The 55 Best Selling Music Artists In History

[ScubaDiverPicker]

Can you imagine if Guns N Roses (1987-1991) wouldnt have broke up and kept putting albums out like The Beatles or AcDc how many they would have sold. Prob up near 500-600 million.

[mikeyscoots101]

wat about kyle minouge???

[SerenitytheDragonair]

I really don't think those are the sales of Elvis, to be honest.

[KOSKentOlaf]

Beatles and Elvis also have additional sales of singles and best of/ greatest hits and VHS/DVD wich gives them a total of 1billion. Their album sales alone is only 410 and 310. In 20 years+ MJ will go beyond those sales. I estimate with the new generations discovering his talent the sale could reach 2 billion by the year 2020. We'll see how it goes. MJ is still the biggest ;-)

[ricorico33]

@KOSKentOlaf Well i dont see how since mj sells are pretty bad lately. before he died his sell were really bad. When he died his sell increased a lot (between 20 and 30 millions, no more than that). His last album is a flop. mj music is not as relevant as beatles's. You can see young people covering beatles music in high school, colleges and universities, that doesnt happen with mj music. mj death fever has slowed down and will remain that way since one can died just 1 time.

[greatlakesflix]

@KOSKentOlaf nice try but way off, mj's total is between 260 million and 350 million, Elvis between 400 million and 1 billion, the Beatles between 450 million and 1.5 billion. the problem is there are no actual sales figures, only the US has figures from 1950 through 1973, and those are shipments not actual sales. we know both RCA and EMI inflated the sales of Elvis and the Beatles but they are the closest to the real figures we have.

[greatlakesflix]

@KOSKentOlaf your theory off mj passing both holds no water as both were outselling mj before his death, now that his sales have dropped back to normal with the Beatles outselling him at least, mj will never catch them as future generation's discover them, Elvis I'm not sure if he sells more than mj now or not. and mj was never bigger than the Beatles and never ever will be ; )

[KOSKentOlaf]

Actually the top three album sales goes as follows. Beatles = 410 million, Michael Jackson = 390 million and finally Elvis = 310 million. Thriller has sold 67 million of the album itself. With single sales and making of Thriller video VHS the total sales of everything related to Thriller, counting the re-releases in 2001 and 2008 Thriller has sold 110 million. The 390 million with MJ is his album sales only. If you count all single sales and DVD, the total of everything is 750 million.

[SaxopwnJazzCombo]

Frank Sinatra is a badass :D

[gettyman1]

@tonm08 "Also, you're talkin' US only!" nope globally, ">> "mj 750 is from a fan site"? >> 2. WRONG! " Nope very very correct, this fantasy figure 1st appeared on an mj fan site in 2006, just like the ridiculous 110 million figure for thriller. the verified sales for mj are 153.7 million. but there are many more because not every countries report sales and many didn't start their counts until after mj's career started. This applies much greater for the Beatles and Elvis.

[tonm08]

2 - witnessed on Beatles v EP & similar sites while researching; All opposing fans saying things not officially verified by any musical body/establishment; I think you know I do have a point, after all is said & done.

Again, as things stand, I will go with the more official & well documented /more widely spoken & accepted - (especially at awards held by those very musical establishments/bodies) regarding MJ figures. Can’t blame me for that!

[tonm08]

@gettyman1 - “1st appeared on mj fan site in 2006 - 110 million figure for thriller”

1.

Sorry, wrong! Fans didn’t make that up. Michael Jackson was OFFICIALLY presented with the Guinness Book of World Records Certificate for global sales of Thriller in 06 - which states 104 Million at the time. You should take up these issues with the above establishment if you have difficulties with the *official reality of it. The rest of your post is just like all the other back & forth I have long -

[gettyman1]

@tonm08 "Sorry, wrong! Fans didn’t make that up. " yes they did that's a well known fact. actually the Guinness record says over 50 million, the WMA's is only a TV show if they used the fantasy figure it was probably for ratings. What's for sure verified sales the Beatles lead mj by at least 150 million albums. and that's without any 60's sales figures from every country except the US.

[gettyman1]

@tonm08 Michael Jackson fans have a very hard time understanding the facts that the Beatles were far bigger in the 60's than mj ever was in his entire career. The over exaggerated sales for thriller and mj's career totals both came from a fan site in 2006. True many Elvis fans post extremely exaggerated sales figures too, as do Beatles fans, What is crystal clear with the available data the Beatles are by far the biggest selling recording act, followed by Elvis than mj.

[TheSolitaryHeart]

@gettyman1 Even if Elvis sold more records than Michael Jackson one thing is for sure, Michael Jackson is far more talented than Elvis (in terms of dancing, singing and stage performances) and he grew as an artist. And as for Madonna, she is higher up the list than 12th. She is recognized as the best selling female artist of all time by Guinness World Records 275 million albums- with her singles sales added on she's way over the 300 million mark - A pretty reliable source to me.

[gettyman1]

@TheSolitaryHeart Dancing ? sure, singing? not a chance in hell, Elvis kills mj singing, stage performances? that depends on what you want to see and hear at a concert, I don't want to pay to watch someone dance, you may prefer that. Guinness isn't a music source at all, and as for Madonna good for her.

[TheSolitaryHeart]

@gettyman1 Nah Elvis never grew as an artist. What Elvis albums are ever mentioned as classics? Actually the fact that it isn't a music source makes it reliable, I'd trust the Guinness World Records over an industry award (like Celine Dion received when she was named best selling female artist of the millenium).

[gettyman1]

@TheSolitaryHeart "What Elvis albums are ever mentioned as classics?" his 1st Elvis Presley, no, WMA's aren't industry awards they are just a TV award show. mj isn't the artist of the millennium either.

