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List of best-selling music artists

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This is a non-definitive list of best selling recording artists, embracing worldwide singles and album sales. The factual basis of this article will always be questionable since there is no industry body that certifies record sales worldwide.

File:Tablesalt.jpg
Grains of salt supply, to view this list with.

Precise numbers are therefore open to speculation and should be taken with a large grain of salt.

Many say that record sales are not everything. Enjoyment of the music is enough for the listener and for an artist, lasting the test of time shows real success in the music world.

Volume (Total albums and singles)

# Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Source
1 Elvis Presley 150+ 1 billion US 50s-70s Rock/Country/Pop

Elvis.com 166.5m US See also: Discussion #36

2 The Beatles 40+ 1 Billion UK 60s Rock/Pop Guinness/EMI

See also: Discussion #36

3 Michael Jackson 14 230,000,000 US 70's-00's Pop/R&B/Soul/Rock MJ Stats

MJJ Source See also: Discussion #29

4 Led Zeppelin 9/12 ~200,000,000 UK 60s-70s Hard rock MSNBC

See also: Discussion #38

5 Nana Mouskouri 450 ~200,000,000 Greece 60s-00s Pop [1] [2]
6 Madonna 16 ~225,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop WBR 2005 src.2 [3]
7 Elton John 43 ~230,000,000 UK 70s-00s Pop

[4]

8 Mariah Carey 14 ~230,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B Note: No references here
9 Celine Dion 21 ~220,000,000 Canada 80s-00s Pop Music/Pop

Discography

10 The Rolling Stones ~210,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock
10 Garth Brooks ~210,000,000 US 80s-00s Country 105m.US
Queen 22 200,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [5] [6][7]See also: discussion #11[8]
Julio Iglesias 80 ~200,000,000 Basque Country 70s-00s Latino Pop [9] [10]
Tom Jones ~200,000,000 UK 60's-00's Pop Note: no reference given
Whitney Houston 10 ~185,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop source
AC/DC ~175,000,000 Australia/UK 70s-00s Hard Rock source1 [11] David Icke
Paul McCartney 175,000,000+ UK 60s-00s Rock Note: no reference given here
Genesis ~160,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock/Pop src.
Phil Collins ~155,000,000 UK Rock/Pop src.
U2 11 *~150,000,000 Ireland 80s-00s Rock/Pop 50m.US
The Jacksons 20 150,000,000 US 60s-80s R&B/Disco/Pop Jackson 5 discography [12]
Status Quo 135,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock [13]

[14][15]

E. Humperdinck ~130,000,000 UK/US 50s-00s Pop/Standards [16] [17]src.2
Janet Jackson 9 ~130,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/pop/soul Janet Jackson Discography
Guns N' Roses 7 ~120,000,000 US 80s-90s Hard Rock 71mil. albumsNote: No references given here
Chicago ~120,000,000 US 60s-80s Jazz/Rock [18]
The Eagles ~120,000,000 US 70s-00s Country/Rock
Wei Wei (韦唯) ~120,000,000 China 80s-00s Pop [19] [20]
Neil Diamond ~120,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Standards/Rock [21]
Modern Talking 13 ~120,000,000 Germany 80s-00s Disco/Dance BMG 2003
Prince 24 ~*120,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop/Funk/Rock [22]
The Bee Gees 110,000,000 UK/Australia 60s-00s Pop/Disco src.1 [23]
Bon Jovi ~110,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock/Hard Rock (100m.alb.)
R.E.M. ~110,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock Note: source is from Wikipedia itself, i.e. it cannot be verified(106m.alb.)
Pink Floyd ~105,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock See also: discussion #27
Kenny Rogers 105,000,000+ US 60s-00s Country/Pop/Rock [24]

[25]

