This lists documents the world's best-selling music artists categorically and alphabetically. This information cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization that has recorded global music sales. This page lists those artists who have had claims made to be among the top sellers. Within their sales brackets, artists are listed in alphabetical order, rather than by number of records sold. Equal weight is given to album and single sales, as well as paid downloads. Sources are record labels, newspaper articles or manual addition of figures from various official sources. This means that these figures should be considered claims, not facts.
Contents |
Although the criteria for the following list are intended to be expansive (including comparisons for total sales for all recording artists) there are certain limitations and constraints that may limit the conclusions that can be derived from these data.
Such constraints include:
| Artist | Country | Period | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Beatles | United Kingdom | 1960–1970 | Rock / Pop / Hard Rock / Art Rock / Psychedelic | [1][2] |
| Bing Crosby | U.S. | 1926–1977 | Jazz / Vocal / Pop | [3] |
| Elvis Presley | U.S. | 1953–1977 | Rock / Gospel / Blues / Rockabilly / Pop / Country / Ballad | [4] |
| Frank Sinatra | U.S. | 1935–1995 | Pop / Big band / Swing | [5] |
| Michael Jackson | U.S. | 1967–Present | Pop / Dance / New Jack Swing | [6] |
| Artist | Country | Period | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC/DC | Australia | 1973–Present | Hard Rock / Heavy Metal | [7] |
| A. R. Rahman | India | 1992–Present | Film Score / World Music | [8] |
| ABBA | Sweden | 1972–1982 | Pop / Disco | [9][10][11] |
| Alla Pugacheva | Russia | 1965–Present | Pop | [12] |
| Bee Gees | United Kingdom | 1958–2003 | Disco / Pop / Soft Rock / Blue-Eyed Soul | [13] |
| Bob Marley | Jamaica | 1962-1981 | Reggae | [14] |
| Celine Dion | Canada | 1981–Present | Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary | [15] |
| Cher | U.S. | 1964–Present | Pop / Dance / Rock / Disco / Folk / Country / Adult Contemporary | [16] |
| Cliff Richard | United Kingdom | 1958–Present | Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary | [17] |
| The Drifters | U.S. | 1953–Present | Rhythm and blues | [18] |
| Elton John | United Kingdom | 1964–Present | Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary | [19] |
| Herbert von Karajan | Austria | 1938–1989 | Classical | [20] |
| Julio Iglesias | Spain | 1968–Present | Latin | [21] |
| Led Zeppelin | United Kingdom | 1968–1980 | Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Heavy Metal | [22] |
| Madonna | U.S. | 1982–Present | Pop / Dance / Electronica / R&B / Alternative / Disco / Trance / House / Funk / Techno / Adult Contemporary | [23][24] |
| Nana Mouskouri | Greece - France | 1958–Present | Pop / Folk / Jazz | [25] |
| Pink Floyd | United Kingdom | 1964–Present | Space / Psychedelic Rock | [26][27] |
| Queen | United Kingdom | 1970–Present | Rock / Hard Rock / Glam Rock / Pop / Heavy Metal / Progressive Rock / Art Rock | [28] |
| Rolling Stones | United Kingdom | 1962–Present | Rock / Blues-Rock / Rhythm and Blues | [29] |
| Tino Rossi | France | 1929–1982 | Swing | [30] |
| Wei Wei | China | 1986–Present | Pop | [31] |
