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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 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 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.

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. The RIAA tracks and certifies sales for recordings sold in, or originating from, the United States, the world's largest single music market. While the RIAA's method and scope are exhaustive in this respect, figures for recordings produced and sold in other nations are not included, or at best are incomplete, in RIAA statistics. Since there are few authoritative or comprehensive counterparts to the RIAA which track the international music market, the RIAA's more certain sales figures tend to inflate the relative importance of the American market.
  • 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 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 suffered 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 and will probably never be known. U.S. sales data before 1952 are incomplete. International sales, particularly in the developing world, are still often poorly tracked, and much sales data before the 1980s are rare or dubious. The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley have all been given the title by various sources. Less common claims are made for a number of other artists.

Artists claimed to have sold 500 million records or more

In alphabetical order
Artist Country Period Genre Source
The Beatles UK 60s-70s Rock and Roll / Rock / Pop [2] [3]
Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s Rock and Roll/R & B/Gospel [4]
Frank Sinatra U.S. 30s-90s Pop / Swing [5]
Michael Jackson U.S. 60s-00s R&B / Pop / New jack swing / Soul / Gospel / Disco / Rock [6]

Artists claimed to have sold 250 million records or more

In alphabetical order
Artist Country Period Genre Source
ABBA Sweden 70s-80s Pop [7] [8]
Alla Pugacheva Russia 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Folk [9]
Cliff Richard UK 50s-00s Pop / Rock [10]
Elton John UK 60s-00s Rock / Pop [11]
Julio Iglesias Spain 60s-00s Pop / Latin [12]
Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s Hard rock / Blues rock / Folk rock [13]
Madonna U.S. 80s-00s Pop / Dance / Electronica [14] [15]
Nana Mouskouri Greece 50s-00s Pop/Folk/Jazz [16][17]
Pink Floyd UK 60s-90s Psychedelic rock / Progressive rock / Space rock [18]
Queen UK 70s-00s Hard rock / Pop rock / Progressive rock [19]
Tino Rossi France 30s-80s Pop/Swing [20]

Artists claimed to have sold 100 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
A. R. Rahman India 90s-00s Film score/Soundtrack/World Music [21]
AC/DC Australia 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [22][23]
Aerosmith U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock [24]
Backstreet Boys U.S. 90s-00s Pop [25][26]
Barbra Streisand U.S. 60s-00s Pop [27]
Barry White U.S. 70s-00s Pop / R&B [28]
The Beach Boys U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop [29]
The Bee Gees Australia/Isle of Man 60s-00s Pop / Disco [30]
Billy Joel U.S. 70s-00s Pop / Rock [31][32]
Bob Dylan U.S. 60s-00s Folk / Rock [33]
Bon Jovi U.S. 80s-00s Hard Rock [34]
Boney M Germany 70s-90s Pop/Disco [35] [36][37]
Brenda Lee U.S. 50s-00s Country / Pop [38]
Bruce Springsteen U.S. 70s-00s Rock [74]
The Carpenters U.S. 60s-80s Pop [39][40][41]
Celine Dion Canada 80s-00s Pop / Rock [42]
Charles Aznavour France 30s-00s Pop [43]
Cher U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Rock / Disco / Country [44]
Chicago U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop / Jazz [45]
Creedence Clearwater Revival U.S. 60s-70s Rock [46]
David Bowie UK 60s-00s Avante-Garde Pop [47][48][49]
Deep Purple UK 60s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [50]
Diana Ross U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R & B / Soul [51]
Dionne Warwick U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B /Soul [52]
Dire Straits UK 70s-90s Rock / Classic Rock [53]
Dolly Parton U.S. 50s-00s Country / Pop / Folk [54][55]
Donna Summer U.S. 70s-00s Disco / Pop / R&B / Rock [56]
Duane Eddy U.S. 50s-80s Rock [57]
The Eagles U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Country [58]
Engelbert Humperdinck UK/U.S. 50s-00s Pop [59]
Fats Domino U.S. 40s-00s Rock / R&B [60]
Fleetwood Mac UK/U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Blues [61]
Frankie Laine U.S. 40s-00s Jazz / Pop / Gospel / Country [62]
Garth Brooks U.S. 80s-00s Country [63]
Gene Autry U.S. 30s-70s Country [64]
Genesis UK 60s-90s Rock / Pop [65]
Gheorghe Zamfir Romania 70s-00s Instrumental [66][67]
The Jackson 5 U.S. 60s-90s Pop /Disco /Funk / R&B [68]
Janet Jackson U.S. 80s-00s Pop/R&B [69]
Johnny Hallyday France/Belgium 50s-00s Pop [70]
Johnny Mathis U.S. 50s-00s Pop [71]
Joni James U.S. 50s-60s Pop [72]
Kenny Rogers U.S. 50s-00s Country / Pop [73][74]
Lionel Richie U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B [75]
Luciano Pavarotti Italy 60s-00s Opera [76][77]
Mariah Carey U.S. 90s-00s Pop / R&B [78][79]
Mireille Mathieu France 60s-00s Pop [80]
Modern Talking Germany 80s-00s Pop [81]
Neil Diamond U.S. 60s-00s Pop [82]
Patti Page U.S. 40s-00s Country / Pop [83][84]
Perry Como U.S. 30s-00s Pop / Swing [85]
Phil Collins UK 80s-00s Pop / Rock [86]
Prince U.S. 70s-00s R&B / Rock / Pop [87]
Ricky Nelson U.S. 50s-80s Pop [88]
Roberto Carlos Brazil 60s-00s Pop / Latin [89]
The Rolling Stones UK 60s-00s Rock / Hard Rock [90]
Tina Turner U.S. 60s-00s R&B / Rock / Pop / Soul [91]
Status Quo UK 60s-00s Rock [92]
Stevie Wonder U.S. 60s-00s R&B / Pop [93][94]
Tommy James U.S. 60s-00s Pop / Rock [95]
U2 Ireland 70s-00s Rock [96]
Wei Wei China 80s-00s Pop [97]
Whitney Houston U.S. 80s-00s Pop [98]
The Who UK 60s-00s Rock [99]

