Talk:Neil Diamond

error in age--70 not 60

"In 2012, Diamond married his manager, Katie McNeil, in front of family and close friends in Los Angeles.[75] Seven months earlier, on September 7 2011, in a message on Twitter, the 60-year-old Diamond announced his engagement to the 41-year-old McNeil."

he was born in 1941, so in 2011, he was 70, not 60.. wle — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.122.64.47 (talk) 12:59, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

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Album sales, first paragraph

I just added that Diamond has sold 130 million albums, and removed the wikilink to the List of best-selling music artists. I did this to maintain consistency -- sources vary on the number of albums he has sold, and while the best selling artists of all time article asserts that he has sold 100 million albums, I believe that sources such as Newsweek and the BBC are accurate in reporting 130 million. JSFarman (talk) 21:33, 23 January 2018 (UTC)

Consensus needed: 100 million worldwide sales vs. 130

According to these sources, Neil Diamond has sold more than 130 million albums:

• Newseek: "Diamond has sold more than 130 million albums worldwide and 38 of his singles have made it to the Top 40, according to the academy."
• BBC: "Diamond, who has sold over 130 million albums worldwide, is set to receive a lifetime achievement award at Sunday's Grammy Awards."
• Washington Post : "He is one of the world’s most popular recording artists, having sold more than 130 million records. At least 53 of his songs have landed on the Billboard Top 100 chart and 55 albums on the Billboard 200 chart. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011."
• The Times (UK): "He has sold more than 130 million albums worldwide, making him one of the bestselling artists in history."
• Sydney Morning Herald:"...he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and he performed to a crowd of more than 100,000 at the Glastonbury Festival. Over his long career he has sold 130 million albums."

There are many other sources for 130 million. A search on Google using the keywords "Neil Diamond 130 million" returns (way more) than 100,000 results. Politsi asserts that he has sold 100 million worldwide, today using Sky News: "The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is one of the best selling musicians of all time and is estimated to have sold around 100 million records." Emphasis mine -- those are not terms a major media organization uses when they are reporting a fact. (My guess is it came from the List of best-selling music artists, which itself uses "claimed" and "reputed" as a disclaimer of sorts. )

Can we get a consensus? Thanks. JSFarman (talk) 16:39, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

Sky News is the most reliable source above all of sources that you have mention. You should understand the meaning of INFLATED sales figure for promotional purpose. Politsi (talk) 16:50, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

There are also many sources that claim 100 million records including all of the following belgrade.co.uk, globegazette.com, republican-eagle.com. Based on Dimaond's available certified sales (68.3 million units), the 100 million is more reasonable. Also, those sources that claim 130 million albums, are sources that should not be used as Diamond's records sales are based on albums, singles and videos. So, 100 million in album sales would be more inflated than claims such as 130 million records (which stands for albums, singles, videos). Either way, 130 million claims should be avoided.--Harout72 (talk) 17:38, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

belgrade.co.uk is published by Belgrade Theatre; the 100 million figure comes a promotional piece about an upcoming performance there based on Neil Diamond's music. The Globe Gazette is a daily in Mason City, Iowa with a circulation of 19,000; the article you're sourcing is "Vee Family to Perform Songs of Neil Diamond at Clear Lakes Surf Ballroom" the Red Wing Republican Eagle (circulation 6200, twice weekly) is another article about a Vee Family performance at a local venue.

Also (and please correct me if I'm misunderstanding), the sources that I've quoted above specify albums; singles and videos would add to the 100 million figure. Neil Diamond has 38 hit singles, many of them released during the 60s-80s heyday of the single format. Sweet Caroline alone sold 2 million copies and it's one of 53 (albeit lesser) singles. Again, I am perhaps misunderstanding, and if so, apologies. JSFarman (talk) 18:20, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

Reliable sources are reliable sources whether they are circulated in the population of 10 million or 10,000. Diamond does not have 33 hit singles, he has three number 1 singles, and ten top-10 singles, the rest of them are not hit singles. Most of your sources speak of album sales including BBC, The Times UK, Sydney Morning Herald. There should not be such a huge 61+ million units of gap between artist's available certified sales and the claimed figure.--Harout72 (talk) 18:41, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

Albums are full length works. "Records" would increase the 100 million figure -- the term includes singles and other formats; in the US, technically, it refers to all formats of recorded music (although for NARAS it specifically means one recorded song). See the column for "other formats" on an RIAA chart here, which separates albums and singles, and demonstrates the vast between the two in terms of sales. (You may be interested in the RIAA change in methodology, announced today.)

Neil Diamond has had 53 songs on the Billboard chart - the term "hit" is not limited to the Top 10 on the Hot 100 .

I'm going to refrain from commenting further. I've expressed my thoughts on the subject, and I'm interested in other people's views. Thanks. JSFarman (talk) 20:00, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

Your source here doesn't speak of 38 top-10 singles on Hot 100, it speaks of adult contemporary chart. Sales of singles in US are calculated based on Hot 100. Neil Diamond's Gold and Platinum certified sales of 68.3 million units includes Albums, singles, videos. His albums certified sales stand at 62 million which creates even a bigger gap between those sources that claim just 130 million album sales.--Harout72 (talk) 20:17, 30 January 2018 (UTC)

The Hot 100 is a hybrid chart. It combines sales (physical and digital) and airplay (passive and on-demand), and ranks titles accordingly. (Here's the chart legend).

The Hot 100 chart notes RIAA gold and platinum certifications only. Many singles which have not hit gold or platinum status appear on the Hot 100; not selling 500,000 units is not equal to selling zero units. I am perplexed by your methodology, particularly when you're talking about an artist that has had 53 singles on the Billboard charts, beginning in 1969. But that's hardly relevant -- the 130 million figure as used in the sources above (and NARAS) reflect album sales, and I believe we are addressing sourcing, not the formula used to calculate claimed sales on the best selling artists page. JSFarman (talk) 02:59, 31 January 2018 (UTC)