Barbra Streisand 100,000,000+ US 60s-00s Standards/Pop 71m.US
ABBA ~100,000,000 Sweden 70s-80s Disco/Pop Note: No source given here
Mireille Mathieu 37 ~100,000,000 France 60s-00s Pop src.
Alla Pugacheva 15 ~100,000,000 Russia 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(10m.US) [26]
David Bowie ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock src.
Johnny Mathis ~100,000,000 US 50s-00s Pop/Standards src. source 2
Black Sabbath ~100,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock 15m.US
Ricky Nelson ~100,000,000 US 50s-80s Pop/Country/Rock Note: no references given here
Luciano Pavarotti ~100,000,000 Italy 60s-00s Opera [27] [28]
Brenda Lee ~100,000,000 US 50s-60s Pop/Country Note: No references given here
A. R. Rahman ~100,000,000 India 90s-00s [29]
OmPrakash ~100,000,000 India 90s-00s [30]
Illayaraja ~100,000,000 India 70s-00s [31]
Deep Purple ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Hard Rock [32]
Lionel Richie ~100,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop/R&B [33] 21.0 mililion in US

[34]

Dolly Parton ~100,000,000 US 60s-00s Country [35] Note: this artist is not listed by RIAA as one of the 200 best selling artists in US [36]See also: discussion #15
Donna Summer ~100,000,000 US 70s-90s Disco Note: reference is from Wikipedia itself! src.
Rod Stewart ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock/Standards [37]
Aerosmith ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock [38] [39]
Billy Joel ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop / Rock 78 mil.US, [40] [41]
Marianne James ~100,000,000 France Jazz Note: no reference provided here
Fleetwood Mac ~100,000,000 UK/US 60s-00s Pop/Rock 2
Johnny Hallyday ~100,000,000 France 50s-00s Pop src.1 [42]
Charles Aznavour ~100,000,000 France 50s-00s Pop [43]
Oscar Peterson ~90,000,000 Canada Jazz Note: no reference provided
Bruce Springsteen ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(61 mil. albums US)
Def Leppard ~90,000,000 UK 80s-00s Hard Rock 55.5mil.US
Bob Dylan ~90,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk-Rock *35m.US, [44]
The Ventures ~90,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock src.1 [45]
Earth, Wind & Fire 90,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Funk/Disco/Pop *(23 mil.US) [46]Note: No references given here for 90 million WW figure
KISS 30 ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock source
B'z 14 ~86,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Rock See also: discussion #22
Eddy Arnold 85,000,000 US 40s-90s Country source
Britney Spears ~85,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop *(32 mil. US), src.
Jean-Michel Jarre 19 ~80,000,000 France 70s-00s Synth Pop sourceSee also: discussion #19
Linda Ronstadt 80,000,000+ US 60s-00s Pop/Rock/Country [47]
Santana ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock src.1 [48]
Dalida ~80,000,000 France 50s-80s as of 1981 See also: discussion #19
Metallica 10 ~80,000,000 US 80's-00's
Salvatore Adamo ~80,000,000 Belgium 60s-00s [49]
Fairouz ~80,000,000 Lebanon 60s-00s Traditional Arab, Modern, Pop *(35 mil. US)
Eric Clapton ~80,000,000 UK 80s-00s Rock, Blues *(38 mil. US)
Stevie Wonder ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Soul/R&B/Pop,Disco [50]
Boney M ~80,000,000 Denmark 70s-80s Disco [51]
Hank Snow ~80,000,000 Canada 30's-90's [52]
Spice Girls 3 ~76,000,000 UK 90s-00s Pop source
Backstreet Boys ~75,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop src.1 [53]
Bobby Vinton ~75,000,000 US 60s-90s Pop source
Sade *75,000,000 UK 80s-00s Jazz/Soul/Pop 22mil.US
Chet Atkins ~75,000,000 US 40s-00s Rock [54]
