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List of best-selling music artists

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The world's best-selling music artists cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization that has recorded global music sales in the manner that the RIAA does in the United States. This page lists those artists who have made claims 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 typically fan sites, record labels, newspaper articles or manual addition of figures from various official sources. This means that these figures should be considered claims, not facts.

Possible biases of this page

  • Bias towards acts who have had success in the United States. Though on the one hand the US provides the largest music market in the world, the RIAA, which records sales figures in that country, has been accused[citation needed] of deliberately certifying certain American artists' records (and other Western acts who have been successful there) in order to boost their sales position.
  • Bias towards modern artists. Comparatively less successful modern artists will have sold more records, as both global spending power and population have increased (even though most of the world reside in poorer countries that buy little or no music). In 1950, the world's population was 2.5 billion; by 2000 it had risen to 6 billion.[1] Also, older artists suffer from bias as their record sales are less likely to have been noted, and estimates of their sales are likely to be more vague.
  • Bias towards older artists. Particularly, those artists who have been successful since 1990 may have suffered from illegal downloading of tracks.
  • Fan sites, press articles, certification authorities and record companies are also accused of inflating record sales. This could be for publicity reasons, or under the belief that quantity of sales suggests a greater quality of music.
  • Certain artists who have sold millions of albums over their career as part of a group/duo, then going solo for example. Sales data maybe overall attributed to the artist, but these should be separated between their respective group/solo careers. e.g. Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits.

World's best seller

Main article: Best-selling music artist

The actual best selling musician in the world will probably never be known. Records of sales in many countries, particularly in the developing world, are poor and date back less than 20 years. The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley have all been given this title by various sources. Less common claims are made for a number of other artists, though these are usually taken as less valid.

Artists claimed to have sold 250 million records or more

In alphabetical order
Artist Country Period Genre Source
ABBA Sweden 70s-80s Rock / Pop / Schlager [1] [2]
Alla Pugacheva Russia 70s-00s Pop [3]
The Beatles UK 60s-70s Rock / Pop [4] [5]
Bing Crosby U.S. 20s-70s Pop (traditional) [6]
Chubby Checker U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B [7] [8]
Sir Cliff Richard UK 50s-00s Pop [9]
Sir Elton John UK 60s-00s Piano Rock [10]
Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s Rock'N'Roll / Pop / Country / Gospel [11] [12]
Frank Sinatra U.S. 30s-90s Pop (traditional) [13]
Julio Iglesias Spain 70s-00s Pop (Latin) [14]
Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Folk [15]
Madonna U.S. 80s-00s Pop / Dance / Electronica [16]
Michael Jackson U.S. 60s-00s Dance-Pop / R&B / Urban / Dance / Rock / New Jack Swing / Soul / Pop [17]
Nana Mouskouri Greece 60s-00s Pop [18]
Pink Floyd UK 60s-90s Psychedelic Rock / Progressive Rock [19]
Queen UK 70s-00s Arena / Glam / Heavy Metal / Progressive Rock / Hard Rock / Pop [20]
Rod Stewart UK 60s-00s Pop / Rock [21]
Tino Rossi France 30s-80s Pop [22]

Artists claimed to have sold 100 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
AC/DC Australia 70s-00s Hard Rock [2][3]
Aerosmith U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock [4]
A. R. Rahman India 90s-00s Classic (Soundtracks) [5]
Barbra Streisand U.S. 60s-00s Vocal / Pop [6]
Barry White U.S. 70s-00s Pop / R&B [7]
The Beach Boys U.S. 60s-90s Pop / Surf Rock [8]
The Bee Gees Australia 60s-00s Pop / Disco [9]
Billy Joel U.S. 70s-00s Piano Rock [10] [11]
Bob Dylan U.S. 60s-00s Folk / Rock [12]
Bon Jovi U.S. 80s-00s Rock

[13]

Boney M Germany 70s-00s Pop (Europop)

[14] [15] [16]

