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Best-selling groups/artists of all time worldwide

Calotte12

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Sales in the world (Album only). Go on the website and click on the name of each artist (explanation and sales for each album of each artist) if you want to know where they found that. Of course those numbers are not exact but they are more realistics than anything else. Based on estimation and certifications.

http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?showtopic=6523

1 - Beatles = 346.500.000 (12/2007)
2 - Michael Jackson = 202.700.000 (12/2007)
3 - Pink Floyd = 193.700.000 (02/2008)
4 - Elvis Presley = 187.000.000
5 - Madonna = 185.300.000 (01/2008)
6 - Elton John = 177.200.000 (01/2008)
7 - Rolling Stones = 169.100.000
8 - U2 = 166.400.000 (02/2008)
9 - Led Zeppelin = 165.500.000 (01/2008)
10 - Queen = 163.200.000 (02/2008)
11 - Celine Dion = 163.000.000 (12/2007)
12 - Eagles = 147.800.000 (12/2007)
13 - Mariah Carey = 145.900.000 (12/2007)
14 - Rod Stewart = 140.100.000 (03/2008)
15 - Barbra Streisand = 139.800.000 (02/2008)
16 - Whitney Houston = 134.200.000 (12/2007)
17 - Garth Brooks = 131.900.000 (02/2008)
18 - Bruce Springsteen = 130.900.000 (02/2008)
19 - Eric Clapton = 129.000.000 (02/2008)
20 - AC/DC = 128.700.000 (11/2007)
21 - Billy Joel = 124.500.000 (12/2007)
22 - Bee Gees = 122.100.000 (12/2007)
23 - Phil Collins = 122.000.000 (12/2007)
24 - Bob Dylan = 119.800.000 (12/2007)
25 - Fleetwood Mac = 118.100.000 (12/2007)
26 - Santana - 117.700.000 (03/2008)
27 - Neil Diamond = 117.300.000 (02/2008)
28 - Aerosmith = 113.500.000 (11/2007)
29 - Bon Jovi = 107.200.000 (12/2007)
30 - Simon and Garfunkel = 105.100.000 (03/2008)
31 - ABBA = 104.200.000 (09/2007)
32 - Paul McCartney - 103.700.000 (02/2008)
33 - Metallica - 102.500.000 (01/2008)
34 - Prince = 99.900.000 (02/2008)
35 - Genesis = 98.000.000 (12/2007)
36 - David Bowie = 95.700.000 (12/2007)
37 - Van Halen = 94.000.000 (02/2008)
38 - Guns N' Roses = 93.200.000 (12/2007)
39 - Kenny Rogers = 90.400.000 (02/2008)
40 - Dire Strait = 89.600.000 (12/2007)
41 - The Doors = 89.700.000 (01/2008)
42- Julio Iglesias = 89.500.000 (03/2008)
43 - Stevie Wonder = 87.100.000 (03/2008)
44 - Bob Marley = 86.600.000 (01/2008)
45 - Backstreet Boys = 85.900.000 (02/2008)
46 - R.E.M. = 83.800.000 (02/2008)
47 - Eminem = 83.400.000 (12/2007)
48 - Enya = 78.300.000 (12/2007)
49 - Kenny G = 77.900.000 (03/2008)
50 - The Police = 75.600.000 (02/2008)
51 - George Strait = 74.400.000 (02/2008)
52 - Shania Twain = 74.200.000 (02/2008)
53 - Willie Nelson = 73.000.000 (03/2008)
54 - Britney Spears = 70.200.000 (02/2008)
55 - Red Hot Chili Peppers = 69.600.000 (02/2008)
56 - Nirvana = 69.400.000 (02/2008)
57 - Sade = 69.200.000 (02/2008)
58 - Janet Jackson = 66.300.000 (12/2007)
59 - Sting = 65.700.000 (02/2008)
60 - Bob Seger = 65.400.000 (02/2008)
61 - Lionel Richie = 65.300.000 (03/2008)
62 - Andrea Bocelli = 64.200.000 (05/2008)
63 - Journey = 64.000.000 (01/2008)
64 - Bryan Adams = 63.600.000 (12/2007)
65 - Def Leppard = 62.500.000 (12/2007)
66 - Alabama = 62.000.000 (12/2007)
67 - Meat Loaf = 61.500.000 (01/2008)
68 - Foreigner = 59.900.000 (12/2007)
69 - Iron Maiden = 59.700.000 (02/2008)
70 - Gloria Estefan = 58.800.000 (02/2008)
71 - Pearl Jam = 56.700.000 (03/2008)
72 - Reba Mc Entire = 56.600.000 (03/2008)
73 - George Michael = 56.000.000 (02/2008)
74 - Simply Red = 55.900.000 (02/2008)
75 - James Taylor = 55.600.000 (03/2006)
76 - Linda Ronstadt = 55.300.000 (02/2008)
77 - Michael Bolton = 54.600.000 (02/2008)
78 - Tina Turner = 54.500.000 (02/2008)
79 - Green Day = 54.500.000 (12/2007)
80 - Alan Jackson = 53.600.000 (12/2007)
81 - Diana Ross = 53.300.000 (03/2008)
82 - Alanis Morissette = 52.100.000 (02/2008)
83 - Robbie Williams = 51.100.000 (02/2008)
84 - B'z = 51.000.000 (12/2007)
85 - Cher = 50.200.000 (03/2008)
86 - 2Pac = 48.300.000 (11/2007)
87 - Ray Charles = 47.800.000 (03/2008)
88 - Boston = 46.700.000 (02/2008)
89 - Jackson 5/The Jacksons = 46.300.000 (12/2007)
90 - R.Kelly = 44.800.000 (02/2008)
91 - Tracy Chapman = 44.400.000 (12/2007)
92 - Boyz II Men = 43.500.000 (12/2007)
93 - Duran Duran = 43.400.000 (12/2007)
94 - Oasis = 42.800.000 (11/2007)
95 - Tim McGraw = 41.200.000 (03/2008)
96 - Spice Girls = 39.700.000 (02/2008)
97 - Jay-Z = 39.600.000 (02/2008)
98 - The Cranberries = 39.400.000 (12/2007)
99 - N' SYNC = 39.400.000 (02/2008)
100 - Dixie Chicks = 38.700.000 (02/2008)

