The following is an independently verified list of best-selling music artists (those with claims of 75 million or more record sales) from the second half of the 20th century to the present. Only artists whose claimed sales figures can be cross-referenced with music recording certification systems (the first of which appeared in the late 1950s) are included.
The tables are listed with both their claimed sales figure along with their total independently certified units and are ranked in descending order, with the artist with the highest amount of claimed sales at the top. If two or more artists have the same claimed sales, they are then ranked by certified units. The claimed sales figure and the total of certified units (for each country) within the provided sources include sales of albums, singles, compilation-albums, music videos as well as downloads of singles and full-length albums. Sales figures, such as those from SoundScan, which are sometimes published by Billboard magazine, have not been included in the certified units column.
As of 2017[update], based on both sales claims and certified units, the Beatles are considered the highest-selling band. Elvis Presley is considered the highest-selling individual artist based on sales claims and Drake is the highest-selling individual artist based on certified units.
Definitions
All artists included on this list, which have begun charting on official albums or singles charts have their available claimed figures supported by at least 30 percent in certified units. That is why Cliff Richard, Diana Ross, Scorpions, Bing Crosby, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Tom Jones, The Jackson 5, Dionne Warwick, the Spice Girls, Dolly Parton, Ozzy Osbourne, Frank Sinatra, Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Estefan and others have not been included on this list. The more recent the artist, the higher the required percentage of certified units; this is because more music markets instituted certification systems after the 1980s and 1990s.[a] So artists such as Rihanna, Chris Brown, Taylor Swift, Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Drake, Justin Bieber, Adele, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Post Malone are expected to have their claimed figures supported by over 75 percent in certified units. The certified units are sourced from available online databases of local music industry associations. All certified units are converted from Gold/Platinum/Diamond certification awards based on criteria provided by certifying bodies. The certified units percentage varies according to the first year that an artist appeared in the charts.[b]
The requirements of certified units are designed to avoid inflated sales figures, which are frequently practiced by record companies for promotional purposes.[1][2] The claimed figures are referenced from online articles created by highly reliable sources. For clarity, the sources used, say the term "records" (singles, albums, videos) and not "albums". However, if all available sources for an artist or band say "albums", such sources are only used if the certified album units of the said artist meet the required percentage amount. This list uses claimed figures that are closest to artists' available certified units: inflated claimed figures that meet the required certified units amount but are unrealistically high, are not used.
The claimed figures are upgraded only when there is a significant progress in artists' certified units. In other words, the available certified units for each artist should get relatively closer to already listed claimed figure in order for higher figures to replace the listed ones. Gold/Platinum certifications issued after 2016, especially on singles, are in some cases more than 50% streaming generated. Some of the 20th century artists can also have significant amount of streaming based certifications, therefore, consideration should be given when changing or upgrading their claimed figures also when their certifications are affected by streaming.
The certified units of the newer artists may sometimes be higher than their listed claimed figures. This is because Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and almost all other certifying bodies count streaming towards Gold and Platinum thresholds required for Digital Single Award certification.[3][4][5] For this reason, some singles and even albums get over certified by hundreds of thousands of units. The over certified figures, however, are often in millions of units for RIAA certifications, one such example is Rihanna's single "We Found Love", which is certified at nine times Platinum by the RIAA, yet during the time of the certification, it had sold 5.4 million downloads.[6][7]
The certified units for some artists/bands who have multi-disc albums can be higher than their listed claimed figures due to Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) counting each unit within set as one unit toward certification.
Issued certifications for songs which have been recorded by multiple artists including featured artists are added to each artist's total amount of certified units, as all the artists would have played a significant part in a song. For example, "This Is What You Came For" and "Where Them Girls At" include Rihanna and Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj as featured artists respectively, so the certifications issued for these songs are added to the total amount of certified units for all involved artists. However, the certifications issued for songs that have been recorded by four or more artists are not included as the artists involved would have played minor roles, examples of such songs are Kanye West's "Monster" and/or "All Day".[c]
Standards
- To ensure the highest level of fact checking and editorial control, this list sources sales figures to news organizations and highly regarded music industry related organizations such as MTV, VH1, and Billboard.
- The figures of total certified units within the tables below are based on certified units of albums, singles (including digital downloads) and videos.
