I don't think that is the case nowadays. I could be wrong but I imagine nowadays and probably for some time now, Maiden probably has better worldwide yearly sales and streaming figures. I just do not think VHs current US popularity, reflects how popular they once were or that it is significant enough over Maiden, to give them the edge on a worldwide basis, as is reflected in their worldwide streaming numbers.

There is no doubt in their respective heydays (the 1980s) that Van Halen sold much more than Iron Maiden worldwide, due to their exceptional US popularity but they do not seem to have retained that level of popularity in the US. Semi contemporary acts like Bon Jovi or Guns N Roses are still way behind VHs total US sales but it's also quite clear that both acts sell and stream far more than VH and have done for many, many years, in both the US and worldwide.

I do live in Europe, in the UK but that has nothing to do with my reasoning. I fully appreciate, understand and know the difference in popularity between the two in the US. I'd actually say that in most cases, it's usually Americans that have trouble perceiving the popularity of acts in the rest of the world, not the rest of the world having trouble perceiving how popular acts are in the US.

Funny you should mention Garth, in my original post I contemplated calling them the Garth Brooks of Hard Rock lol

Here is a VH/IM combined Top 50, based on Spotify streaming. As we know Jump leads by a way, while Maiden have 6 of the 10 most streamed tracks and 32 of the 50! I think it shows that regardless of VHs superior US popularity and Jumps mainstream success, Worldwide Maiden are more popular.

1 . Jump - 2015 Remaster 420,198,827 - VH
2 . The Trooper - 2015 Remaster 198,382,345 - IM
3 . Run to the Hills - 2015 Remaster 195,828,655 - IM
4 . Fear of the Dark - 2015 Remaster 192,088,932 - IM
5 . Panama - 2015 Remaster 176,374,642 - VH
6 . The Number of the Beast - 2015 Remaster 142,429,851 - IM
7 . Runnin' with the Devil - 2015 Remaster 125,554,152 - VH
8 . Hallowed Be Thy Name - 2015 Remaster 95,408,816 - IM
9 . Hot for Teacher - 2015 Remaster 91,344,937 - VH
10 . 2 Minutes to Midnight 81,482,306 - IM
11 . Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - 2015 Remaster 80,092,622 - VH
12 . Wasted Years - 2015 Remaster 72,398,613 - IM
13 . You Really Got Me - 2015 Remaster 67,470,602 - VH
14 . Aces High - 2015 Remaster 67,249,824 - IM
15 . Eruption - 2015 Remaster 62,404,900 - VH
16 . Why Can't This Be Love 60,455,509 - VH
17 . Can't Stop Lovin' You 48,312,350 - VH
18 . Wasting Love - 2015 Remaster 39,066,922 - IM
19 . The Wicker Man - 2015 Remaster 37,012,137 - IM
20 . Dance the Night Away - 2015 Remaster 36,356,701 - VH
21 . Blood Brothers - 2015 Remaster 29,121,117 - IM
22 . Dreams 28,444,964 - VH
23 . The Evil That Men Do - 2015 Remaster 27,945,137 - IM
24 . Can I Play with Madness - 2015 Remaster 27,524,554 - IM
25 . Phantom of the Opera - 2015 Remaster 24,792,771 - IM
26 . Afraid to Shoot Strangers - 2015 Remaster 24,146,224 - IM
27 . Speed of Light 23,686,013 - IM
28 . Right Now 23,261,761 - VH
29 . Iron Maiden - 2015 Remaster 23,121,618 - IM
30 . Flight of Icarus - 2015 Remaster 22,404,468 - IM
31 . Dance of Death - 2015 Remaster 22,101,227 - IM
32 . Powerslave - 2015 Remaster 20,947,702 - IM
33 . Children of the Damned - 2015 Remaster 19,642,998 - IM
34 . Unchained - 2015 Remaster 19,379,971 - VH
35 . Wrathchild - 2015 Remaster 18,195,768 - IM
36 . Where Eagles Dare - 2015 Remaster 17,858,049 - IM
37 . If Eternity Should Fail 17,740,940 - IM
38 . Jamie's Cryin' - 2015 Remaster 17,571,363 - VH
39 . Running Free - 2015 Remaster 17,494,114 - IM
40 . Brave New World - 2015 Remaster 16,792,572 - IM
41 . Rime of the Ancient Mariner - 2015 Remaster 16,242,265 - IM
42 . When It's Love 15,965,863 - VH
43 . Love Walks In 15,124,267 - VH
44 . Revelations - 2015 Remaster 14,983,732 - IM
45 . Be Quick or Be Dead - 2015 Remaster 14,543,884 - IM
46 . (Oh) Pretty Woman - 2015 Remaster 14,295,193 - VH
47 . The Prisoner - 2015 Remaster 13,310,080 - IM
48 . Ice Cream Man - 2015 Remaster 12,874,691 - VH
49 . The Clansman - 2015 Remaster 12,809,391 - IM
50 . Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - 2015 Remaster 12,444,103 - IM