| Artist | Country | Period | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adriano Celentano | Italy | 1957–Present | Pop | [32] |
| Aerosmith | U.S. | 1970–Present | Hard Rock / Glam Metal / Blues-Rock | [33] |
| Backstreet Boys | U.S. | 1993–Present | Pop | [34][35] |
| Barry White | U.S. | 1972–2003 | R&B / Soul / Disco | [36] |
| Billy Joel | U.S. | 1964–Present | Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary | [37] |
| Black Sabbath | United Kingdom | 1968–Present | Heavy Metal | [38] |
| Bon Jovi | U.S. | 1983–Present | Hard Rock / Rock / Glam Metal | [39] |
| Boney M. | Germany | 1975–Present | Pop / Disco | [40] |
| Brenda Lee | U.S. | 1957–Present | Pop | [41] |
| Carpenters | U.S. | 1969–1983 | Pop | [42] [43] |
| Charles Aznavour | France | 1936–Present | Pop / Chanson / Jazz | [44] |
| Chicago | U.S. | 1967–Present | Rock / Blues / Jazz / Adult Contemporary | [45] |
| Dalida | Egypt, France | 1956–1987 | Pop / Disco | [46] |
| Dave Clark Five | United Kingdom | 1964–1970 | Rock | [47] |
| David Bowie | United Kingdom | 1964–Present | Rock / Glam Rock / Art Rock / Pop Rock / Blue Eyed Soul / Electronica / Ambient / Electro Rock | [48] |
| Deep Purple | United Kingdom | 1968–Present | Heavy Metal / Hard Rock | [49][50] |
| Depeche Mode | United Kingdom | 1980–Present | New Wave / Synthpop | [51] |
| Dire Straits | United Kingdom | 1977–1995 | Rock | [52] |
| Dolly Parton | U.S. | 1964–Present | Pop / Country / Folk / Bluegrass / Disco | [53] |
| Donna Summer | U.S. | 1971–Present | Pop / Rock / R&B / Dance / Electronica / Gospel / Disco / Country | [54] |
| Duane Eddy | U.S. | 1958–1986 | Rock | [55] |
| Eagles | U.S. | 1971–Present | Rock / Country | [56] |
| Electric Light Orchestra | United Kingdom | 1970–1988 | Progressive Rock / Pop Rock / Electronica | [57] |
| Engelbert Humperdinck | United Kingdom/U.S. | 1956–Present | Pop / Easy Listening / Vocal | [58] |
| Fats Domino | U.S. | 1949–Present | Rock / R&B | [59] |
| Fleetwood Mac | United Kingdom/U.S. | 1967-Present | Rock / Blues | [60] |
| The Four Seasons | U.S. | 1960-Present | Rock / Rhythm and blues | [61] |
| Garth Brooks | U.S. | 1989–Present | Country | [62] |
| Genesis | United Kingdom | 1967–Present | Progressive Rock / Pop Rock | [63] |
| George Michael | United Kingdom | 1981–Present | Pop / Blue-eyed Soul | [64] |
| Guns N' Roses | U.S. | 1985–Present | Hard Rock | [65][66][67] |
| Iron Maiden | United Kingdom | 1975–Present | Heavy Metal | [68] |
| James Last | Germany | 1963-Present | Instrumental / Classical | [69] |
| Janet Jackson | U.S. | 1982–Present | R&B / Pop / Rock | [70][71] |
| Johnny Hallyday | France | 1957–Present | Rock / Pop | [72] |
| Johnny Mathis | U.S. | 1956–Present | Jazz / Pop | [73] |
| KC and the Sunshine Band | U.S. | 1973–Present | Pop / Disco / Funk | [74] |
| Kenny Rogers | U.S. | 1958–Present | Country / Pop | [75] |
| Lionel Richie | U.S. | 1968–Present | Pop / R&B / Soul / Adult Contemporary | [76] |
| Luciano Pavarotti | Italy | 1961–2006 | Opera | [77] |
| Mariah Carey | U.S. | 1990–Present | Pop / R&B | [78] |
| Metallica | U.S. | 1981–Present | Thrash Metal / Heavy Metal / Speed Metal / Hard Rock | [79] |
| Michiya Mihashi | Japan | 1955–1995 | Enka | [80][81] |