- Markets' order within the tables is based on Retail Value: each market generates respectively, the largest market at the top and smallest at the bottom.[8][9]
- The column for certified sales includes markets, the databases of which contain certifications representing figures of 100,000 and more.
Artists by reputed sales
250 million or more records
Artist | Country / Market | Period active | Release year of first charted record | Genre | Total certified units (from available markets)[a] |
Claimed sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Beatles | United Kingdom | 1960–1970[10] | 1962[10] | Rock / pop[10] |
289.5 million
|
600 million[42][43] 500 million[44] |
Elvis Presley | United States | 1954–1977[45] | 1956[45] | Rock and roll / pop / country[45] |
230.8 million
|
500 million[55] 360 million (est. sales as of 1997)[56][57] |
Michael Jackson | United States | 1964–2009[58] | 1971[58] | Pop / rock / dance / soul / R&B[58] |
258.9 million
|
400 million[71][72] 350 million[73][74] |
Elton John | United Kingdom | 1964–present[75] | 1970[75] | Pop / rock[75] |
207 million
|
300 million[79][80] 250 million[81][82] |
Madonna | United States | 1979–present[83] | 1983[83] | Pop / dance / electronica[83] |
181.2 million
|
300 million[90][91] 275 million[92] |
Led Zeppelin | United Kingdom | 1968–1980[93] | 1969[93] | Hard rock / blues rock / folk rock[93] |
142.4 million
|
300 million[97][98] 200 million[99][100] |
Rihanna | Barbados United States |
2005–present[101] | 2005[101] | R&B / pop / dance / hip-hop[101] |
334.8 million
|
250 million[105][106] |
Pink Floyd | United Kingdom | 1965–1996, 2005, 2012–2014[107][108] | 1967[107] | Progressive rock / psychedelic rock[107] |
123.5 million
|
250 million[112][113] 200 million[114] |
200 million to 249 million records
Artist | Country / Market | Period active | Release-year of first charted record | Genre | Total certified units (from available markets)[a] |
Claimed sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eminem | United States | 1996–present[115] | 1999[115] | Hip-hop[115] |
323.9 million
|
220 million[117] |
Mariah Carey | United States | 1988–present[118] | 1990[118] | R&B / pop / soul / hip-hop[118] |
196.5 million
|
220 million[122] |
Taylor Swift | United States | 2006–present[123] | 2006[123] | Pop / country / rock / folk / alternative[124] |
238.1 million
|
200 million[125] |
Queen | United Kingdom | 1971–present[126] | 1973[126] | Rock[126] |
171.6 million
|
200 million[128] |
Whitney Houston | United States | 1977–2012[129] | 1984[129] | R&B / soul / pop / gospel[129] |
155.1 million
|
200 million[133] |
Eagles | United States | 1971–1980, 1994–present[134] | 1972[134] | Rock[134] |
152 million
|
200 million[136] |
Celine Dion | Canada | 1981–present[137] | 1981[d][137] | Pop/Rock[137] |
137.2 million
|
200 million[142] 175 million[143] |
AC/DC | Australia | 1973–present[144] | 1975[144] | Hard rock / blues rock / rock and roll[144] |
129.3 million
|
200 million[146] |
The Rolling Stones | United Kingdom | 1962–present[147] | 1963[147] | Rock / blues rock[147] |
102.4 million
|
200 million[149] |
120 million to 199 million records
Artist | Country / Market | Period active | Release-year of first charted record | Genre | Total certified units (from available markets)[a] |
Claimed sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drake | Canada | 2001–present[150] | 2009[150] | Hip-hop / R&B / pop[150] |
403.9 million
|
170 million[151] |
Garth Brooks | United States | 1989–present[152] | 1989[152] | Country[152] | 170 million[154] | |
Kanye West | United States | 1996–present[155] | 2003[155] | Hip-hop / electronic / pop[155] | 160 million[157] | |