Victor Silvester ~75,000,000 UK 30s-70s [55]
Journey ~75,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop 40mil.US, [56]
Richard Clayderman ~75,000,000 France 60s-00s Classic [57]
Dire Straits 74,000,000 UK 70s-90s Rock
Shania Twain 4 ~73,000,000 Canada 90s-00s Country/Rock/Pop Note: No references given here
Petula Clark ~71,000,000 UK 50s-00s Pop [58] src.2
A-ha 10 70,000,000 Norway 80s-00s Pop [59] [60]
The Carpenters 70,000,000 US 60s-80s Pop reference needed
Kool & the Gang 70,000,000 US 70s-80s Pop [61]
Gloria Estefan ~70,000,000 US 80s-00s Latino Pop src.1, [62]
Duran Duran 16 ~70,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop source
Enya 5 70,000,000 Ireland 80s-00s New Age/Celtic Note: No references given here for WW figure
Kenny G 5 ~70,000,000 US 90s-00s Jazz *50mil. US, [63]
Roberto Carlos ~70,000,000 Brazil 60s-00s [64] [65]
Charley Pride ~70,000,000 US 60s-00s Country source
Ray Conniff ~70,000,000 US 60s-00s Standards src.1 [66]
Bay City Rollers ~70,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [67]
Van Halen ~70,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock [68]
Depeche Mode ~70,000,000 UK 80s-00s Alternative [69]
Adriano Celentano ~70,000,000 Italy 60s-00s Pop [70]
Kylie Minogue 65,000,000 Australia 80s-00s Synth Pop source
Eurythmics 65 million according to reference provided UK 80s-90s Pop [71] src.2
Eminem 65,000,000 US 90s-00s Rap *(22 mil. US)
Vicky Leandros ~60,000,000+ Greece 60s-00s reference needed
Bryan Adams ~60,000,000 Canada 80s-00s Pop/Rock 1
George Strait ~*60,000,000 US 70s-00s Country *54 mil. US
The Doors ~60,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock *(30 mil. US)
Tina Turner ~60,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop [72]
Perry Como ~60,000,000 US 30s-00s Standards [73] [74]
110 Frank Sinatra ~60,000,000 US 40s-90s Standards *(25 mil.US)
Iron Maiden 22 ~60,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock src.1 [75]
Simon and Garfunkel ~60,000,000 US 60s Folk-Rock *(36mil.US)
Pearl Jam ~60,000,000 US 90s-00s Alternative *(29 mil. US)
Christian Dome ~60,000,000 UK 90s-00s Pop 51m.albums
John Denver ~60,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk/Rock/Country [76]
The Monkees ~60,000,000 US 60s-90s Rock [77]
The Andrews Sisters ~60,000,000 US 40s-60s Pop src.
Hank Thompson ~60,000,000 US 40s-00s Country Note: no reference provided
120 Jethro Tull ~60,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock [78]
Bill Haley 60,000,000 US 40s-80s Rock Note: no reference provided
Barry Manilow 60,000,000+ US 70s-00s Pop/Standards [79]
Boyz II Men ~60,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop *(27mil.US), [80]
Paul Anka ~60,000,000 Canada 50s-00s Pop [81]
Alanis Morissette ~55,000,000 Canada 90s-00s Rock/Pop src.1 [82]
The Police *53,000,000 UK 70s-80s Rock/Pop 22m.US, [83]
The Moody Blues 55,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock Note: no reference provided
Nirvana *52,000,000 US 80s-90s Alternative 24m.US
Michael Bolton 52,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop [84]
Luis Miguel 55,000,000 Mexico 80s-00s Latin Pop [85]
Andre Kostelanetz 52,000,000 US 70s-00s Classic src.1 [86]
Tony Bennett ~51,000,000 US 50s-00s Standards/Jazz [87]
Rush *~50,000,000 Canada 70s-00s Progressive Rock 25 m.US
Alabama *~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Country 46m.US
Johnny Cash 4 ~50,000,000 US Country [88]
Motley Crue *~50,000,000 US 80s-00s Hard Rock 22m.US, [89]
Foreigner *~50,000,000 US/UK 70s-90s Rock/Pop 36m.US
140 Oasis ~57,000,000 UK 90s-00s Rock ~50m.albums