Artists claimed to have sold 75 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
Adamo Belgium 60s-00s Pop [75] [76]
Adriano Celentano Italy 60s-00s Pop [77]
Alabama U.S. 70s-00s Country [78]
The Andrews Sisters U.S. 30s-50s Pop / Swing [79]
B'z Japan 80s-00s Hard rock / Pop rock [80]
Barry Manilow U.S. 70s-00s Pop [81]
Bobby Vinton U.S. 60s-90s Pop [82]
Bonnie Tyler UK 70s-00s Pop/Rock [83]
Britney Spears U.S. 90s-00s Pop [84]
Bryan Adams Canada 80s-00s Rock / Soft Rock [85]
2Pac U.S. 90s-00s Rap [86]
Dalida France/Italy 50s-80s Pop / Disco [87][88]
Donny Osmond U.S. 70s-00s Pop [89]
Earth, Wind & Fire U.S. 70s-00s R&B / Disco / Pop / Funk [90]
Eddy Arnold U.S. 40s-00s Country / Pop [91]
Eurythmics UK 80s-00s Pop / Rock / New Wave [92]
Gene Austin U.S. 20s-30s Country / Pop [93]
George Michael UK 80s-00s Pop [94]
Guns N' Roses U.S. 80s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [95]
Hank Snow Canada 30s-90s Country [96]
Iron Maiden UK 70s-00s Classic Metal / Heavy Metal [100]
Jean Michel Jarre France 70s-00s New Age [97]
Journey U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Pop [98]
Kenny G U.S. 80s-00s Instrumental / Pop Jazz [99]
Kiss U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [100]
Linda Ronstadt U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop [101]
Metallica U.S. 80s-00s Heavy Metal / Thrash Metal / Hard Rock [102]
The Osmonds U.S. 70s-00s Pop [103]
R.E.M. U.S. 80s-00s Rock / Pop [104]
Roxette Sweden 80s-00s Pop / Rock [105]
Santana Mexico/U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Blues / Pop [106]
Sonny & Cher U.S. 60s-70s Pop [107]
Van Halen U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [108] [109]
The Ventures U.S. 50s-00s Instrumental Rock [110]
Victor Silvester UK 30s-80s Dance / Pop [111]
Willie Nelson U.S. 50s-00s Country / Pop [112]

Artists claimed to have sold 50 million records or more

Artist Country Period Genre Source
a-ha Norway 80s-00s Pop / New Wave [113]
Alanis Morissette Canada 90s-00s Alternative / Folk Rock [114]
Alice Cooper U.S. 60s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Shock Rock / Glam Rock [115]
Andre Kostelanetz U.S. 40s-70s Easy Listening [116]
Andrea Bocelli Italy 90s-00s Opera / Classical [117]
Anne Murray Canada 60s-00s Pop / Country [118]
Annie Lennox UK 90s-00s Pop / Rock / Soul [119]
B.J. Thomas U.S. 60s-00s Country / Pop [120]
Blondie U.S. 70s-00s Pop / New Wave [121]
Bob Marley Jamaica 60s-80s Reggae [122]
Bob Seger U.S. 60s-00s Rock / Pop [123]
Boyz II Men U.S. 80s-00s R&B / Pop / Soul [124]
Camilo Sesto Spain 60s-00s Pop / Latin [125]
Cat Stevens UK 60s-00s Pop / Folk [126]
Charlie Daniels U.S. 70s-00s Country / Rock [127]
Christina Aguilera U.S. 90s-00s R&B / Pop / Soul

