - fully corresponding to the context of the drama taking place.8. "The Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber
"Phantom of the Opera"- a musical based on the novel of the same name by French writer Gaston Leroux - is rightfully considered an outstanding achievement of British musical theater of the 80s. For London and New York, the performance "The Phantom of the Opera" is one of the attractions, a must-see place of pilgrimage for thousands of tourists from all over the world. Despite the fact that the dark and romantic story about a supernatural creature that lived in a dungeon under the Paris Opera House has been filmed several times, for many, many people associate the name “The Phantom of the Opera” with the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Soundtrack "The Music of the Night" from the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" became a hit, and the record sold 40 million copies.9.Backstreet Boys
Self-titled album by teenagers from the American band Backstreet Boys was released in 1996 in Canada and several countries in Europe and Asia and became the debut for the group. Some of the songs from this album in 1997, along with some compositions from the Backstreet’s Back album, were included in a special American edition called Backstreet Boys (US). The album went gold and platinum in 38 countries. Its sales are about 32 million copies.10. Spirits Having Flown by the Bee Gees
Spirits Having Flow appeared on store shelves in February 1979 and became the fifteenth album by the legendary British trio the Bee Gees. The compositions of this record immediately topped the charts in America and England, as well as Australia and Europe, making the album the most successful in the Bee Gees discography. The album sold approximately 30 million copies.
Happy listening!
The most popular rock bands in the world of all time
The 20 most successful bands in the history of world rock music can be determined by the number of CDs with their albums sold.
So, the group is in 20th place Journey(Journey). Since 1973, this San Francisco rock band has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide.
In 19th place is an American hard rock band Van Halen, founded in 1972 in California by Dutch-born brothers Edward and Alex Van Halen. Over the entire history of this band, 80 million albums have been sold.
Legendary American rock band The Doors(Doors), formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, has sold approximately 100 million albums worldwide. The Doors became the first American band to release 8 gold albums in a row.
Def Leppard(can be translated as deaf leopard) is a British rock band formed in 1977. To date, this group has sold more than 100 million albums.
One of the most shocking rock bands - KISS founded in 1973 in New York. Thanks to the crazy makeup and stage costumes, even people who are not interested in rock music recognize the musicians of this group. Kiss has forty-five gold and platinum albums and has sold over 100 million records.
Guns N' Roses(Trunks and Roses or Guns and Roses), a Los Angeles-based band formed in 1985. More than 100 million albums of this band have been sold worldwide. This is the youngest group on this list. However, their record sales are comparable to the grandfathers of rock and roll.
The Who(Who) are a British rock band formed in 1964. They were the first to start breaking instruments on stage after the performance. More than 100 million albums of this band have been sold worldwide.
Legendary Metallica- the only group in history that performed on all continents of the Earth, including Antarctica, and in one year, 2013. Sold approx. 110 million albums all over the world.
Bruce Springsteen, an American rock and folk musician from New Jersey, is one of the highest paid rock performers in the world. A twenty-time Grammy Award winner, winner of the Oscar and Golden Globe cinema awards for the best songs for the films “Philadelphia” and “The Wrestler,” Bruce has sold 120 million discs with his songs around the world.
Forever young and energetic Jon Bon Jovi, lead singer of the American rock band Bon Jovi from New Jersey, which was formed in 1983, has released 12 studio albums, five compilations and two live albums. In total, the group's albums have sold 130 million copies.
Eagles(The Eagles) are an American rock band performing melodic guitar-driven country rock and soft rock. Even people far from rock music have probably heard their immortal hit “Hotel California” more than once. Their Greatest Hits 1971–1975, released in 1976, sold 29 million copies and remains the best-selling album in US history. In total, about 150 million of their albums have been sold.
Aerosmith- American rock band from Boston. 150 million albums sold. In terms of the number of gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums, Aerosmith is the first among American groups.
U2(pronounced "Yu tu") are a rock band from Dublin, Ireland, formed in 1976. The group's albums have sold approximately 180 million copies. They have twenty-two Grammy awards to their credit, more than any other group in the world.
AC/DC(translation - alternating / direct current) is an Australian rock band from Sydney (Australia), founded in 1973 by immigrants from Scotland, brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. One of the pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal. The total circulation of discs with their albums is 200 million copies.
Group Queen(Queen) - a cult British group of the 70-90s of the last century. The group has released fifteen studio albums, five live albums and numerous compilations. Many compositions performed by Freddie Mercury have long become classics. Thus, the six-minute composition Bohemian Rhapsody, which combines the features of rock, pop music and opera, is today named the song of the millennium in the UK. In total, Queen has sold approximately 200 million albums worldwide.
Another legendary English rock band The Rolling Stones(rolling stones or tumbleweeds) was founded in 1962. The worldwide circulation of Rolling Stones albums has exceeded 250 million.
Pink Floyd- a British rock band founded in 1965, famous for their philosophical lyrics, acoustic experiments, innovations in album design and grandiose shows. The worldwide circulation of Pink Floyd albums has exceeded 250 million.
And again the British are a British rock band founded in 1968 - Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin is number one on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. In total, their albums have sold 300 million copies.
The King of Rock and Roll, American singer and actor, Elvis Presley(Elvis Presley) ranks second in the number of discs sold - 600 million copies!
Obviously, the first place is occupied by the immortal Liverpool four Beatles (The Beatles - Beetles). Just imagine: a total of 2.3 billion of their discs have been sold worldwide!
