Top 235 Artists in US Album Sales

[Harry]

I got this idea from another forum, which sourced the data from the RIAA website. I added the ranking numbers. It's interesting to see that even after all these years, Carpenters still remain the top A&M act in the US.

http://www.riaa.com/gp/bestsellers/topartists.asp

Rank ARTIST Certified Units (In Millions)
-----------------------------------------------
1 BEATLES, THE 168.5
2 PRESLEY, ELVIS 118.5
3 BROOKS, GARTH 116
4 LED ZEPPELIN 109.5
5 EAGLES 91
6 JOEL, BILLY 79.5
7 PINK FLOYD 73.5
8 STREISAND, BARBRA 71
9 JOHN, ELTON 69
10 AC/DC 66
11 ROLLING STONES, THE 65.5
12 AEROSMITH 65.5
13 MADONNA 63
14 STRAIT, GEORGE 62.5
15 SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 62
16 CAREY, MARIAH 61.5
17 JACKSON, MICHAEL 60.5
18 METALLICA 57
19 VAN HALEN 56.5
20 HOUSTON, WHITNEY 54
21 U2 50.5
22 ROGERS, KENNY 50
23 DION, CELINE 49
24 FLEETWOOD MAC 48.5
25 KENNY G 48
26 DIAMOND, NEIL 48
27 TWAIN, SHANIA 47
28 ALABAMA 46
29 JOURNEY 45
30 SANTANA 43
31 CLAPTON, ERIC 41.5
32 JACKSON, ALAN 39.5
33 PRINCE 39
34 SIMON & GARFUNKEL 38.5
35 MC ENTIRE, REBA 38
36 SEGER, BOB AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND 38
37 CHICAGO 38
38 GUNS 'N ROSES 37.5
39 BACKSTREET BOYS 37
40 2 PAC 36.5
41 FOREIGNER 36.5
42 DYLAN, BOB 36
43 STEWART, ROD 35.5
44 NELSON, WILLIE 35
45 DEF LEPPARD 35
46 BON JOVI 33
47 COLLINS, PHIL 33
48 DENVER, JOHN 32.5
49 TAYLOR, JAMES 32
50 KELLY, R. 32
51 QUEEN 31.5
52 BOSTON 31
53 SPEARS, BRITNEY 31
54 MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 30.5
55 DOORS, THE 30
56 RONSTADT, LINDA 30
57 PEARL JAM 29.5
58 DIXIE CHICKS 28.5
59 OSBOURNE, OZZY 28.3
60 'N SYNC 28
61 PETTY, TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS 28
62 BOLTON, MICHAEL 28
63 MELLENCAMP, JOHN 27.5
64 LYNYRD SKYNYRD 27.5
65 MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER 27
66 EMINEM 27
67 BOYZ II MEN 27
68 ENYA 26
69 MC GRAW, TIM 26
70 BEE GEES 26
71 SINATRA, FRANK 25.5
72 BROOKS & DUNN 25.5
73 JACKSON, JANET 25
74 HILL, FAITH 25
75 NIRVANA 25
76 ZZ TOP 25
77 MANILOW, BARRY 25
78 RUSH 24.5
79 CARPENTERS, THE 24.5
80 VANDROSS, LUTHER 24
81 MILLER, STEVE BAND 24
82 CREED 24
83 CARS, THE 23.5
84 MOTLEY CRUE 23.5
85 EARTH, WIND & FIRE 23.5
86 JAY-Z 23
87 GILL, VINCE 22.5
88 BUFFETT, JIMMY 22.5
89 POLICE, THE 22.5
90 SADE 22.5
91 BEASTIE BOYS 22
92 DOOBIE BROTHERS 22
93 TLC 22
94 CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 22
95 RICHIE, LIONEL 21.5
96 BEACH BOYS, THE 21.5
97 GENESIS 21.5
98 R.E.O. SPEEDWAGON 21.5
99 HENDRIX, JIMI 21.5
100 GREEN DAY 21
101 KEITH, TOBY 21
102 HEART 20.5
103 MEAT LOAF 20.5
104 MORISSETTE, ALANIS 20.5
105 NELLY 20.5
106 WHO, THE 20
107 HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH 20
108 OUTKAST 20
109 CHESNEY, KENNY 19.5
110 CASH, JOHNNY 19.5
111 BRAXTON, TONI 19.5