Billy Joel | United States | 1964–present[158] | 1971[158] | Pop / rock[158] | 160 million[160] | |
Justin Bieber | Canada United States |
2008–present[161] | 2009[161] | Pop / teen pop / dance pop[161] |
267 million
|
150 million[162] |
Ed Sheeran | United Kingdom | 2004–present[163] | 2011[163] | Pop / folk pop[163] |
244.4 million
|
150 million[164] |
Bruce Springsteen | United States | 1972–present[165] | 1973[165] | Rock[165] |
126.7 million
|
150 million[167] |
U2 | Ireland | 1976–present[168] | 1980[168] | Rock[168] |
114.6 million
|
150 million[172] |
Aerosmith | United States | 1970–present[173] | 1973[173] | Hard rock[173] |
104.6 million
|
150 million[175] |
Barbra Streisand | United States | 1960–present[176] | 1963[176] | Pop / adult contemporary[176] | 150 million[177] | |
Phil Collins | United Kingdom | 1980–2011, 2015–present[178] | 1981[178] | Rock / progressive rock / adult contemporary[178] |
97.6 million
|
150 million[181] |
ABBA | Sweden | 1972–1982, 2016–present[182] | 1972[182] | Pop / disco[182] |
68.8 million
|
150 million[191] 100 million[192] |
Katy Perry | United States | 2001–present[193] | 2008[193] | Pop[193] |
172.3 million
|
143 million[194] |
Chris Brown | United States | 2005–present[195] | 2005[195] | Pop / R&B / hip-hop[195] | 140 million[196] | |
Bruno Mars | United States | 2004–present[197] | 2010[197] | Pop rock / R&B[197] |
200.3 million
|
130 million[200] |
Jay-Z | United States | 1996–present[201] | 1996[201] | Hip-hop[201] | 125 million[202] | |
Metallica | United States | 1981–present[203] | 1983[203] | Heavy metal / thrash metal[203] |
105.3 million
|
125 million[205] |
Lady Gaga | United States | 2005–present[206] | 2008[206] | Pop / dance / electronic[206] |
157.2 million
|
124 million[207] |
Beyoncé | United States | 1997–present[208] | 2002[208][209] | R&B / pop[208] |
216.9 million
|
120 million[213] |
Lil Wayne | United States | 1996–present[214] | 1999[214] | Hip-hop[214] | 120 million[215] | |
Maroon 5 | United States | 1994–present[216] | 2002[216] | Pop rock / funk rock / dance-pop[216] |
142.5 million
|
120 million[217] |
Adele | United Kingdom | 2006–present[218] | 2008[218] | Pop / soul[218] |
132.1 million
|
120 million[219] |
Fleetwood Mac | United Kingdom United States |
1967–present[220] | 1968[220] | Rock / pop[220] | 120 million[223] | |
Rod Stewart | United Kingdom | 1964–present[224] | 1969[224] | Rock / pop[224] |
84.9 million
|
120 million[227] |
Bee Gees | United Kingdom Australia[228][229] |
1963–2003 2009–2012[230] |
1963[230] | Pop / disco[230] |
74.7 million
|
120 million[233] |
100 million to 119 million records
Artist | Country / Market | Period active | Release-year of first charted record | Genre | Total certified units (from available markets)[a] |
Claimed sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nicki Minaj | United States | 2008–present[234] | 2010[234] | Hip-hop / pop[234] |
154.4 million
|
100 million[235] |
Coldplay | United Kingdom | 1996–present[236] | 1999[236] | Alternative rock / pop rock / pop[236] |
106 million
|
100 million[238] |
Linkin Park | United States | 1996–present[239] | 2000[239] | Alternative rock / nu metal / rap rock[239] |
101.8 million
|
100 million[240] |
Red Hot Chili Peppers | United States | 1983–present[241] | 1987[241] | Funk rock / alternative rock[241] |
99.8 million
|
100 million[243] |
George Strait | United States | 1981–present[244] | 1984[244] | Country[244] | 100 million[245] | |
Pink | United States | 1995–present[246] | 2000[246] | Pop / pop rock / R&B[246] |
89 million
|
100 million[247] |
Britney Spears | United States | 1998–present[248] | 1998[248] | Pop / dance / dance-pop[248] |
88.5 million
|
100 million[250] |
Bon Jovi | United States | 1983–present[251] | 1983[251] | Hard rock / glam metal[251] |
