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List of best-selling music artists

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tevin27 (talk | contribs) at 01:24, 5 October 2005 (→150-199). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This is a non-definitive list of best selling recording artists, embracing worldwide singles and album sales. The factual accuracy of this article is disputed as there is no worldwide list of music sales.

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.


And yet, the question remains. Who sold the most? Everyone wants to know!

This is a list of claimants, not a list of facts per se.

Beware of darkness.

Record sales aren't everything, enjoy the music!

Amen!

Volume (Total albums and singles)

1-49

# Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimate based on
1 The Rolling Stones 40+ 1 Billion + UK 60s, 70s, 90s Rock/Pop Guinness/EMI estimate
Elvis Presley 500+ 1 Billion + US 50s-70s Rock/Country/Pop

Elvis researchers estimate

RCA 1992

ABBA ~260,000,000 Sweden 70s-80s Disco/Pop source 1997]
Cliff Richard 60+ ~260,000,000 British 50s-00s Country/Rock/Pop BBC
Madonna 16 ~250,000,000 US/UK 80s-00s Pop WBR 2004 src.2 [1]
Michael Jackson 14 ~250,000,000 US 70's-00's Soul/R&B/Rock/Pop source
Nana Mouskouri 450 ~250,000,000 Greece 60s-00s Pop [2] [3]
Mariah Carey 14 ~220,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop source
Celine Dion 21 ~220,500,000 Canada 80s-00s Pop Discography
Elton John 43 ~220,000,000 UK 70s-00s Pop

[4]

Garth Brooks ~210,000,000 US 80s-00s Country 105m.US
The Beatles ~210,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock
Led Zeppelin 9/12 ~200,000,000 UK 60s-70s Hard rock 106m.US [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3079786
Julio Iglesias 80 ~200,000,000 Spain 70s-00s Latino Pop [5] [6]
Tom Jones ~200,000,000 UK 60's-00's Pop
Whitney Houston 10 ~188,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop source
20 AC/DC ~184,000,000 Australia/UK 70s-00s Hard Rock source1 [7] David Icke
Johnny Mathis ~180,000,000 US 50s-00s Pop/Standards src. source 2
Paul McCartney 175,000,000+ UK 60s-00s Rock
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
Status Quo 135,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock [8]

[9] [10]

E. Humperdinck ~130,000,000 UK/US 50s-00s Pop/Standards [11] [12]

src.2

The Eagles ~120,000,000 US 70s-00s Country/Rock
30 Wei Wei (韦唯) ~120,000,000 China 80s-00s Pop [13] [14]
Chicago 122,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Rock 37m.US,[15] [16]
Neil Diamond ~120,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Standards/Rock [17]
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, [18]
The Bee Gees 110,000,000 UK/AU 60s-00s Pop/Disco src.1 [19]
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.)
Pink Floyd ~105,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock
Janet Jackson 9 ~105,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/pop/soul 78m.alb.
Kenny Rogers 105,000,000+ US 60s-00s Country/Pop/Rock [20]

[21]

Barbra Streisand 100,000,000+ US 60s-00s Standards/Pop 71m.US
Mireille Mathieu 37 ~100,000,000 FR 60s-00s Pop src.
Alla Pugacheva 15 ~100,000,000 Russia 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(10m.US) [22]
David Bowie ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock src.
Metallica 10 100,000,000 US 80's-00's
Black Sabbath ~100,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock 15m.US
40 Ricky Nelson ~100,000,000 US 50s-80s Pop/Country/Rock
Luciano Pavarotti ~100,000,000 IT 60s-00s Opera [23] [24]
Brenda Lee ~100,000,000 US 50s-60s Pop/Country
A. R. Rahman ~100,000,000 India 90s-00s [25]
OmPrakash ~100,000,000 India 90s-00s [26]
Illayaraja ~100,000,000 India 70s-00s [27]
Barry White ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop/R&B/Disco [28]
Deep Purple ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Hard Rock [29]
Lionel Richie ~100,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop/R&B [30]
Dolly Parton ~100,000,000 US 60s-00s Country [31]
49 Donna Summer ~100,000,000 US 70s-90s Disco src.