Thus, the most commercially successful and popular groups emerged from England, not America. Indeed, with the exception of Elvis, the leaders of this ranking come from the UK. Although there are no comrades for the taste and color.
A lot of time has passed from the first charts to today. The criteria for assessing the “marketability” and popularity of musicians have changed. They are influenced by various factors - from moral values to the state of global financial policy.
But there are celebrities whose popularity the Pope himself will not challenge. The 25 most expensive artists whose albums are selling out faster than hot cakes will be discussed below.
25. Rod Stewart - 76 million copies
Six of his albums and six singles took first place in the UK charts. 16 of Rod Stewart's singles entered the American top 10. He can rightfully be considered one of the most successful solo performers of our time.
24. Britney Spears – 80 million
Britney is one of the greatest stars pop musician who achieved fame at a young age. Her commercial success is comparable to that of Madonna and Michael Jackson. True, her record company's claim of selling 200 million singles is somewhat exaggerated.
23. Phil Collins – 85+ million
This musician has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His name is immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sales of his albums worldwide exceed 150 million copies. But there are only 85 million officially sold singles.
22. Metallica – 90 million
The band's self-titled album, released in 1991, has sold more than 16 million copies in the United States. This made the record the best-selling of the entire SoundScan era. Metallica is without a doubt one of the most commercially successful bands of our time. Its worldwide sales are estimated at more than 120 million copies.
21. Aerosmith – 90+ million
This is one of the “long-lived” groups. It has been around for more than four decades and has sold more than 150 million copies of its albums throughout its history.
20. Barbra Streisand – 97 million
She has 50 gold, 30 platinum and 13 multi-platinum albums to her credit. With such “baggage” Barbara managed to become one of the best-selling artists. In addition, she is one of the few singers who has also won an Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award.
19. Bruce Springsteen – 100 million
A hardworking artist who has received many awards for his music, including a Grammy, a couple of Golden Globes, an Oscar and others. Bruce is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and his latest album, High Hopes, has achieved 100 million sales worldwide.
18. Billy Joel – 100+ million
He is the third best-selling artist in America. Only Elvis and Garth Brooks beat him. His albums Greatest Hits Vol I and II went platinum 23 times. Of course, there was a place for such a musician in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
17. The Rolling Stones – 100+ million
Many will be surprised, but one of the most popular groups did not sell as many albums as it seems. Official sales are just over 100 million. At the same time, the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge Tour and Big Bang Bang became top tours in the 90s and 2000s, respectively.
16. U2 – 105 million
A small Irish project grew into something colossal thanks to the charismatic frontman of the group - Bono. Over the entire history of its existence, the group has won 22 Grammy Awards. That's more than any other group. In 2005, the group entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
15. Queen – 105+ million
A huge number of their songs took first place in the American, British and many other world charts. The Greatest Hits album is considered the best-selling album in British history.
14. AC/DC – 110 million
The Back in Black album alone is worth something: 40 million sales worldwide, of which 22 million are in the USA. Their official sales are 110 million, but in reality the numbers should be much higher.
13. Whitney Houston – 112 million
12. Eminem – 115 million
He is the best-selling hip-hop artist of the 2000s. 45 million copies of his albums have been sold in the United States alone. Around the world the numbers are much higher. And these are only physical sales.
11. Pink Floyd – 115+ million
Their sales will not fully describe the value of their musical heritage. Philosophical texts, unique sound experiments, complex and vibrant performances - Pink Floyd have had a huge influence on many musicians of our time.
10. Celine Dion – 125 million
Her career took off after Eurovision. Celine now has two singles with sales of more than a million copies, and Dion's album D'eux has become the most successful French-language record. She has many awards and prizes, and it seems that she does not intend to stop.
9. Mariah Carey – 130 million
It would take a long time to list her commercial achievements. Mariah managed to stay at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks. But instead of talking about her and her merits, it’s better to listen to a few of the star’s tracks.
8. Eagles – 130+ million
The most commercially successful American group. Their album Greatest Hits (1971 - 1975) shares first place with Jackson's Thriller in the top best-selling albums.
7. Led Zeppelin – 140 million
They are second only to The Beatles in America. What else can you add?
6. Garth Brooks – 145 million
Garth is called the king and he is truly a great performer. Brooks is America's best-selling artist since the SoundScan era.
5. Elton John – 162 million
He stood at the helm of the pop-rock and rock movements of the 70s and deservedly received the title of world-class star. And with it, unofficial 250 million sales worldwide.
4. Madonna - 166 million
Madonna is so cool that her name is even included in the Guinness Book of Records. The singer is officially recognized as the best-selling female artist of all time.
3. Michael Jackson - 175 million
Although his labels' estimate of sales of 750 million copies is exaggerated, there is no doubt that he is the King of Pop. Jackson set many records during his career. Wrote the most commercially successful album Thriller, for example, or directed the best-selling video.
2. Elvis Presley – 210 million
The only solo artist who managed to break the 200 million sales barrier. But the worst thing is that the US Recording Industry Association began recording his commercial successes only in 1958. This means that Elvis has significantly more achievements than 90 gold, 52 platinum and 25 multi-platinum albums.
1. The Beatles – 265 million
The Beatles became a symbol of the era. And if their albums continue to sell as strongly over the next two decades, The Beatles could become the first group to cross the 300 million sales mark.