| Mireille Mathieu | France | 1950–Present | Pop | [82] |
| Modern Talking | Germany | 1984–2003 | Europop / Synthpop | [83] |
| Neil Diamond | U.S. | 1966–Present | Pop / Rock / Adult Contemporary | [84] |
| Olivia Newton-John | Australia | 1966–Present | Adult Contemporary / Pop | [85] |
| The Osmonds | U.S. | 1970–Present | Pop | [86] |
| Patti Page | U.S. | 1948–Present | Pop / Jazz / Adult Contemporary / Country | [87] |
| Perry Como | U.S. | 1933–1998 | Pop / Swing / Easy Listening | [88] |
| Pet Shop Boys | United Kingdom | 1981–Present | Synthpop / Electronica | [89] |
| Phil Collins | United Kingdom | 1980–Present | Rock / Pop | [90] |
| Prince | U.S. | 1978–Present | Pop / Funk / R&B / Rock / Soul | [91] |
| R.E.M. | U.S. | 1980-Present | Alternative Rock | [92] |
| Ricky Nelson | U.S. | 1957–1985 | Pop | [93] |
| Roberto Carlos | Brazil | 1950–Present | MPB / Brazilian rock | [94] |
| Rod Stewart | United Kingdom | 1962–Present | Rock / Pop | [95] |
| Status Quo | United Kingdom | 1967–Present | Rock | [96] |
| Stevie Wonder | U.S. | 1961–Present | R&B / Soul / Funk | [97] |
| Teresa Teng | Republic of China | 1967-1995 | Pop | [98] |
| Tina Turner | U.S. | 1955–Present | Pop / R&B / Rock / Soul / Dance | [99] |
| Tommy James | U.S. | 1971–Present | Rock | [100] |
| U2 | Ireland | 1976–Present | Rock / Post-Punk | [101][102][103] |
| Valeriya | Russia | 1991–Present | Pop | [104] |
| The Ventures | U.S. | 1959–Present | Surf Rock | [105] |
| Village People | U.S. | 1977–Present | Disco / Funk | [106] |
| Whitney Houston | U.S. | 1977–Present | Pop / R&B / Adult Contemporary / Gospel / Dance | [107] |
| The Who | United Kingdom | 1964–Present | Rock / Hard Rock / Pop Rock | [108] |
| Artist | Country | Period | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Lennox | United Kingdom | 1977-Present | Pop / Rock | [109] |
| The Andrews Sisters | U.S. | 1937–1951 | Swing | [110] |
| B'z | Japan | 1988–Present | Rock / Pop | [111] |
| Britney Spears | U.S. | 1999–Present | Pop | [112] |
| Carlos Santana | Mexico | 1966–Present | Rock / Blues | [113] |
| Earth, Wind & Fire | U.S. | 1969–Present | Pop / R&B / Disco / Soul / Funk | [114] |
| Eddy Arnold | U.S. | 1946–2008 | Country | [115] |
| Eminem | U.S. | 1996–Present | Hip hop | [116][117] |
| Eurythmics | United Kingdom | 1980–Present | New Wave / Pop | [118] |
| Gloria Estefan | U.S. | 1977–Present | Latin / Pop / Dance | [119] |
| Hibari Misora | Japan | 1949–1989 | Enka | [120] |
| Jean Michel Jarre | France | 1971–Present | New Age | [121] |
| Kenny G | U.S. | 1982–Present | Instrumental / Jazz | [122] |
| Kiss | U.S. | 1973–Present | Hard Rock / Heavy Metal | [123] |
| Mina | Italy | 1958–Present | Pop | [124] |
| Peter Wolf | Austria | 1968–Present | Pop / Rock | [125] |
| Scorpions | Germany | 1969–Present | Hard Rock / Heavy Metal | [126][127] |
| Van Halen | U.S. | 1972–Present | Hard Rock / Heavy Metal | [128] |
| Artist | Country | Period | Genre | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Cooper | U.S. | 1965–Present | Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Shock Rock / Glam Rock | [129] |
| Andre Kostelanetz | U.S. | 1940s–1980 | Easy Listening | [130] |
| Andrea Bocelli | Italy | 1994–Present | Opera | [131] |