50-99

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
Rod Stewart ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock/Standards [32]
Aerosmith ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock [33] [34]
Billy Joel ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop / Rock 78 mil.US, [35] [36]
Marianne James ~100,000,000 France Jazz
Fleetwood Mac ~100,000,000 UK/US 60s-00s Pop/Rock 2
Johnny Hallyday ~100,000,000 FR 50s-00s Pop src.1 [37]
Charles Aznavour ~100,000,000 FR 50s-00s Pop [38]
Oscar Peterson ~100,000,000 Canada Jazz
Bruce Springsteen ~96,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(61 mil. albums US)
Britney Spears 5 ~95,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop 71mil. albums
60 Guns N' Roses ~90,000,000 US 80s-00s Hard Rock 36.5mil.US
Bob Dylan ~90,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk-Rock *35m.US, [39]
The Ventures ~90,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock src.1 [40]
Earth, Wind & Fire 90,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Funk/Disco/Pop *(23 mil.US) [41]
B'z 14 ~86,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Rock
Eddy Arnold 85,000,000 US 40s-90s Country source
Jean-Michel Jarre 19 ~80,000,000 France 70s-00s Synth Pop source
Bjork ~80,000,000 Iceland 80s-00s Alternative
Eurythmics ~80,000,000 UK 80s-90s Pop [42] src.2
KISS 30 ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock source
Linda Ronstadt 80,000,000+ US 60s-00s Pop/Rock/Country [43]
Santana ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock src.1 [44]
Dalida ~80,000,000 France 50s-80s as of 1981
70 Salvatore Adamo ~80,000,000 Belgium 60s-00s [45]
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)
Queen *~80,000,000 UK 70s-90s Rock 30m.US
Stevie Wonder ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Soul/R&B/Pop,Disco [46]
The Jackson 5 ~80,000,000 US 60s-90s Soul/Disco/R&B
Boney M ~80,000,000 DE 70s-80s Disco [47]
Hank Snow ~80,000,000 Canada 30's-90's [48]
Spice Girls 3 ~76,000,000 UK 90s-00s Pop source
Backstreet Boys ~75,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop src.1 [49]
Bobby Vinton ~75,000,000 US 60s-90s Pop source
80 Sade *75,000,000 UK 80s-00s Jazz/Soul/Pop 22mil.US
Chet Atkins ~75,000,000 US 40s-00s Rock [50]
Victor Silvester ~75,000,000 UK 30s-70s [51]
Journey ~75,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop 40mil.US, [52]
Richard Clayderman ~75,000,000 FR 60s-00s Classic [53]
Def Leppard 74,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock *(32 mil. US), src.
Dire Straits 74,000,000 UK 70s-90s Rock
Shania Twain 4 ~73,000,000 Canada 90s-00s Country/Rock/Pop (total sales)
Petula Clark ~71,000,000 UK 50s-00s Pop [54] src.2
A-ha 10 70,000,000 Norway 80s-00s Pop [55] [56]
The Carpenters 70,000,000 US 60s-80s Pop
Kool & the Gang 70,000,000 US 70s-80s Pop [57]
90 Gloria Estefan ~70,000,000 US 80s-00s Latino Pop src.1, [58]
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, [59]
Roberto Carlos ~70,000,000 Brazil 60s-00s [60] [61]
Charley Pride ~70,000,000 US 60s-00s Country source
Ray Conniff ~70,000,000 US 60s-00s Standards src.1 [62]
Bay City Rollers ~70,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [63]
99 Van Halen ~70,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock [64]

100-149

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
Depeche Mode ~70,000,000 UK 80s-00s Alternative [65]
Adriano Celentano ~70,000,000 IT 60s-00s Pop [66]
Kylie Minogue 65,000,000 Australia 80s-00s Synth Pop source
Eminem 65,000,000 US 90s-00s Rap *(22 mil. US)
50 Vicky Leandros ~60,000,000+ Greece 60s-00s
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 [67]
Perry Como ~60,000,000 US 30s-00s Standards [68] [69]
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 [70]
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 [71]
The Monkees ~60,000,000 US 60s-90s Rock [72]
The Andrews Sisters ~60,000,000 US 40s-60s Pop src.
Hank Thompson ~60,000,000 US 40s-00s Country
Elvis Costello ~60,000,000 UK Pop
120 Jethro Tull ~60,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock [73]
Bill Haley 60,000,000 US 40s-80s Rock
Joni Mitchell ~60,000,000 Canada 60's-00's Pop
Barry Manilow 60,000,000+ US 70s-00s Pop/Standards [74]
Boyz II Men ~60,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop *(27mil.US), [75]
Paul Anka ~60,000,000 CA 50s-00s Pop [76]
Alanis Morissette ~55,000,000 CA 90s-00s Rock/Pop src.1 [77]
The Police *53,000,000 UK 70s-80s Rock/Pop 22m.US, [78]
The Moody Blues 55,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock
Nirvana *52,000,000 US 80s-90s Alternative 24m.US
Michael Bolton 52,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop [79]
Luis Miguel 55,000,000 Mexico 80s-00s Latin Pop [80]
130 Andre Kostelanetz 52,000,000 US 70s-00s Classic src.1 [81]
Tony Bennett ~51,000,000 US 50s-00s Standards/Jazz [82]
Rush *~50,000,000 CA 70s-00s Progressive Rock 25 m.US
Alabama *~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Country 46m.US
Christina Aguilera 4 ~50,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop 34m.albums
Johnny Cash 4 ~50,000,000 US Country [83]
Motley Crue *~50,000,000 US 80s-00s Hard Rock 22m.US, [84]
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 [85] [86]
UB40 ~50,000,000 UK 80s-00s Reggae [87]
Meat Loaf ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [88] src.2
Olivia Newton-John ~50,000,000 Australia 70s-00s Country/Pop [89]
Simply Red ~50,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [90] src.2
The Four Tops ~50,000,000 US 60s-90s Pop [91]
Gene Autry ~50,000,000 US Country [92]
Nat King Cole ~50,000,000 US 30s-60s Jazz [93]
The Guess Who 50,000,000 Canada Rock
Pet Shop Boys 50,000,000 UK Dance