TOP ALBUM OF ALL TIME WORLDWIDE :

1) Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982) 60 200 000
2) Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) 41 800 000
3) Soundtracks – The Bodyguard (1992) 38 500 000
4) Soundtracks – Grease (1978) 37 000 000
5) Eagles – Their Greatest Hits (1976) 36 700 000
6) Soundtracks – Saturday Night Fever (1977) 36 000 000
7) Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV (1971) 35 900 000
8) Shania Twain – Come on Over (1997) 35 400 000
9) Michael Jackson – Bad (1987) 33 100 000
10) Fleetwood Mac – Rumours (1977) 32 700 000
11) Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms (1985) 32 600 000
12) Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (1995) 32 200 000
13) AC/DC – Back in Black (1980) 32 100 000
14) Bob Marley (& the Wailers) - Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers (1984) 31 300 000
15) The Beatles – One (2000) 30 800 000
16) Pink Floyd – The Wall (1979) 30 700 000
17) Céline Dion – Let’s Talk About Love (1997) 30 300 000
18) Céline Dion – Falling Into You (1996) 30 200 000
19) Michael Jackson – Dangerous (1991) 30 000 000
20) Guns N’roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987) 29 800 000
21) Eagles – Hotel California (1976) 29 200 000
22) Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA (1984) 28 900 000
23) Meet Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977) 28 700 000
24) U2 – The Joshua Tree (1987) 28 300 000
25) Soundtracks – Dirty Dancing (1987) 28 000 000

Best selling artist of all-time, 3 albums in the top 20, 2 in the top 10. Who can beat that ?
 
