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This lists documents the world's best-selling music artists categorically and alphabetically. This information cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization that has recorded global music sales. 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 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
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 these data.
Such constraints include:
- Bias towards acts who have had success in a specific country or region.
- Bias towards older artists. There is a broader genre spectrum of music to listen to now which limits the number of listeners.
- Bias towards modern artists. Comparatively fewer successful modern artists will have sold more records, as both global spending power and population have increased. In 1950, the world's population was 2.5 billion; by 2000 it had risen to 6 billion. 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.
- 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).
- Inconsistencies between the sources of the various statistics. For example in some cases world sales are compared to US (RIAA certifies US sales only).
Artists by reputed sales
-
500 million records or more
200 million to 499 million records
100 million to 199 million records
75 million to 99 million records
50 million to 74 million records
See also
References
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- ^ Billboard.com - Biography - Bing Crosby
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- ^ "Frank Sinatra: Biography" (in German). tele.at.
- ^ "Pop Icon Looks Back At A "Thriller" Of A Career In New Interview". CBS (2007-11-06). Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
- ^ "Back to roots for AC/DC", Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved on 2 May 2008.
- ^ rediff.com: A R Rahman: Composing a winning score
- ^ Former ABBA drummer found dead in garden Amol Rajan; msnbc; accessed 18 July 2008; claims 370 million
- ^ ABBA, The Book Potiez, Jean-Marie; 15 August 2005; accessed December 2006; claims 410 million records sold as of 2000
- ^ It's ABBA on the phone making a lot more money, money, money Sherwin, Adam; The Times; April 19, 2006; accessed December 2006; claims over 750 million
- ^ Britannica on Alla Pugacheva
- ^ Walker, Tim (2008-05-12). "Jive talkin': Why Robin Gibb wants more respect for the Bee Gees", The Independent (London). Retrieved on 26 October 2008.
- ^ D'elles. Sony BMG. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
- ^ ITN - Cher gets ready to Turn Back Time
- ^ The Times on Cliff Richard
- ^ The Times on The Drifters
- ^ The Telegraph on Elton John
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- ^ "The Iglesias Dynasty: Two generations of hot latin talent", special reports, Hello! hellomagazine.com (2008-11-09).
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- ^ "Live Review: Backstreet Boys live at Rod Laver Arena", Beat.
- ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Obituary: Barry White
- ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Billy Joel in Walk of Fame honour
- ^ Ozzy Osbourne, Prince of Darkness, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne, Jack Osbourne, Amy Osbourne
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- ^ "Carpenters". Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2008-08-26.
- ^ Lobato, Armand (2008-02-03). "Yesterday once more", Broomfield Enterprise (Broomfield, Colo.). Retrieved on 27 October 2008.
- ^ "Aznavour leaves on high note". BBC News (2001-04-10).
- ^ "Review: Chicago box set captures band". CNN (2003-08-22).
- ^ "Dalida, une vie...:Dalida la chanteuse" (in French). Paris.fr.
- ^ "Dave Clark Five hurt by bad timing". Lost in the '60s. wcfcourier.com.
- ^ David Bowie profile - biography of David Bowie
- ^ "Deep Purple". EMI Music Publishing.
- ^ "Deep Purple". Sheffield International Venues.
- ^ "Depeche Mode reveal tour details", ITN.co.uk, ITN (2008-10-07). Retrieved on 27 October 2008.
- ^ "With Dire Straits no more, Knopfler sails solo", CNN (2000-10-13).
- ^ "To The Troops, From Dolly", CBS News (2003-10-12).
- ^ "The Queen is back", hour.ca (2008-07-03).
- ^ "Duane Eddy", Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum (1994).
- ^ "The Eagles: Biography", Rolling Stones.
- ^ Interview: Mik Kaminski of The Orchestra (From Chorley Citizen)
- ^ The Times on Engelbert Humperdinck
- ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Domino 'shaken' by storm ordeal
- ^ Fleetwood Mac: Biography : Rolling Stone
- ^ annistonstar.com on Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
- ^ "Gold and Platinum: Top Selling Artists". RIAA.
- ^ "Songwriters Hall of Fame:Phil Collins". Songwriters Hall of Fame (2003).
- ^ "Michael seeking 'a quieter life'". BBC News.
- ^ "Guns N' Roses releases new single". chron.com (2008-10-22).
- ^ "Guns N' Roses releases first 'Chinese Democracy' single: Was it worth the wait?". Chicago Tribune (2008-10-22).
- ^ "Guns N' Roses releases first 'Chinese Democracy' single: Was it worth the wait?". Fox59 Indianapolis (2008-10-23).
- ^ "Iron Maiden coming to rock Regina". Regina Leader-Post (2008-03-17).
- ^ Kühnemund, Jan (2007-05-10). "Bunker zu Partykellern" (in German), Die Zeit. Retrieved on 27 October 2008.