Brenda Lee U.S. 50s-90s Pop / Country [17]
The Carpenters U.S. 60s-80s Pop [18] [19][20]
Céline Dion Canada 80s-00s Pop [21]
Charles Aznavour France 50s-00s Pop [22]
Cher U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Disco / Dance [23]
Chicago U.S. 60s-00s Pop [24]
Creedence Clearwater Revival U.S. 60s-70s Pop / Rock [25]
David Bowie UK 60s-00s Rock / Pop [26][27][28]
Deep Purple UK 60s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [29]
Dionne Warwick U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B [30]
Dire Straits UK 70s-90s Rock [31]
Dolly Parton U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop [32][33]
Donna Summer U.S. 70s-00s Disco / Pop / Dance [34]
Duane Eddy U.S. 50s-80s Rock [35]
Eagles U.S. 70s-00s Rock [36]
Engelbert Humperdinck UK 60s-00s Pop [37]
Fats Domino U.S. 40s-00s Rock / R&B [38]
Fleetwood Mac UK/U.S. 60s-00s Rock [39]
Frankie Laine U.S. 40s-00s Jazz / Pop / Gospel / Country [40]
Garth Brooks U.S. 80s-00s Country [41]
Gene Autry U.S. 20s-90s Country [42]
Genesis UK 70s-00s Progressive Rock / Pop Rock [43]
Gheorghe Zamfir Romania 70s-00s Instrumental [44] [45]
The Jackson 5 U.S. 60s-90s Pop / R&B / Disco / Rock / Soul / Gospel / Dance [46]
Johnny Hallyday France 60s-00s Pop [47]
Johnny Mathis U.S. 50s-00s Pop (Traditional) [48]
Joni James U.S. 50s-60s Pop (Traditional) [49]
Kenny Rogers U.S. 50s-00s Country [50][51]
Lionel Richie U.S. 80s-00s R&B [52]
Luciano Pavarotti Italy 60s-00s Opera [53] [54]
Mariah Carey U.S. 90s-00s Pop / R&B [55][56]
Mireille Mathieu France 60s-00s Pop [57]
Modern Talking Germany 80s-00s Pop / Dance [58]
Patti Page U.S. 40s-00s Pop / Country [59] [60]
Patty Pravo Italy 60s-00s Pop [61]
Perry Como U.S. 30s-00s Pop [62]
Phil Collins UK 80s-00s Soft Rock [63]
Prince U.S 70s-00s Pop / R&B / Funk / Soul / Rock / Dance / Gospel [64]
Ricky Nelson U.S. 50s-80s Pop / Country [65]
Roberto Carlos Brazil 60s-00s Pop (Latin) [66]
The Rolling Stones UK 60s-00s Rock / Blues [67]
The Royal Canadians Canada 30s-50s Pop (Big Band) [68]
Stevie Wonder U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B / Soul [69][70]
Status Quo UK 60s-00s Hard Rock / Blues [71]
Tommy James U.S. 60s-00s Rock [72]
U2 Ireland 70s-00s Rock [73]
Wei Wei China 80s-00s Pop [74]
Whitney Houston U.S. 80s-00s Pop / R&B / Gospel / Soul [75]
The Who UK 60s-00s Hard Rock [76]

Artists claimed to have sold 75 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
Alabama U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Country [77]
The Andrews Sisters U.S. 30s-50s Pop (Swing) / Vocal [78]
B'z Japan 80s-00s Rock / Pop [79]
Backstreet Boys U.S. 90s-00s Pop [80]
Barry Manilow U.S. 70s-00s Pop [81]
Bobby Vinton U.S. 60s-90s Pop / Vocal [82]
Britney Spears U.S. 90s-00s Pop [83]
Dalida France/Italy 50s-80s Pop [84][85]
Donny Osmond U.S. 70s-00s Pop [86]
Earth, Wind & Fire U.S. 70s-00s R&B / Disco / Pop / Funk [87]
Eddy Arnold U.S. 40s-90s Country [88]
Eminem U.S. 90s-00s Rap [89] and additional [90]
Eurythmics UK 80s-90s Pop / Rock [91]
Gene Austin U.S. 20s-30s Pop (Traditional) [92]
George Michael UK 80s-00s Pop / R&B / Dance

[93]

