Talk : best - selling music artist - Wikipedia Talk : best - selling music artist This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Best - selling music artist redirect. This is not a forum for general discussion of the article 's subject. Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic. Please sign and date your posts by typing four tildes ( ~ ~ ~ ~ ). New to Wikipedia ? Welcome ! Ask questions, get answers. Be polite, and welcoming to new users Assume good faith Avoid personal attacks For disputes, seek dispute resolution Article policies No original research Neutral point of view Verifiability The guiness book of records did a huge research into Beatles sales in 1972 based on tax sales returns during the 1960s, and they had already sold over 500 million by 1971. Michael Jackson sold 750 million Records Alive The Beatles sold 500 + million records Alive Elvis Presley sold 350 + million records Alive Contents 1 Additional Information... 2 So Called `` Sales List '' 3 NEWS : THE BEATLES are Best Selling - recording Act of All Time said the WMA 4 So called IFPI Best selling artists of all time LIST probably not accurate 5 it has been confirmed by guiness world records that michael jackson has sold 750 million 6 list of best - selling remix albums worldwide 7 Something to address about Elvis ' success... 8 Genre Bias ? 9 Queen 10 How many records by Mozart are sold ? 11 Michael Jackson Additional information... `` I do n't think it 's fair to compare such sales as they were alive. You then discriminate by age - for example, Buddy Holly could have been more successful than either one of these, he had that chance to make great sales until his death at only 21 by plane crash, thus ending his musical career at such an early stage and time - only been doing music a couple of years too - and you 're also not taking in the incredibly tedious procedures older generations had to do to sell their albums than newer generations ' technology and widespread credibility. Michael Jackson after Jackson 5, came at a time when TV more recent than both Elvis and The Beatles, and to this respect alone, you could argue that with the amount of sales they both did, both Elvis and The Beatles are more successful than Michael Jackson. I think, also, not to include the Jackson 5 sales in with Michael Jackson 's sales as a solo artist, they are both two different times. My thoughts. '' think Michael Jackson is pretty well covered, but if anyone has any additional information about The Beatles ' or Elvis Preley 's total sales, please add any credible, sourced and relevant information you have. Also, ABBA is sometimes called the biggest selling act ever. If anyone has information to support this claim, I think adding a section about ABBA would be good. If you want to add an ABBA section, structure it that same as Michael Jackson, Beatles and Elvis. That is, heading, image, intro ( where they are from, when they were active, any records they hold, then go into detail about their sales. But I think ABBA should be the only other artist to be added to this list. I do n't want it to turn into a big long list. Only add artists if they have been claimed by many sources as being the best - selling ever and they are well known for being one of the best - selling artists ever. Please limit it to Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Elvis Presley and maybe ABBA. Otherwise, it might as well be List of best - selling music artists. Street walker 16 : 35, 12 January 2006 ( UTC ) Have re-worded article, too much `` doubt '' mentioned for Elvis and The Beatles, while Jacksons entry seemed to be an essay to convert us over to all beliving he was the number 1 artist. Thank - you for doing that. You know, it 's not that I was trying to make Jackson look good, it 's that I knew more about the nature of his sales than the Beatles and Elvis. Sorry if it appeared otherwise. Street walker 03 : 43, 14 January 2006 ( UTC ) Then it 's funny how you keep removing words such as `` sales claims '' and such like from the Jackson article, as well as the disclaimer about the WMA 's. It may also be mentioned at the top, but it is relevant to MJ, not Elvis and the Beatles. There is also a disclaimer at the top that also states sales are disputed and given by record companies, yet, that did n't stop you repeating it time and again in the articles of the