Top 100 Best-Selling Music Artists

[Ryan_968]

I don't know how many people have seen this, but I thought it was a pretty good show of Ayumi Hamasaki's influence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...illion_records

Artist with 50 million to 74 million records sold
Artist Country Period Genre Estimated sales
Ace of Base Sweden 1987–present Europop 50 million[164]
Alan Jackson United States 1989–present Country 50 million[165]
Alice Cooper United States 1965–present Hard rock / heavy metal 50 million[166]
Andrea Bocelli Italy 1994–present Pop / Classical / Opera 70 million[167]
Anne Murray Canada 1969–present Country / Adult contemporary 50 million[168][169]
Ayumi Hamasaki Japan 1994–present J-Pop 50 million[170]
Black Sabbath United Kingdom 1968–present Heavy metal 50 million[171]
Bob Dylan United States 1959–present Folk / Rock 70 million[172][173]
Bob Seger United States 1961–present Rock 50 million[174]
Boston United States 1976–present Arena rock 50 million[175]
Boyz II Men United States 1990–present R&B 60 million[176]
Bryan Adams Canada 1977–present Rock 65 million[177]
Coldplay United Kingdom 1997–present Alternative rock / Post-Britpop 50 million[178][179]
Def Leppard United Kingdom 1977–present Hard rock / heavy metal 65 million[180]
Destiny's Child United States 1998–2005 R&B / Pop 50 million[181]
Dreams Come True Japan 1989–present Pop / Jazz 55 million[182][183]
Duran Duran United Kingdom 1978–present New wave / alternative rock 70 million[184]
Enya Ireland 1982–present New age / Celtic 70 million[185]
Four Tops United States 1954–present R&B 50 million[186]
George Strait United States 1981–present Country 68 million[187][188]
Glay Japan 1994–present Rock / Pop 56 million[189]
Green Day United States 1987–present Pop Punk / Alternative Rock 65 million[190][191]
Hibari Misora Japan 1948–1989 Enka 68 million[192]
Iron Maiden United Kingdom 1975–present Heavy metal 70 million[193]
James Last Germany 1963–present Instrumental / Classical 50 million[194][195]
Jay-Z United States 1996–present Hip hop 50 million[196]
Jean Michel Jarre France 1971–present New age 70 million[197]
Jethro Tull United Kingdom 1968–present Progressive rock / hard rock 60 million[198]
Johnny Cash United States 1955–2003 Country / rock and roll 50 million[199]
Kiss United States 1973–present Hard rock / heavy metal 70 million[200]
Kenny G United States 1982–Present Smooth jazz 70 million[201]
Kylie Minogue Australia 1987–Present Dance pop 60 million[202]
Linkin Park United States 2000–present Nu metal / Alternative rock / rapcore 50 million[203]
Meat Loaf United States 1968–present Rock 70 million[204]
Michael Bolton United States 1968–present Pop 53 million[205]
Mötley Crüe United States 1981–present Glam metal 50 million[206]
Mr.Children Japan 1989–present Pop rock 50 million[207][208]
Nat King Cole United States 1936–1965 Vocal jazz 50 million[209]
New Kids on the Block United States 1984–present Teen pop 70 million[210]
Nirvana United States 1987–1994 Grunge / alternative rock 50 million[211]
Oasis United Kingdom 1991–2009 Britpop / Rock 50 million[212]
Orhan Gencebay Turkey 1966–present World fusion / Folk 60 million[213]
Pearl Jam United States 1990–present Alternative rock / Grunge 60 million[214]
The Police United Kingdom 1977–present Pop rock / New Wave 50 million[215]
Ray Conniff United States 1956–2002 Pop / Easy listening 50 million[216]
Reba McEntire United States 1974–present Country / Country Pop 55 million[217][218]
Red Hot Chili Peppers United States 1983–present Funk rock / alternative rock 50 million[219][220][221]
R.E.M. United States 1980–present Alternative rock 50 million[222][223]
Ricky Martin Puerto Rico 1984–present Pop / Latin Pop / Dance Pop 60 million[224]
Robbie Williams United Kingdom 1990–present Pop / Pop Rock 55 million[225]
Roxette Sweden 1986–present Pop / Rock 70 million[226]
Sade United Kingdom 1983–present R&B / Sold / Jazz / Soft Rock 50 million[227][228]
Shakira Colombia 1990–present Latin / Pop Rock 50 million[229]
Shania Twain Canada 1993–present Country Pop 65 million[230]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers United States 1976–present Rock 50 million[231]
Tony Bennett United States 1949–present Traditional pop / Jazz 50 million[232]
UB40 United Kingdom 1980–Present Reggae 70 million[233]
Hikaru Utada Japan 1993–present J-pop / Pop / Dance 50 million[234]
Vicente Fernández Mexico 1965–present Latin / Mariachi 50 million[235]
Village People United States 1977–present Disco 65 million[236]
Willie Nelson United States 1956–present Country 50 million[237]