88.4 million
|
100 million[254] |
B'z | Japan | 1988–present[255] | 1988[255] | Rock / pop rock / hard rock[255] | 100 million[256] | |
Shania Twain | Canada | 1993–present[257] | 1993[257] | Country pop[257] |
84.2 million
|
100 million[258] |
Guns N' Roses | United States | 1985–present[259] | 1987[259] | Hard rock / heavy metal[259] |
80.2 million
|
100 million[261] |
Backstreet Boys | United States | 1993–present[262] | 1995[262] | Pop[262] |
78 million
|
100 million[266] |
Eric Clapton | United Kingdom | 1962–present[267] | 1970[267] | Rock / blues[267] |
71.6 million
|
100 million[269] |
Neil Diamond | United States | 1966–present[270] | 1966[270] | Pop / rock[270] | 100 million[272] | |
Prince | United States | 1976–2016[273] | 1978[273] | Funk / R&B / pop / soul / rock[273] |
66.3 million
|
100 million[274] |
Paul McCartney | United Kingdom | 1960–present[275] | 1970[275] | Rock[275] | 100 million[277] | |
Kenny Rogers | United States | 1958–2020[278] | 1975[278] | Country / pop[278] | 100 million[280] | |
Santana | United States | 1966–present[281] | 1969[281] | Rock[281] |
62.8 million
|
100 million[282] |
Simon & Garfunkel | United States | 1956–2004[283] | 1964[283] | Folk rock[283] |
62.1 million
|
100 million[284] |
Janet Jackson | United States | 1982–present[285] | 1982[285] | R&B / pop[285] | 100 million[286] | |
Julio Iglesias | Spain | 1968–present[287] | 1968[287] | Latin[287] |
51.7 million
|
100 million[290] |
Dire Straits | United Kingdom | 1977–1995[291] | 1978[291] | Rock[291] |
51.6 million
|
100 million[292] |
The Doors | United States | 1965–1973[293] | 1967[293] | Psychedelic rock[293] | 100 million[294] | |
Chicago | United States | 1967–present[295] | 1969[295] | Rock / pop[295] | 100 million[297] | |
Bob Dylan | United States | 1959–present[298] | 1963[298] | Folk / rock[298] | 100 million[299] | |
Cher | United States | 1964–present[300] | 1965[300] | Pop / rock / dance / folk[300] |
43.1 million
|
100 million[306] |
Def Leppard | United Kingdom | 1977–present[307] | 1979[307] | Hard rock / heavy metal[307] | 100 million[309] | |
Genesis | United Kingdom | 1967–1999 2006–present[310] |
1969[310] | Progressive rock / pop rock[310] | 100 million[311] | |
David Bowie | United Kingdom | 1962–2016[312] | 1967[312] | Art rock / glam rock / pop[312] | 100 million[313] | |
Stevie Wonder | United States | 1961–present[314] | 1962[314] | Funk / R&B / soul[314] | 100 million[315] | |
James Taylor | United States | 1968–present[316] | 1970[316] | Rock / pop[316] | 100 million[317] | |
Tina Turner | United States | 1958–2009[318] | 1960[319] | Rock / pop[319] |
36.4 million
|
100 million[320] |
Olivia Newton-John | Australia | 1966–present[321] | 1966[321] | Pop[321] | 100 million[323] | |
Linda Ronstadt | United States | 1967–present[324] | 1968[324] | Rock / folk / country[324] | 100 million[325] | |
The Beach Boys | United States | 1961–present[326] | 1962[326] | Rock / pop / surf rock[326] | 100 million[327] | |
Donna Summer | United States | 1968–2012[328] | 1974[328] | Pop / disco / R&B[328] | 100 million[329] |
80 million to 99 million records
Artist | Country / Market | Period active | Release-year of first charted record | Genre | Total certified units (from available markets)[a] |
Claimed sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alicia Keys | United States | 1996–present[330] | 2001[330] | Hip-hop / R&B / pop[330] |
78.3 million
|
90 million[331] |
The Carpenters | United States | 1969–1983[332] | 1969[332] | Pop[332] | 90 million[334] | |
Earth, Wind & Fire | United States | 1969–present[335] | 1971[335] | Funk / R&B / soul[335] | 90 million[338] | |
