List of best-selling music artists: Difference between revisions

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| [[Pink Floyd]] || [[United Kingdom]] || 60s-90s || Progressive Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Art Rock / Hard Rock || <ref>[http://www.dreamsville.net/?p=132]</ref>
| [[Pink Floyd]] || [[United Kingdom]] || 60s-90s || Progressive Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Art Rock / Hard Rock || <ref>[http://www.dreamsville.net/?p=132]</ref>
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| [[Prince (artist)|Prince]] || [[United States|U.S.]] || 70s-00s || Pop / Funk / R&B / Rock / Soul || <ref>[http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=PRINCE&search_in=a&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=30&start=1]</ref>
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| [[Queen (band)|Queen]] || [[United Kingdom]] || 70s-00s || Hard Rock / Glam Rock || <ref> [http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=6&no=270701&rel_no=1]</ref>
| [[Queen (band)|Queen]] || [[United Kingdom]] || 70s-00s || Hard Rock / Glam Rock || <ref> [http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=6&no=270701&rel_no=1]</ref>
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| [[Phil Collins]] || [[United Kingdom]] || 80s-00s || Rock / Pop || <ref>[http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=332]</ref>
| [[Phil Collins]] || [[United Kingdom]] || 80s-00s || Rock / Pop || <ref>[http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/exhibit_home_page.asp?exhibitId=332]</ref>
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| [[Prince (artist)|Prince]] || [[United States|U.S.]] || 70s-00s || Pop / Funk / R&B / Rock / Soul || <ref>[http://umrg.com/artists/default.aspx?aid=545]</ref>
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| [[Ricky Nelson]] || [[United States|U.S.]] || 50s-80s || Pop || <ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/27/lkl.01.html]</ref>
| [[Ricky Nelson]] || [[United States|U.S.]] || 50s-80s || Pop || <ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0512/27/lkl.01.html]</ref>
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Revision as of 04:35, 24 January 2008

The world's best-selling music artists cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization that has recorded global music sales. This page lists those artists who have had claims made to be among the top sellers. Within their sales brackets, artists are listed in alphabetical order, rather than by number of records sold. Equal weight is given to album and single sales, as well as paid downloads. Sources are record labels, newspaper articles or manual addition of figures from various official sources. This means that these figures should be considered claims, not facts.

Constraints in establishing best-selling status

Although the criteria for the following list are intended to be expansive (including comparisons for total sales for all recording artists) there are certain limitations and constraints that may limit the conclusions that can be derived from this data.

Such constraints include:

  • Bias towards acts who have had success in a specific country or region.
  • Bias of fans, who feel that quantity of records sold equates to quality of music
  • Bias towards modern artists. Comparatively less successful modern artists will have sold more records, as both global spending power and population have increased. In 1950, the world's population was 2.5 billion; by 2000 it had risen to 6 billion. Also, older artists suffer from bias as their record sales are less likely to have been accurately tracked, and estimates of their early sales are likely to be more vague.
  • Bias towards older artists. Particularly, those artists who began their recording careers since 1990 may have experienced some loss in sales from illegal downloading of tracks.
  • Fan sites, press articles, certification authorities and record companies have been known to inflate record sales claims.
  • Inflated claims for artists who performed in different acts during their careers. Sometimes all of the sales data is attributed to an individual artist. For the purposes of this list, an effort is made to separate the individual acts (e.g., the sales figures for The Beatles and Paul McCartney & Wings are mutually exclusive).

World's best seller

Main article: Best-selling music artist

The best-selling musical act in history cannot be accurately determined. The Beatles, Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley have been given the title by various sources, and claims have been made for a number of other artists.

