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I Know about those numbers, you don´t have to emphasize them tome. but let´s wait for update also for Metallica, we will be wiser.
The great artists in most cases do not depend on sales, but on musical culture and knowledge of the history and evolution of any musical genre.
Nirvana are more famous and more recognizable than Metallica, well known to the man in the street, by those people who are not fans, but know who they are and could name more tracks. Kurt Cobain's death has further increased the myth.
The Eagles are the most famous American band ever, even in many Japanese clubs you hear their songs.
You're ignoring the fact that Iron Maiden unlike Metallica some greatest hits have released it. The average buyer without the greatest hits would have bought the studio albums. Apart from that, just compare album by album numbers in these markets, apart from the black album Iron Maiden are pretty much always on top.
Just compare the youtube and spotify numbers between the greatest hits of Nirvana and those of Metallica...
Okay by your logic Nirvana is way bigger than both Metallica and U2. Metallica is way bigger than U2 also comparing social media followers, and streams/YouTube views. with your logic. The black album has literally sold more than Nevermind idk what else to say. Nirvana is more popular amongst gen z more than any other band because of Kurt Conain’s political beliefs, and who he is as a person. Nirvana is huge, but they don’t have the global following like Metallica, but it’s unfair to compare considering Nirvana has only 3 albums. Before Christmas time came around, Mariah Carey was at 16 mil listeners a month, but now her song has carried her to nearly 40 mil I believe. Celine Dion and Madonna don’t have nearly as many streams or views as Nirvana. Does that make. Organs bigger then them?
Metallica is bigger than the Eagles globally. You’re underrating Metallica’s popularity. The Eagles haven’t sold too much more than Metallica considering the eagles got big during the 70’s, and Metallica didn’t start to sell a lot until the early 90’s. Don’t forget Metallica went back to making non radio friendly, thrash music after the 90’s. Most artist’s career would have ended if they went through the same Napster situation, and received the back lash like Metallica did after the release of St. Anger. They survived because of how strong their global following is.
Isn't this what the ASR scale on this site is supposed to clarify? Which artists are more popular globally?
The Eagles score something like 639, Metallica land around 382, Nirvana 349. GNR are on 403 and U2 are currently at 497.
This would make the Eagles the most successful/popular of these acts followed by U2, GNR, Metallica and Nirvana in that order.
Yeah I’m not denying that U2, globally, isn’t bigger than Metallica because they are. What I was trying to say with the Guns and Metallica thing was that Guns do not have the fan base like Metallica does. In the metal/rock world, Metallica is bigger than Guns, and the Metallica brand overall is bigger, but guns during the late 80’s and early 90’s were bigger, and more well known towards the general public, and still are to this day. Guns are bigger than Zeppelin too when talking about what the general public knows/prefers. They were the second coming of the Stones. That was the argument I was trying to make. As for Nirvana, they’re not to Metallica’s level of popularity I’d say Kurt Cobain himself is bigger than the Nirvana brand. The black album was the highest selling album at the end of the 90’s, and still is to this day (in America). The black album has sold more than Nevermind globally and in America also. Being more famous, and being a bigger artist Is a different thing. Kanye is more famous than Drake, but Drake is the bigger artist.
On the first point about Guns and Metallica, I agree about fan base. I'm not sure what you mean exactly by brand or how you're judging it, but I agree that Guns have transcended far more into the mainstream.
I disagree with Nirvana not being at Metallicas level of popularity. I think for their short lifespan and small discography, their level of popularity is outstanding. Personally, I see them as the far more iconic band from history, Metallica certainly has success, but Nirvana have a kind of god like status.
Nevermind is obviously way more popular than the black album... Anyway, this kind of discussion is pointless as long as you don't define what you mean by "bigger".
That’s the point I was trying to make with comparing who’s “more famous” compared to who’s a bigger/more successful artist. Kurt Cobain is far more famous that any Metallica member, but the name Metallica is bigger than Nirvana.
The name Metallica is bigger than Guns N’ Roses, but more people know Sweet Child O’ Mine compared to Enter Sandman. Metallica has more Wikipedia views compared to both Guns and Nirvana. That’s why I said Kanye is more famous than Drake as a celebrity, but Drake is the bigger/more successful artist. Metallica is the highest selling artist since 1991, in America at least.
Kurt’s death doubled Nirvana’s and his own fame. Not saying they weren’t huge before, but Pearl Jam was passing them up in terms of fame until Kurt’s death. I feel like if you say Nirvana has god like status, so does Metallica. Just look at the artists on the blacklist album they put together. Their influence reaches generations, and converts into pop stars. They’ve performed with Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, and Elton John covered them. A piano part only tho lol. Another thing that is impressive to me is that they beat Bruno Mars out for number 1 on the 200 charts with the release of Hardiwred. Bruno is more of a hit maker than an albums artist, but that still is very impressive for 50+ year old men decades out of their peak of fame to out do Bruno Mars in anything during his era of popularity.
It could be different depending on where you’re from.
You say Metallica really hasn’t resonated with the UK crowd, and statistically speaking, pop seems to overshadow everything dramatically in the UK. Metal doesn’t seem to be loved that much compared to other countries. Metallica’s touring status globally proves how popular they are universally. I mean they performed in Antarctica.
Many people say they’re the biggest band in the world since they got big, but thats subjective. This is my opinion, but Metallica could have sold way more if they never went through that Napster situation, and if st anger wasn’t so hated. Most artists would have never recovered from that, and their career’s would have been done. Just because their name was Metallica, they went on to gross one of the most successful tours ever years after that. They went back to thrash music, and not making radio friendly music anymore which is why they’re not quite as big as U2 imo.
Maybe it's just my subjectivity, but Metallica are just not on Nirvanas level, when it comes to acts of all time. Nirvana have transcended into that legendary echelon, I don't think Metallica have or possibly ever will. I'd say Guns are their too.
I've witnessed all threes careers from around 1987 and for me there was never the furore, hype or press about Metallica, that there was about the other two.