Those figures could be somewhat accurate. While accountable wholesale solo records figure for Jackson is 350 million, of them about 70 million are singles. About 45 million are all time cumulative of all Motown/Universal solo albums releases and re-releases. This lefts about 235 million for wholesale figure for S-BMG ME label. However, there is significant lap in millions between wholesale and retail sales of each album of many, so figure like 202 million S-BMG ME is realistic.

But not as overall figure since it omits Motown/Universal sales, as well as the following calculation:
2000-2005:
OTW: 16+3=19
T: 53+6=59
B: 27+1=28
D: 27+2=29
H-P,P&F-BI: HB & HC: 32+4=36
BOTDF-HITM: 5+1=6
I: 0+8=8
HOVI: 0+3
#1s: 0+6=6
EMJ: 0+2=2
=160+36 = 196
(few lesser releases are not counted here, as well as years 2006 and 2007, which brougt about another five million albums sold; please note that the list is for retail sales which are not related to S-BMG ME/Jackon's profits; only wholesale are)
 
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It is not reliable chart. I thought AC/DC was second best besting in world wide chart. It is not 13) AC/DC – Back in Black (1980) 32 100 000.
 
This below is from an unreliable source also but seems to be fairly accurate on some things but not on others.
http://www.worldwidealbums.net/
The only one i edited was the Thriller sales which would easily have risen from 104 million in 2006 to 108 million in the time that has past. I mean it sold 2 million based on the last 3 months alone. Here are the stats:

Michael Jackson Thriller 1982 108000000
Michael Jackson Bad 1987 32000000
Michael Jackson Dangerous 1991 29500000
Michael Jackson HIStory 1995 19500000
Michael Jackson Off The Wall 1979 19000000
Michael Jackson Invincible 2001 7000000
Michael Jackson Number Ones 2003 6500000
The Jacksons Victory 1984 5500000
Michael Jackson Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix 1997 5000000
The Jackson 5 Greatest Hits 1971 4500000
The Jackson 5 Thrid Album 1970 3500000
The Jacksons Destiny 1978 3500000
Michael Jackson Ben 1972 3000000
The Jackson 5 ABC 1970 3000000
The Jacksons Triumph 1980 3000000
Michael Jackson Greatest Hits - HIStory Volume I 2001 3000000
The Jackson 5 Lookin Through The Windows 1972 2500000
Michael Jackson The Essential Michael Jackson 2005 2500000
The Jackson 5 Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 1970 2500000
The Jackson 5 Maybe Tomorrow 1971 2000000
Michael Jackson Got To Be There 1971 1500000
Michael Jackson Best Of Michael Jackson 1975 1500000
Michael Jackson 18 Greatest Hits 1984 1500000
The Jackson 5 Goin Back To Indiana 1971 1500000
The Jacksons The Jacksons Live 1981 1500000
The Jackson 5 Dancing Machine 1974 1500000
Michael Jackson Farewell My Summer Love 1984 1000000
The Jacksons The Jacksons 1976 1000000
Michael Jackson The Best Of Michael Jackson 1980 1000000
The Jackson 5 Skywhiter 1973 750000
The Jackson 5 Get It Together 1973 750000
The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 Anthology 1976 750000
The Jacksons 2300 Jackson Street 1989 750000
Michael Jackson One Day In Your Life 1981 750000
Michael Jackson Music And Me 1973 500000
Michael Jackson Forever Michael 1975 500000
The Jackson 5 Moving Violation 1974 500000
The Jacksons Goin Places 1976 500000




Total 282,750,000
 
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What i find interesting about the stats above is that Invincible, the infamous "flop" album, comes in as his 6th biggest selling ever. When you then mention MJ has headed 40 releases in his time, this ranking of #6 is a VERY impressive stat, especially considering the time it came out, a month after 9/11, and right at the time Napster was BOOMING in the world of illegal downloads.