Artists Reputed Sales

500 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
Bing Crosby U.S 1926-1977 Jazz / Pop [1]
Michael Jackson U.S 1967-Present Pop / R&B / Rock / Soul / Dance / New Jack Swing [2]
Frank Sinatra U.S. 30s-90s Pop / Easy Listening / Vocal / Jazz / Swing [3]
The Beatles United Kingdom 1961-1969 and mid 90's-2006 Rock / Pop / Britannia/ Psychadelic / Experimental [4]
Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s Rock / R&B / Gospel / Blues / Rockabilly / Pop / Country [5]

200 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
A. R. Rahman India 90s-Present Film score / Soundtrack/world music [6]
ABBA Sweden 70s-80s Pop / Disco [7]
Alla Pugacheva Russia 60s-00s Pop [8]
The Bee Gees Australia 60s-00s Pop / Disco / Adult Contemporary / Blues [9]
Celine Dion Canada 80s-Present Pop / Chanson / Rock / Adult Contemporary [10]
Cliff Richard United Kingdom 50s-00s Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary [11]
Elton John United Kingdom 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary [12]
Julio Iglesias Spain 60s-00s Latin Pop [13]
Led Zeppelin United Kingdom 60s-80s Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Heavy Metal / Folk Rock [14]
Madonna U.S. 80s-Present Pop / Dance / Electronica [15]
Nana Mouskouri Greece 50s-00s Pop / Folk / Jazz [16]
Pink Floyd United Kingdom 60s-90s Progressive Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Art Rock / Hard Rock [17]
Queen United Kingdom 70s-00s Hard Rock / Glam Rock [18]
Rod Stewart United Kingdom 60s-00s Rock [20]
The Rolling Stones United Kingdom 60s-00s Rock / Hard Rock [21]
Tino Rossi France 30s-80s Swing [22]
Wei Wei China 80s-00s Pop [23]

100 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
AC/DC Australia 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [24]
Adriano Celentano Italy 60s-00s Pop [25]

[26]

Aerosmith U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock / Blues Rock [27]
Backstreet Boys U.S. 90s-00s Pop / Boy Band [28]
Barbra Streisand U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Adult Contemporary / Classical / Easy listening / Showtunes [29]
Barry White U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Disco / R&B [30]
The Beach Boys U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop [31]
Billy Joel U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary [32]
Bon Jovi U.S. 80s-00s Hard Rock / Glam Metal [33]
Boney M. Germany 70s-90s Pop / Disco [34]
Brenda Lee U.S. 50s-00s Country [35]
The Carpenters U.S. 60s-80s Pop / Country / Adult Contemporary [36]
Charles Aznavour France 30s-00s Pop / Chanson / Jazz [37]
Chicago U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Blues / Jazz / Adult Contemporary [38]
Creedence Clearwater Revival U.S. 60s-70s Rock [39]
Dalida France 50s-80s Pop / Disco [40]
Dave Clark Five United Kingdom 60s-70s Rock [41]
David Bowie United Kingdom 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Folk Rock / Glam Rock / Hard Rock / Dance / Electronica [42]
Deep Purple United Kingdom 60s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [43]
Dionne Warwick U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B / Soul / Adult Contemporary [44]
Dire Straits United Kingdom 70s-90s Rock [45]
Dolly Parton U.S. 50s-00s Pop / Country / Folk / Bluegrass [46]
Donna Summer U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Disco / R&B / Dance [47]
Duane Eddy U.S. 50s-80s Rock [48]
The Eagles U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Country [49]
Electric Light Orchestra United Kingdom 70s-00s Progressive Rock / Pop Rock / Electronica [50]
Engelbert Humperdinck United Kingdom 50s-00s Pop / Easy Listening / Vocal [51]
Fats Domino U.S. 40s-00s Rock / R&B [52]
Frankie Valli U.S. 60s-00s Doo wop / Pop / Disco [53]
Garth Brooks U.S. 80s-00s Country [54]
Gene Autry U.S. 30s-70s Country [55]
Genesis United Kingdom 60s-00s Progressive Rock / Pop Rock [56]
Gheorghe Zamfir Romania 70s-00s Instrumental [57]
Herbert von Karajan Austria 40s-80s Classical [58]
Iron Maiden United Kingdom 80s-00s Heavy Metal [59]
Janet Jackson U.S. 80s-00s R&B / Soul / Dance / Pop [60]
Johnny Hallyday France 50s-00s Traditional Pop [61]
Johnny Mathis U.S. 50s-00s Jazz / Pop [62]
Joni James U.S. 50s-60s Rock [63]
KC and the Sunshine Band U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Disco / Funk [64]
Kenny Rogers U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop [65]
Kiss U.S. 70s-00s Rock [66]
Lionel Richie U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B / Soul / Disco / Dance / Adult Contemporary [67]
Luciano Pavarotti Italy 60s-00s Opera [68]
Mariah Carey U.S. 90s-00s Pop / R&B [69]

