Talk:List of best-selling music artists

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Talk:List of best-selling music artists/Artists

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It is essential to provide reliable sources when editing this article. For examples, see the references section. Unsourced or unreliably sourced additions will be removed immediately.

The list is frequently edited in good faith to update the certified sales figures; however, claimed sales figures need to be supported by reliable sources, preferably from news organizations.

Artists with claimed sales figures below 75 million may not be added to the list.

Whilst we encourage editors to be bold, it is highly recommended to discuss changes on this talk page before editing.

Below you can get an understanding as to when certifications for songs are added to the total certified sales of the listed artists.

One lead artist and one featured artist. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both, the lead artist and the featured artist as both will have almost equal amount of part).
Two lead artists. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both lead artists as both will have almost equal amount of part).
Two lead artists and one featured artist. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both lead artists as well as the featured artist. Both lead artists will play a significant part in a song and the part of the featured artist also should be significant enough).
One lead artist and two featured artists. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of the lead artist and to the total of both featured artists as almost all should have equal amount of part).

The year next to markets below indicates how far back the certification systems go in each country. The percentages stand for the global market share based on a 2007 IFPI report.

USA: RIAA (1958) (31.6%)
Japan: RIAJ (Physical certifications since (1989)(16.5%)
UK: BPI (1973) (10.6%)
Germany: BVMI (1975) (8.4%)
France: SNEP, Infodisc (albums), Infodisc (singles) (1973) (5.8%)
Australia: ARIA (1990) (2.23%)
Canada: Music Canada (1975) (2.22)
Italy: FIMI (2009) (1.95%)
The Netherlands: NVPI (1978) (1.52%)
Spain: PROMUSICAE (1979) (1.48%)
Austria: IFPI (1990) (1.10%)
Mexico: AMPROFON (1999) (1.08%)
Brazil: PMB (1990) (0.97%)
Belgium: Ultratop (1995) (0.91%)
Norway: (Archived certification-database) (1993) (0.86%)
Switzerland: Schweizer Hitparade (1989) (0.84%)
Sweden: IFPI (Archived certification-database), Sverige Topplistan (Chart-database) (1987) (0.81%)
Denmark: Hitlisten (Chart-database), IFPI Denmark (2001) (0.67%)
Ireland: IRMA (2005) (0.52%)
Poland: ZPAV (1995) (0.51%)
Finland: IFPI (1971) (0.49%)
Argentina: Capif (1980) (0.48%)
New Zealand: Recorded Music NZ (1978) (0.37%)

Beyonce figures

How did Beyonce come from 100 million records sold last year to 200 million this year? Did she sold 100 million from 2022-2023? Phạm Huy Thông (talk) 18:34, 8 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

<nowiki>Just randomly came across this. She is also in the wrong category, the source states nearly 200 million, which means it is below that number and should be moved to 120 - 199. Vestigium Leonis (talk) 12:42, 15 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

The Rolling Stones?

200 million sales 92.19.72.28 (talk) 06:12, 22 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 25 October 2023

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George Michael sold over 120 million records in his solo career, earning a spot in the 120-190 category. Also, many sources include his Wham! record sales in his sales figures, which would bring his total sales to 150+. Southport1639 (talk) 13:51, 25 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Read the big notice at the top of this talk page. Thanks, Seawolf35 (talk - email) 00:04, 26 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Ariana Grande

I opened a page on this topic a few months ago. Unfortunately, I didn't get an answer. Grande's certified sales are over 150 million, so surely she must be eligible for over 100 million record sales? All it takes is a reliable source, so she can be included in that range? Does it have to be current too? Mirrored7 (talk) 14:52, 28 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Madonna, 400 million?

https://people.com/madonna-is-still-biggest-selling-female-recording-artist-of-all-time-8382770 Copy Editor (talk) 19:32, 29 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

According to Guinnes Record Madonna has sold 400Million Records worldwide. Jjavier1978 (talk) 20:29, 30 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-female-recording-artist Jjavier1978 (talk) 20:30, 30 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Madonna should be at 400 million with the new Guinness