150-199

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
150 The Seekers ~50,000,000 Australia 60s, 90s-00s Rock/Pop/Folk [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]
Annie Lennox ~50,000,000 UK 90s-00s src.1 [99]
Ace Of Base ~50,000,000 Sweden 90s-00s Pop/Dance source
Reba McEntire 48,000,000 US 70s-00s Country [100]
Andy Lau (刘德华) 48,000,000 China 80s-00s Country [101] [102]
Willie Nelson 46,000,000 US 50s-00s Country/Pop/Standards
Destiny's Child 6 46,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B/Pop [103]
George Michael 45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop source [104]
2 Pac ~45,000,000 US 90s Rap *(36mil.US)
160 Bananarama ~45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop/Rock/Dance 40mil albums
Robbie Williams ~45,000,000 UK 90s-00s Pop source
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 [105]
Sting 45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Rock/Pop [106]
Red Hot Chili Peppers 44,000,000 US 80s-00s Alternative
Milli Vanilli 44,000,000 DE 80s-90s Pop [107]
Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎あゆみ) 43,000,000+ Japan 90s-00s J-Pop src.
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)
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 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]
Usher ~40,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B source
Diana Krall 40,000,000 Canada Jazz
Anne Murray 40,000,000 Canada Pop
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]
Woody Woodpecker 40,000,000 USA Jazz
190 TLC 36,000,000 US 90s R&B/Pop [119]
Dixie Chicks ~35,000,000 US 80s-00s Country *28 mil US
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 [120]
Jennifer Warnes 35,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Pop [121]
Styx 35,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [122]
Emerson, Lake & Palmer ~35,000,000 UK 70s Progressive rock src.1 [123]

200-250

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
200 Cranberries 34,000,000 Ireland 90s-00s Alternative source
James Taylor 34,000,000 US 60s-00s Pop/Folk-Rock
Diana Ross ~33,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Pop
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 8 32,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock
Westlife 32,000,000 Ireland 90s-00s Pop [124] [125]
Norah Jones 3 32,000,000 US 00s Jazz/Pop source
Peter Gabriel 31,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock/Pop
Juan Gabriel ~30,000,000 Mexico 70s-00s Mexican/Pop [126]
Kazem al-Saher ~30,000,000 Iraq 00s Pop [127]
George Jones ~30,000,000 US 50s-00s Country [128]
Aretha Franklin 30,000,000 US 50s-00s Pop [129]
Jay-Z ~30,000,000 US 00s Rap 20mil.US, [130]
Conway Twitty ~30,000,000 US 50s-90s Country/Pop
Tammy Wynette ~30,000,000 US Country [131]
Boston ~30,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
Dave Matthews Band ~30,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock [132]
John Mellencamp ~30,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
220 Lynyrd Skynyrd ~30,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock
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
Blumchen ~30,000,000 DE 90s-00s Pop [133]
Slavko Avsenik ~30,000,000 Slovenia 50s-00s Pop src.
INXS ~30,000,000 AU 70s-00s Rock [134]
Lenny Kravitz *~30,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock/Pop 11 mil. US
230 M.C. Hammer ~30,000,000 US 80s-00s Rap *16 mil. US, [135]
Russ Conway ~30,000,000 UK 60s-00s Classic [136]
Chris Rea ~30,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock/Pop [137]
Limp Bizkit *~30,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock 16mil.US
Heart 30,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock 21mil.US,[138]
Paula Abdul ~30,000,000 US 80s-90s Pop src.1,[139]
Creed 30,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock 23mil.US, [140]
Mino Reitano 30,000,000 IT [141]
Nelly 30,000,000 US Hip-Hop source
Bad Company +30,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [142]
The Sugarcubes 30,000,000 Iceland
Renee Geyer 30,000,000 Australia
Bachman Turner Overdrive 30,000,000 Canada
Brandy 28,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B src.1
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (US)28,000,000 US Rock [143]
The Cure 12 27,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [144]
240 The Corrs 27,000,000 Ireland 90s-00s Rock [145]
Karel Gott 100+ 27,000,000 Czech Republic 50s-00s [146] [147]
Melissa Etheridge 8 27,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock source
Namie Amuro (安室奈美恵) 27,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Pop src.1 , [148]
Laura Pausini 19 26,000,000 Italy 80s-00s src., [149]
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 [150]
Shakira 26,000,000 Colombia 90s-00s [151]
50 cent 25,000,000 US 00s Hip-Hop source
Toto 15 25,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop [152]
249 The Partridge Family 25,000,000 US Pop [153]

