CSPC: David Bowie Popularity Analysis

Digital Singles Sales

Maybe surprisingly, just like in the physical format Space Oddity ends up quite easily as David Bowie best selling hit in download format, currently closing in the 2 million mark.

It had really no challenger as no song from the cult trio Hunky Dory – Ziggy Stardust – Aladdin Sane broke even the 1 million mark. Often combined together as the stand-out moment of the artist career, Aladdin Sane hits truly fails to attract as many buyers as songs from the other two albums.

The overall tally of 7 million downloads from all songs of following six albums appears to be someway disappointing considering how many well-known songs are featured.

As a reminder, the weighting is done with a 10 to 1,5 ratio between one album and one digital single.

David Bowie (1967) – 15,000 equivalent albums

Remaining Tracks – 100,000

David Bowie (1969) – 308,000 equivalent albums

Space Oddity – 1,900,000
Remaining Tracks – 150,000

The Man Who Sold the World (1970) – 60,000 equivalent albums

The Man Who Sold The World – 300,000
Remaining Tracks – 100,000

Hunky Dory (1971) – 330,000 equivalent albums

Changes – 850,000
Life On Mars? – 850,000
Remaining Tracks – 500,000

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) – 308,000 equivalent albums

Moonage Daydream – 400,000
Starman – 700,000
Ziggy Stardust – 400,000
Suffragette City – 150,000
Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide – 100,000
Remaining Tracks – 300,000

Aladdin Sane (1973) – 68,000 equivalent albums

The Jean Genie – 200,000
Remaining Tracks – 250,000