List of best-selling music artists
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This is a list of the best selling musical acts globally. Equal weight is given to album and single sales, as well as paid downloads.
The artists are grouped by approximate sales figures, rather than ranked on a numerical scale. This is because global sales figures are hard to come by, with poor or no records available for many countries. Estimates are thus often made by fan sites, record labels and the addition of figures from various different sources.
World's biggest seller
The actual biggest selling musician in the world will probably never be known. Records of sales in many countries, particularly in the Developing world, are poor and date back less than 20 years.
Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Led Zepplin, ABBA, Alla Pugacheva and Michael Jackson are all regularly cited as being the topseller. Notably, The Beatles'[1] and Elvis Presley's [2] record labels both claim over 1 billion sales. However, at the 2000 World Music Awards , the 'best selling artist of the millenium' title was given to Michael Jackson [3]. Countering this, Encyclopedia Britannica claims that Alla Pugacheva is a top seller, and that she 'may have sold more records than Michael Jackson' [4].
So, though it remains likely that the top seller is one of the six artists listed above, the difficulties in gathering figures and the counter claims mean that proof is probably impossible.
Artists reported to have sold 250 000 000 records or more
| Name | Nationality | Years Active | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABBA | Sweden | 70s-80s (1974-1982) | Rock | [5] |
| Michael Jackson | US | 70s- | R&B/Rock/Pop | [6][7] |
| Led Zeppelin | UK | 60s-80s (1968-1980) | Rock | MSNBC |
| Madonna | US | 80s- | Rock/Pop | [8] |
| Nana Mouskouri | Greece | 60s- (1959-) | Pop | [9] |
| Elvis Presley | US | 50-60-70s | Rock, Country | [11] [12] |
| Alla Pugacheva | Russia | 70s-00s (1976-) | Rock/Pop | [14] |
| Cliff Richard | UK | 50s- (1958-2005) | Rock/Pop | [15] |
| The Beatles | UK | 60-70s, 90s | Pop/Rock | Guinness estimate [16] [17] |
Artists reported to have sold 100 000 000 records or more
| Name | Nationality | Years Active | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC/DC | Australia/UK | 70s-00s (1980-1992) | Rock | |
| Aerosmith | US | 70s-00s (1993-1998) | Rock | [18] |
| Gene Autry | US | Country | [19] | |
| Charles Aznavour | France | 50s-00s | Pop | [20] |
| Black Sabbath | UK | 70s-00s | Metal | [21] |
| Bon Jovi | US | 80s-00s (1986-2000) | Rock | [22] |
| David Bowie | UK | 60s-00s (1969-2004) | Rock | [23] |
| Garth Brooks | US | 80s-00s (1989-2001) | Country | [24] |
| Chicago | US | 60s-00s (1967-) | Rock | [25] |
| Mariah Carey | US | 90s-00s (1990-) | Pop/R&B | [26] |
| Phil Collins | UK | 80s-00s (1981-1998) | Rock | [27] |
| Perry Como | US | 30s-00s | Vocal | [28] |
| Celine Dion | Canada | 80s-00s (1990-) | Rock/Pop | [29] |
| Fleetwood Mac | UK/US | 60s-00s (1975-1990) | Rock | 2 |
| Johnny Hallyday | France | 50s-00s | Pop | [30] |
| Whitney Houston | US | 80s-00s (1985-2000) | R&B/Pop | [31] |
