List of best-selling girl groups
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Spice_Girls_in_Toronto%2C_Ontario.jpg/220px-Spice_Girls_in_Toronto%2C_Ontario.jpg)
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production values and backing by top studio musicians. In later eras the girl group template would be applied to disco, R&B, and country-based formats as well as pop music.
The best selling girl-group of all time are the Spice Girls who have sold 75 million records worldwide.[1]
Best-selling girl groups
Girl Group | Country | Sold (only albums) | Genre | Studio albums | Members | Years active |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Spice Girls | ![]() |
75 million[2] | Pop | 3 | 5 → 4 → 5 | 1996–2001, 2007–2008 (8 years) |
2. TLC | ![]() |
55 million[3] | R&B/Hip Hop | 4 | 3 → 2 | 1991–2003, 2008–present (18 years) |
3. Destiny's Child | ![]() |
50 million[4] | R&B | 4 | 4 → 3 | 1997–2005 (9 years) |
4. Bananarama | ![]() |
40 million[5] | Pop | 10 | 3 → 2 | 1981–present (30 years) |
5. Speed | ![]() |
20 million[6] | Pop | 4 | 4 | 1996–2001, 2003, 2008–present (12 years) |
5. The Supremes | ![]() |
20 million[7] | R&B | 29 | 4 → 3 | 1959–1977 (19 years) |
5. En Vogue | ![]() |
20 million[8] | R&B | 6 | 4 → 3 → 4 | 1989–present (23 years) |
8. Morning Musume | ![]() |
16 million[9] | Pop | 12 | Rotational | 1997–present (16 years) |
9. Pussycat Dolls | ![]() |
15 million[10] | Pop, R&B | 2 | 6 → 5 → 4 | 2005–2009; 2011–present (5 years) |
9. Salt-n-Pepa | ![]() |
15 million[11] | Hip Hop | 5 | 3 | 1986–1999, 2008–present (17 years) |
9. SWV | ![]() |
15 million[12] | R&B | 3 | 3 | 1990–1998, 2005–present (17 years) |
10. All Saints | ![]() |
10 million[12] | Pop, R&B | 3 | 4 | 1997–2001, 2006–2007 (7 years) |
10. Atomic Kitten | ![]() |
10 million[13] | Pop | 3 | 3 | 1997–2008; 2012–present (13 years) |
10. Sugababes | ![]() |
10 million[14] | Pop | 7 | 3 | 1998–present (15 years) |
11. Rouge | ![]() |
6 million[15] | Pop | 4 | 5 → 4 | 2002–2005 (4 years) |
Best-selling girl group albums
Worldwide
Released | Album | Artist | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Spice | Spice Girls | 28 million[16][17] |
1994 | CrazySexyCool | TLC | 22 million[18] |
1997 | Spiceworld | Spice Girls | 20 million[19] |
1999 | The Writing's on the Wall | Destiny's Child | 12 million[20] |
Fanmail | TLC | 11 million[21] | |
2001 | Survivor | Destiny's Child | 10 million[22] |
1990 | Wilson Phillips | Wilson Phillips | 10 million[23] |
Australia
Certifications according to the ARIA.[24]
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spice | Spice Girls | 420,000 | 6 × Platinum | 1996 |
Spiceworld | 1997 | |||
The Secret Life of... | The Veronicas | 280,000 | 4 × Platinum | 2005 |
The Writing's on the Wall | Destiny's Child | 210,000 | 3 × Platinum | 1999 |
PCD | Pussycat Dolls | 2005 | ||
B*Witched | B*Witched | 140,000 | 2 × Platinum | 1998 |
All Saints | All Saints | |||
Bardot | Bardot | 2000 | ||
Hook Me Up | The Veronicas | 2007 | ||
Survivor | Destiny's Child | 2001 | ||
Destiny Fulfilled | 70,000 | Platinum | 2004 | |
#1's | 2005 | |||
Doll Domination 2.0 | Pussycat Dolls | 2008 | ||
Fanmail | TLC | 1999 | ||
Feels So Good | Atomic Kitten | 2002 | ||
Greatest Hits | Spice Girls | 2007 |
Canada
Certifications according to the Canadian Recording Industry Association.[25]
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spice | Spice Girls | 1,000,000 | Diamond[26] | 1996 |
Spiceworld | 1997 | |||
CrazySexyCool | TLC | 800,000 | 8 × Platinum[25] | 1994 |
The Writing's on the Wall | Destiny's Child | 500,000 | 5 × Platinum[25] | 1999 |
Break Out | Pointer Sisters | 400,000 | 4 × Platinum[25] | 1983 |
FanMail | TLC | 1999 | ||
Very Necessary | Salt-n-Pepa | 1993 | ||
Survivor | Destiny's Child | 2001 | ||
All Saints | All Saints | 300,000 | 3 × Platinum[25] | 1997 |
PCD | Pussycat Dolls | 200,000 | 2 × Platinum[25] | 2005 |
Forever | Spice Girls | 2000 | ||