Lionel Richie | United States | 1968–present[339] | 1981[339] | Pop / R&B[339] | 90 million[341] | |
Johnny Cash | United States | 1954–2003[342] | 1956[342] | Country / rock and roll / gospel[342] | 90 million[343] | |
Justin Timberlake | United States | 1992–present[344] | 2002[344] | Pop / R&B / neo soul[344] |
82.4 million
|
88 million[345] |
Ariana Grande | United States | 2008–present[346] | 2013[346] | Pop / R&B[346] |
141.1 million
|
85 million[347] |
R.E.M. | United States | 1980–2011[348] | 1983[348] | Alternative rock[348] |
45.3 million
|
85 million[349] |
Post Malone | United States | 2013–present[350] | 2015[350] | Pop / R&B / hip-hop[350] |
172.8 million
|
80 million[351] |
Flo Rida | United States | 2007–present[352] | 2007[352] | Hip-hop / hip house /EDM[352] |
85 million
|
80 million[353] |
Tim McGraw | United States | 1990–present[354] | 1994[354] | Country[354] | 80 million[355] | |
Van Halen | United States | 1978–2020[356] | 1978[356] | Hard rock / heavy metal[356] | 80 million[357] | |
Journey | United States | 1973–present[358] | 1975[358] | Rock / soft rock[358] | 80 million[360] | |
Ayumi Hamasaki | Japan | 1998–present[361] | 1998[361] | J-pop / pop / dance / electronic[361] | 80 million[362][363] | |
George Michael | United Kingdom | 1981–2016[364] | 1984[364] | Pop[364] |
52.4 million
|
80 million[366] |
Foreigner | United States United Kingdom |
1976–present[367] | 1977[367] | Rock / hard rock[367] | 80 million[368] | |
Meat Loaf | United States | 1968–2022[369] | 1977[369] | Rock / hard rock[369] | 80 million[370] | |
Tom Petty | United States | 1976–2017[371] | 1977[371] | Rock[371] | 80 million[372] | |
Johnny Hallyday | France | 1957–2017[373] | 1960[373] | Rock / pop[373] | 80 million[375] |
75 million to 79 million records
Artist | Country / Market | Period active | Release-year of first charted record | Genre | Total certified units (from available markets)[a] |
Claimed sales |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Weeknd | Canada | 2010–present[376] | 2013[376] | Pop / R&B[376] |
196.1 million
|
75 million[377] |
Imagine Dragons | United States | 2008–present[378] | 2012[378] | Poprock / electropop / pop[378] |
123.2 million
|
75 million[379] |
Luke Bryan | United States | 2001–present[380] | 2007[381] | Country / country pop[381] | 75 million[382] | |
Christina Aguilera | United States | 1993–present[383] | 1998[383] | R&B / pop / rock[383] |
71.6 million
|
75 million[384] |
Usher | United States | 1991–present[381] | 1994[381] | R&B / pop[381] | 75 million[385] | |
The Black Eyed Peas | United States | 1995–present[386] | 1998[386] | Hip-hop / R&B / dance[386] |
69.5 million
|
75 million[387] |
Shakira | Colombia | 1988–present[388] | 1995[388] | Latin pop / pop / pop rock[388] |
69.4 million
|
75 million[389] |
Tupac Shakur | United States | 1991–1996[390] | 1991[390] | Hip-hop[390] | 75 million[392] | |
Alabama | United States | 1972–present[393] | 1980[393] | Country / pop rock[393] | 75 million[394] | |
R. Kelly | United States | 1989–2019[395] | 1991[396] | R&B / soul / hip-hop[396] | 75 million[397] | |
Nirvana | United States | 1987–1994[398] | 1990[398] | Grunge / alternative rock[398] |
55.7 million
|
75 million[401] |
Robbie Williams | United Kingdom | 1990–present[402] | 1996[402] | Pop rock[402] |
55.6 million
|
75 million[403] |
Bob Seger | United States | 1961–present[404] | 1967[404] | Rock / Hard rock/ Pop rock[404] | 75 million[405] | |
Kenny G | United States | 1982–present[406] | 1984[406] | Smooth jazz[406] | 75 million[407] | |
Enya | Ireland | 1982–present[408] | 1987[408] | New-age / Celtic[408] |
51.7 million
|
75 million[411] |
Bryan Adams | Canada | 1979–present[412] | 1979[412] | Rock[412] |
49.9 million
|
75 million[414] |
