Talk:List of best-selling music artists

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It is essential to provide reliable sources when editing this article. For examples, see the references section. Unsourced or unreliably sourced additions will be removed immediately.

The list is frequently edited in good faith to update the certified sales figures; however, claimed sales figures need to be supported by reliable sources, preferably from news organizations.

Artists with claimed sales figures below 75 million may not be added to the list.

Whilst we encourage editors to be bold, it is highly recommended to discuss changes on this talk page before editing.

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).

The year next to markets below indicates how far back the certification systems go in each country. The percentages stand for the global market share based on a 2007 IFPI report.

USA: RIAA (1958) (31.6%)
Japan: RIAJ (Physical certifications since (1989)(16.5%)
UK: BPI (1973) (10.6%)
Germany: BVMI (1975) (8.4%)
France: SNEP, Infodisc (albums), Infodisc (singles) (1973) (5.8%)
Australia: ARIA (1990) (2.23%)
Canada: Music Canada (1975) (2.22)
Italy: FIMI (2009) (1.95%)
The Netherlands: NVPI (1978) (1.52%)
Spain: PROMUSICAE (1979) (1.48%)
Austria: IFPI (1990) (1.10%)
Mexico: AMPROFON (1999) (1.08%)
Brazil: PMB (1990) (0.97%)
Belgium: Ultratop (1995) (0.91%)
Norway: (Archived certification-database) (1993) (0.86%)
Switzerland: Schweizer Hitparade (1989) (0.84%)
Sweden: IFPI (Archived certification-database), Sverige Topplistan (Chart-database) (1987) (0.81%)
Denmark: Hitlisten (Chart-database), IFPI Denmark (2001) (0.67%)
Ireland: IRMA (2005) (0.52%)
Poland: ZPAV (1995) (0.51%)
Finland: IFPI (1971) (0.49%)
Argentina: Capif (1980) (0.48%)
New Zealand: Recorded Music NZ (1978) (0.37%)

Album not equal to single not equal to download!

How can it be that the term "record sales" lumps all formats together here? I ask the Wiki people to realize that in this distorted view, artists such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Queen, Madonna or The Rolling Stones, who have generated their certifications mainly through physical album sales, are placed against Rihanna, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran or Justin Bieber, who have received their certifications mainly from single track downloads.

Is this article seriously trying to make us believe that, for example, a physically sold album is the same as a single track downloaded?

Therefore, I would suggest a weighting calculation with Equivalent Album Sales (EAS) as the base unit and the following key:

1 physical album (audio & video) ≙ 1 EAS

1 physical single ≙ 3/10 EAS

1 download single ≙ 1.5/10 EAS

1 audio stream ≙ 1/1500 EAS

1 video stream ≙ 1/6750 EAS.

In addition, I would recommend only listing actually certified sales here, as claims about estimated sales can only result from different subjective feelings and should not have any serious relevance for a direct comparison between recording artists.

With the aim of a significant weighting of physical sales, downloads and streaming, the generally accepted breakdown for Album-equivalent unit could also be used.

As a result of that calculation, each artist should be assigned an overall EAS value determined from their certifications, which would then determine their corresponding position within this best-selling ranking.

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 18 September 2024

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As of December 2023, Nicki Minaj’s sales according to the RIAA are following:

Certifications + Eligibles of Nicki Minaj in US: 235.680 M

Songs: 224.680 M Albums: 11 M

So far she only has 143.560 M certified in the USA.

Worldwide statistics would be from Chart Masters ORG, which would still prove Minaj has over 100 Million WorldWide sales thus far. 31.223.151.148 (talk) 15:25, 18 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Bunnypranav (talk) 14:01, 19 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Christina Aguilera

Her certification stats still need an update in some countries. I can't edit the page, can someone update it? Thank you.

Each link redirects to its certification.

Brazil certifications
Albums: Christina Aguilera: Gold, 100,000 Stripped: Gold, 100,000 Lotus: Gold, 20,000 Bionic: Gold, 20,000 Liberation: Gold, 20,000 Singles: "Moves Like Jagger": 5x Diamond, 1,250,000 "Lady Marmalade": Gold, 30,000 Total: 1,540,000 Each source from Pro-Música Brasil (PMB).

United Kingdom certifications
Albums: Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits: Platinum, 300,000 Bionic: Silver, 60,000 Christina Aguilera, Platinum, 300,000 Stripped: 6x Platinum, 1,800,000 Back to Basics: Platinum, 300,000 Burlesque OST: Gold, 100,000 Singles: "Show Me How You Burlesque": Silver, 200,000 "Car Wash": Silver, 200,000 "Hurt": Gold, 400,000 "Moves Like Jagger": 4x Platinum, 2,400,000 "Feel This Moment": Platinum, 600,000 "Lady Marmalade": 2x Platinum, 1,200,000 "Genie in a Bottle": 2x Platinum, 1,200,000 "Come On Over (All I Want Is You): Silver, 200,000 "Ain't No Other Man": Gold, 400,000 "Fighter": Platinum, 600,000 "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely": Silver, 200,000 "Say Something": 2x Platinum, 1,200,000 "Can't Hold Us Down": Silver, 200,000 "Beautiful": Platinum, 600,000 "Candyman": Platinum, 600,000 "Dirrty": Platinum, 600,000 "Tell Me": Silver, 200,000 "What a Girl Wants": Silver, 200,000 Video Albums: Stripped Live in the U.K.: Platinum, 50,000 Total: 14,110,000 Each source from British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Canada certifications
Albums: Christina Aguilera: 6x Platinum, 600,000 Back to Basics: 3x Platinum, 300,000 Stripped: 4x Platinum, 400,000 Lotus: Gold, 40,000 Singles: "Fighter": Platinum, 80,000 "Dirrty": 2x Platinum, 160,000 "Beautiful": 2x Platinum, 160,000 "Genie in a Bottle": Platinum, 80,000 "Moves Like Jagger": Diamond, 800,000 Digital Download: "Ain't No Other Man": Platinum, 20,000 "Hurt": Gold, 20,000 "Candyman": Gold, 20,000 "Say Something": 6x Platinum, 480,000 "Feel This Moment": 4x Platinum, 320,000 Ringtones: "Ain't No Other Man": Gold, 20,000 Total: 3,500,000 Each source from Music Canada (MC).