[TheSolitaryHeart]

@gettyman1 Anyway does it matter whether Michael Jackson is number two or three as being in the top five selling artist of all time means you are among the all-time greats regardless of what position you take.

[gettyman1]

@TheSolitaryHeart true, but it's the use of the fan made up 750 million figure that just gets me, use his real 350 to 400 million he's still #3 either way.

[tonm08]

@gettyman1

I have had to post the link on your channel…it is the *official* presentation for 'Thriller' sales, which happened to be televised during the World Music Awards in October 2006.

It would not post in post 2, even after taking the h-t-t-p away!

The text link would is: MJ - DIAMOND AWARD AND GUINNES WORLD RECORD FOR THRILLER - WMA 2006 (SOTTOTITOLI

[CRISFREEWAY]

ONE OF THE BEST LISTS EVER.

THANKS FOR THE VIDEO.

MY FAVOURITE ABBA.

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC!!!!!

[tonm08]

@786Gforce

"check wikipedia mate"

Been there, done that!! People copy/paste from certain Internet sites.and, stuff can be edited....Not forgetting the 'Discussion' / Debate page with usual bickering from some.

As I said, not ONE actual Musical Establishment / Body has either *OFFICIALLY *announced or *confirmed ANY such figures for EITHER the Beatles or E Presley!

That was the point of my post., and it shall remain the same at this point in time.

[greatlakesflix]

@tonm08 the fact is there is no true sales figure, only the US has figures from the 50's and 60's, All record companies exaggerate theirs artists sales. like mj, 750 is from a fan site, at best his total is around 400 million, The Beatles and Elvis have the problem that every country started their counts from 1973 and up like Brazil started in 1990. some as late as 2009. Still since 1973 the Beatles are still #1 and Elvis is Still #2.

[greatlakesflix]

@786Gforce obviously

[Oglemokk]

They couldn't find a less scary MJ picture right? (The first one)

[tonm08]

So far I’ve only seen these figures on boards across the Internet & only quoted, (even going as ridiculously high a 2 billion) by fans of Elvis /Beatles! Not being cheeky, but I need to see more than online debates, mere self-assumptive quotes & self-made videos.

Not ONE - I repeat - not ONE musical establishment / body has either *OFFICIALLY *announced or *confirmed ANY such figures for EITHER the Beatles or E Presley! Sorry, but this IS a fact!!

I love & have McCartney *Wings collection!

[oldinfant23]

omg!!!!Chuck Norris 4:05

[arik777arik]

And where is Alla Pugacheva?. The russian star #1- 220+million sold

[maxaug99]

@arik777arik Nobody cares of russia

[purplejuliette284]

PINK FLOYD

[purplejuliette284]

on guns n roses that s not a guns n roses song ,it s bon jovi

[SasukeNathan]

Eminem?

[StaceyDashFan]

@SasukeNathan he wasn't written in the article when I created this video. :)

[SasukeNathan]

@StaceyDashFan ok

[ItzallaboutmeNYC]

Britney Spears - 100+ Million sold

[MegaTommy11]

mj has the best selling albums ever. hw hase over 20 albums

[ambidextrousswordmen]

@MegaTommy11 ok but he is not the best selling artist 

[tieyourmotherdown1]

7:26!!! QUEEN ROCKS!!!!

[jsawicki8354]

I'm shocked at how many of these performers I haven't heard of!!

[JCNRBA]

ALL of these artist are REAL ARTISTS!, and they are the TRUE LEGENDS / LIVING LEGENDS, the True VOICES, the TRUE PERFORMERS!, You Prob have not heard most of them cuz Mainstream Radio Today Plays mostly Shit Music now days, most of these artist came from the 70's 80's and 90's!

todays artist CANT Match to these artist! on the LIST!

This list is as good as it gets!, no one can compare!

StaceyDashFan -  Thank you for posting this!

[StaceyDashFan]

My pleasure ;-)

[Sockanatomy]

You are so so so right! The music played today is crap!

Eversince I heard an 80's song, my ears didn't even want to

listen to the music in the radio for 1 second.

Since I am listening to Michael Jackson, I don't need

no Lady Gaga or Rihanna anymore. These aren't

musicians, these are ne'erdowells.

[JCNRBA]

@Sockanatomy 100% Agree.. we need to save the music, what real music use to be... i don't need autotune, electronic... i wan't real music! but seems like many people don't like music in the old days, kinda like Whitney's comback, her first single "I Look To You" was a slow heartfelt ballad and no once listens to it anymore, and also when Mariah Carey covered " I wanna know what love is" in 2009 it did not do so well cuz yet again people would rather listen to auto tune and electronic non sense.

[mrhappyfists2k10]

Is that the definite order they are in, and are they the right artists for the top 55?

[StaceyDashFan]

Some of them have got the same number of estimated sales (for example, four artists with 100 mio. e.sales are ordered differently but at the right spot... mh, it's hard to explain because I can't speak english perfectly :D) so they are ordered in the right place from 55 to number 1.

...

[mrhappyfists2k10]

Nevermind. And your english is absolutely fine. Dont be worrying about such things

[StaceyDashFan]

okay, thank you :D!

[AgnethaFaltskog1]

Yay! ABBA & The Beatles!:)

[kaisariani]

blood in the dance floor yeah

[MrNonnel]

Good,I enjoyed this,and wow for such a short recording career didnt the Beatles do well!

[joseutuado]

Good work!!

[StaceyDashFan]

@joseutuado thank you ;-)

[mrLatorre]

43) Is depeche mode or deep purple?

[StaceyDashFan]

Oops... i think I forgot to write Deep Durple in the sidebar (list)... threy come after Depeche Mode. But they both selled 100 e.s. :]