Destiny's Child | Destiny's Child | 1998 | ||
Doll Domination | Pussycat Dolls | 100,000 | Platinum[25] | 2009 |
Girlicious | Girlicious | 2008 | ||
B*Witched | B*Witched | 1998 |
Europe
Certifications according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spice | Spice Girls | 8,000,000 | 8 × Platinum[27] | 1996 |
Spiceworld | 5,000,000 | 5 × Platinum[28] | 1997 | |
All Saints | All Saints | 2,000,000 | 2 × Platinum[29] | |
PCD | Pussycat Dolls | 2005 | ||
The Writing's on the Wall | Destiny's Child | 1999 | ||
Survivor | 2001 | |||
Destiny Fulfilled | 1,000,000 | Platinum[29] | ||
CrazySexyCool | TLC | 1994 | ||
FanMail | 1999 | |||
Feels So Good | Atomic Kitten | 2002 | ||
Elle'ments | No Angels | 2001 | ||
B*Witched | B*Witched | 1998 | ||
Angels With Dirty Faces | Sugababes | 2002 | ||
Taller In More Ways | 2005 | |||
Three | 2003 | |||
The Sound Of... Greatest Hits | Girls Aloud | 2006 | ||
Saints & Sinners | All Saints | 2000 |
Germany
Certifications according to the IFPI.[30]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/No_Angels.jpg/220px-No_Angels.jpg)
Released | Album | Artist | Certification | Sales (Based on certifications) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | Elle'ments | No Angels | 7 × Gold | 1,050,000 |
1996 | Spice | Spice Girls | 3 × Gold | 750,000 |
2002 | Now... Us! | No Angels | 2 × Platinum | 600,000 |
1997 | Spiceworld | Spice Girls | Platinum | 500,000 |
2006 | Temptation | Monrose | 2 × Platinum | 400,000 |
2001 | Survivor | Destiny's Child | Platinum | 300,000 |
1999 | The Writing's on the Wall | Gold | 250,000 | |
2005 | PCD | Pussycat Dolls | Platinum | 200,000 |
2001 | Right Now | Atomic Kitten | Gold | 150,000 |
2002 | Feels So Good | |||
2000 | Forever | Spice Girls | ||
2003 | Pure | No Angels | 100,000 | |
2008 | Doll Domination | Pussycat Dolls | ||
2005 | Taller In More Ways | Sugababes | ||
2003 | Three | |||
2008 | Volume I | Queensberry | ||
2007 | Strictly Physical | Monrose | ||
2003 | Girls In The House | Preluders |
Netherlands
Certifications according to the NVPI.[31]
Released | Album | Artist | Certification | Sales (Based on certifications) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Spice | Spice Girls | 3 x Platinum | 300,000 |
1999 | The Writing's on the Wall | Destiny's Child | 2 x Platinum | 200,000 |
2009 | MaMaSé! | K3 | 4 x Platinum | 200,000 |
2001 | Survivor | Destiny's Child | 2 x Platinum | 160,000 |
1978 | With Luv' | Luv' | Platinum | 100,000 |
1979 | Lots Of Luv' | |||
1978 | Energy | Pointer Sisters | ||
1997 | Spiceworld | Spice Girls | ||
1999 | FanMail | TLC | ||
1979 | True Luv' | Luv' | Gold | 50,000 |
1983 | Display | Dolly Dots | ||
1993 | Always & Forever | Eternal | ||
1994 | CrazySexyCool | TLC | ||
1997 | All Saints | All Saints | ||
1997 | Before the Rain | Eternal | ||
1997 | Greatest Hits | |||
2000 | Forever | Spice Girls | ||
2002 | Fells So Good | Atomic Kitten | 40,000 | |
2005 | PCD | Pussycat Dolls | 35,000 | |
2007 | Reünieconcert Ahoy 2007 | Dolly Dots |
Switzerland
Certifications according to the IFPI.[32]
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spice | Spice Girls | 100,000 | 2 × Platinum | 1996 |
Spiceworld | 1997 | |||
Forever | 50,000 | Platinum | 2000 | |
All Saints | All Saints | 1997 | ||
Elle'ments | No Angels | 40,000 | 2001 | |
Survivor | Destiny's Child | |||
Temptation | Monrose | 30,000 | 2006 | |
The Writing's on the Wall | Destiny's Child | 25,000 | Gold | 1999 |
FanMail | TLC | |||
Now... Us! | No Angels | 20,000 | 2002 | |
Right Now | Atomic Kitten | 2001 | ||
Feels So Good | 2002 | |||
Angels with Dirty Faces | Sugababes | 2002 | ||
Three | 2003 | |||
Taller in More Ways | 15,000 | 2006 |
United Kingdom
Certifications according to the BPI.[33]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Atomic_Kitten_in_concert.jpg/220px-Atomic_Kitten_in_concert.jpg)
United States
Sales according to Nielsen SoundScan and Platinum certifications according to the RIAA.