- ^ UOMO Producer Helps Propel Janet Jackson to #1 in the US, Business Wire, 2008-03-10, http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080310005488&newsLang=en
- ^ Janet Jackson Announces Rock Witchu Tour; The iconic performer will pull from her celebrated collection of music which has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, PR Newswire, 2008-05-21, http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20080521/LAW04521052008-1.html
- ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Profile: Johnny Hallyday
- ^ The New York Daily News on Johnny Mathis
- ^ ADVISORY/Recording Academy's Florida Chapter Honors Chris Blackwell, Harry Wayne Casey, Mack Emerman and Olga Guillot; 2001 Heroes Awards Takes Place in Miami Beach on June 11 | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ^ CNN - Kenny Rogers, gambling again - October 7, 1999
- ^ The Times on Lionel Richie
- ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Pavarotti recovers from surgery
- ^ "Mariah Carey" (in German). MTV Germany.
- ^ "25 things you never knew about Metallica", NME (2008-09-15). Retrieved on 27 October 2008.
- ^ "Michiya Mihashi Profile" (in Japanese). Oricon Style.
- ^ "三橋美智也(みはしみちや)" (in Japanese). goo.
- ^ "Mireille Mathieu: Der "Spatz von Avignon" wird 60" (in German). stern.de.
- ^ "Neues "Modern Talking" mit Medlock und Bohlen" (in German). Süddeutsche Zeitung (2007-05-08).
- ^ Billboard.com - Biography - Neil Diamond
- ^ The New York Times on Olivia Newton-John
- ^ The Malaysia Star on The Osmonds
- ^ "At 71, Patti Page still is a 'Singing Rage'". South Coast Today.
- ^ "Crooner Perry Como dies". BBC News (2001-05-13).
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys: Biografie" (in German). Warner Music Germany. Retrieved on 2008-10-27.
- ^ "Songwriters Hall of Fame: Phil Collins". Songwriters Hall of Fame (2003).
- ^ Sony/BMG Germany on Prince
- ^ (2008-03-10). "R.E.M.'S New Album, Accelerate, Will Premiere Worldwide Exclusively via iLike". Press release.
- ^ CNN.com - Transcripts
- ^ The New Tork Times on Roberto Carlos
- ^ muenchen.de News for ROD STEWART
- ^ The Times on Status Quo
- ^ The LA Times on Stevie Wonder
- ^ SOHU.com May 6, 2003
- ^ Tina Turner on boston.com
- ^ Houston Chronicle on Tommy James
- ^ The Boston Globe on U2
- ^ Britannica on U2
- ^ FOXNews on U2
- ^ Nyet! The Madonna of Moscow says our pop stars are rubbish - Europe, News - Independent.co.uk
- ^ Seattle Times on The Ventures
- ^ Watertown Daily Times on Village People
- ^ Whitney Houston on Austria's Sony/BMG
- ^ The New York Times on The Who
- ^ The Scotsman on Annie Lennox
- ^ The Andrews Sisters - Inductees - The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation
- ^ "Biography: Tak Matsumoto". Favored Nations Entertainment.
- ^ Zomba Label Group - Jive Records - LaFace Records - News
- ^ BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Latin honours for Carlos Santana
- ^ allmusic ((( Larry Dunn > Overview )))
- ^ allmusic ((( Eddy Arnold > Overview )))
- ^ Richburg, Chris (20 February 2008). "Eminem Memoir Headed For Publication". Soulphoniks Video Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-10-21.
- ^ Richardson, Anna (19.02.08). "Orion takes the rap from Eminem". The Bookseller. Retrieved on 2008-10-21.
- ^ The Independent on Eurythmics
- ^ Gloria Estefan Named "Person of The Year"
- ^ "詳細情報 (図書)" (in Japanese). 菊川市立図書館.
- ^ Dreyfus Records - News - The Jean Michel Jarre Collection
- ^ Smooth Jazz News Cover Story
- ^ Kiss on roadrunnerrecords.com
- ^ Mina la camaleontica, Mina la solitaria Arcobaleno
- ^ Peter Wolf
- ^ "75 million sold copies". popmatters.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ "Scorpions – Hard Rock made in Germany". Popxport. Deutsche Welle (DW-World.de).
- ^ "Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli divorce". CNN.com (2007-12-21). Retrieved on 2008-10-27.
- ^ Alice Cooper - Bio of Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper Lives in Phoenix
- ^ allmusic ((( André Kostelanetz > Biography )))
- ^ The Times on Andrea Bocelli
- ^ Sports Hochi April 9, 2008
- ^ "Gold and Platinum: Top Selling Artists", RIAA.
- ^ Bob Dylan - Britannica Online Encyclopedia
- ^ Bob Marley, official site, sold 50 million albums
- ^ GRANHOLM - Bob Seger Day
- ^
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