Best Selling Music Artists
This list documents the world's best-selling music artists alphabetically as well as by record sales while dealing with certain constraints like access to country etc. 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 of over 50 million or more records in sales. The list is divided into numerous record-sales brackets within each of which, artists are listed in alphabetical order, rather than by number of records sold. The artists on the list are supported by third-party reliable sources, the sales-figures within which should represent a total number of sold albums, singles, compilation-albums, music videos as well as downloads of singles and full-length albums.
1 billion records or more
The Beatles United Kingdom 1960–1970 Pop / Rock
Elvis Presley United States 1953–1977 Rock / Pop
500 million to 999 million records
Bing Crosby United States 1926–1977 Traditional pop/Jazz
Michael Jackson United States 1967–present Pop / R&B
200 million to 499 million records
AC/DC Australia 1973–present Hard rock
A. R. Rahman India 1992–present Film Score / World
ABBA Sweden 1972–1982 Pop / Disco
Alla Pugacheva Russia 1965–present Pop
Bee Gees United Kingdom 1958–2003 Pop / Disco
Bob Marley Jamaica 1962–1981 Reggae
Celine Dion Canada 1981–present Pop
Cliff Richard United Kingdom 1958–present Pop
The Drifters United States 1953–present R&B
Elton John United Kingdom 1964–present Pop / Rock
Herbert von Karajan Austria 1938–1989 Classical
Julio Iglesias Spain 1968–present Latin
Led Zeppelin United Kingdom 1968–1980 Hard rock / Blues rock
Queen United Kingdom 1970–present Hard rock / Pop
Madonna United States 1982–present Pop / Dance
Mariah Carey United States 1990–present Pop / R&B
Nana Mouskouri Greece - France 1958–2008 Pop folk
Pink Floyd United Kingdom 1964–1994 Psychedelic rock
The Rolling Stones United Kingdom 1962–present Rock / Blues rock
Tino Rossi France 1929–1982 Swing
Wei Wei China 1986–present Pop
100 million to 199 million records
Adriano Celentano Italy 1957–present Pop [40]
Aerosmith United States 1970–present Hard rock [41]
Backstreet Boys United States 1996–present Teen pop [42] [43] [44]
Barry White United States 1972–2003 R&B / Soul [45]
Billy Joel United States 1964–present Pop / Rock [46]
Bon Jovi United States 1983–present Rock [47]
Boney M. Germany 1975–present Disco [48]
The Carpenters United States 1969–1983 Pop [49] [50]
Charles Aznavour France 1936–present Pop / Chanson [51]
Cher United States 1964–present Pop / Dance [52][53][54]
Chicago United States 1967–present Pop rock [55]
The Dave Clark Five United Kingdom 1964–1970 Pop rock / Beat [56][57]
David Bowie United Kingdom 1964–present Rock [58][59]
Deep Purple United Kingdom 1968–present Hard rock [60][61]
Depeche Mode United Kingdom 1980–present Electro Rock [62][63]
Dire Straits United Kingdom 1977–1995 Rock / Pop [64]
Dolly Parton United States 1964–present Country / Pop [65]
Eagles United States 1971–present Soft rock / Country rock [66]
Electric Light Orchestra United Kingdom 1970–1988 Pop rock [67]
Engelbert Humperdinck United Kingdom 1956–present Easy listening [68]
Fats Domino United States 1949–present R&B [69]
Fleetwood Mac United Kingdom 1967-Present Pop rock [70]
The Four Seasons United States 1960-present R&B [71][72]
Frank Sinatra United States 1935–1995 Pop / Swing [73]
Garth Brooks United States 1989–present Country [74]
Genesis United Kingdom 1967–present Progressive rock / Pop rock [75]
George Michael United Kingdom 1981–present Pop [76]
Guns N' Roses United States 1985–present Hard rock [77][78][79]
James Last Germany 1963-present Instrumental / Classical [80]
The Jackson 5 United States 1966-1990 R&B / Soul / Pop / Disco [81]
Janet Jackson United States 1982–present R&B / Pop [82][83][84]
Johnny Hallyday France 1957–present Rock / Pop [85]
Kenny Rogers United States 1958–present Country / Pop [86]
Lionel Richie United States 1968–present Pop / R&B [87]
Luciano Pavarotti Italy 1961–2006 Opera [88]
Metallica United States 1981–present Heavy metal [89][90]
Michiya Mihashi Japan 1955–1995 Enka / Min'yō [91][92]
Mireille Mathieu France 1950–present Pop [93]
Modern Talking Germany 1984–2003 Synthpop [94]
Neil Diamond United States 1966–present Pop / Rock [95]
Olivia Newton-John Australia 1966–present Pop [96]
Patti Page United States 1948–present Pop [97]
Paul McCartney United Kingdom 1957–present Pop rock [98]
Perry Como United States 1933–1998 Pop / Swing [99]
Pet Shop Boys United Kingdom 1981–present Synthpop [100]
Phil Collins United Kingdom 1980–present Adult contemporary [101]
Prince United States 1978–present R&B / Rock [102]
Ricky Nelson United States 1957–1985 Pop [103]
Roberto Carlos Brazil 1950–present MPB / Brazilian rock [104]
Rod Stewart United Kingdom 1962–present Rock / Pop [105]
Salvatore Adamo Belgium 1963–present Chanson [106]
Status Quo United Kingdom 1967–present Rock [107]
Stevie Wonder United States 1961–present R&B / Soul [108]
Teresa Teng Republic of China 1967-1995 Pop [109]