Beatles and Elvis, if you 're not trying to make MJ look good and the other two look bad, well, you could have fooled me !. As a matter of fact, The BJP ( Beatles / Jackson / Presley ) are the best selling artists of all time. That is the reason why we do need all objective fans ( from Beatles / Jackson / Presley ) and other fans / non fans to fill any reliable information so as to rule this wikipedia page. Readerweb 12 : 47, 15 January 2006 ( UTC ) There is no ' fact ' on this at all. It is all speculation and guestimation. Why these artists have been singled out as the best sellers is because they have received awards for such... and these awards are bogus to say the least. Without a doubt The Beatles and Elvis Presley stand supreme, but Michael Jackson is not the ' third biggest '. Bing Crosby appears to have sold more, and so do ABBA. With Mariah Carey now having 16 number 1 hits in the US, being 2 behind Elvis, and 4 behind the Beatles, I also wonder what her true figures are. So called `` sales list '' The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry ( IFPI ) has just published its updated list of the 150 highest selling artists ever. IFPI has finally come up with a list of the top - selling acts in History. Its about time. The Top 9 is as follows : 01. The Beatles 40 400,000,000 UK 60s ( 1962 - 1970 ) Rock / Pop Guinness / EMI 02. Michael Jackson 14 350,000,000 US 70s - 00s ( 1979 - 2009 ) Pop / R&B 03. Elvis Presley 150 300,000,000 US 50s - 70s ( 1956 - 1977 ) Country / Rock 04. Madonna 16 275,000,000 US 80s - 00s ( 1984 - ) Pop / Dance and Techno 05. Cliff Richard 60 250,000,000 UK 50s - 00s ( 1959 - 1969, 1977 - 1979, 1986 - 1999 ) Rock / Pop 06. The Rolling Stones 54 ~ 250,000,000 UK 60s - 00s ( 1964 - 1981 ) Rock 07. Mariah Carey 14 230,000,000 US 90s - 00s ( 1990 - ) Pop / R&B 08. Elton John 43 ~ 220,000,000 UK 70s - 00s ( 1972 - 1976, 1989 - 1991, 1997 - ) Pop 09. Celine Dion 21 220,000,000 Canada 80s - 00s ( 1990 - ) Pop Music / Pop Source : IFPI http://mjtkop.com/home/ http://www.madonna.com/ It is quite intersting this. I 'm not sure whetehr we should structure the page around their list, but it could well be worth at least a mention, perhaps its own section within the page. However, I ca n't find this anywhere on the IFPI 's webiste. Indeed, the only place I can see it referred to is on madonna 's website ; I think we 'd need something more concrete Robdurbar 10 : 28, 27 January 2006 ( UTC ) AH, hang on a minute - I found a webiste that said ' the IFPI are the organization that provide the WMA with their figures ' ; so we 'd have the same problem as we do with their figures Robdurbar 10 : 29, 27 January 2006 ( UTC ) This list = fake, phony MJ fans propaganda. Itisnt even an IFPI list. Why theres so many artist missing in the list like Patti Page, Shakira, and Enrique Igleasias ? -- Preceding unsigned comment added by 112.198. 101.97 ( talk ) 04 : 52, 12 June 2016 ( UTC ) News : the Beatles are best selling - Recording act of all time said the WMA According to World Music Award website ( 1 ) The Beatles are the Best Selling Recording act of All Time ( check news category ). In 2000, the same WMA has also awarded Michael Jackson as the Biggest Selling Solo Artist of the Millenium, yes indeed, single artist does not mean artist in general speaking ( band + singer together ). Of course this info is based on IFPI standard counting. So if we take into account those two information we have : THE BEATLES as the Best Selling Artist of All Time MICHAEL JACKSON as the Best Selling Solo Artist of All Time ( according to IFPI countings ) But keep in mind that Elvis Presley has probably sold million of records ( uncertified records around the world ) that IFPI standards did n't register. Readerweb 20 : 55, 22 February 2006 ( UTC ) From the source thats cited, Michael jackson was awarded the ' best selling male pop artist ' not simply the best selling solo artist artist. Funny though, that the official WMA site does n't show any winner of a ' Best selling pop artist of the millenium '. The photo of Jackson in this article is of him receiving the Legend Award not a millenium award, as i noticed this exact same picture in WMA site with the caption saying `` Michael Jackson, Legend Award Winner in 2000 ''. I 'm not saying he never won any ' best selling pop artist of the millenium ', i just think it a bit