[128]

The Corrs Ireland 90s-00s Pop [129]
Def Leppard UK 70s-00s Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [130]
Depeche Mode UK 80s-00s New Wave / Synth / Rock / Pop [131] [132]
Destiny's Child U.S. 97-02,04-05 R&B, pop, dance, pop rock [103]
The Diamonds Canada 50s-70s Pop / R&B [133]
The Doobie Brothers U.S. 70s-00s Rock [134]
The Doors U.S. 60s-70s Psychedelic Rock / Hard Rock [135]
Don Cornell U.S. 50s-90s Pop [136]
Duran Duran UK 80s-00s New Wave / Rock / Pop [137]
Eminem U.S. 90s-00s Rap [138] [139]
Enya Ireland 80s-00s New Age / Celtic [104]
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 Pop / Punk / Rock [144]
Hank Thompson U.S. 40s-00s Country [145]
Herb Alpert U.S. 50s-90s Instrumental Pop / Easy Listening [146]
James Last Germany 60s-00s Instrumental / Classical / Pop [147]
Jethro Tull UK 60s-00s Rock [148]
John Denver U.S. 60s-90s Folk / Pop [149] [150]
Johnny Cash U.S. 50s-00s Country [151]
Kylie Minogue Australia 80s-00s Dance / Pop [152]
Luis Miguel Mexico 80s-00s Pop / Latin [153]
Meat Loaf U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Hard Rock / Heavy Metal [154]
Michael Bolton U.S. 80s-00s Pop [155]
Mills Brothers U.S. 30s-70s Pop [156]
Mina Italy 50s-00s Pop [157]
The Monkees U.S. 60s-90s Pop / Rock [158]
Mr. Children Japan 80s-00s Pop / Rock [159]
Nat King Cole U.S. 30s-60s Jazz / Pop [160]
Nelson Gonçalves Brazil 40s-90s [161]
New Kids on the Block U.S. 80s-90s Pop [citation needed]
Nirvana U.S. 80s-90s Grunge / Rock / Hard Rock [162]
Oasis UK 90s-00s Pop / Rock [163]
Olivia Newton-John Australia 70s-00s Country / Pop [164]
Orhan Gencebay Turkey 60s-00s (1967-) Arabesque / Folk [165]
Ozzy Osbourne UK 70s-00s Heavy Metal / Hard Rock [166]
Paul Anka Canada 50s-00s Pop [167]
Pearl Jam U.S. 90s-00s Grunge / Rock / Hard Rock [168]
Petula Clark UK 50s-00s Pop [169]
Pet Shop Boys UK 80s-00s Dance / Pop [170]
The Dave Clark Five UK 60s-70s Pop [171]
The Police UK/US 70s-80s New Wave / Rock / Pop [172] [173]
Ray Conniff U.S. 50s-00s Pop / Easy Listening [174]
Reba McEntire U.S. 70s-00s Country [175]
Red Hot Chili Peppers U.S. 80s-00s Funk Rock [176]
Richard Clayderman France 60s-00s Easy Listening / Instrumental Pop [177]
Ricky Martin Puerto Rico 90s-00s Pop / Latin [178]
Robbie Williams UK 90s-00s Pop / Rock [179]
Sade UK 80s-00s Pop / R&B [180]
The Seekers Australia 60s, 90s-00s Pop / Folk / Rock [181]
Scorpions Germany 70s-00s Rock [182]
Shakira Colombia 90s-00s Latin / Pop [183]
Shania Twain Canada 90s-00s Country / Pop [184]
Simon & Garfunkel US 60s-70s Folk / Pop [185] [186]
Simply Red UK 80s-00s Pop [187]
Spice Girls UK 90s-00s Pop [188]
Supertramp UK 60s-00s Pop/Rock [189]
Three Dog Night U.S. 60s-70s Pop / Rock [190]
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers U.S. 70s-00s Rock / Pop [191]
Tony Bennett U.S. 50s-00s Pop [192]
The Turtles U.S. 60s Pop / Rock [193]
UB40 UK 80s-00s Reggae [194]
Vernon Dalhart U.S. 10s-40s Country [195]
Vicky Leandros Greece 60s-00s Pop [196]
ZZ Top U.S. 70s-00s Hard Rock / Blues-Rock [197]