112 USHER 19.5
113 R.E.M. 19.5
114 WONDER, STEVIE 19.5
115 KISS 19
116 WILLIAMS, HANK, JR. 19
117 JEWEL 18.5
118 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 18.5
119 SMASHING PUMPKINS 18.3
120 BROWNE, JACKSON 18
121 CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG 18
122 KID ROCK 18
123 MATCHBOX TWENTY 18
124 STING 18
125 GRATEFUL DEAD 17.5
126 STONE TEMPLE PILOTS 17.5
127 STYX 17.5
128 TRAVIS, RANDY 17.5
129 MC LACHLAN, SARAH 17.5
130 DESTINY'S CHILD 17.5
131 MONKEES, THE 17.5
132 YOUNG, NEIL 17.5
133 RAITT, BONNIE 17
134 ADAMS, BRYAN 17
135 NOTORIOUS B.I.G. 17
136 MATHIS, JOHNNY 17
137 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK 16.5
138 MARLEY, BOB & THE WAILERS 16.5
139 GRANT, AMY 16.5
140 LINKIN PARK 16.5
141 BLIGE, MARY J. 16
142 LIMP BIZKIT 16
143 HAMMER 16
144 CROW, SHERYL 16
145 CONNICK, HARRY, JR. 16
146 RIMES, LEANN 16
147 STEVENS, CAT 15.5
148 DIRE STRAITS 15.5
149 ISLEY BROTHERS 15.5
150 BAD COMPANY 15.5
151 KANSAS 15.5
152 JOPLIN, JANIS 15.5
153 ESTEFAN, GLORIA 15.5
154 KORN 15.5
155 NO DOUBT 15
156 MICHAEL, GEORGE 15
157 FOGELBERG, DAN 15
158 BLACK SABBATH 15
159 MC CARTNEY, PAUL 14.5
160 CRANBERRIES, THE 14.5
161 INXS 14.5
162 KING, CAROLE 14.5
163 NUGENT, TED 14
164 OFFSPRING 14
165 POISON 14
166 NEWTON-JOHN, OLIVIA 14
167 DMX 14
168 CLINE, PATSY 14
169 JONES, NORAH 14
170 MURRAY, ANNE 14
171 MONTGOMERY, JOHN MICHAEL 14
172 LENNON, JOHN 13.5
173 AGUILERA, CHRISTINA 13.5
174 YES 13.5
175 SIMON, PAUL 13.5
176 COLE, NATALIE 13.5
177 DANIELS, CHARLIE BAND 13.5
178 TEMPTATIONS, THE 13.5
179 JEFFERSON AIRPLANE/STARSHIP 13.5
180 SWEAT, KEITH 13
181 CHAPMAN, TRACY 13
182 HALL & OATES 13
183 ETHERIDGE, MELISSA 13
184 MC BRIDE, MARTINA 12.5
185 YEARWOOD, TRISHA 12.5
186 CHER 12.5
187 BLACK, CLINT 12.5
188 L.L. COOL J 12
189 WEBBER, ANDREW LLOYD 12
190 TRITT, TRAVIS 12
191 BENATAR, PAT 12
192 WHITESNAKE 12
193 BAKER, ANITA 12
194 LEWIS, HUEY & THE NEWS 12
195 DURAN DURAN 12
196 LIVE 12
197 MIDLER, BETTE 12
198 SNOOP DOGG 12
199 SMITH, WILL 12
200 ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA 12
201 COUNTING CROWS 12
202 HENLEY, DON 11.5
203 NICKELBACK 11.5
204 ABDUL, PAULA 11.5
205 VAUGHAN, S.R. & DOUBLE TROUBLE 11.5
206 JENNINGS, WAYLON 11.5
207 STEELY DAN 11
208 SPICE GIRLS 11
209 JETHRO TULL 11
210 GRAND FUNK RAILROAD 11
211 LOVERBOY 11
212 LOPEZ, JENNIFER 11
213 YANNI 11
214 50 CENT 11
215 BONE THUGS 'N HARMONY 11
216 WHITE, BARRY 11
217 ALICE IN CHAINS 10.5
218 NINE INCH NAILS 10.5
219 NICKS, STEVIE 10.5
220 3 DOORS DOWN 10.5
221 JUDDS, THE 10.5
222 ABBA 10.5
223 YOAKAM, DWIGHT 10.5
224 KRAVITZ, LENNY 10.5
225 WILLIAMS, ANDY 10.5
226 DEPECHE MODE 10.5
227 BUSH 10.5
228 CYRUS, BILLY RAY 10.5
229 HARRISON, GEORGE 10.5
230 BOCELLI, ANDREA 10.5
231 MARTIN, RICKY 10.5
232 BRANDY 10.5
233 LUDACRIS 10.5
234 SCORPIONS 10.5
235 KEYS, ALICIA 10.5