[70]

Michiya Mihashi Japan 50s-90s Enka [71]
Mireille Mathieu France 60s-00s Pop [72]
Modern Talking Germany 80s-00s Euro-Pop [73]

[74]

Neil Diamond U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary [75]
Patti Page U.S. 40s-00s Country [76]
Perry Como U.S. 30s-00s Pop / Swing / Easy Listening [77]
Pet Shop Boys United Kingdom 80s-00s Synthpop / Electronica [78]
Phil Collins United Kingdom 80s-00s Rock / Pop [79]
Prince U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Funk / R&B / Rock / Soul [80]
Ricky Nelson U.S. 50s-80s Pop [81]
Roberto Carlos Brazil 60s-00s Latin [82]
Status Quo United Kingdom 60s-present Rock [83]
Stevie Wonder U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B / Disco / Soul / Funk [84]
Tina Turner U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B / Rock / Soul / Dance [85]
Tommy James U.S. 60s-00s Rock [86]
U2 Ireland 70s-00s Rock [87]
Valeriya Russia 90s-00s Pop [88]
Whitney Houston U.S. 80s-00s Pop / R&B / Adult Contemporary / Gospel / Dance [89]

[90]

The Who United Kingdom 60s-00s Rock / Hard Rock / Art Rock [91]

75 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
a-ha Norway 80s-00s Pop / New Wave [92]
Adamo Belgium 60s-00s Pop [93]
The Andrews Sisters U.S. 30s-50s Swing [94]
B'z Japan 80s-00s Rock / Pop / Hard Rock [95]
Barry Manilow U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Easy Listening / Adult Contemporary [96]
Black Sabbath United Kingdom 70s-80s Heavy Metal [97]
Bobby Vinton U.S. 60s-90s Pop [98]
Bonnie Tyler United Kingdom 70s-00s Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary [99]
Britney Spears U.S. 90s-00s Pop [100]
Bryan Adams Canada 80s-00s Rock / Pop / Adult Contemporary [101]
Carlos Santana Mexico 60s-00s Rock / Blues [102]
Depeche Mode United Kingdom 80s-00s New Wave / Synthpop [103]
Donny Osmond U.S. 70s-00s Pop [104]
The Doors U.S. 60s-70s Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Blues Rock [105]
Luis Miguel Mexico 80s-00s Latin [106]
Earth, Wind & Fire U.S. 70s-00s Pop / R&B / Disco / Soul / Funk [107]
Eddy Arnold U.S. 40s-00s Country [108]
Eurythmics United Kingdom 80s-00s Pop / Rock / New Wave [109]
Fairuz Lebanon 40s-00s Pop [110]
Gloria Estefan U.S. 80s-00s Latin / Dance [111]
Guns N' Roses U.S. 80s-00s Hard Rock [112]
Hank Snow Canada 30s-90s Country [113]
Hibari Misora Japan 40s-80s Enka [114]
James Brown U.S. 50s-00s Soul / R&B / Funk [115]
Jean Michel Jarre France 70s-00s New Age [116]
Kenny G U.S. 80s-00s Instrumental / Jazz [117]
Linda Ronstadt U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop [118]
Metallica U.S. 80s-00s Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal / Hard Rock [119]
Mina Italy 50s-00s Pop [120]
The Osmonds U.S. 70s-00s Rock [121]
Peter Wolf Austria 60s-00s Pop / Rock [122]
Roxette Sweden 80s-00s Pop / Rock [123]
Scorpions Germany 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [124]
Sonny & Cher U.S. 60s-70s Pop / Rock [125]
Van Halen U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [126]
The Ventures U.S. 50s-00s Instrumental Rock [127]
Victor Silvester United Kingdom 30s-80s Dance [128]
Willie Nelson U.S. 50s-00s Country [129]