| Julio Iglesias | Spain | 70s-00s (1969-) | Latino Pop | [32] |
| Illayaraja | India | 70s-00s (1982-) | Classical | [33] |
| Billy Joel | US | 70s-00s (1978-1983,1989-1993) | Rock | [34] [35] |
| Elton John | UK | 70s-00s (1972-1976,1989-1991,1997-) | Rock/Pop | [36] |
| Brenda Lee | US | 50s-60s (1958-1963) | Pop/Country | [37] |
| Mireille Mathieu | France | 60s-00s | Pop | [38] |
| Johnny Mathis | US | 50s-00s | Pop/Standards | [39] |
| Metallica | US | 80s-00s | Rock | [40] |
| Modern Talking | Germany | 80s-00s (1984-1986,1998-) | Eurodance/Euro Disco | Note:No reference given |
| Ricky Nelson | US | 50s-80s (1958-1961) | Pop/Country/Rock | [41] |
| Dolly Parton | US | 60s-00s (1981-1983) | Country | [42] [43] [44] [45] |
| Luciano Pavarotti | Italy | 60s-00s (1972-) | Opera | [46] [47] |
| Pink Floyd | UK | 60s-00s (1970-1983,1994-1995) | Rock | [48] |
| Queen | UK | 70s-00s (1975-1995) | Rock | R&R HoF, 20011995 source |
| A. R. Rahman | India | 90s-00s (1992-) | Classical | [49] |
| Lionel Richie | US | 80s-00s (1981-1985) | R&B | [50] |
| Kenny Rogers | US | 60s-00s (1977-1983) | Rock | [51] |
| Rolling Stones | UK | 60s-00s (1964-1981) | Rock | [53] |
| Donna Summer | US | 70s-90s (1977-1983) | Disco | [54] |
| The Bee Gees | Isle of Man/Australia | 60s-00s (1975-1979) | Rock | [55] |
| The Eagles | US | 70s-00s (1974-1979) | Rock | [56] |
| The Jacksons | US | 60s-80s (1969-1988) | R&B,Pop,Disco | [57][58][59] |
| U2 | Ireland | 80s-00s (1983-) | Rock | [60] |
| Wei Wei | China | 80s-00s (1986-) | Pop | [61] [62] |
Artists reported to have sold 50 000 000 records or more
 |
| Name | Nationality | Years Active | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salvatore Adamo | Italy | 60s-00s | [63] | |
| Bryan Adams | Canada | 80s-00s | Pop/Rock | [64] |
| A-ha | Norway | 80s-00s (1985-1993,2000-) | Pop | [65] [66] |
| Alabama | US | 70s-00s | Country | [67] |
| Paul Anka | Canada | 50s-00s | Pop | [68] |
| Eddy Arnold | US | 40s-90s | Country | source |
| Backstreet Boys | US | 90s-00s (1999-2000) | Pop | [69] |
| Bay City Rollers | UK | 70s-00s (1974-1976) | Pop/Rock | [70] |
| Tony Bennett | US | 50s-00s | Standards/Jazz | [71] |
| Bjork | Iceland | 80s-00s | Alternative | Note: This is unreferenced |
| Michael Bolton | US | 80s-00s | Pop | [72] |
| Boyz II Men | US | 80s-00s | R&B/Pop | [73] |
| Roberto Carlos | Brazil | 60s-00s | [74] [75] | |
| Johnny Cash | US | 30s-00s | Country | [76] |
| Eric Clapton | UK | 60s-00s | Rock | Note: This is unreferenced |
| Nat King Cole | US | 30s-60s | Jazz | [77] |
| Dalida | France | 50s-80s (1956-1987) | [78] | |
| Def Leppard | UK | 80s-00s (1987-1988) | Rock | [79]mil.US |
| John Denver | US | 60s-00s | Rock | [80] |
| Depeche Mode | UK | 80s-00s (1993-1997) | Rock | [81] |
| Duran Duran | UK | 80s-00s (1981-2005) | Rock | [82] |
| Bob Dylan | US | 60s-00s (1965-1976) | Rock | [83] |
| Foreigner | US/UK | 70s-90s | Rock/Pop | 36m.US |
| Earth, Wind & Fire | US | 70s-00s (1975) | R&B/Funk/Disco/Pop | *(23 mil.US) [84] |
| Eminem | US | 90s-00s (2000-) | Rap | *(22 mil. US) |