| Ayumi Hamasaki | Japan | 1995–Present | Pop / Rock / Trance | [132] |
| Barbra Streisand | U.S. | 1960–Present | Pop / Adult Contemporary / Classical / Easy listening / Showtunes | [133] |
| Bob Dylan | U.S. | 1959–Present | Folk / Rock / Blues | [134] |
| Bob Seger | U.S. | 1961–Present | Rock | [135] |
| Boyz II Men | U.S. | 1990–Present | R&B / Soul | [136] |
| Bruce Springsteen | U.S. | 1965–Present | Rock / Folk Rock / Heartland Rock | [137] |
| Bryan Adams | Canada | 1977–Present | Rock / Alternative rock / Hard rock / Pop rock / Arena rock | [138] |
| The Corrs | Ireland | 1990–Present | Rock | [139] |
| Def Leppard | United Kingdom | 1977–Present | Hard Rock / Heavy Metal | [140] |
| Destiny's Child | U.S. | 1990-2005 | R&B / Pop | [141] |
| Dreams Come True | Japan | 1989–Present | Pop / Jazz | [142][143] |
| The Doobie Brothers | U.S. | 1970–Present | Rock | [144] |
| Duran Duran | United Kingdom | 1978–Present | New Wave / Synthpop / Rock | [145] |
| Enya | Ireland | 1982–Present | New Age / Celtic | [146] |
| Four Tops | U.S. | 1954–Present | R&B | [147] |
| George Strait | U.S. | 1981–Present | Country | [148] |
| Jay-Z | U.S. | 1996–Present | Hip hop | [149] |
| Jethro Tull | United Kingdom | 1968–Present | Progressive Rock / Hard Rock /Rock | [150] |
| Johnny Cash | U.S. | 1955–2003 | Country | [151] |
| Kazuhiro Moriuchi | Japan | 1966–Present | Enka | [152] |
| Kylie Minogue | Australia | 1987–Present | Pop / Dance | [153] |
| Linkin Park | U.S. | 2000–Present | Rapcore/ Nu Metal/ Alternative Rock | [154] |
| Michael Bolton | U.S. | 1968–Present | Pop | [155] |
| Mills Brothers | U.S. | 1928–1982 | Pop | [156] |
| Mötley Crüe | U.S. | 1981–Present | Glam Metal / Hard Rock / Heavy Metal | [157] |
| Mr.Children | Japan | 1989–Present | Pop / Rock | [158] |
| Nat King Cole | U.S. | 1936–1965 | Jazz / Vocal / Pop | [159] |
| Nelson Gonçalves | Brazil | 1941–1998 | Samba | [160] |
| New Kids on the Block | U.S. | 1984–Present | Pop | [161] |
| 'N Sync | U.S. | 1995–2002 | Pop / Dance | [162] |
| Oasis | United Kingdom | 1991-Present | Britpop / Rock | [163] |
| Orhan Gencebay | Turkey | 1966–Present | World fusion / Folk | [164] |
| Petula Clark | United Kingdom | 1942–Present | Pop | [165] |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers | U.S. | 1983-Present | Alternative Rock / Funk Rock | [166][167][168] |
| The Police | United Kingdom | 1977–Present | Rock / New Wave | [169] |
| Ray Conniff | U.S. | 1956–2002 | Pop / Easy Listening | [170] |
| Reba McEntire | U.S. | 1974–Present | Country | [171] |
| Richard Clayderman | France | 1976–Present | Easy Listening / Instrumental Pop | [172] |
| Robbie Williams | United Kingdom | 1990–Present | Pop / Rock | [173] |
| Shakira | Colombia | 1991–Present | Pop / Latin | |
| The Seekers | Australia | 1963–Present | Folk / Rock | [175] |
| Spice Girls | United Kingdom | 1996–2000, 2007-2008 | Pop / Dance | [176] |
| Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers | U.S. | 1976–Present | Rock | [177] |
| Tony Bennett | U.S. | 1949–Present | Traditional Pop / Jazz | [178] |
| T.Rex | United Kingdom | 1967–1977 | Glam Rock / Hard Rock / Folk Rock | [179] |
| UB40 | United Kingdom | 1980–Present | Reggae | [180] |
| Vicente Fernandez | Mexico | 1965–Present | Ranchero / Mariachi / | [181] |