From backing singer of a boys band to the biggest pop star on Earth, the career of Robbie Williams has been amazing in more than one aspect.
Songs like Angels, Feel or Rock DJ remain in the memory of everyone while his new records, now tagged adult contemporary, are still selling like hot cakes.
How does the singer, now 3 decades in, perform on streaming platforms yet?
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Robbie Williams streaming review – the method
Streaming is made up of audio and video streams. Our CSPC methodology now includes both to better reflect the real popularity of each track. The main source of data for each avenue is respectively Spotify and YouTube.
To factor in the growing impact of multiple Asian countries where these platforms aren’t always the go-to site for music streaming, more sources have been added.
In order to account for their real popularity in each relevant country, the below sources have been used along with the mentioned ratios that reflect the market share of each area.
Audio Streams
– South Korea : Genie streams * 3.05 (consistent with Gaon streaming numbers)
– Japan : AWA streams * 100/5.5 (AWA has 5.5% of the Japanese streaming market)
– Elsewhere : Spotify streams * (370 – 8.5 – 9.5 – 33 – 9) / 207 (370 million global subscribers minus 8.5 million from South Korea minus 9.5 million from Japan minus 33 million from China divided by the number of Spotify only users minus 9 million more Asian users) + Genie streams * 3.05 (uses Genie rather than Spotify to extrapolate markets like Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam)
Video Streams
– China* : Xiami streams * 125/6.5 (Xiami has just over 5% of the Chinese streaming market)
– Elsewhere : Youtube views
*since 96.4% of Chinese streaming platforms are free users, that paid-for users pay less than $2 a month and that they are also used as video streaming platforms, their streams are weighted in par with YouTube streams.
Audio Stream value – 1500 plays equal 1 album unit
Video Stream value – 11,750 views equal 1 album unit
Equivalent Albums Sales (EAS) = ( Spotify * 310/207 + Genie * 3.05*2 + AWA * 100/5.5 ) / 1500 + ( Xiami * 125/6.5 + YouTube ) / 11750
Robbie Williams streaming review – the results
Total: 1,531,257 EAS
Robbie Williams most streamed tracks (EAS)
1. Angels [Life thru a Lens] – 215,000
2. Feel [Escapology] – 158,000
3. Rock DJ [Sing When You’re Winning] – 92,000
4. She’s the One [I’ve Been Expecting You] – 75,000
5. Candy [Take the Crown] – 64,000
6. Let Me Entertain You [Life thru a Lens] – 59,000
7. Better Man [Sing When You’re Winning] – 59,000
8. Love My Life [The Heavy Entertainment Show] – 51,000
9. Somethin’ Stupid [Swing When You’re Winning] – 47,000
10. Supreme [Sing When You’re Winning] – 26,000
11. Come Undone [Escapology] – 24,000
12. Go Gentle [Swings Both Ways] – 22,000
13. Party Like a Russian [The Heavy Entertainment Show] – 21,000
14. Millennium [I’ve Been Expecting You] – 19,000
15. I Wan’na Be Like You [Swings Both Ways] – 19,000
16. Mr. Bojangles [Swing When You’re Winning] – 18,000
17. Tripping [Intensive Care] – 17,000
18. Dream a Little Dream [Swings Both Ways] – 16,000
19. Kids [Sing When You’re Winning] – 16,000
20. Advertising Space [Intensive Care] – 15,000
Sources: Spotify, YouTube, AWA (app), Xiami, Genie.
Great article, as usual.
At his peak, he was undoubtedly biggest pop star on Earth. Yes, he wasn’t well known in the US. But look, football/soccer is not that big in the US, as well. But still, it’s absolutely the most popular sport in the world. 🙂
With Take That, having a total of close to 115 million (without virtually any success in U.S.) is absolutely amazing. I can’t fathom his numbers in the U.K. AND at 45 years old. No one is this successful in the same way he is.
As a side note, I live in VEGAS and his residency here is VERY successful.
That cute.. can you please update Sam Smith
Biggest pop star on EARTH? He is barely known or made any impact in the US. His success in Asia is limited too. Biggest exaggeration of an artist so far on this site.
Lol. I agree with u
Hi Jake!
At his prime, he definitely was, hands down. It doesn’t matter where he sold well, no other pop star did better than him globally from 1997 to 2006. In fact, from the top of my mind the most recent ones that I can think of who outsold him are Jackson and Collins, who were both semi retired already when Williams was selling more albums and concert tickets than anyone else in his category.
Britney Spears? Eminem? Backstreet Boys? All of these artists released albums and singles that were global and outsold EVERY Williams album 2 to 1. Were popular on every part of the world you can imagine. Sold out concerts etc and won countless prestigious awards. It’s not just sales, you can’t call someone the ‘biggest pop star in the world’ when barely anyone recognises them on half of the world. He is just as well known in the US as you and me. An artist who is extremely successful in one continent, like Williams will never be the biggest pop star… Read more »
I was mentioning male pop singers, you mention a female, a rap singer and a boys band. My bad if that was unclear. You say that it isn’t only about sales, but also awards and tours. Who’s the most awarded artist of all-time at the Brit Awards? Robbie Williams. Who holds the world record for most tickets sold in a day? Robbie Williams. Big only in Europe and Latin America? He is massive on both, just like he is massive in Oceania and also quite big in most Asia. Japan isn’t the be-all end-all of Asia, nor the US is… Read more »
^I think most people just weren’t clear you meant only male pop stars. When you give the breakdown I can agree with you. In Canada I knew several of his songs and I was aware that he was big in Europe.
That being said Justin Timberlake was THE male pop star in Canada/USA from his solo debut in 2002 until the end of his FSLS era in 2007/2008. Even with just two albums.
My bad then! Yeah, I was likely being too litteral about the “pop star”, I may underestimate how connoted the term “popstar” (as “huge music celebrity”) is.
About the US in mid-00s, surely Usher has something to say for years 2004/2005, elseway I agree JT was the one there at that point.
Considering he never made it in the US. His early works are pretty impressive. Btw, hope his total sales will be published too. ☺️