Tina Turner United States 1955–present Pop / R&B [110]
Tom Jones United Kingdom 1965–present Pop [111]
U2 Ireland 1976–present Rock [112][113][114]
Valeriya Russia 1991–present Pop [115]
The Ventures United States 1959–present Surf rock [116]
Whitney Houston United States 1977–present R&B [117][118]
The Who United Kingdom 1964–Present Rock / Hard rock [119]
75 million to 99 million records
Annie Lennox United Kingdom 1977-Present Pop rock [120]
B'z Japan 1988–Present Pop rock [121]
Britney Spears United States 1998–Present Pop / Teen pop [122]
Carlos Santana Mexico 1966–Present Rock [123]
Dalida Egypt, France 1956–1987 Pop / Disco [124]
Earth, Wind & Fire United States 1969–present R&B / Disco [125]
Eddy Arnold United States 1946–2008 Country [126]
Eminem United States 1999–present Hip hop [127]
Eurythmics United Kingdom 1980–present New wave [128]
Gloria Estefan United States 1977–present Latin / Dance / Pop [129][130]
Hibari Misora Japan 1949–1989 Enka / Jazz [131]
Journey United States 1973-present Arena rock [132] [133]
Scorpions Germany 1969–present Hard rock [134][135]
Van Halen United States 1972–present Hard rock [136]
50 million to 74 million records
Artist Country Period Genre Source
Ace of Base Sweden 1987–present Europop [137]
Alan Jackson United States 1989–present Country [138]
Alice Cooper United States 1965–present Hard rock [139]
Andrea Bocelli Italy 1994–present Opera [140]
The Andrews Sisters United States 1937–1951 Swing [141]
Ayumi Hamasaki Japan 1995–Present Pop [142]
Black Sabbath United Kingdom 1968–present Heavy metal [143]
Barbra Streisand United States 1960–present Pop / Adult contemporary [144][145]
The Beach Boys United States 1962–present Rock Pop [146]
Bob Dylan United States 1959–present Folk / Rock [147]
Bob Seger United States 1961–present Rock [148]
Boston United States 1976-present Arena rock [149]
Boyz II Men United States 1990–present R&B [150]
Bruce Springsteen United States 1965–present Rock [151]
Bryan Adams Canada 1977–present Rock [152]
Def Leppard United Kingdom 1977–present Hard rock [153]
Destiny's Child United States 1990-2005 R&B / Pop [154]
Dreams Come True Japan 1989–present Pop / Jazz [155][156]
Duran Duran United Kingdom 1978–present New wave [157]
Enya Ireland 1982–present New age / Celtic [158]
Four Tops United States 1954–present R&B [159]
George Strait United States 1981–present Country [160][161]
Glay Japan 1994–Present Rock / Pop [162]
Iron Maiden United Kingdom 1975–present Heavy metal [163]
Jay-Z United States 1996–present Hip hop [164]
Jean Michel Jarre France 1971–present New age [165]
Jethro Tull United Kingdom 1968–present Progressive rock [166]
Johnny Cash United States 1955–2003 Country [167]
Kazuhiro Moriuchi Japan 1966–present Enka [168]
Kiss United States 1973–present Hard rock [169]
Kenny G United States 1982–Present Instrumental jazz [170]
Kylie Minogue Australia 1987–Present Dance pop [171]
Luis Miguel Mexico 1973–Present Latin pop /Bolero/ Ballad / Mariachi [172]
Linkin Park United States 2000–present Nu metal / Alternative rock [173]
Meat Loaf United States 1968–present Rock [174]
Michael Bolton United States 1968–present Pop [175]
Mills Brothers United States 1928–1982 Pop [176]
Mötley Crüe United States 1981–present Glam metal [177]
Mr.Children Japan 1989–present Pop rock [178][179]
Nat King Cole United States 1936–1965 Vocal jazz [180]
New Kids on the Block United States 1984–present Teen pop [181]
Nirvana United States 1987-1994 Grunge [182]
'N Sync United States 1995–2002 Teen pop [183]
Oasis United Kingdom 1991-present Britpop / Rock [184]
Orhan Gencebay Turkey 1966–present World fusion / Folk [185]
Pearl Jam United States 1990-present Alternative rock / Grunge [186]
Petula Clark United Kingdom 1942–present Pop [187]
Red Hot Chili Peppers United States 1983-present Alternative rock [188][189][190]
The Police United Kingdom 1977–present Pop rock / New Wave [191]
Ray Conniff United States 1956–2002 Pop / Easy listening [192]
Reba McEntire United States 1974–present Country [193][194]
R.E.M. United States 1980-present Alternative rock [195][196]
Richard Clayderman France 1976–present Easy listening / Instrumental pop [197]
Ricky Martin Puerto Rico 1984–present Pop / Latin / Dance-pop / R&B [198]
Robbie Williams United Kingdom 1990–present Pop [199]
Roxette Sweden 1986–present Pop / Rock [200]
Shakira Colombia 1991–present Latin / Pop Rock [201]
The Seekers Australia 1963–present Folk rock [202]
Spice Girls United Kingdom 1996–2000
2007-2008 Dance-pop [203]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers United States 1976–present Rock [204]
Tony Bennett United States 1949–present Traditional pop / Jazz [205]
T.Rex United Kingdom 1967–1977 Glam rock / Folk rock [206]
Tupac Shakur United States 1990–1996 Hip hop [207]
UB40 United Kingdom 1980–Present Reggae [208]
Vicente Fernández Mexico 1965–present Latin / Mariachi [209]
Village People United States 1977–present Disco [210]
Willie Nelson United States 1956–present Country
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