Best selling artists, albums and singles of all-time

Posted on Posted in Data Collector, Sales tops 1,650 Comments

1983 - Thriller

Albums Ranking – CSPC – Overall sales

This list is about the most successful albums of all time (understand “which have generated the most sales”). The figures are given in EAS (equivalent album sales).

Please keep in mind that some artists are missing, because their analysis has not been done yet. The complete list is available here. Sales figures reflect the value as collected at the time of the artist’s respective articles while streams are updated daily. Albums from unstudied artists which gained significant streams are listed but miss the sales component.

 

 

 

Available Lists

All-Time
1940s1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
1950s1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
1960s1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
1970s1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
1980s1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
1990s1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
2000s2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
2010s2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
2020s2020202120222023

In the following results table, all categories display figures in equivalent album sales. If different, pure sales are listed between parentheses.

If you are on mobile, be aware that detailed sales by format are displayed on larger devices.

#CoverAlbumSales*StreamsTotal CSPC
Studio AlbumsOther LPsPhysical SinglesDigital SinglesEASDaily Increase
1JaggedJagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette		33,570,000
(06/05/18)		5,830,000690,000
(2,300,000)		996,000
(6,640,000)		1,268,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 510
LD: 690		42,354,000
2HIStory:HIStory: Past, Present and Future
Michael Jackson		18,625,000
(09/27/17)		8,551,0003,006,000
(10,020,000)		903,000
(6,020,000)		1,355,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 550
LD: 850		32,440,000
3DaydreamDaydream
Mariah Carey		19,900,000
(04/28/17)		8,311,0002,321,000
(7,737,000)		705,000
(4,700,000)		924,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 370
LD: 600		32,161,000
4(What's(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Oasis		17,660,000
(12/06/17)		5,081,0001,334,000
(4,447,000)		1,715,000
(11,430,000)		3,385,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 1,390
LD: 1,750		29,175,000
5TragicTragic Kingdom
No Doubt		18,000,000
(03/29/20)		4,247,0001,036,000
(3,453,000)		498,000
(3,320,000)		1,090,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 490
LD: 610		24,871,000
6TheThe Woman in Me
Shania Twain		16,000,000
(02/25/22)		1,705,000390,000
(1,300,000)		165,000
(1,100,000)		362,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 280
LD: 300		18,622,000
7TheThe Memory of Trees
Enya		10,030,000
(02/25/18)		2,420,000117,000
(390,000)		90,000
(600,000)		212,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 80
LD: 90		12,869,000
8D'EuxD'Eux
Céline Dion		7,200,000
(09/28/21)		4,359,000660,000
(2,200,000)		105,000
(700,000)		386,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 220
LD: 290		12,710,000
9NobodyNobody Else
Take That		3,720,000
(12/15/19)		6,585,0001,017,000
(3,360,000)		204,000
(1,360,000)		267,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 130
LD: 160		11,793,000
10MadeMade in Heaven
Queen		9,660,000
(01/25/20)		817,000474,000
(1,580,000)		282,000
(1,880,000)		404,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 180
LD: 190		11,637,000
11NewNew Beginning
Tracy Chapman		7,630,000
(06/25/19)		638,000426,000
(1,420,000)		456,000
(3,040,000)		283,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 120
LD: 140		9,433,000
12MeMe Against the World
2Pac		5,675,000
(01/22/22)		1,776,000654,000
(1,720,000)		618,000
(4,120,000)		692,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 370
LD: 380		9,415,000
13Fresh Horses
Garth Brooks		6,090,000
(01/05/19)		2,934,0005,000
(17,000)		0
(0)		3,000
(01/05/19)		N/A9,032,000
14TheseThese Days
Bon Jovi		7,600,000
(01/28/22)		93,000795,000
(2,650,000)		98,000
(650,000)		163,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 100
LD: 110		8,749,000
15ChristmasChristmas in the Aire
Mannheim Steamroller		4,920,000
(12/28/20)		1,886,0000
(0)		38,000
(250,000)		21,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 10
LD: 0		6,865,000
16PostPost
Björk		4,570,000
(12/23/18)		1,548,000322,000
(1,073,000)		120,000
(800,000)		262,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 110
LD: 150		6,822,000
17InsomniacInsomniac
Green Day		5,800,000
(03/11/17)		506,00056,000
(187,000)		120,000
(800,000)		286,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 110
LD: 160		6,768,000
18OneOne Hot Minute
Red Hot Chili Peppers		5,850,000
(03/29/18)		126,000111,000
(370,000)		93,000
(620,000)		277,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 110
LD: 140		6,457,000
19PiesPies Descalzos
Shakira		3,700,000
(06/21/18)		1,166,0005,000
(17,000)		195,000
(1,300,000)		1,021,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 490
LD: 1,200		6,087,000
20EnriqueEnrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias		4,100,000
(10/11/21)		1,088,00060,000
(200,000)		225,000
(1,500,000)		340,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 220
LD: 250		5,813,000
21BallbreakerBallbreaker
AC/DC		5,420,000
(02/20/18)		92,00047,000
(157,000)		38,000
(250,000)		120,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 50
LD: 60		5,717,000
22BalanceBalance
Van Halen		4,870,000
(08/14/20)		448,00073,000
(240,000)		92,000
(610,000)		121,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 50
LD: 70		5,603,000
23MadeMade in England
Elton John		3,690,000
(02/05/18)		89,000345,000
(1,150,000)		12,000
(80,000)		38,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 20
LD: 20		4,174,000
24FooFoo Fighters
Foo Fighters		3,350,000
(10/10/17)		178,000120,000
(400,000)		105,000
(700,000)		260,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 100
LD: 160		4,013,000
25OzzmosisOzzmosis
Ozzy Osbourne		3,520,000
(03/12/20)		127,00030,000
(100,000)		54,000
(360,000)		82,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 40
LD: 40		3,813,000
26TheThe Ghost of Tom Joad
Bruce Springsteen		2,850,000
(07/07/17)		190,00012,000
(40,000)		53,000
(350,000)		55,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 20
LD: 20		3,160,000
27WelcomeWelcome to the Neighbourhood
Meat Loaf		2,110,000
(06/16/18)		115,000417,000
(1,390,000)		15,000
(100,000)		38,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 20
LD: 20		2,695,000
28TheThe Gold Experience
Prince		1,130,000
(10/04/18)		552,000723,000
(2,410,000)		9,000
(60,000)		42,000
(02/04/23)		Av.: 30
LD: 70		2,456,000
*Pure sales figures updated on date below studio album sales.
'Av.' stands for Average, 'LD' for Last Day.