Bob Marley | Jamaica | 1962–1981[415] | 1975[415] | Reggae[415] |
45.6 million
|
75 million[418] |
The Police | United Kingdom | 1977–1986 2007–2008[419] |
1978[419] | Pop / rock[419] |
42.2 million
|
75 million[422] |
Barry Manilow | United States | 1973–present[423] | 1973[423] | Pop / soft rock[423] | 75 million[424] | |
Kiss | United States | 1972–present[425] | 1974[425] | Hard rock / heavy metal[425] | 75 million[426] | |
Aretha Franklin | United States | 1956–2018[427] | 1961[427] | Soul / jazz / blues / R&B[427] | 75 million[428] |
See also
- List of best-selling albums
- List of best-selling singles
- List of best-selling boy groups
- List of best-selling girl groups
- List of best-selling female rappers
- IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge gf gg gh gi gj gk gl gm gn go gp gq gr gs gt gu gv gw gx gy gz ha hb hc hd he hf hg hh hi hj hk hl hm hn ho hp hq hr hs ht hu hv hw hx hy hz ia ib ic id ie if ig ih ii ij ik il im in io ip iq ir is it iu iv iw ix iy iz ja jb jc jd je jf jg jh ji jj jk jl jm jn jo jp jq jr js jt ju jv jw jx jy jz ka kb kc kd ke kf kg kh ki kj kk kl km kn ko kp kq kr ks kt ku kv kw kx ky kz la lb lc ld le lf lg lh li lj lk ll lm ln lo lp lq lr ls lt lu lv lw lx ly lz ma mb mc md me mf mg mh mi mj mk ml mm mn mo mp mq mr ms mt mu mv mw mx my mz na nb nc nd ne nf ng nh ni nj nk nl nm nn no np nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of og oh oi oj ok ol om on oo op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi pj pk pl pm pn po pp pq pr ps pt pu pv pw px py pz qa qb qc qd qe qf qg qh qi qj qk ql qm qn qo qp qq qr qs qt qu qv qw qx qy qz ra rb rc rd re rf rg rh ri rj rk rl rm rn ro rp rq rr rs rt ru rv rw rx ry rz sa sb sc sd se sf sg sh si sj sk sl sm sn so sp sq sr ss st su sv sw sx sy sz ta tb tc td te tf tg th ti tj tk tl tm tn to tp tq tr ts tt tu tv tw tx ty tz ua ub uc ud ue uf ug uh ui uj uk ul um un uo up uq ur us ut uu uv uw ux uy uz va vb vc vd ve vf vg vh vi vj vk vl vm vn vo vp vq vr vs vt vu vv vw vx vy vz wa wb wc wd we wf wg wh wi wj wk wl wm wn wo wp wq wr ws wt wu wv ww wx wy wz xa xb xc xd xe xf xg xh xi xj xk xl xm xn xo xp xq xr xs xt xu xv xw xx xy xz ya yb yc yd ye yf yg yh yi yj yk yl ym yn yo yp yq yr ys yt yu yv yw yx yy yz za zb zc zd ze zf zg zh zi zj zk zl zm zn zo zp zq zr zs zt zu zv zw zx zy zz aaa aab aac aad aae aaf aag aah aai aaj aak aal aam aan aao aap aaq aar aas aat aau aav aaw aax aay aaz aba abb abc abd abe abf abg abh abi abj abk abl abm abn abo abp abq abr abs abt abu abv abw abx aby abz aca acb acc acd ace acf acg ach aci acj ack acl acm acn aco acp acq acr acs act acu acv acw acx acy acz ada adb adc add ade adf adg adh adi adj adk adl adm adn ado adp adq adr ads adt adu adv adw Certification systems have been established periodically throughout the past half century; thus, certification databases are not able to cover all sales. Some (or all) records released and sold prior to a certification system's establishment year may not be found within the available searchable certification databases. Year of establishment (from largest market to smallest based on Retail Value each market generates respectively):[8][9]
- United States: 1958[429]
- Japan: 1989[430]
- Germany: 1975[13]
- United Kingdom: 1973[431]
- France: 1973[432]
- Canada: 1975[433]
- Australia: 1997[18] (online certification-database has begun since 1997. Certifications; however, existed in Australia since the 1970s)
- Brazil: 1990[434]
- Netherlands: 1978[21]
- Italy: 2009[22] (online certification-database covers certifications issued since 2009. Certifications; however, have existed in Italy since the 1980s)[54]
- Spain: 1979[47]
- Sweden: 1987[25]
- Norway: 1993[26]