[Ayu_Ready]

awesome ! =D

[ownsarai]

I'm surprised Madonna isn't included here...she's been around forever haha
But I'm happy to see Ayu on here. Thanks for sharing~

[Negi92]

Originally Posted by ownsarai

I'm surprised Madonna isn't included here...she's been around forever haha
But I'm happy to see Ayu on here. Thanks for sharing~

lmao Madonna = 200 millions, that's why she's not with Ayu

[rusuke]

ayu is next to Hibari Misora and it might change within the next period...

I bet most of the people saw this already...

[Tasked]

This is, however, based ONLY on her domestic sales.. And even then, it needs an updated number However, seeing as she's only been around since a decade or so, it's amazing she can even compete with artists that have been around for ever

[y_nathz]

This really needs to be updated though, but thanks for sharing

[AyUmIXx]

wowww..
this is awesomeee!!!
thanks for sharing!!!

[kotora]

the source is 2008, and after 2 years, I believe it has reached 60 million.

[sanzo2011]

Originally Posted by kotora

the source is 2008, and after 2 years, I believe it has reached 60 million.

it's so obvious that she can't reach 60mil in just 2 years even when u combine asia's sales

[IYFreak]

Originally Posted by kotora

the source is 2008, and after 2 years, I believe it has reached 60 million.

Uhhhh Idk if Ayu has sold 10 million more, in the last 2 years o_O

[AyUta]

Hopefully it will be updated soon .

[tetsuo69]

From what i saw in wikipedia for ayu asia sales if the numbers are correct. with japan + asia CD sales should be near the 100 million not counting digital. but seeing as how the numbers listed in wikipedia can be added/edit by just anyone, i have my doubts, but i did see some award show that was said ayu had sold over 5millions in asia that year, so im really confuse as to how much ayu has sold outside japan in total. if only japanese singers sales outside japan as well as digital sales would all be counted, im assuming americans count all their cd sales + digital when we get their numbers.


Glay Japan 1994–present Rock / Pop 56 million[189]

i had no idea glay sold over 50million

Hikaru Utada Japan 1993–present J-pop / Pop / Dance 50 million[234]
wasnt utada around her 40million

[polka-dot-jewel]

Eh, she's been on this list for a few years now. I know I've been seeing her under that list for a while, anyway.

But it's still always nice to read

[duque]

hadnt seen this before~~~

glad to see ayu in the list ^^

[Nackar_91]

Yeah, for Japanese artists they tend to just count domestic sales, which really isn't all that fair compared to Western artists who often have worldwide sales published.

[tetsuo69]

Originally Posted by Nackar_91

Yeah, for Japanese artists they tend to just count domestic sales, which really isn't all that fair compared to Western artists who often have worldwide sales published.

i sometime have my doubts on the numbers western artist list XD

[AngelSenshi]

Originally Posted by Nackar_91

Yeah, for Japanese artists they tend to just count domestic sales, which really isn't all that fair compared to Western artists who often have worldwide sales published.

I agree.

Though Go Ayu!!

In any case, I think she's one of the few Japanese to make that list all together.

[AyuWorld]

wow! im so proud of Ayu shes one of the artist that represent Asia among those western artists. go Ayu!

Originally Posted by Nackar_91

Yeah, for Japanese artists they tend to just count domestic sales, which really isn't all that fair compared to Western artists who often have worldwide sales published.

yes,really hope they would count the sale outside japan too,if that happen we'll see her album sale increasing(imo) as shes more popular outside japan now~

[*Petit*]

It's impossible that she sold almost 40 million outside of japan. I would guess she's closer to 60 than 50 now, but not 100.

as of 2005 for japan (from music station)

From Music Station 2005.04.01

Rank Artist Sale

1 B'z 75,614,000
2 Mr. Children 50,635,000
3 Southern All Stars 47,083,000
4 Hamasaki Ayumi 45,528,000
5 DREAMS COME TRUE 40,893,000
6 Matsutoya Yumi 37,790,000
7 GLAY 35,800,000
8 ZARD 35,450,000
9 Utada Hikaru 32,160,000
10 CHAGE & ASKA 31,220,000


Actually I¨m not sure if she passed SAS yet, but it's possible which would make her the third most selling japanese artist domestically of all time. THese are oricon's numbers.