Paul Revere & the Raiders ~50,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock [90] [91]
UB40 ~50,000,000 UK 80s-00s Reggae [92]
Meat Loaf ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [93] src.2
Olivia Newton-John ~50,000,000 Australia 70s-00s Country/Pop [94]
Bjork ~50,000,000 Iceland 80s-00s Alternative Note: this artist is NOT listed as one of the 200 best-selling artists by RIAA [95]
Simply Red ~50,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [96] src.2
The Four Tops ~50,000,000 US 60s-90s Pop [97]
Gene Autry ~50,000,000 US Country [98]
Nat King Cole ~50,000,000 US 30s-60s Jazz [99]
The Guess Who 50,000,000 Canada Rock
Pet Shop Boys 50,000,000 UK Dance
The Seekers ~50,000,000 Australia 60s, 90s-00s Rock/Pop/Folk [100]
The Doobie Brothers ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock 50mil.US
Three Dog Night ~50,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock [101] [102] src.3
Bob Seger ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [103]
Roger Whittaker ~50,000,000 UK 70s-90s src.1 [104]
Annie Lennox ~50,000,000 UK 90s-00s src.1 [105]
Ace Of Base ~50,000,000 Sweden 90s-00s Pop/Dance source
Reba McEntire 48,000,000 US 70s-00s Country [106]
Andy Lau (刘德华) 48,000,000 China 80s-00s Country [107] [108]
Ayumi Hamasaki 46,000,000 Japan 90s-00s J-Pop src.
Willie Nelson 46,000,000 US 50s-00s Country/Pop/Standards
Destiny's Child 6 46,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop [109]
George Michael 45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop source [110]
2 Pac ~48,000,000 US 90s Rap *(38mil.US)
Bananarama ~45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop/Rock/Dance 40mil albums
No Doubt ~45,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock *15 mil US
Chris de Burgh 45,000,000 Ireland 70s-00s Pop/Rock src.1 [111]
Sting 45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Rock/Pop [112]
Red Hot Chili Peppers 44,000,000 US 80s-00s Alternative
Milli Vanilli 44,000,000 DE 80s-90s Pop [113]
Alan Jackson 43,000,000 US 90s-00s Country source
*NSYNC 42,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop *(30 mil. US)
Robbie Williams ~40,000,000 UK 90s-00s Pop source
Christina Aguilera 4 ~40,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop 34m.albums
Vicente Fernandez 40,000,000 Mexico 70s-00s Mexican
Waylon Jennings +40,000,000 US Country [114]
Jose Feliciano 40,000,000 Puerto Rico 60s-00s Pop source
Judas Priest 15 ~40,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock source
The Who ~40,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock *(20mil.US)
Ozzy Osbourne ~40,000,000 UK 60s-00s Hard Rock *(27mil.US)
John Lennon ~40,000,000 UK 60s-70s Rock *13.5mil.US
The Beach Boys 40,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Rock
The Cars ~40,000,000 US 70s-1980s Rock/Pop *(23mil.US)
James Last ~40,000,000 Germany [115]
Asha Bhosle ~40,000,000 India 50s-00s src.
R. Kelly ~40,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop *(28mil.US)
180 Toni Braxton ~40,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop *(25mil.US) [116]
Al Green ~40,000,000 US 70s-80s R&B/Pop [117]
Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) ~40,000,000 src. [118]
Ricky Martin ~40,000,000 Puerto Rico 90s-00s Pop [119]
Blondie ~40,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [120] [121]
Sonny & Cher ~40,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock [122]
Usher ~40,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B source
Diana Krall 40,000,000 Canada Jazz
Anne Murray 40,000,000 Canada Pop
TLC 36,000,000 US 90s R&B/Pop [123]

See also

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