Guns N' Roses U.S. 80s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [94]
Hank Snow Canada 30s-90s Folk [95]
Jean-Michel Jarre France 70s-00s Pop (Synth) [96]
Journey U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Pop [97]
Kenny G U.S. 80s-00s Jazz [98]
KISS U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [99]
Metallica U.S. 80s-00s Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal [100]
Linda Ronstadt U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop [101]
The Osmonds U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Rock [102]
R.E.M. U.S. 80s-00s Rock / Alternative Rock [103]
Roxette Sweden 80s-00s Pop [104]
Salvatore Adamo Belgium 60s-00s Pop [105]
Santana Mexico/U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Blues / Pop [106]
Van Halen U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock [107] [108]
The Ventures U.S. 50s-00s Rock [109]
Victor Silvester UK 30s-80s Dance / Pop [110]
Willie Nelson U.S. 50s-00s Country [111]

Artists claimed to have sold 50 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
Adriano Celentano Italy 60s-00s Pop [112]
a-ha Norway 80s-00s Pop/Rock [113] [114]
Alanis Morissette Canada 90s-00s Rock [115]
Alice Cooper U.S. 60s-00s Heavy Metal [116]
Andre Kostelanetz U.S. 40s-70s Classic [117]
Andrea Bocelli Italy 90s-00s Classical [118]
Anne Murray Canada 60s-00s Country / Pop [119]
Annie Lennox UK 90s-00s Pop [120]
Bay City Rollers UK 70s Pop / Rock [121]
B.J. Thomas U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop [122]
Blondie U.S. 70s-00s Rock (New Wave) / Pop [123]
Bob Marley Jamaica 70s-80s Reggae [124]
Bob Seger U.S. 60s-00s Rock [125]
Boyz II Men U.S. 80s-00s R&B / Pop / Soul [126]
Bruce Springsteen U.S. 70s-00s Rock [127]
Bryan Adams Canada 80s-00s Rock / Pop [128]
Cat Stevens UK 60s-00s Pop / Rock [129]
Charlie Daniels U.S. 70s-00s Country [130]
Def Leppard UK 70s-00s Hard Rock [131]
Depeche Mode UK 80s-00s Synth / New Wave [132]
Destiny's Child U.S. 90s-00s R&B / Pop [133]
The Diamonds Canada 50s-70s Pop / R&B [134]
The Doobie Brothers U.S. 70s-00s Rock [135]
The Doors U.S. 60s-70s Psychedelic Rock [136]
Don Cornell U.S. 50s-90s Pop (Traditional) [137]
Duran Duran UK 80s-00s Pop / Rock [138]
Enya Ireland 80s-00s New Age (Celtic) [139]
Foreigner U.S./UK 70s-00s Rock / Pop [140]
Four Tops U.S. 50s-00s R&B [141]
George Strait U.S. 70s-00s Country [142]
Gloria Estefan U.S. 80s-00s Pop (Latin) [143]
Green Day U.S. 80s-00s Alternative Rock / Punk Rock / Punk Pop [144]
Hank Thompson U.S. 40s-00s Country [145]
Herb Alpert U.S. 50s-90s Easy Listening [146]
Iron Maiden UK 70s-00s Heavy Metal [147]
James Last Germany 60s-00s Instrumental / Classical / Pop [148]
Janet Jackson U.S. 80s-00s Pop / R&B

[149]

Jethro Tull UK 60s-00s Rock [150]
John Denver U.S. 60s-90s Folk / Rock [151] [152]
Johnny Cash U.S. 50s-00s Country [153]
Kylie Minogue Australia 80s-00s Dance / Pop [154]
Luis Miguel Mexico 80s-00s Pop (Latin) [155]
Meat Loaf U.S. 70s-00s Rock [156]
Michael Bolton U.S. 80s-00s Pop [157]
Mills Brothers U.S. 30s-70s Vocal [158]
Mina Italy 50s-00s Pop [159]
The Monkees U.S. 60s-90s Pop / Rock [160]
Nat King Cole U.S. 30s-60s Jazz [161]
Nirvana U.S. 80s-90s Rock (Grunge) [162]
Oasis UK 90s-00s Rock

[163]