250-300

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
250 Tomoyasu Hotei (布袋寅泰) 25,000,000 Japan 80s-00s

[154]

Dreams Come True 25,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Pop [155] [156]
Jewel 25,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop src. [157]
Toby Keith 25,000,000 US 90s-00s Country [158]
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 [159]
The Stone Temple Pilots ~25,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock [160]
Red Foley 8 ~25,000,000 US 50s-60s Country src.1, [161]
Richard Marx ~25,000,000 US 80s-00s Rock [162]
The Easybeats 25,000,000 Australia 60's Pop/Rock
Aaliyah ~24,000,000 US 90s-00s R&B
260 Dido 2 24,000,000 UK 00s [163]
Avril Lavigne 2 24,000,000 Canada 00s Pop/Rock source
Dwight Yoakam 23,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock [164]
Loverboy 23,000,000 Canada 70s-00s Rock [165]
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
270 Beastie Boys (US)22,000,000 US 80s-00s Rap [166]
Creedence Clearwater Revival (US)22,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock
Scorpions 22,000,000 German 60s-70s Rock [167]
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 [168] [169]
Alicia Keys 2 ~20,500,000 US 00s Soul/R&B source
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 [170]
280 The B-52's ~20,000,000 US 70s-90s [171]
Eros Ramazzotti ~20,000,000 IT 80s-00s src.1 [172]
Menudo 20,000,000 Puerto Rico 80s-00s Rock/Pop [173]
Kenny Chesney 20,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock/Pop [174]
Kim Wilde 20,000,000 UK 80s-00s Rock/Pop source
LeAnn Rimes 20,000,000 US 90s-00s Country [175]
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. [176]
Erasure ~20,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [177]
290 Spandau Ballet ~20,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [178]
Alison Moyet ~20,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [179]
Coldplay ~20,000,000 UK 90s-00s Rock [180]
Sheryl Crow ~20,000,000 US 90s-00s Rock [181]
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 [182]
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

300-310

#    Name Albums Worldwide Sales Nationality Years Active Genre Estimation on
Free +20,000,000 UK R&B [183]
Snoop Dogg ~20,000,000 US Hip-Hop *12 mil. US
Soundgarden ~20,000,000 US Rock
Cyndi Lauper ~20,000,000 US [184]
Thalia ~20,000,000 Mexico 90s-00s Pop [185]
Yolanda del Rio 20,000,000 Mexico [186]
Paul Young 20,000,000 UK [187]
Gordon Lightfoot 20,000,000 Canada 50's-70's Folk
Barenaked Ladies 20,000,000 Canada 90's-00's Rock
The Tragically Hip 20,000,000 Canada 80's-00's Rock
Will Young 18,000,000 UK
Notorious B.I.G. 18,000,000 US 90s
Jessica Simpson 15,000,000 US
Nelly Furtado 15,000,000 Canada
Beyonce Knowles 14,500,000 US
The Chemical Brothers

10,000,000 || UK

Sigur Ros 10,000,000 Iceland
Slim Dusty 10,000,000 Australia
Nickelback 10,000,000 Canada

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 "100 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
Michael Jackson 59.5 mil. 194 mil. src 3.26
Céline Dion 47 mil. 185.5 mil. 3.95
Mariah Carey 61 mil. 180 mil. 2.95
Madonna 61 mil. 175 mil. 2.87
Whitney Houston 61 mil. 134 mil. 2.20
Janet Jackson 31.8 mil. 78 mil. 2.45
Bon Jovi 33.5 mil. 100 mil. 2.98
Gloria Estefan 22 mil. 70 mil. 3.18

Average Worldwide/US album sales ratio = 2.96.

Chart Statistics

Number of best sellers: 307.

By Country

United States 167
United Kingdom 64
Canada 24
Australia 11
Italy 8

By Genre

Genre #N of bestsellers
Pop 52
Rock 22
Country 13
Hard Rock 9
Disco 8
R&B 7
Jazz 4
Standards 4
Latin Pop 3
Mexican Folk 2
Opera 1
Gospel/Christian 1
Classic 1
Dance 1
Traditional Arab 1
Total genres 129

As of 05:02, 19 July 2005 version

See also

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