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Mariah's Merry Christmas is still the biggest selling Christmas album ever?
Hi KantClark!
The Beatles sold 333 million albums, 116 million singles, 5,6 million music videos, some EPs, and 35 million downloads. A total of over 490 million, without extra discs. With them, they reach 600 million.
Michael Jackson sold 235 million albums, 79 million singles, 32 million music videos, and 80 million downloads. That's a total of 426 million, which reaches 460 million with extra discs.
They come just behind, George Michael / Wham! are at 14,835 million while Dire Straits stand at 14,15 million.
Hi Tom!
Yes I did, Moody Blue was insanely successful in Norway. As a general trend, I increased default calculations for Europe in order to account for his strong popularity in Scandinavia. Usually, it is extrapolated from remaining continental Europe (when there is no info) while here I used on purpose the UK to extrapolate sales there since he was just as massive in both places, the UK and Scandinavia.
I agree with Donald. I wouldn't even say Jackson topped Elvis, to be honest 11 million at this level is nothing, under 4% of their sales, that's a virtual tie.
We can't say his peak wasn't that big either. As stated in page 130, his year 1957 is the 3rd most valuable in the history of the music industry, beaten only by the Eagles' 1976 year and Jackson's 1982. Also, in the Elvis vs Beatles debate, it's worth noting that the Top 3 songs of Elvis all crush the #1 song of the Beatles!
I disagree. I think the ASR shows he wasn't as big. He is not as successful as Queen let alone MJ and Beatles.
Hi Stephon!
It's debatable. It depends if we add both Elvis' Christmas Album versions (from 1957 & 1970) together or not. The latter is a reissue of the former, with 2 minor tracks dropping out of the album and 2 other minor ones entering it. Originally, they have been certified distinctively, most likely because they were issued by different labels (the first by RCA, the second by Camden, the budget line of RCA), so they have been kept separated ever since in such breakdowns. In all fairness though, that's the same album and in total it sold more than Mariah's Merry Christmas.
Jesus Christ! This guy works a lot! I can't believe that you did those amount of work so fast! Cangratulations, and thank you!
It is impressive for a music artist like him with limited technology during their time, yet people from different generations who continue to buy his music.
We need a list of best-selling holiday albums too
Looking at the last page, I guess Bing Crosby is the next classic music artist to be studied.
I hope the top-selling music artists - pure album sales will be included on the useful links columns.
Great work as usual!
So he's the best selling solo artist of all time?
Also i don't why but i always thought Bing crosby's and Frank sinatra's sales are pretty close is that true?
Lots of work to get this one out. Much appreciated. Does this round out the top 10? I can't imagine anyone else getting in there at this point, but maybe I'm not thinking of someone.
11 million box sets is a very impressive number. If you assume the content in these sets and the fact that each one probably was at least 3 discs, It would stand to reason that these box sets created a huge amount of retail value. I know you don't weigh these that way, but it still seems to me that a box set that retails at $50 should have some kind of multiplyer attached to it vs an album that sells for less the $10. Have you considered giving more weight to these box sets?
Thanks again for another great article.
EP outsold MJ on total pure album sales with around 9 million difference. Wow!
I think not. I also think Cliff Richard have sold more records than Frank Sinatra.
Thanks MJD. Hernan and Anthony - a massive undertaking. Magnificent, meticulous and masterly. Much appreciated.