See also

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ 1968-1970 Records beatlemoney.com; accessed December 2006; claims 500 million records by 1970
  3. ^ First there was Beatlemania, now there's Googlemania Maney, Kevin; USA Today; 10 May, 2004; accessed December 2006; claims over 1 billion records
  4. ^ Frank Sinatra tele.at; accessed December 2006; claims 600 million; in German
  5. ^ Frank Sinatra tele.at; accessed December 2006; claims 600 million; in German
  6. ^ Michael To Give Away 200 FREE Tickets To Fans, And Discounted Rates ExclusiveMJ; March 20 2007; accessed March 2007; claims 750 million
  7. ^ Abba, The Book Potiez, Jean-Marie; 15 August 2005; accessed December 2006; claims 350 million records sold as of 2000
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ Pugacheva, Alla Borisovna Enyclopedia Britannica Online; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million records in 1997
  10. ^ Life and Times; Cliff Richard.com; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million; (Primary source)
  11. ^ Sanctuary for Elton Yahoo Music; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million
  12. ^ The Iglesias dynasty Hello!; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million records
  13. ^ Led Zeppelin wins Polar Prize The Local; 7 November 2005; accessed December 2006; claims more than 300 million
  14. ^ How Madonna Got Her Groove Back Rolling Stone; accessed December 2005; claims 250 million records
  15. ^ Some of Madonna's Achievements AbsoluteMadonna.com; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million; (fan-site)
  16. ^ 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Nana Mouskouri CD Yahoo Shopping; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
  17. ^ UNICEF Biography on Nana Mouskouri UNICEF website; accessed June 2007; claim 300 million
  18. ^ Pink Floyd American Royal Arts Corp.; accessed December 2006; claims 250 million
  19. ^ Queen Proves There's Life After Freddie Ohmy News; January 25 2006; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
  20. ^ Tino Rossi Ajaccio Tourist Information; accessed December 2006; claims 300 million
  21. ^ Indian film composer for Rings
  22. ^ [2]
  23. ^ [3]
  24. ^ Aerosmith News
  25. ^ [4]
  26. ^ [5]
  27. ^ Biography - Barbra Streisand
  28. ^ Obituary: Barry White
  29. ^ [6]
  30. ^ BeeGees - Sales
  31. ^ [7]
  32. ^ [8]
  33. ^ [9]
  34. ^ [10]
  35. ^ [11]
  36. ^ [12]
  37. ^ [13]
  38. ^ [14]
  39. ^ [15]
  40. ^ [16]
  41. ^ [17]
  42. ^ [18]
  43. ^ [19]
  44. ^ [20]
  45. ^ [21]
  46. ^ [22]
  47. ^ [23]
  48. ^ [24]
  49. ^ [25]
  50. ^ [26]
  51. ^ [27]
  52. ^ [28]
  53. ^ [29]
  54. ^ [30]
  55. ^ [31]
  56. ^ [32]
  57. ^ [33]
  58. ^ [34]
  59. ^ [35]
  60. ^ [36]
  61. ^ [37]
  62. ^ [38]
  63. ^ [39]
  64. ^ [40]
  65. ^ [41]
  66. ^ [42]
  67. ^ [43]
  68. ^ [44]
  69. ^ [45]
  70. ^ [46]
  71. ^ [47]
  72. ^ [48]
  73. ^ [49]
  74. ^ [50]
  75. ^ [51]
  76. ^ [52]
  77. ^ [53]
  78. ^ [54]
  79. ^ Mariah Carey Receives six prestigious BMI awards and see success with tour
  80. ^ [55]
  81. ^ [56]
  82. ^ [57]
  83. ^ [58]
  84. ^ [59]
  85. ^ [60]
  86. ^ [61]
  87. ^ [62]
  88. ^ [63]
  89. ^ [64]
  90. ^ [65]
  91. ^ enote: Contempory Artists - Tina Turner biography(Claims over 180 million records sold by the year 2000)
  92. ^ [66]
  93. ^ [67]
  94. ^ [68]
  95. ^ [69]
  96. ^ [70]
  97. ^ [71]
  98. ^ [72]
  99. ^ [73]
  100. ^ Iron Maiden BBC News Official Website; accessed February 24, 2007; claims 80 million records sold
  101. ^ How Madonna Got Her Groove Back Rolling Stone; accessed December 2005; claims 75 million records
  102. ^ Some of Madonna's Achievements AbsoluteMadonna.com; accessed December 2006; claims 75 million; (fan-site)
  103. ^ BBC: Biography on Destiny's Child
  104. ^ Enya.com Enya's official Web Site, from the FAQ. Accessed on May 8, 2007. Claims more than 70 million sold.
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