- Denmark: 2001[66] (online certifications for Denmark start from 2001. Certifications; however, existed in Denmark since the early 1990s[435])
- Switzerland: 1989[436]
- Mexico: 1999[437]
- Argentina: 1980[438]
- Belgium: 1995[439]
- Austria: 1990[36]
- Poland: 1995[37]
- Finland: 1971[440]
- Ireland: 2005[104]
- New Zealand: July 1978[39]
- Portugal:[41](online certification-database covers certifications issued since 2004. Certifications; however, have existed in Portugal since the 1980s)[54]
- United States[444] (Note, U.S. certification-award-levels for singles before 1989 were: 1,000,000 for Gold and 2,000,000 for Platinum.[445] Also, U.S. certification-awards for Shortform albums before September 1996 were: 250,000 for Gold and 500,000 for Platinum[446])
- Japan[447][448]
- Germany[449] (Note, German certification-award-levels for singles before 1988 were: 500,000 for Gold and 1,000,000 for Platinum.[450][451][452][78][54])
- United Kingdom[453]
- France[454][432][455][456]
- Canada[457] (Canadian certification-award-levels for singles before February 1982 were: 75,000 for Gold and 150,000 for Platinum[458])
- Brazil[459][460][461]
- Netherlands[462]
- Italy[22][463][464]
- Spain[465][466]
- Sweden[467]
- Norway[468][469][470][471][472]
- Denmark[435][473][474][475]
- Switzerland[436]
- Mexico[476][477]
- Argentina[438]
- Belgium[478][479]
- Austria:[478][480][481]
- Poland[482][483]
- Finland[440]
- New Zealand: (NZ certification-levels for singles before 1989 were: 10,000 for Gold, 20,000 for Platinum)[484](NZ certification-levels for singles before June 2007 were: 5,000 for Gold, 10,000 for Platinum)[485] (The levels for singles were adjusted again on June 17, 2016 from previous 7,500 for Gold, 15,000 for Platinum, to 15,000 for Gold, 30,000 for Platinum)[486]
- Portugal:[487]
- ^ To be on this list, artists who began charting:
- before 1973 are required to have their available claimed figures supported by 30% in certified units.
- between 1973–1990 are required to have their available claimed figures supported by 30-70% in certified units. (That is 2.35% for each additional year after 1973)
- between 1990–2000 are required to have their available claimed figures supported by 70-77% in certified units. (That is 0.7% for each additional year after 1990)
- between 2000–present are required to have their available claimed figures supported by 77-80% in certified units. (That is 0.14% for each additional year after 2000)
- ^ Below you can get an understanding as to when certifications for songs are added to the total certified sales of the listed artists.
- One lead artist and one featured artist. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both, the lead artist and the featured artist as both will have almost equal amount of part).
- Two lead artists.(The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both lead artists as both will have almost equal amount of part).
- Two lead artists and one featured artist. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both lead artists as well as the featured artist. Both lead artists will play a significant part in a song and the part of the featured artist also should be significant enough).
- One lead artist and two featured artists. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of the lead artist and to the total of both featured artists as almost all should have equal amount of part).
- ^ Note that Celine Dion's initial chart year should be viewed as 1990 as she has begun charting in Quebec, Canada in 1981, but remained unknown to the world until 1990. Therefore, she's required to have her claimed figures supported by 67.78% certified sales (note that Canada's market share data, 2.22% is deducted from 1990's 70% requirement).
