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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.

Note

In general there is no official organization that certifies worldwide record sales (such as the RIAA does for U.S. record sales). Thus, there are few if any reliable figures to go into this list. Fans, biographers, and record lables may overestimate sales figures for publicity purposes. Many of bestselling artists from Asia, Africa and Latin America are still not included because of the lack of data. Thus, the list cannot be considered definitive, and could be taken with a grain of salt.

Volume (Total albums and singles)

1-49

# Name Albums WW Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimate based on
1 The Beatles 12/39 ~1 billion + UK 60s Rock EMI estimate
Elvis Presley 31/39 ~500,000,000 US 50s-70s Rock/Standards

[1] [2] 167m.US

ABBA 16 ~350,000,000 Sweden 70s-80s Disco

[3] [4] [5]

Led Zeppelin 9/11 *~320,000,000 UK 60s-70s Hard rock 106m.US [6]
Alla Pugacheva ~270,000,000 Russia 70s-00s Disco/Pop source 1997
Cliff Richard ~260,000,000 UK 50s-00s Pop [7][8] [9]
Julio Iglesias 80 ~250,000,000 Spain 70s-00s Latino Pop [10] [11]
Nana Mouskouri 450 ~250,000,000 Greece 60s-00s Pop [12] [13]
Madonna 16 250,000,000 US/UK 80s-00s Pop WBR 2004 src.2
10 Michael Jackson 14 250,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/soul/Rock/Pop 173m.alb. [14]
Mariah Carey 14 211,500,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop source
Céline Dion 20 220,500,000 CA 80s-00s Pop source
Elton John 43 ~210,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(70m.US) [15]
Garth Brooks ~210,000,000 US 80s-00s Country 105m.US
The Rolling Stones ~210,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock *63m.US
Pink Floyd ~210,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock 180m.alb.
Whitney Houston 10 183,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop source
AC/DC ~180,000,000 Australia/UK 70s-00s Hard Rock source1 [16]
Johnny Mathis ~180,000,000 US 50s-00s Pop/Standards src.
20 The Jackson 5 ~170,000,000 US 60s-90s Soul/Disco/R&B src.
Metallica *~170,000,000 US 80s-00s Hard Rock 57m.US
Genesis 160,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock/Pop
U2 11 *~150,000,000 Ireland 80s-00s Rock/Pop 50m.US
Mireille Mathieu 37 ~150,000,000 FR 60s-00s Pop src.
David Bowie 136,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock src.
E. Humperdinck ~130,000,000 UK/US 50s-00s Pop/Standards [17] [18]

src.2

Wei Wei (韦唯) ~120,000,000 China 80s-00s Pop [19] [20]
Phil Collins ~125,000,000 UK Rock/Pop
Chicago 122,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Rock 37m.US,[21] [22]
30 Neil Diamond 120,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Standards/Rock [23]
Modern Talking 13 120,000,000 DE 80s-00s Disco/Dance BMG 2003
Prince 24 ~*120,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop/Funk/Rock 40m.US, [24]
The Bee Gees 110,000,000 UK/AU 60s-00s Pop/Disco src.1 [25]
Bon Jovi ~110,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock/Hard Rock (100m.alb.)
R.E.M. ~110,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock (106m.alb.)
Janet Jackson 9 ~105,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/pop/soul 77m.alb.
Kenny Rogers 105,000,000 US 60s-00s Country/Pop/Rock [26]

[27]

Barbra Streisand 102,000,000 US 60s-00s Standards/Pop 71m.US
Queen *~100,000,000 UK 70s-90s Rock 30m.US [28]
Black Sabbath ~100,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock 15m.US
40 Ricky Nelson ~100,000,000 US 50s-80s Pop/Country/Rock [29]
Status Quo 112,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock [30]

[31]

Luciano Pavarotti ~100,000,000 IT 60s-00s Opera [32] [33]
Brenda Lee ~100,000,000 US 50s-60s Pop/Country
A. R. Rahman ~100,000,000 India 90s-00s [34]
Barry White ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop/R&B/Disco [35]
Deep Purple ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Hard Rock [36]
Lionel Richie ~100,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop/R&B [37]
Dolly Parton ~100,000,000 US 60s-00s Country [38]
49 Donna Summer ~100,000,000 US 70s-90s Disco src.

