CSPC: U2 Popularity Analysis

Physical Singles Sales

U2 became huge all over the world at a time of relatively low singles sales, so their physical titles didn’t quite reach the heights managed by other big selling acts. This results in huge albums sales, but not so much for their physical singles.

That said, their 20 million physical singles sold overall are nothing to feel shy of. On the contrary, it is pretty strong given the circumstances.

The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby and Rattle & Hum generated the most sales. From 1993 onwards, we see a natural decline.

Boy (1980) – 75,000  equivalent albums

I Will Follow – 200,000
A Day Without Me – 50,000

October (1981) – 75,000  equivalent albums

Gloria – 150,000
Fire & A Celebration – 100,000

War (1983) – 330,000  equivalent albums

New Year’s Day – 500,000
Two Heart Beat As One – 200,000
Sunday Bloody Sunday – 400,000

The Unforgettable Fire (1984) – 420,000  equivalent albums

Pride – 900,000
The Unforgettable Fire – 500,000

The Joshua Tree (1987) – 1,215,000 equivalent albums

With Or Without You – 1,750,000
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – 1,250,000
Where The Streets Have No Name – 650,000
In God’s Country & One Tree Hill – 400,000

Rattle And Hum (1988) – 870,000 equivalent albums

Desire – 1,300,000
Angel Of Harlem – 600,000
All I Want Is You – 600,000
When Love Comes To Town – 400,000

Achtung Baby (1991) – 1,215,000  equivalent albums

The Fly – 900,000
Mysterious Ways – 1,000,000
One – 1,250,000
Even Better Than The Real Thing – 600,000
Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses – 300,000

Zooropa (1993) – 315,000  equivalent albums

Numb – 250,000
Lemon – 200,000
Stay – 600,000

Pop (1997) – 675,000  equivalent albums

Discotheque – 1,250,000
Starring At The Sun – 500,000
Last Night On Earth, Please, If God Will Send His Angels & Mofo – 500,000

All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000) – 555,000  equivalent albums

Beautiful Day – 900,000
Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of – 450,000
Walk On & Elevation – 500,000

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004) – 255,000 equivalent albums

Vertigo – 450,000
All Because Of You, Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own & City Of Blinding Lights – 400,000

No Line On The Horizon (2009) – 30,000 equivalent albums

Get On Your Boots – 50,000
Magnificent & I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight – 50,000

Songs Of Innocence (2014) – 0 equivalent albums

No physical singles

Orphan Album – 735,000 equivalent albums

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me – 1,500,000
Miss Sarajevo – 500,000
Other singles – 250,000