50 million Records Or More

Artist Country Period Genre Source
Alanis Morissette Canada 90s-00s Alternative / Folk Rock [130]
Alabama U.S. 70s-00s Country [131]
Alice Cooper U.S. 60s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Shock Rock / Glam Rock [132]
Andre Kostelanetz U.S. 40s-70s Easy Listening [133]
Andrea Bocelli Italy 90s-00s Opera / Classical [134]
Anne Murray Canada 60s-00s Pop / Country [135]
B.J. Thomas U.S. 60s-00s Country [136]
Blondie U.S. 70s-00s New Wave [137]
Bob Marley Jamaica 60s-80s Reggae [138]
Bob Seger U.S. 60s-00s Rock [139]
Boyz II Men U.S. 90s-00s R&B / Soul [140]
Cat Stevens United Kingdom 60s-00s Folk / Pop [141]
Charlie Daniels U.S. 70s-00s Country / Rock [142]
The Corrs Ireland 90s-00s Rock [143]
Def Leppard United Kingdom 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [144]
Destiny's Child U.S. 90s-00s Pop / R&B / Dance [145]
Dreams Come True Japan 80s-00s Pop / Jazz [146]
Duran Duran United Kingdom 80s-00s Pop / New Wave [147]
The Diamonds Canada 50s-70s R&B [148]
The Doobie Brothers U.S. 70s-00s Rock [149]
Don Cornell U.S. 50s-90s Pop [150]
Enya Ireland 80s-00s New Age / Celtic [151]
Fleetwood Mac United Kingdom/U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Blues [152]
Four Tops U.S. 50s-00s R&B [153]
George Michael United Kingdom 80s-00s Pop [154]
George Strait U.S. 70s-00s Country [155]
Heino Germany 60s-00s Country [156]
Herb Alpert U.S. 50s-90s Instrumental Pop / Easy Listening [157]
James Last Germany 60s-00s Instrumental / Classical [158]
Jethro Tull United Kingdom 60s-00s Progressive Rock / Hard Rock /Rock [159]
Johnny Cash U.S. 50s-00s Country [160]
Kazuhiro Moriuchi Japan 70s-00s Enka [161]
Kylie Minogue Australia 80s-00s Pop / Dance [162]
Linkin Park U.S. 90s-00s Rock / Metal / Hip-Hop [163]
Meat Loaf U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Hard Rock [164]
Mills Brothers U.S. 30s-70s Pop [165]
Mr. Children Japan 80s-00s Pop / Rock [166]
Nat King Cole U.S. 30s-60s Jazz / Vocal / Pop [167]
Nelson Gonçalves Brazil 40s-90s Samba [168]
New Kids on the Block U.S. 80s-90s Pop [169]
Nirvana U.S. 80s-90s Grunge / Alternative Rock [170]
Oasis United Kingdom 90s-00s Britpop / Alternative Rock [171]
Orhan Gencebay Turkey 60s-00s Arabesque / Folk [172]
Ozzy Osbourne United Kingdom 80s-00s Heavy Metal [173]
Paul Revere & The Raiders U.S. 60s-00s Pop [174]
Pearl Jam U.S. 90s-00s Grunge / Rock / Hard Rock [175]
Petula Clark United Kingdom 50s-00s Pop [176]
Ray Conniff U.S. 50s-00s Pop / Easy Listening [177]
Reba McEntire U.S. 70s-00s Country [178]
Red Hot Chili Peppers U.S. 80s-00s Funk Rock / Alternative Rock [179]
Richard Clayderman France 60s-00s Easy Listening / Instrumental Pop [180]
Sade United Kingdom 80s-00s R&B / Soul / Jazz [181]
The Seekers Australia 60s, 90s-00s Folk / Rock [182]
Spice Girls United Kingdom 90s-00s Pop / Dance [183]
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers U.S. 70s-00s Rock [184]
The Turtles U.S. 60s Rock [185]
UB40 United Kingdom 80s-00s Reggae [186]
Vernon Dalhart U.S. 10s-40s Country [187]

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