4 - Elvis Presley = 187.000.000
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Finally a source who claims REASONABLE ELVIS SALES! Im SICK of hearing that he is the biggest and has sold "ONE BILLION" records... HE HAS NOT! He was big in the USA. He never toured outside the USA. He was popular other places but never embraced it properly and his sales reflect that. Im glad someone managed to claim Elvis is not #1:)
 
damien shields said:
What i find interesting about the stats above is that Invincible, the infamous "flop" album, comes in as his 6th biggest selling ever. When you then mention MJ has headed 40 releases in his time, this ranking of #6 is a VERY impressive stat, especially considering the time it came out, a month after 9/11, and right at the time Napster was BOOMING in the world of illegal downloads.


Finally a source who claims REASONABLE ELVIS SALES! Im SICK of hearing that he is the biggest and has sold "ONE BILLION" records... HE HAS NOT! He was big in the USA. He never toured outside the USA. He was popular other places but never embraced it properly and his sales reflect that. Im glad someone managed to claim Elvis is not #1:)
Click to expand...

Elvis prestley did not sell many albums. Elvis's audiences were not album buying audiences, they were radio and jukebox listeners. More gospel songs may have been sold than any other because he was very successful in that area, I own some of his gospel albums. Much of the elvis sale is pure hype, rather like the so called wealth that he had reportedly left for his daughter. Nothing could be futher from the truth. His death has raked in more money than his life ever did.
 
Mike better get his @ss in gear and start releasing some music otherwise he will drift down that table quite easily. There are a few acts still releasing music regularly that can catch up easily (i.e. Madonna and Mariah - particularly Madonna!)
 
damien shields said:
Finally a source who claims REASONABLE ELVIS SALES! Im SICK of hearing that he is the biggest and has sold "ONE BILLION" records... HE HAS NOT! He was big in the USA. He never toured outside the USA. He was popular other places but never embraced it properly and his sales reflect that. Im glad someone managed to claim Elvis is not #1:)
Click to expand...

Yes, those numbers listed in this thread for Elvis seem much more believable compared to other ones i've read. I have NEVER believed that he sold 1 billion records or anything near that.
 
Cinnamon234 said:
Yes, those numbers listed in this thread for Elvis seem much more believable compared to other ones i've read. I have NEVER believed that he sold 1 billion records or anything near that.
Click to expand...
If Elvis had sold a billion records, Mj would have been laughing all the way to the bank seeing as though he owns them, the same goes for the beatles.
 
for how many albums mj has released compared to the beatles and how the beatles are a band and michael is solo....i still think mj is bigger or the gap would at least be so mcuh closer than the beatles, i dont think anyone can ever prove who is the biggest, coz michaels album havent been re certified in soooo long.....but yer im sick of ppl saying elvis has sold a billion. dats a joke. lol
 
Did Invy sold only 7 million copies? I though it was around 9 million units.
Does anyone know it exactly?
 
In 2005 the International Phonographic Industry released a list of the top 100 selling artists (singles and and album sales combined) and The Beatles were first with 450 million in sales, MJ was 2nd with 350 million sold (not including the sales of The Jackson 5/Jacksons) and Elvis was 3rd with 300 million sold.

I intially misread the first post thinking it was albums and singles but now I realise its just albums only. I still kind of think the figure for MJ is actually a bit lower that what his actual album sales are though.
 
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king_of_pop_fan said:
for how many albums mj has released compared to the beatles and how the beatles are a band and michael is solo....i still think mj is bigger or the gap would at least be so mcuh closer than the beatles, i dont think anyone can ever prove who is the biggest, coz michaels album havent been re certified in soooo long.....but yer im sick of ppl saying elvis has sold a billion. dats a joke. lol
Click to expand...