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Gullity

Sandy & Júnior is a brasilian duo, sold more than 2,5 million Records with “As quatro estações “ in 1999. In 2000 sold more than 3 million with “as quatro estações ao vivo”..

Clockingbell

If the daily gains (Av and LD) are an indicator, and I extrapolate them with rounded figures for the top albums EAS, the top 20 would look something like this in 10 years: 1. Thriller 130 2. Hotel California 76 3. SNF 75 4. Rumours 72 5. Bad 71 6. Nevermind 69 7. Back in Black 68 8. 21 66 9. DSOTM 63 10. IV 62 11. Bodyguard 58 11. Grease 58 11. The Wall 58 11. SWW 58 15. AfD 57 15. Metallica 57 17. Eminem Show 54 18. Joshua Tree 53 18. The Fame / Monster 53 20.… Read more »

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Kris

It’s nice to see some “newer” albums possibly entering the top spots. Adele top 10, and Lady Gaga and Eminem top 20. The top of the lists are finally changing!

3
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Clockingbell

And who knows how close 1989 and Divide will be by then!

1
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Nick

1989 will be around 50m or probably higher given tht its doing 8000 daily right now and its rerecording is coming soon

2
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Clockingbell

That’s definitely possible, but the LD’S of newer albums are changing more than older albums, so it’s even more speculating to predict their future numbers.

2
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Antonio

I believe that today there is an error for the daily streaming for The Joshua Tree (U2), yesterday it reported 2,011,000 streams with a daily stream of 1,160 strams and today instead always 2,011,000 streams with a daily stream of only 140, therefore still less than War, The Unforgettable Fire, Rattle And Hum, Achtung Baby and All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

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Antonio

There is an error in today’s stream numbers for …And Justice for All (Metallica)

2
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CGF

Hello.

Can you check the sales for singer Anastacia? Her self-titled album seems to have sold circa 10 M in Europe in 2004, being allegedly the second most successful album behind Usher’s confession.

Thank you!

0
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Analord

It’s only 3x platinum in Europe… Her best selling album sold maybe 5 million worldwide, she had zero success in the US which is kinda weird considering she’s American!

0
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Meca76

In a few hours Nevermind replaces in eighth place current album The Dark side of the moon.

3
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Antonio

i noticed that maybe there are some errors for physical singles of some artists like Sting & Police, Metallica, U2, so maybe their total of their physical singles in their CSPC articles where there is also streaming might change, check it out I await your reply.

-2
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Smiley

Of the artists studied so far, how many have sold more than 100 million albums (all types) outside the United States?

Off the top of my head there are the obvious candidates like The Beatles, Queen, MJ, Pink Floyd, Madonna, The Stones etc. U2 might sneak it?

Are there any others I’ve missed?

Cheers!

3
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Clockingbell

Maybe Celine Dion and Abba have also managed?

2
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Analord

Approximately :

The Beatles 170m
MJ 155m
Queen 145m
Madonna 130m
Pink Floyd 125m
ABBA 110m
Céline Dion 110m
Rolling Stones 110m
U2 105m

6
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Smiley

Cheers! Quite a select group…

1
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Patrik Barta

When will Melanie Martinez be on the list? She definitely has enough sales and streams…

-1
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matt

She has sold about 6-7M albums. I doubt she even has enough for a light article.

2
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Patrik Barta

I’m sorry, but there is an article about Zara Larsson who is in the same league as Melanie Martinez. I doubt I deserved the dislike for what I was saying. She deserves to be on the list.

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ellie.m4a

its obvious that Paramore have at least +15million albums sales worldwide….they have like 60 million singles too, why not update??? 😓

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