50-99

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
50 Vicky Leandros ~100,000,000 Greece 60s-00s source
Rod Stewart ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock/Standards [39]
Aerosmith ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock [40] [41]
Billy Joel ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop / Rock 78 mil.US, [42] [43]
Fleetwood Mac ~100,000,000 UK/US 60s-00s Pop/Rock 2
Johnny Hallyday ~100,000,000 FR 50s-00s Pop src.1 [44]
Charles Aznavour ~100,000,000 FR 50s-00s Pop [45]
Bruce Springsteen 96,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(61 mil. albums US)
Shania Twain 4 ~95,000,000 Canada 90s-00s Country/Rock/Pop (82mil. albums)
Britney Spears 5 ~95,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop 65mil. albums
60 The Eagles ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Country/Rock *(80 mil. US)
Bob Dylan ~90,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk-Rock *35m.US, [46]
The Ventures ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock src.1 [47]
Earth, Wind & Fire 90,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Funk/Disco/Pop *(23 mil.US) [48]
B'z 14 ~86,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Rock
Eddy Arnold 85,000,000 US 40s-90s Country source
Bjork ~80,000,000 Iceland 80s-00s Alternative
Eurythmics ~80,000,000 UK 80s-90s Pop source 1 source 2
KISS 30 ~80,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock source
Santana ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock src.1 [49]
Dalida ~80,000,000 France 50s-80s as of 1981
70 Salvatore Adamo ~80,000,000 Belgium 60s-00s [50]
Fairouz ~80,000,000 Lebanon 60s-00s Traditional Arab, Modern, Pop *(35 mil. US)
Hank Snow ~80,000,000 US 50s-00s Country src.
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 [51]
Boney M ~80,000,000 DE 70s-80s Disco [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
80 Sade *75,000,000 UK 80s-00s Jazz/Soul/Pop 22mil.US
Paul McCartney ~75,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock *(25mil.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 FR 60s-00s Classic [57]
Def Leppard 74,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock *(32 mil. US), src.
Dire Straits 74,000,000 UK 70s-90s Rock
Jean-Michel Jarre 19 ~72,000,000 France 70s-00s Synth Pop *Francis Dreyfus / Sony BMG
Petula Clark ~71,000,000 UK 50s-00s Pop [58] src.2
The Carpenters 70,000,000 US 60s-80s Pop
90 Gloria Estefan ~70,000,000 US 80s-00s Latino Pop src.1, [59]
Duran Duran 16 ~70,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop source
Enya 5 70,000,000 Ireland 80s-00s New Age/Celtic *(22mil.US)
Kenny G 5 ~70,000,000 US 90s-00s Jazz *50mil. US, [60]
Roberto Carlos ~70,000,000 Brazil 60s-00s [61] [62]
Charley Pride ~70,000,000 US 60s-00s Country source
Ray Conniff ~70,000,000 US 60s-00s Standards src.1 [63]
Ozzy Osbourne ~70,000,000 UK 60s-00s Hard Rock *(27mil.US) [64] [65]
Bay City Rollers ~70,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [66]
99 Van Halen ~70,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock [67]

100-149

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
100 Adriano Celentano ~70,000,000 IT 60s-00s Pop [68]
A-ha 10 ~65,000,000 Norway 80s-00s Pop source
Kylie Minogue 65,000,000 Australia 80s-00s Synth Pop source
Eminem 65,000,000 US 90s-00s Rap *(22 mil. US)
Guns N' Roses 64,000,000 US 80s-00s Hard Rock 36.5mil.US
Bryan Adams ~60,000,000 CA 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 [69]
Perry Como ~60,000,000 US 30s-00s Standards Source [70]
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 [71]
Simon and Garfunkel ~60,000,000 US 60s Folk-Rock *(36mil.US)
Pearl Jam ~60,000,000 US 90s-00s Alternative *(29 mil. US)
Enrique Iglesias ~60,000,000 Spain 90s-00s Pop 51 mil. albums
John Denver ~60,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk/Rock/Country [72]
The Monkees ~60,000,000 US 60s-90s Rock [73]
Tom Jones ~60,000,000 UK 60s-00s Pop [74]
The Andrews Sisters ~60,000,000 US 40s-60s Pop src.
Hank Thompson ~60,000,000 US 40s-00s Country
120 Jethro Tull ~60,000,000 UK Rock [75]
Bill Haley ~60,000,000 US 40s-80s Rock
Barry Manilow 58,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop/Standards [76]
Boyz II Men ~60,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop *(27mil.US), [77]
Paul Anka ~60,000,000 CA 50s-00s Pop [78]
Alanis Morissette ~55,000,000 CA 90s-00s Rock/Pop src.1 [79]
The Police 53,000,000 UK 70s-80s Rock/Pop *(22mil.US)
The Moody Blues 55,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock
Nirvana 52,000,000 US 80s-90s Alternative *(24mil.US)
Michael Bolton 52,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop [80]
Luis Miguel 55,000,000 Mexico 80s-00s Latin Pop [81]
130 Andre Kostelanetz 52,000,000 US 70s-00s Classic src.1 [82]
Tony Bennett ~51,000,000 US 50s-00s Standards/Jazz [83]
Depeche Mode ~50,000,000 UK 80s-00s Alternative Abbey Music
Rush ~50,000,000 CA 70s-00s Progressive Rock *(25 mil.US)
Alabama ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Country *(46mil. US)
Christina Aguilera 4 ~50,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop 34mil. albums
Sweet 4 ~50,000,000 UK 70s-80s Rock src.
Johnny Cash 4 ~50,000,000 US Country [84]
Motley Crue ~50,000,000 US 80s-00s Hard Rock *(22mil.US), [85]
Foreigner ~50,000,000 US/UK 70s-90s Rock/Pop *(36mil.US)
140 Oasis ~50,000,000 UK 90s-00s Rock (46mil albums)
Paul Revere & the Raiders ~50,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock [86] [87]
UB40 ~50,000,000 UK 80s-00s Reggae BBC
Meat Loaf ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock source 1 source 2
Olivia Newton-John ~50,000,000 UK 70s-00s Country/Pop [88]
Simply Red ~50,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [89] src. 2
The Four Tops ~50,000,000 US 60s-90s Pop [90]
Gene Autry ~50,000,000 US Country [91]
Nat King Cole ~50,000,000 US 30s-60s Jazz [92]
149 Andrea Bocelli ~50,000,000 IT Opera [93]