Album | Group | Sales | Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
CrazySexyCool | TLC | 11,200,000[34] | 11 × Platinum[35] | 1994 |
The Writing's on the Wall | Destiny's Child | 8,400,000[36] | 8 × Platinum[35] | 1999 |
Spice | Spice Girls | 7,400,000[37] | 7 × Platinum[35] | 1996 |
FanMail | TLC | 4,700,000[34] | 6 × Platinum[35] | 1999 |
Very Necessary | Salt-n-Pepa | 4,400,000[citation needed] | 5 × Platinum[35] | 1993 |
Spiceworld | Spice Girls | 4,400,000[37] | 4 × Platinum[35] | 1997 |
Survivor | Destiny's Child | 4,300,000[38] | 2001 | |
Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip | TLC | 4,300,000[34] | 1992 | |
Break Out | Pointer Sisters | 3,000,000[citation needed] | 3 × Platinum[35] | 1983 |
It's About Time | SWV | 3,000,000[citation needed] | 1992 | |
Funky Divas | En Vogue | 3,200,000[39] | ||
Destiny Fulfilled | Destiny's Child | 3,000,000[citation needed] | 2004 | |
PCD | Pussycat Dolls | 2,900,000[40] | 2 x Platinum[35] | 2005 |
See also
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of best-selling singles worldwide
- List of best-selling albums worldwide
References
- ^ Hoyle, Ben (2010-01-22). "Viva Forever Mamma Mia creator creates Spice Girls musical". The Times. London. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
- ^ Hoyle, Ben (2010-01-22). "Viva Forever: Mamma Mia creator creates Spice Girls musical". The Times. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
- ^ "TLC's Left Eye Remembered: 10 Years Later". Retrieved 30 June 2012.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "http://madamenoire.com/78021/who-run-the-world-the-top-10-best-selling-girl-groups-of-all-time/9/". BBC News. 2005-06-13. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
{{cite web}}
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(help)|title=
- ^ "Return of the top Bananas". Daily Mail. 2007-08-02. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ^ Herskovitz, Jon (1999-10-10). "Top Japanese girl group Speed coming to a halt". Variety. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ^ "Record sales figure for Diana Ross & The Supremes". The Times.
- ^ "En Vogue 20 million worldwide".
- ^ "高清:早安少女组献艺世博 港台粉丝专程助阵_世博_腾讯网". qq.com (in Chinese). 2010-06-23. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "New X Factor Judge, Former Pussycat Doll: Nicole Scherzinger's bio". 2011. Retrieved 2012-04-07.
- ^ "Salt N Pepa 15 million worldwide".
- ^ a b Jones, Butterfli (2009-04-26). "Unsung - SWV". DJ Butterfly. Retrieved 2011-10-08. Cite error: The named reference "swv" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Atomic Kitten". virginmedia.com Virgin Media. 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ^ "Sugababe Heidi Range: The truth.. we thought we would break-up". Mirror. 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ^ "Por Onde Anda: Rouge". MSN Brasil. 2010-08-02.
- ^ "Spice Girls reunion: Is a comeback possible?". BBC News. 18 February, 2003. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Zigga Zig Ah: 10 Girl-Powered Facts About The Spice Girls". Houston Press. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
- ^ Gulfnews. [1]. quote, 1994’s groundbreaking album CrazySexyCool, which sold more than 22 million albums worldwide.
- ^ The Times. Sinclair, David.The Prefab Five are back. Are you ready?. quote: "Their first two albums, Spice and Spiceworld, each sold more than 20 million copies." June 28, 2007.
- ^ Beyonce Tickets Information. quote, It sold around 12 million copies worldwide.
- ^ TLC: 11.5 million, worldwide sales for Fanmail
- ^ Destiny's Child: 10 million, worldwide sales for Survivor
- ^ "Wilson Phillips Reunite To Release Christmas Album, Tour". Retrieved 2010-09-12.
- ^ [2] Australian certifications database
- ^ a b c d e f g "CRIA - Certified Awards Search". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ CRIA. Gold & Platinum Certifications: "Spice Girls". Canadian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards > 1997 Albums". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 04-09-2009.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards > 1998 Albums". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 04-09-2009.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ a b "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 04-09-2009.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". musikindustrie.de.
- ^ "Dutch certifications". 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ^ "swiss certifications". Retrieved 2010-09-10.
- ^ "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
- ^ a b c Ask Billboard. According to Nielsen SoundScan, "Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip" (1992; 2.5 miilion), "CrazySexyCool" (1994; 7.2 million), "FanMail" (1999; 4.7 million).
- ^ a b c d e f g h "RIAA > Gold & Platinum Search". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 04-09-2009.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help) - ^ "Phase 3: Réajustement - Ventes De Tous Les Artistes à Plus De 30m... - Charts in France - Page 24". Charts in France. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
- ^ a b Billboard.com Ask Billboard July 2007. "Spice" has sold 7.4 million and "Spiceworld" 4.1 million according to Nielsen SoundScan". Cite error: The named reference "autogenerated3" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Billboard.com Destiny's '#1's' Bows At The Top. quote: "Survivor has sold 4.3 million to date.". Retrieved on 13 January 2009.
- ^ Billboard.com Billboard Bits: En Vogue. quote: "Funky Divas" the latter debuted has sold 3.2 million copies in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan".
- ^ All Dolled Up. "PCD" has sold 2.9 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.