odd that the WMA never gave any indication of it on their site. -- Count Chocula 02 : 07, 23 February 2006 ( UTC ) Well, this was in 2000, this site does n't seem to have archives. But it is 100 % sure WMA awarded Michael Jackson as the Best Selling Male Pop Artist of the Millennium ( 2 ), which means according to Prince Albert speaking at the ceremony `` the Best Selling SINGLE Artist of the Millenium '' it was broadcast live on TV. Again, here is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame site that confirms this ( 3 ), this site has always been a true musical reference. Readerweb 17 : 10, 23 February 2006 ( UTC ) All good then. He is certainly the best selling pop artist, thats pretty obvious even without an award. I would n't say he is the best selling single artist as there are no sources to prove that, though I 'd wager that Elvis Presley is likely to be biggest selling single artist given the estimate by RCA of approximately one billion records sold. -- Count Chocula 03 : 44, 24 February 2006 ( UTC ) Elvis Presley was also a `` pop artist '' to a degree. He ca n't just be labeled `` Rock And Roll '', he also recorded Country and Gospel and a lot of his songs fall into the pop category. Therefore, Jackson can not be call ( point blank ) the Number 1 selling pop act. Also, Elton Johns sales are also up there with Jackson 's as a solo act and if you are going to use the `` added Jackson 5 / Jackson 's '' sales argument, then Paul McCartney and John Lennon are also up there, as all their sales with their groups and solo surpass that. So called IFPI best selling artists of all time list probably not accurate According to ESCTODAY ( Eurovision Song Contest Today ) which is refering to IFPI, here are the 20 ( of 150 ) best selling artists of all time ( 4 ) : 01. The Beatles 400,000,000 # 02. Michael Jackson 350,000,000 # 03. Elvis Presley 300,000,000 # 04. Madonna 275,000,000 # 05. Nana Mouskouri 250,000,000 # 06. Cliff Richard 250,000,000 # 07. The Rolling Stones 250,000,000 # 08. Mariah Carey 230,000,000 # 09. Elton John 220,000,000 # 10. Celine Dion 220,000,000 # 11. Pink Floyd 210,000,000 # 12. Led Zeppelin 200,000,000 # 13. Metallica 200,000,000 # 14. Julio Iglesias 200,000,000 # 15. Queen 180,000,000 # 16 AC / DC 180,000,000 # 17 Whitney Houston 180,000,000 # 18. ABBA 160,000,000 # 19. U2 150,000,000 # 20. The Jacksons 150,000,000 This `` independant '' Eurovision site is reliable but there is something that bothered me though. The World Music Awards is always refering to IFPI ( 5 ) so why did WMA awarded Mariah Carey as the World 's Best - Selling Female Artist of the Millennium in 2000 as she 's only number 8 and Madonna number 4 ? I do n't think Madonna has sold 50 million records since 2000 and then outsold Mariah Carey within 5 or 6 years. Anyway, WMA is keeping secret on this list, except the Beatles news on their website ( as best selling act of all time ), why ca n't they provide the second, the third,... ? IFPI website is just providing certifications of the year. IMO it is too conflicting for both ( WMA and IFPI ) to publish officially a list of the best selling artists of all time ( with figures ) as Music Companies and Majors wo n't probably accept it ( again, it 's my opinion ). Readerweb 20 : 23, 24 March 2006 ( UTC ) I can answer the question about Mariah, according to a rep at the WMA, Madonna was offered this award first -- however they never rec. a responce from her rep... Liz, they stated that since there was no responce they gave the award to another `` deserving '' artist. Madonna has sold well over the 275 million albums stated above, none of COADF is accounted for in this number. Madonna 's ablbum sales outside the USA were over 200 million in 2000. This was stated already, not including sales in the USA. The above IFPI sales totals are proven and accurate based on the time frame of up to mid year 2005. Maddona has n't sold that many in reality. She'sonly sold 130 million singles and albums by 2000. he has NOT sold another 175 million plus since then. Hope this answers the question. This is the same list thats been floating around wikipedia the last couple months. It is a fake list, and IFPI currently tracking down the source of it i believe. The fact that theres no indication of its existence on IFPI 's official website should 've already rung alarm bells. -- Count Chocula 07 : 11, 25 March 2006 ( UTC ) Yeah, I wouldnt trust anything until it is available on the IFPI 's site itself Robdurbar 18 : 14, 25 March 2006 ( UTC ) i dont know who changed my opinion on the page. Elvis presley is dead, The beatles are defunct so michael jackson is the highest selling artist ALIVE AND ACTIVE 59.92. 