Olivia Newton-John Australia 70s-00s Country / Pop [164]
Orhan Gencebay Turkey 60s-00s (1967-) Folk [165]
Ozzy Osbourne UK 70s-00s Heavy Metal [166]
Paul Anka Canada 50s-00s Pop [167]
Pearl Jam U.S. 90s-00s Rock (Grunge) [168]
Petula Clark UK 50s-00s Pop [169]
The Police UK 70s-80s Rock (New Wave) [170] [171]
Ray Conniff U.S. 50s-00s Pop / Easy Listening [172]
Reba McEntire U.S. 70s-00s Country [173]
Red Hot Chili Peppers U.S. 80s-00s Rock / Funk Rock [174]
Richard Clayderman France 60s-00s Pop / Piano / Instrumental [175]
Ricky Martin Puerto Rico 90s-00s Pop (Latin) [176]
Robbie Williams UK 90s-00s Pop / Rock [177]
Sade UK 80s-00s Pop / R&B [178]
The Seekers Australia 60s, 90s-00s Pop / Folk / Rock [179]
Shania Twain Canada 90s-00s Country / Pop [180]
Simon & Garfunkel US 60s-70s Folk/Rock [181] [182]
Simply Red UK 80s-00s Pop [183]
Spice Girls UK 90s-00s Pop [184]
Three Dog Night U.S. 60s-70s Rock [185]
Tina Turner U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop / R&B / Dance [186]
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Rock [187]
Tony Bennett U.S. 50s-00s Pop (Traditional) / Jazz [188]
Tupac Shakur U.S. 90s Rap [189]
The Turtles U.S. 60s Pop / Rock [190]
UB40 UK 80s-00s Reggae [191]
Vernon Dalhart U.S. 10s-40s Country [192]
Vicky Leandros Greece 60s-00s Pop [193]
ZZ Top U.S. 70s-00s Rock [194]

See also

References

  1. ^ Abba, The Book Potiez, Jean-Marie; 15 August 2005; accessed December 2006; claims 350 million records sold as of 2000
  2. ^ It's Abba on the phone making a lot more money, money, money Sherwin, Adam; The Times; April 19 2006; accessed December 2006; claims 370 million
  3. ^ Pugacheva, Alla Borisovna Enyclopedia Britannica Online; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million records in 1997
  4. ^ 1968-1970 Records beatlemoney.com; accessed December 2006; claims 500 million records by 1970
  5. ^ First there was Beatlemania, now there's Googlemania Maney, Kevin; USA Today; 10 May, 2004; accessed December 2006; claims 1 billion records
  6. ^ The Elvis Presley-Bing Crosby Comparison Page Schmidt, Wayne; accessed December 2006; estimates 900 million, based on 500 million in 1977
  7. ^ Chubby Checker, Special Guest Star, Revvin' With Ford Ford Motor Company; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million
  8. ^ Chubby Checker coming to Dearborn Press and Guide; 12 January, 2005; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million
  9. ^ Life and Times; Cliff Richard.com; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million; (Primary source)
  10. ^ Sanctury for Elton Yahoo Music; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million
  11. ^ Elvis Presley Biography. Comprehensive history of Elvis Presley's dynamic life Elvis Presley Australia; January 2004; accessed December 2006; claims 1 billion
  12. ^ Singer who sold 1 billion records and defined an era died August 16, 1977 The Student Operated Press; 16 August, 2006; accessed December 2006; claims 1 billion
  13. ^ Frank Sinatra tele.at; accessed December 2006; claims 600 million; in German
  14. ^ The Iglesias dynasty Hello!; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million records
  15. ^ Led Zeppelin wins Polar Prize The Local; 7 November 2005; accessed December 2006; claims more than 300 million
  16. ^ Some of Madonna's Achievements AbsoluteMadonna.com; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million; (fan-site)
  17. ^ Michael Jackson's partial comeback is no thriller Reuters; November 15 2006; accessed December 2--6; claims 750 million, inclusive of Jackson 5 sales
  18. ^ 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Nana Mouskouri CD Yahoo Shopping; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
  19. ^ Pink Floyd American Royal Arts Corp.; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million
  20. ^ Queen Proves There's Life After Freddie Ohmy News; January 25 2006; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
  21. ^ Rod Stewart Barry's Tickets; Accessed December 2006; Claims 250 million
  22. ^ Tino Rossi Ajaccio Tourist Information; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
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