Who is the the top selling recording artist of all time?

Answer 1

Madonna is the best selling female recording artist of all time. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Madonna is the most successful female solo artist, having sold around 120 million albums and 40 million singles (estimation); a combined total more than any other female singer worldwide, since 1982.

Madonna is also the top selling female in the USA, that is if we combine both her albums and singles sales. However, when counting only albums, Barbra Streisand is the best selling female artist in the United States, with over 71 million albums shipped. Madonna is second, with 63.5 million albums shipped.

Source: riaa.org

Madonna also holds the record for most Hot Dance Club Play #1 in the US, with 39; more than any other female artist.

Source: Billboard.com

In the UK, the best selling album artists, (up to 2007) are; The Beatles (28.745m), Queen (20.665m), and Madonna (18.328m.).

In Europe, the best selling album artists are, The Beatles (92.5 million), Queen (80.05 million), and Madonna (74.6 million), including Hard Candy.

There is no true way to verify who is actually the best selling female singer. Most sources state that Madonna and Celine Dion are the two best selling female artists, with record sales exceeding 200 million, worldwide.

1. In 2004, Celine Dion was awarded the Chopard Diamond Award at the World Music Awards for 175 million albums sold, and given the accolade of best selling female artist of all time. In April 2007 Sony BMG announced Dion had sold over 200 million albums, worldwide.

Sources: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2007/11/05/worldmusic-awards.html

Sources: http:/www.sonymusic.ch/Celine-Dion/Releases

2. Numerous sources state that Madonna is also the best selling female singer, with record sales in excess of 200 million. They also state she is the richest female singer.

Sources:http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE49E2IA20081015

Sources:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-407501/Queen-Pop-Madonna-crowned-highest-earning-female-singer-earth.html

Answer 2

Garth Brooks is the top selling solo artist of all time any genre in US history with 123 million sales. Elvis is second place with 118.5 million.

Both are second and third respectively on the list of all artists (including groups). The Beatles are the top selling of all time with 170 million +.

see

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-quick6nov06,1,194649.story

edit:

Garth's second and third CD's both sold over 9 million copies.

"No fences" his second album, sold 9,010,000

"ropin' the wind" his third album which sold 9,570,000 is the best selling album by any male artist in Country Music history. It is also the first country album to debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200.

"The Hits" (7,821,000) best selling greatest hits album in country music history

There's more at http://lounge.teamshania.com/showthread.php?t=6780

Answer 3

In terms of 'during their careers', here are the top 8

1 - Michael Jackson = 750 Million

2 - The Beatles = 560 Million

3 - Elvis Presley = 480 Million

4 - Madonna = 310 Million

5 - Elton John = 300 Million

6 - Led Zepellin = 280 Million

6 - Queen = 270 Million

7 - ABBA = 260 Million

8 - Rolling Stones = 180 Million

Answer 4

The highest selling music artist is Elvis Presley with 1.5 billion certified sales. He has been the highest selling music artist since 1957 and still stands today. Sony Music has stated that they have processed over 2 billion Elvis records, though this has not been proven. The Beatles are the highest selling band and highest selling in music all together, with 2 billion certified sales. Micheal Jackson is coming in at third place with 750 million certified sales.

Answer 5

To end all arguments:

Michael Jackson - 750 Million

The Beatles - 515 Million

Elvis Presley - 500 Million

After their careers ended, they carried on selling more:

Elvis - 1977-2011 = 34 YEARS his records were able to sell an extra 500mil

Beatles - 1970-2011 = 41 YEARS the full catalogue sold an extra 485mil

Michael Jackson-2009-2011 = 2 Years in two years, he sold 10mil

The King of Popular Music is The Greatest Artist of all Time

The Beatles are The Greatest Band Ever

The King of Rock n Roll is Second The Greatest Artist Ever

Answer 6

Nobody knows for sure because back in the day there was no organisation that followed worldwide sales. Based on record companies of each diva, numbers that can't be verified 100%, the biggest selling female artist is a battle between: Madonna, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey.

Artists 'claimed' to have sold 250 million records or more worldwide: if we combine both albums, dvds, videos and singles sales worldwide.

ABBA Sweden 70s-80s Pop

Alla Pugacheva Russia 70s-00s Pop

The Beatles UK 60s-70s Rock / Pop

Bing Crosby U.S. 20s-70s Pop

Chubby Checker U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B

Cliff Richard UK 50s-00s Pop

Elton John UK 60s-00s Pop

Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s Rock / Pop

Frank Sinatra U.S. 30s-90s Pop

Julio Iglesias Spain 70s-00s Pop /Latin

Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s Hard Metal

Madonna U.S. 80s-00s Pop /Dance

Michael Jackson U.S. 60s-00s Pop

Nana Mouskouri Greece 60s-00s Pop

Pink Floyd UK 60s-90s Rock

Queen UK 70s-00s Hard Rock

Rod Stewart UK 60s-00s Rock / Pop

Tino Rossi France 30s-80s Pop

Madonna is the top selling female recording artist in the U.S but if you're going to break it down, in the album category, she is second to Barbra Streisand with 63.5 x certified platinum status by RIAA.

Answer 7

Jay-Z

(11 number 1 studio albums)

Answer 8

elton john

Answer 9

Drake