95.181 09 : 08, 13 May 2006 ( UTC ) paul newman So what ? That dose n't mean anything. Jacksons sales include that of a defunct group. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are both alive and active and have outsold Jackson ! 74.65. 39.59 02 : 17, 7 July 2006 ( UTC ) Oh great... if they go out and branch as solo acts then they are on their own.it is being said that michael jackson alone has sold 300 million copies as a solo act. i think we should include only tat. omit the jackson 5 part. now probing a little deeper i think we should have a seperate biggest selling page for the solo artists such as elvis presley, brooks, jackson etc. But heck with it... its the music that matters not the sales... to me beatles are junk... elvis and jackson are the true kings. 59.92. 61.24 08 : 58, 12 July 2006 ( UTC ) Paul Newman has AC / DC really sold more records than ABBA ? ? ? ? I do n't know, since the WMA 's are secretive about this sort of thing, I call it all into question. The Beatles are not junk. `` Yesterday '' is much finer than `` Wanna be starting something '' by Wacko Jacko ! 74.65. 39.59 11 : 16, 6 August 2006 ( UTC ) But on the other hand `` She 's Out of My Life '' is finer than `` Yellow Submarine ''... Bab Michael jckson has sold 350million and the Jacksons 150million so Michael Jackson has sold 350 + 150 = 500million = > so he is the real number one. And it 's not finished... ( actually it is ) The Jacksons / Jackson 5 sold 60 million not 150 million and if you actually add up Mjs album and singles sales it comes closer to 300 million. UPDATE : Madonna has been confirmed by The Guinness Book of World Records and IFPI ( International Federation of Phonographic Industry ) as the top selling female artist of all time with certified sales of 182mil albums and 125mil singles, 305 mil records in total. The updated chart of the `` United World Chart '', the tracking authority which monitors the RIAA and SoundScan, lists Madonna at # 5 in their `` All Time Best Selling Album Artist '' and she 's the only female singer on the list ( Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Nana Mouskouri are not mentioned ). Also, Madonna is the all time singles artist with 25 world - wide # 1 songs, more than The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. She 's also the best selling singles and album artist in several markets including the USA, England, Spain, Germany, etc... It has been confirmed by guiness World records that Michael Jackson has sold 750 million why does the article say that this fact has n't been confirmed it has been confirmed at the world music awards on wednesday, 11.15. 2006 by guiness world records his spokeman never mentioned the figure before this official and genuine announcement This is not correct. His PR made a news release stating the sales ( refer the links ), and as for the Music Awards statement, if this can be verified, then it can be corrected in the article. So far, the only mention that people have said, came from Beyonce. Nobody is saying he has n't, these are saying no reputable source can be quoted yet 60.234. 242.196 05 : 01, 15 December 2006 ( UTC ) NOBODY SAID HE SOLD 750 MILLION, ONLY HIS PR AGENT. List of best - selling remix albums worldwide Even though this is kinda off topic can someone help the new list of best - selling remix albums worldwide with its structure. Something to address about Elvis ' success... Something I have not seen mentioned or addressed about Elvis ' success and worldwide appeal -- was that he did it all without EVER touring outside of the United States... ! ! It seems about everybody else mentioned on the various lists of entertainers has toured far and wide around the world to promote their music, sometimes with recordings and translations done in different languages... except Elvis. Apparently he wanted to and had offers and backing to do so, but the Colonel ( Parker ) disagreed with the notion and would not allow it. I recall seeing this on a PBS special about Elvis. He was stationed in Germany during his hitch