150-200

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
150 The Seekers ~50,000,000 Australia Rock/Pop [94]
The Doobie Brothers ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock 50mil.US
Three Dog Night ~50,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock [95] [96] src.3
Bob Seger ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [97]
Roger Whittaker ~50,000,000 UK 70s-90s [[src.1 [98]
Reba McEntire 48,000,000 US 70s-00s Country [99]
Andy Lau (刘德华) 48,000,000 China 80s-00s Country [100] [101]
Willie Nelson 46,000,000 US 50s-00s Country/Pop/Standards
Suzi Quatro 45,000,000 US/UK 70s-00s Pop/Rock [102]
George Michael 45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop source [103]
Ace of Base >45,000,000 Sweden 90s-00s Pop/Dance source
2 Pac ~45,000,000 US 90s Rap *(36mil.US)
160 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 [104]
Sting 45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Rock/Pop [105]
Red Hot Chili Peppers 44,000,000 US 80s-00s Alternative
Milli Vanilli 44,000,000 DE 80s-90s Pop [106]
Destiny's Child 4 43,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop [107]
Alan Jackson 43,000,000 US 90s-00s Country source
*NSYNC 42,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop *(30 mil. US)
Vicente Fernandez 40,000,000 Mexico 70s-00s Mexican
170 Waylon Jennings +40,000,000 US Country [108]
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)
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 US [109]
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) [110]
Al Green ~40,000,000 US 70s-80s R&B/Pop [111]
Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens ~40,000,000 src. [112]
Ricky Martin ~40,000,000 Puerto Rico 90s-00s Pop [113]
Blondie ~40,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [114] [115]
Sonny & Cher ~40,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock [116]
New Kids On The Block 38,000,000 US 80s-90s Pop
Bob Marley 39,000,000 Jamaica/UK 60s-80s Reggae
Matchbox Twenty 37,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock src., [117]
Andrea Boccelli ~36,000,000 Italy 90s-00s Opera
The Smashing Pumpkins 36,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock *12mil US, [118]
190 TLC 36,000,000 US 90s R&B/Pop [119]
Dixie Chicks ~35,000,000 US 80s-00s Country *28 mil US
Linda Ronstadt 35,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Rock/Country [120]
Savage Garden ~35,000,000 AU 90s-00s Pop src.
Pierre Kartner ~35,000,000 NL 60s-00s Party Biography
Cream 35,000,000 UK Rock src.1 [121]
Jennifer Lopez 35,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop
Jennifer Warnes 35,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Pop [122]
Styx 35,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [123]
Emerson, Lake & Palmer ~35,000,000 UK 70s Rock src.1 [124]
199 Cranberries 34,000,000 Ireland 90s-00s Alternative source