| Enya | Ireland | 80s-00s (1988-1991) | New Age/Celtic | Note: No references given here for WW figure |
| Gloria Estefan | US | 80s-00s (1988-1991) | Latino Pop | src.1, [85] |
| Fairouz | Lebanon | 60s-00s | Traditional Arab, Modern, Pop | *(35 mil. US) |
| Genesis | UK | 70s-00s (1980-1997) | Rock | src. |
| Guns N' Roses | US | 80s-90s (1987-1991) | Rock | 71mil. albums |
| Jean-Michel Jarre | France | 70s-00s (1976-1978) | Synth Pop | sourceSee also: discussion #19 |
| Janet Jackson | US | 80s-00s (1982-) | R&B/Pop/Calypso | [86] |
| Journey | US | 70s-00s (1981) | Rock/Pop | 40mil.US, [87] |
| KISS | US | 70s-00s | Rock | source |
| Andre Kostelanetz | US | 70s-00s | Classic | src.1 [88] |
| Vicky Leandros | Greece | 60s-00s | Pop | Greek gvt,official culture award 2003. |
| Annie Lennox | UK | 90s-00s | src.1 [89] | |
| Barry Manilow | US | 70s-00s | Pop/Standards | [90] |
| Bob Marley | Jamaica | 70s | Reggae | [91] [92] |
| Paul McCartney | UK | 60s-00s (1970-1989) | Rock | Note: no reference given here |
| Meat Loaf | US | 70s-00s | Rock | [93] src.2 |
| Luis Miguel | Mexico | 80s-00s | Latin Pop | [94] |
| Kylie Minogue | Australia | 80s-00s (1987-1994,2000-) | Pop | source |
| Alanis Morissette | Canada | 90s-00s | Rock | src.1 [95] |
| Motley Crue | US | 80s-00s | Rock | 22m.US, [96] |
| Olivia Newton-John | Australia | 70s-00s | Country/Pop | [97] |
| Nirvana | US | 80s-90s | Rock | 24m.US |
| Oasis | UK | 90s-00s | Rock | ~50m.albums |
| Pearl Jam | US | 90s-00s | Alternative | *(29 mil. US) |
| Charley Pride | US | 60s-00s | Country | source |
| Linda Ronstadt | US | 60s-00s (1980-) | Rock, Pop, Country | *(48 mil. US), [[98]] |
| Santana | US | 60s-00s (1970-1972,1999-) | Rock | src.1 [99] |
| Simon and Garfunkel | US | 60s | Rock | *(36mil.US) |
| Frank Sinatra | US | 40s-90s | Vocal | *(25 mil.US) |
| Britney Spears | US | 90s-00s (1999-) | Pop | |
| Spice Girls | UK | 90s-00s (1996-2000) | Pop | source |
| Bruce Springsteen | US | 70s-00s (1980-1995,2002-) | Rock | *(61 mil. albums US) |
| George Strait | US | 70s-00s | Country | *54 mil. US |
| Barbra Streisand | US | 60s-00s (1963-1980) | Pop | [100]] |
| Hank Snow | Canada | 30's-90's | Folk | [101] |
| The Carpenters | US | 60s-80s (1970-1975) | Pop/Rock | reference needed |
| The Doobie Brothers | US | 70s-00s | Rock | 50mil.US |
| The Doors | US | 60s-70s | Rock | *(30 mil. US) |
| The Monkees | US | 60s-90s | Rock | [102] |
| The Police | UK | 70s-80s | Rock | 22m.US, [103] |
| The Seekers | Australia | 60s, 90s-00s | Rock/Pop/Folk | [104] |
| The Ventures | US | 50s-00s (1959-) | Rock | [105] |
| Hank Thompson | US | 40s-00s | Country | Note: no reference provided |
| Three Dog Night | US | 60s-70s | Rock | [106] [107] src.3 |
| TLC | USA | 90s-00s | R&B | BMG |
| Tupac | US | 90s-00s (1994-) | Rap | [108] |
| Tina Turner | US | 70s-00s | R&B | [109] |
| Shania Twain | Canada | 90s-00s (1999-) | Country/Pop | Note: No references given here |
| Van Halen | US | 70s-00s (1984-1996) | Rock | [110] |
| Barry White | US | 70s-00s | Pop/R&B/Disco | [111] |
| Roger Whittaker | UK | 70s-90s | src.1 [112] | |
| Stevie Wonder | US | 60s-00s (1972-1985) | R&B | [113] |