Before this analysis, I wasn't sure about this. But now, I'm 99% sure that Iron Maiden are gonna be higher than VH. US included.

Interesting list. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Spotify is the best argument for worldwide popularity.

I'm not giving them an edge on world fame, I'm just talking about total copies sold.
We are reiterating the same concept in different words. For me Iron Maiden total album (all types) have sold less than 92,005,500 copies, then that Van Halen's sales are enormously unbalanced towards the United States is a clear and obvious fact. It won't be your case, but many European residents tend not to consider the huge gap between the two bands in the US, that's all. 

I struggle to see how anybody could fail to notice the difference, given the RIAA certifications are available for all to see and highlight the disparity in the two acts sales in the US.

I wasn't meaning the edge on fame, I was actually meaning I think nowadays and probably for a good few years now, they have the edge on sales and streams.

We also have to take into account, that had we compared those streams a few months back, it would probably have been a greater disparity between the two, given that Eddies death has obviously gained them extra streams, that would not have happened normally or naturally.

They probably won't, but they're getting closer every day

I have been waiting for a very long time, for a detailed study about kiss sales,because i appreciate your work of precision and research . Can i count on seeing it published as soon as possible? I thank you in advance

I AM WAITING THIS ARTICLE TOO! I KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED

Yes interesting list. Although I'm not quite sure why we compare the two bands anyway. I know they are both Hard Rock/Heavy Metal acts, and I love them both! But stylistically it's like comparing apples to oranges.

That said, to me the main diffence sales/popularity wise between the two bands is that IM is still relevant, while VH haven't been since "Balance" in 1995 (ok maybe the single "Human's Being" 1996).

VH's biggest track released since 1996 is "Tattoo" with 3M on spotify. IM have released 38 (THIRTY-EIGHT!!!) tracks since 1996 with 3M plays or more. In fact, 26 of those double that with 6M plays or more - the biggest one, "The Wicker Man", has over 37M plays.

VH songs since 1996 total about 21M plays.
IM songs since 1996 total about 406M plays.

Furthermore IM have remained a huge live draw filling stadiums around the world. I wonder how many tickets the two bands have sold since 1996...

If you add total albums and streams, Van Halen are above even today, even if they sell less than the catalog. The problem is how many think Iron albums are enough to surpass Van Halen ...

I'd go as far to say, I don't think they've ever been particularly relevant in the UK, we just never seemed to take to them. In fact, this seems the case in many countries.

I have to admit, VH do pretty much nothing for me, I don't mind a few of their tracks but on the whole they are just not for me. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Maiden either, I have all their albums up to Fear Of The Dark and really enjoy a lot of their tracks from the 80s but I haven't listened to an album of theirs since then, only hearing the occasional single here and there.

Hey, In the tweet working on artists you guys still have gomez and eminem in the works, who are the new artists who´s CSPC you guys are working on, that you could reveal?

It is a little frustrating for non-US enthusiasts to see US-based artists ending up this high (apart from Van Halen also Garth Brooks, The Eagles and arguably also non-US acts like AC/DC) because of their exceptional sales there, while more truly global acts like Red Hot Chili peppers or Green Day are (way) behind them. You really need to break the US to be big, but you wouldn't need other territories as much. Does that really mean that VH is more popular than RHCP? Or just richer?

Black Ice went to #1 in 29 contries in 2008 and PWR/UP went to #1 in 21 contries this year. The US is an important market to AC/DC, but I don't think you were being quite fair to them.