in the Army, which may have included some travel to other European countries ; his movies were sometimes set outside the US - but did he ever work, travel or vacation abroad, or was he too busy here in the US ? Input please... Dirty Dan the Man 19 : 00, 26 December 2006 ( UTC ) Its a good point but ireleveant really, it was his choice not to tour outside the U.S.. I could use the same argument for Jackson, he didn ` t release much material yet is still on par with the others. If he wasnt so lazy he could have released more albums and had more success. Its the same argument for both. Elvis was to lazy to tour outside America and Jackson was to lazy to release more music, it all equals out. Realist2 17 : 48, 22 June 2007 ( UTC ) Genre Bias ? What about the most successful artists from other genres ? Specifically, I am referring to Tupac Shakur, the most successful hip - hop artist to date. Hip - hop and other genres should at least have a mention of their most successful artists. More importantly though Garth Brooks needs to appear on this page. He is number 3 on RIAA 's count so I think he definetly needs a mention. 137.99. 184.148 12 : 09, 27 January 2007 ( UTC ) This article speculates on the greatest selling artist worldwide... and for all time. Tupac and Garth Brooks do not qualify under those standards. UberCryxic 14 : 22, 21 March 2007 ( UTC ) Queen Surely Queen is somewhere in the top 5 ? I ca n't remember where I read it, but a list not long ago said the top 5 best selling artists were ; 1 ) Elvis 2 ) Cliff Richard 3 ) Queen 4 ) The Beatles 5 ) Michael Jackson but I do n't have any proof I 'm afraid. But it 's just a thought... Im going to close my eyes and pretend you havent put Cliff and Queen above The Beatles and Jackson lol. Realist2 17 : 51, 22 June 2007 ( UTC ) How many records by Mozart are sold ? Just curious, how many records by Mozart are sold ? I remember when George Harrison died, someone in a radio program said Mozart is best - selling artist of all time. Does anyone has the record selling number of Mozart ? 76.201. 159.253 15 : 55, 11 June 2007 ( UTC ) spooky It 'd be virtually impossible to know an accurate figure. I 'm sure we have numbers for the modern era, but his recordings would have also been sold heavily in the early 20th century. Regardless, he is not the best selling artist of all time, nor is he even close ( not even in the top 50 most likely ). Harrison might have said that as a complimentary gesture or something. UberCryxic 21 : 15, 14 June 2007 ( UTC ) Assuming the radio program was quoting George ? This is the sort of statement, In My Humble Perception, that Harrison would have made somewhat tongue - in - cheek. I.e., twisting the meaning of the word `` selling ''. If there was a running `` Top of the Pops '' for the last 400 years, Mozart might come out on top. In 1800 ? He might be seen to have the same status the Beatles did in 1965. The larger point -- regardless of who made it -- might be that sales figures are... um... secondary to the value and purpose of the music ? Alpha Ralpha Boulevard 06 : 29, 16 November 2007 ( UTC ) Michael Jackson The Thriller era was over covered so I have given some attention to his latter works, it was thriller over kill. I deleted the Jackson 5 stuff, its not fair on the beatles or elvis to include it. Also can we get some more stuff for the beatles please ? I am no expert on the beatles but they are under represented, come on people they are in the top three so there must be more we can say about them, without going into detail on solo efforts ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Realist2 17 : 42, 22 June 2007 ( UTC ) I have added more stuff to jacksons career because his career lasted longer than thriller and im bored of people lamenting over it, he has other achievements which I thing needed mentioning to bring him in line with elvis. The beatles part sucks, does no1 no any thing about them ? ? ? please please please someone do something about it, they need more info. Realist2 11 : 07, 23 June 2007 ( UTC ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Best-selling_music_artist&oldid=783238635 '' Talk New section Contents About Wikipedia This page was last edited on 1 June 2017, at 00 : 25. 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Question: who sold more albums elvis or michael jackson
Answer: Michael Jackson