References
- ^ "NEWSLINE: A Former Music Executive". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. February 14, 2004. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
- ^ Troubles in Store. Spin Magazine. Spin Media L.L.C. February 14, 2004. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
- ^ "RIAA Debuts Album Award With Streams". RIAA. February 1, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ "Music streaming numbers now count toward Canada's Gold/Platinum certifications". National Music Centre. September 19, 2016. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ "France Now Counts Streaming Towards Certified Sales Awards". musicbusinessworldwide.com. October 5, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ "RIAA Gold and Platinum: We Found Love". RIAA. February 1, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ Trust, Gary (June 23, 2015). "Ask Billboard: Rihanna's Best-Selling Songs & Albums". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ a b "RIAJ Yearbook 2017: IFPI Global Music Report 2017 (Page 4)". Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
- ^ a b "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Internationales: ABB. 28// Umsätze aus dem europäischen Musikverkauf (Page 54)" (PDF). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie. "Allmusic: The Beatles (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk "RIAA: Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv "RIAJ: Gold Disc Certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu "BVMI: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi "InfoDisc: Les Certifications depuis 1973" [InfoDisc: Certifications from 1973]. Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (in French). InfoDisc.fr. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co "SNEP: Les Certifications". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (in French). SNEP. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk "Music Canada: Gold & Platinum searchable database". Music Canada. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx "ARIA Charts – Accreditations". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Moonlight Publishing. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq "PMB: Certificados" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx "NVPI: Goud/Platina". NVPI. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt "F.I.M.I: Federazione Industria Musicale Itaiana" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd "PROMUSICAE Charts: Home > Weekly charts" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año : 1991-1995. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. pp. 928–939. ISBN 978-84-8048-639-2. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt "Guld & Platina IFPI" [Gold & Platinum IFPI] (in Swedish). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Sweden. Archived from the original on May 17, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "Trofeer" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ a b "Hitlisten.nu: Album Top-40 (Uge 01-2001)". Tracklisten. Hitlisten.nu. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Certificeringer marts – maj 2010". IFPI Denmark. May 31, 2010. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs "IFPI Denmark: Certificeringer". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx "Hitparade.ch: Edelmetall". Schweizer Hitparade. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 22, 2017. Note that the certifications for DVDs need to be retrieved by selecting the years at"http://hitparade.ch/awards.asp"
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao "CAPIF: Discos de Oro y Platino (albums)". CAPIF. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "CAPIF: Discos de Oro y Platino (albums and DVDs)". CAPIF. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Awardees". CAPIF. Archived from the original on June 26, 2002. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "Awards 1997–2003". Belgian Entertainment Association. Ultratop. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk "Ultratop: Goud En Platina". Ultratop. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk "IFPI Austria : Gold & Platin" (in German). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Austria. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd "Polish certification awards 1995–present" (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "Kulta- ja platinalevyt: Artistit". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs "Recorded Music New Zealand: The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "Radioscope: Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Artistas & Espectaculos". Artistas & Espectaculos. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
- ^ Siggins, Gerard (February 7, 2016). "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! Rare footage of The Beatles's Dublin performance". Irish Independent. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Hotten, Russell (October 4, 2012). "The Beatles at 50: From Fab Four to fabulously wealthy". BBC News. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- ^ Wyman, Bill (January 4, 2013). "Did "Thriller" Really Sell a Hundred Million Copies?". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
That’s about the same as the five hundred million-plus credited to the Beatles but less than any of the cumulative totals of the individual Beatles, Ringo included.
- ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie. "Allmusic: Elvis Presley (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ "1997 ARIA Album Chart". ARIA. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año : 1979-1990. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. pp. 913–929. ISBN 978-84-8048-639-2. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año : 1996-1999. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. pp. 940–952. ISBN 978-84-8048-639-2. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ^ "Hitlisten.nu: Album Top-40 (Uge 15-2001)". Tracklisten. Hitlisten.nu. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Hitlisten.nu: Album Top-40 (Uge 02-2003)". Tracklisten. Hitlisten.nu. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ "Hitlisten.nu: Album Top-40 (Uge 42-2003)". Tracklisten. Hitlisten.nu. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba "Amprofon Certificaciones" (in Spanish). AMPROFON. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Floyd, Kaoma Top Sellers in Portugal Certs (page 69)" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. April 14, 1990. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "Music & Media (26-12-1987)(page-43)" (PDF). Music & Media. December 26, 1987. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ "Universal Music can't help falling for Elvis Presley, to manage song catalog". Reuters. April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ "From the archive, 17 August 1977: Elvis Presley dies and the age of Rock is over". The Guardian. August 17, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ "Long lives the King". The Irish Times. August 9, 1997. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "Allmusic: Michael Jackson (Biography)". AllMusic. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "RIAJ: Digital Certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am "InfoDisc Les Certifications depuis 1973 (singles)". InfoDisc. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Report 6th July 2009 (Issue 1010)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ "ARIA Report 13th July 2009 (Issue 1011)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ "ARIA: ARIA Catalogue Albums Chart (19/01/2015)". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año : 2000-2002. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. pp. 952–966. ISBN 978-84-8048-639-2. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak "Sverige Toplistan: Sök". Sverige Toplistan (in Swedish). Retrieved November 18, 2013.Note: To retrieve the certifications, type in artist's name in the box of "Sök", and then click on "Visa" of the desired album/single/video
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Hitlisten.nu". Tracklisten. Hitlisten.nu. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Guld og platin i august". IFPI Denmark. May 9, 2004. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^