Australia certifications
Albums: Christina Aguilera: Platinum, 70,000 Stripped: 4x Platinum, 280,000 Back to Basics: 2x Platinum, 140,000 Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits: Platinum, 70,000 Bionic: Gold, 35,000 Burlesque OST: Platinum, 70,000 Singles: "Genie in a Bottle": Platinum, 70,000 "What a Girl Wants": Gold, 35,000 "Come On Over (All I Want Is You)": Platinum, 70,000 "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely": Gold, 35,000 "Lady Marmalade": 2x Platinum, 140,000 "Dirrty": Platinum, 70,000 "Beautiful": Platinum, 70,000 "Fighter: Gold, 35,000 "Can't Hold Us Down": Gold, 35,000 "Car Wash": Gold, 35,000 "Tilt Ya Head Back": Platinum, 70,000 "Ain't No Other Man": Gold, 35,000 "Hurt": Gold, 35,000 "Candyman": Platinum, 70,000 "Not Myself Tonight": Gold, 35,000 "Moves Like Jagger": 17x Platinum, 1,190,000 "Feel This Moment": 3x Platinum, 210,000 "Say Something": 4x Platinum, 280,000 Video Albums: My Reflection: Platinum, 15,000 Stripped Live in the U.K.: 3x Platinum, 45,000 Back to Basics: Live and Down Under: 2x Platinum, 30,000 Total: 3,275,000 Each source from Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Denmark certifications
Albums: Stripped: Platinum, 50,000 Back to Basics: Gold, 30,000 Singles: "Beautiful": Gold, 45,000 "Genie in a Bottle": Gold, 45,000 "This Christmas": Gold, 45,000 "Lady Marmalade": Gold, 45,000 "Dirrty": Gold, 4,000 "Ain't No Other Man": Gold, 4,000 "Hurt": Gold, 4,000 "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely": Gold, 4,000 "Moves Like Jagger": 3x Platinum, 270,000 "Feel This Moment": Gold, 15,000 "Say Something": 2x Platinum, 180,000 Total: 768,000 And streaming certifications... but I don't know how it is converted in sales: "Your Body": Gold, 900,000 "Moves Like Jagger": 2x Platinum, 200,000 "Feel This Moment": Platinum, 1,800,000 "Say Something": Platinum, 2,600,000 Each source from Hitlisten and IFPI Danmark.

Mexico certifications
Albums: Christina Aguilera: Platinum, 150,000 Mi Reflejo: Platinum, 150,000 Stripped: Gold, 75,000 Back to Basics: Gold, 50,000 Singles: "Feel This Moment": 2x Platinum + Gold: 150,000 "Hoy Tengo Ganas de Ti": Diamond, 300,000 "Say Something": Gold, 30,000 Total: 905,000 Source: AMPROFON

Germany certifications
Albums: Back to Basics: 3x Gold, 300,000 Stripped: 2x Platinum, 600,000 Singles: "Say Something": Platinum, 300,000 "Hurt": Gold, 150,000 "Genie in a Bottle": Platinum, 500,000 "Dirrty": Gold, 250,000 "Lady Marmalade": Platinum, 500,000 "Moves Like Jagger": 5x Gold, 750,000 "Feel This Moment": Platinum, 300,000 Video Albums: Stripped Live in the U.K.: Gold, 25,000 Total: 3,675,000 Source: BVMI

Furthermore, Aguilera's certified sales surpass 87 million with the above updates, I believe that qualifies her for the 100 million records sold group. This can be supported by sources from Nine.com.au and Newsweek as can be seen here and here. Melketon (talk) 18:53, 21 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Agree! In Brazil Stripped was certified gold for 50k shipped not 100k. You can include in the article those informations. Why don't you do it? Markus WikiEditor (talk) 03:34, 22 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@Melketon:I included Aguilera in the list of 100 million. Markus WikiEditor (talk) 21:44, 25 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 31 October 2024

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The following sentence, which opens the second paragraph of §Definitions, has a typo:

The certified units for some artists/bands who have multi-disc albums can be higher than their listed claimed figures due to the RIAA counting each unit within **a** set as one unit toward certification. Hollyfeld (talk) 13:55, 31 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Done... thank you for noticing... - Adolphus79 (talk) 21:20, 31 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 8 November 2024

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Why is a group that sold 120 million records not on the sold "120 million to 199 million records" list? The group THE BAY CITY ROLLERS sold more that The Rolling Stones, ABBA, Bon Jovi and many others. Sadly their fortune was stolen and they were sexually abused by their manager. He claimed he didnt know where the money went. He went to prison based on the offences. According to a current story on the internet the band members eventually got 3.5 Million pounds from the record label - for 70,000 pounds each. [However 3.5 Million divided by 5 band members is not 70,000 pounds it's 700,000 POUNDS!] It's a fraction of the many millions each they were due. 198.54.214.148 (talk) 06:53, 8 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

}} 198.54.214.148 (talk) 06:53, 8 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. M.Bitton (talk) 14:57, 8 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]