200-250

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
200 James Taylor 34,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Folk-Rock
Diana Ross ~33,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Pop
Utada (宇多田 ヒカル) 33,000,000 US/Japan 90s-00s [125] [126]
Los Tigres del Norte 32,000,000+ Mexico 80s-00s Mexican/Norteño source
Roxette 32,000,000 Sweden 80s-00s Pop
Linkin Park *32,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock 16mil.US
The Offspring 32,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock
Cher 32,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop *12.5 mil US
Westlife 32,000,000 Ireland 90s-00s Pop [127] [128]
Peter Gabriel 31,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock/Pop
210 Juan Gabriel ~30,000,000 Mexico 70s-00s Mexican/Pop [129]
Kazem al-Saher ~30,000,000 Iraq 00s Pop [130]
George Jones ~30,000,000 US 70s-00s Country [131]
Aretha Franklin 30,000,000 US 50s-00s Pop [132]
Conway Twitty ~30,000,000 US 50s-90s Country/Pop
Tammy Wynette ~30,000,000 US Country [133]
Boston ~30,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
Dave Matthews Band ~30,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock [134]
John Mellencamp ~30,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
Lynyrd Skynyrd ~30,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
220 ZZ Top ~30,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
Steve Miller Band ~30,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock
Sarah McLachlan 30,000,000 Canada 80s-00s Folk-Rock/Pop/Alternative source
Robbie Williams ~30,000,000 UK 90s-00s Pop source
Blumchen ~30,000,000 DE 90s-00s Pop [135]
Slavko Avsenik ~30,000,000 Slovenia 50s-00s Pop src.
INXS ~30,000,000 AU 70s-00s Rock [136]
Lenny Kravitz *~30,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock/Pop 11 mil. US
M.C. Hammer ~30,000,000 US 80s-00s Rap *16 mil. US, [137]
230 Russ Conway ~30,000,000 UK 60s-00s Classic [138]
Chris Rea ~30,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock/Pop [139]
Limp Bizkit *~30,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock 16mil.US
Heart 30,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock 21mil.US,[140]
Paula Abdul ~30,000,000 US 80s-90s Pop src.1,[141]
Creed 30,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock 23mil.US, [142]
Mino Reitano 30,000,000 IT [143]
Bad Company +30,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [144]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (US)28,000,000 US Rock [145]
The Cure 12 27,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [146]
The Corrs 27,000,000 Ireland 90s-00s Rock [147]
240 Karel Gott 100+ 27,000,000 Czech Republic 50s-00s [148] [149]
Melissa Etheridge 8 27,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock source
Namie Amuro (あむろ なみえ) 27,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Pop src.1 , [150]
Laura Pausini 19 26,000,000 Italy 80s-00s src., [151]
Amy Grant 19 26,000,000 US 70s-00s Gospel/Christian/Pop *(25mil.US)
Tim McGraw (US)26,000,000 US 90s-00s Country src.1 [152]
Shakira 26,000,000 US 90s-00s [153]
Toto 15 25,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop [154]
The Partridge Family 25,000,000 US Pop [155]
Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋寅泰) 25,000,000 Japan 80s-00s [156]
Norah Jones 3 25,000,000 US 00s Jazz/Pop source
249 Dreams Come True 25,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Pop [157] [158]

250-300

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
250 Jewel 25,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop src. [159]
Toby Keith 25,000,000 US 90s-00s Country [160]
Brandy 25,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop src.1
Helen Reddy ~25,000,000 AU/US 80s-00s Pop src.
The Temptations ~25,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop src.
Run-D.M.C. ~25,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop [161]
The Stone Temple Pilots ~25,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock [162]
Red Foley 8 ~25,000,000 US 50s-60s Country src.1, [163]
Richard Marx ~25,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock [164]
260 Avril Lavigne 2 24,000,000 Canada 00s Pop/Rock source
Dwight Yoakam 23,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock [165]
Loverboy 23,000,000 Canada 70s-00s Rock [166]
Ronnie Milsap ~23,000,000 US 70s-00s Country
Brooks & Dunn (US)23,000,000 US 90s-00s Country
Faith Hill (US)23,000,000 US 90s-00s Country/Pop
Vince Gill (US)23,000,000 US 80s-00s Country
Luther Vandross (US)23,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop
Mannheim Steamroller (US)23,000,000 US 80s-00s New Age
Beastie Boys (US)22,000,000 US 80s-00s Rap [167]
270 Creedence Clearwater Revival (US)22,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock
Scorpions 22,000,000 German 60s-70s Rock [168]
REO Speedwagon (US)22,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
Jimmy Buffett (US)22,000,000 US 60s-00s Country
Randy Travis 11 21,000,000 US 80s-00s Country [169] [170]
Jimi Hendrix (US)20,000,000 US 60s Rock
Jon Secada ~20,000,000 US 90s-00s src.
Aadesh Shrivastava ~20,000,000 India 90s-00s [171]
B-52s ~20,000,000 US 70s-90s [172]
Jay-Z ~30,000,000 US 00s Rap 20mil.US, [173]
280 Eros Ramazzotti ~20,000,000 IT 80s-00s src.1 [174]
Menudo 20,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock/Pop [175]
Kenny Chesney 20,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock/Pop [176]
Kim Wilde 20,000,000 UK 80s-00s Rock/Pop source
LeAnn Rimes 20,000,000 US 90s-00s Country [177]
André Rieu 20,000,000 NL 90s-00s Classical EMI Music
Jody Watley ~20,000,000 US 80s-00s src.
The Judds ~20,000,000 US 80s-90s Country src. [178]
Erasure ~20,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [179]
Spandau Ballet ~20,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [180]
290 Alison Moyet ~20,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [181]
Coldplay ~20,000,000 UK 90s-00s Rock [182]
Sheryl Crow ~20,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock [183]
LL Cool J *~20,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock 12 mil. US
The Fugees ~20,000,000 US 90s Hip-Hop src.
Leandro & Leonardo ~20,000,000 Brazil [184]
OutKast (US)20,000,000 US Hip-Hop
Hootie & the Blowfish (US)20,000,000 US Rock
Green Day (US)20,000,000 US Rock
Usher (US)20,000,000 US R&B
299 Free +20,000,000 UK R&B [185]