What does being a band or being solo have to do with sales? Sales are sales.
 
How do they know what the Motown albums sold since Gordy was notorious for not reporting or underreporting sales to the RIAA, so he wouldn't have to pay his acts much money?
 
AGB said:
In 2005 the International Phonographic Industry released a list of the top 100 selling artists (singles and and album sales combined) and The Beatles were first with 450 million in sales, MJ was 2nd with 350 million sold (not including the sales of The Jackson 5/Jacksons) and Elvis was 3rd with 300 million sold.

I intially misread the first post thinking it was albums and singles but now I realise its just albums only. I still kind of think the figure for MJ is actually a bit lower that what his actual album sales are though.
Click to expand...

Nah, the IFPI never owned up to make that list. It was rumored that they did but it was never proven either.
 
damien shields said:
This below is from an unreliable source also but seems to be fairly accurate on some things but not on others.
http://www.worldwidealbums.net/
The only one i edited was the Thriller sales which would easily have risen from 104 million in 2006 to 108 million in the time that has past. I mean it sold 2 million based on the last 3 months alone. Here are the stats:

Michael Jackson Thriller 1982 108000000
Michael Jackson Bad 1987 32000000
Michael Jackson Dangerous 1991 29500000
Michael Jackson HIStory 1995 19500000
Michael Jackson Off The Wall 1979 19000000
Michael Jackson Invincible 2001 7000000
Michael Jackson Number Ones 2003 6500000
The Jacksons Victory 1984 5500000
Michael Jackson Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix 1997 5000000
The Jackson 5 Greatest Hits 1971 4500000
The Jackson 5 Thrid Album 1970 3500000
The Jacksons Destiny 1978 3500000
Michael Jackson Ben 1972 3000000
The Jackson 5 ABC 1970 3000000
The Jacksons Triumph 1980 3000000
Michael Jackson Greatest Hits - HIStory Volume I 2001 3000000
The Jackson 5 Lookin Through The Windows 1972 2500000
Michael Jackson The Essential Michael Jackson 2005 2500000
The Jackson 5 Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 1970 2500000
The Jackson 5 Maybe Tomorrow 1971 2000000
Michael Jackson Got To Be There 1971 1500000
Michael Jackson Best Of Michael Jackson 1975 1500000
Michael Jackson 18 Greatest Hits 1984 1500000
The Jackson 5 Goin Back To Indiana 1971 1500000
The Jacksons The Jacksons Live 1981 1500000
The Jackson 5 Dancing Machine 1974 1500000
Michael Jackson Farewell My Summer Love 1984 1000000
The Jacksons The Jacksons 1976 1000000
Michael Jackson The Best Of Michael Jackson 1980 1000000
The Jackson 5 Skywhiter 1973 750000
The Jackson 5 Get It Together 1973 750000
The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 Anthology 1976 750000
The Jacksons 2300 Jackson Street 1989 750000
Michael Jackson One Day In Your Life 1981 750000
Michael Jackson Music And Me 1973 500000
Michael Jackson Forever Michael 1975 500000
The Jackson 5 Moving Violation 1974 500000
The Jacksons Goin Places 1976 500000




Total 282,750,000
Click to expand...

Ironically, worldwide, Thriller 25 is considered to be a separate album compared to how America views it. Worldwide, it would've sold 2 million alone. In America, the sales here only adds up to the original Thriller's sales numbers not like, say, Thriller SE.
 
thriller alone is probably easily in the 100 million range. I mean everybody and there mommy almost done had a MJ album, tape, record,45,etc...
 
Ya know, I can actually believe the 100 million story over the other one but I choose to say just that. I don't want people catching fits in here. This is MJJOhLordSomeonesAboutToGetItForNoApparentReason.com. :lol:
 
It's not accurate, Janet is like 100 million copies and it says 66 and Britney Spears is over 85 million copies.
 
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