300-305

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
300 Nelly (US)20,000,000 US Hip-Hop
Snoop Dogg ~20,000,000 US Hip-Hop *12 mil. US
Soundgarden ~20,000,000 US Rock
Cyndi Lauper ~20,000,000 US [186]
Enzo Ghinazzi 20,000,000 IT 80s-00s Pop [187]
Yolanda del Rio 20,000,000 Mexico [188]

Notes

  • "Years Active" column refers to 20th and 21th century only, because none of artist listed here are from 19th century.
  • The sign "~" represents that the total sales are not specific. Even if it reads "50 million", the total sales could actually be 60 million. Also note to the above "grain of salt" method.
  • * - sales projected from US album sales data based on "popularity" in the world and based on US/World sales ratio of similar artists that already have both US and World sales data. (US certification data provided on RIAA.Com).
  • In albums column: left number is a number of studio albums, right number other albums.
  • About ABBA, Beatles and Elvis sales see link here and here.
  • For "Standards" music style see article Pop Standards.

Estimation Table

According to the RIAA, the World music market is estimated at $40 billion annually, and the U.S. recording industry accounts for one-third of the world market.

This table represents the album sales of artists that are popular both in the USA and in the world. The ratio between their US and worldwide album sales can be helpful in estimating the worlwide sales of artists that are similar in their US and worldwide exposure but only have US sales figures. However, this estimation technique cannot be used to estimate the WW sales of non-English-singing artists, as their US figures will likely be very low. This technique may also undercount artists who sometimes record in other languages in addition to English, since they will likely have a larger worldwide audience. Also since this technique is based on album sales, it will tend to undercount those artists popular in the 1960s and before, when singles were much more popular relative to albums than they have been since then.


Artist US Album Sales Worldwide Album Sales Ratio
Mariah Carey 62 mil. 176 mil. 2.83
Madonna 63 mil. 175 mil. 2.77
Céline Dion 45.5 mil. 185 mil. 4.07
Michael Jackson 58.5 mil. 173 mil. 2.95
Whitney Houston 61 mil. 134 mil. 2.19
Janet Jackson 27 mil. 77 mil. 2.98
Bon Jovi 33.5 mil. 100 mil. 2.98
Gloria Estefan 22 mil. 70 mil. 3.18

Average Worldwide/US album sales ratio = 2.99.

Chart Statistics

Number of best sellers: 305.

By Country

Country #N of bestsellers
United States 168
United Kingdom 61
Canada 8
Italy 8
Australia 7
France 6
Ireland 5
Japan 5
Mexico 4
Germany 4
Sweden 3
India 3
Greece 2
Puerto Rico 2
Brazil 2
Spain 2
Netherlands 2
Iceland 1
Lebanon 1
Belgium 1
Russia 1
Czech Republic 1
Norway 1
Total 298

By Genre

Genre #N of bestsellers
Pop 52
Rock 22
Country 13
Hard Rock 9
Disco 8
R&B 6
Jazz 4
Standards 4
Latin Pop 3
Mexican Folk 2
Opera 1
Gospel/Christian 1
Classic 1
Dance 1
Traditional Arab 1
Total genres 121

As of 05:02, 19 July 2005 version

See also

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