Harry

 

[kenny]

What about the TJB? Did they sell their millions of records before RIAA was counting or were they not reporting to RIAA? I bet if you took every Tijuana Brass record out of every thrift store you'd have several million right there.

 

[Mike Blakesley]

There was a huge brouhaha a few years ago about Garth Brooks being the biggest seller in history. Somehow I knew it was probably skewed in some way. Biggest selling country artist, maybe.

I agree about the TJB...surely they sold more than 10.5 millions albums. Add in Herb's solo stuff it would be a pretty high number. Unless they're categorizing this as "pop" and they consider Herb a "Jazz" artist.

 

[Dave]

I have to agree about Jazz Artists; they, too, should have a recognition in their sales! Why not Dizzy Gillespie or Jimmie Smith? Herb belongs on this list in that regard...

The Garth Brooks as a Biggest Artist story, I thought was pretty inflated, too...! I think a Top-? (whatever number) List of Country Artists is apt to have a good array of performers that are a lot more true to that Genre!



Dave

 

[Captain Bacardi]

The RIAA site isn't too accurate. I did a search on Herb Alpert for Gold & Platinum albums and they only listed 4 entries - and three of them were for Rise. He has 15 gold/platinum albums. Herb sold over 75 million worldwide at last count. Not sure what the US total is. I can't believe people like R. Kelly and Michael Bolton sold more than Herb - even combined.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[DAN BOLTON]

According to the liner notes from GREATEST HITS[1970], the first 5 TJB albums had sold 35 million copies in the U.S., plus ..."additional millions abroad"...

So, counting only sales before 1970, this would place the TJB in a tie with Def Leopard and Willie Nelson. They'd be#7 if the 75 million
sales total is correct, and it probably is...I've heard it before.

Why are Yanni and Kenny G. on the list and the TJB isn't? Somebody got a Lawrence Welk mentality at the RIAA?


Dan

 

[Mr Bill]

That list is crap (This post is NOT a thread crap).

Glad to see the Carpenters did not get shunned, but with a new comp every year and old comps routinely re-issued with new names/covers it's easy to see why they're a perrenial seller/favorite...

--Mr Bill

 

[Dave]

Yes, Sales Abroad are where the money is and where the quantities sell, so I agree that it's hard to really trust the legitimacy of anything that keeps a tally on Sales in the U.S. alone as being "Every Copy"! I just don't think we'll ever see any "figures" here (What is that other list that someone here was posting Sales from?) that should truly be taken to heart...



Dave

...Not trying to sound "crappy" either...!

 

[A&Mguyfromwayback]

It's interesting to see that even after all these years, Carpenters still remain the top A&M act in the US.
73 JACKSON, JANET 25
79 CARPENTERS, THE 24.5
89 POLICE, THE 22.5
124 STING 18
127 STYX 17.5
134 ADAMS, BRYAN 17
139 GRANT, AMY 16.5
144 CROW, SHERYL 16
147 STEVENS, CAT 15.5
162 KING, CAROLE 14.5
216 WHITE, BARRY 11
229 HARRISON, GEORGE 10.5
Harry

or not....did I leave any at least part-time A&M-ers off the list? I agree that this is pretty darn flawed. Did it say it was for after a certain year?

 

[Harry]

I just posted it - I didn't make it up. It looked a litle wonky to me too - and I hadn't spotted Janet Jackson sneaking in above Carpenters.

The website listed a "as of March 2006" date at the bottom of the list. It just goes to prove that you can't trust anything you read on the Internet.

Harry

 

[Dave]

Well, if a list of Sales of Brasilian artists make the Web or an RIAA Source, I hope to that Sergio Mendes makes the top... :goofygrin:



Dave

 

[Harry]

I would have thought that Frank Sinatra should have been higher up on the list, too.

Harry

 

[Actorman]

The important thing to remember about this list is that it is only looking at total RIAA Certifications. This makes a HUGE difference, especially when looking at older artists. (Which is also most likely why Frank Sinatra isn't there either, as Harry pointed out.)

Doing a search on RIAA's database I found that Herb (with and without the TJB) has 15 gold albums, 1 platinum album and 2 gold singles.

Originally, there was only a "gold" certification for 500,000 albums or 1,000,000 singles. That was it. Even if an album sold 10,000,000 copies the most you got credit for (from a certification standpoint) was the first half-million.

RIAA created the "platinum" certification in 1976 for 1,000,000 albums and 2,000,000 singles. And if I'm not mistaken, the "multi-platinum" certifications were started in the early 1980's. The "diamond" certification (10,000,000 copies) was started in late 1990's. Oh, and somewhere along the way (late 1980's, I think) the single levels were changed to mirror the album levels (500,000 for gold vs. 1,000,000).

So, with all that being said, it makes sense that since they were released prior to 1976, all the original TJB albums were only certified at the gold level despite the fact that they sold many, many times more than that. The only platinum album to his name is, of course, "Rise" since it was released post-1976.

Now there was nothing preventing Herb and/or A&M from going back later and having the albums recertified at the proper levels, but for whatever reason they never did. You would think the label would want to tally up as many "multi-platinum" awards as possible (especially when here are over a dozen just sitting here waiting), but it probably wasn't a priority. A lot of labels (Motown is another example) never went back to "old" albums to increase certifications. That really wasn't a big practice until the 1990's and then usually only for a special event of some sort (re-signing to a label, etc.) The main reason Elvis and The Beatles are on so high on this list is that RCA and Capitol have been good with keeping their back catalogs certified primarily for publicity and promotional reasons... so they make lists like these!

Carpenters most likely would not be on here either if A&M hadn't had most of their catalog recertified in 1998 giving them 6 or 7 "new" platinum and multi-platinum awards.

Carole King's 1971 "Tapestry" was another album that was "only" gold until 1993 when it was finally given its multi-platinum certification.

But... back to the original subject... THAT is the reason Herb (and most likely several deserving others) aren't on this list. Of course, even with none of the TJB albums certified beyond gold, he only barely missed as his certified total is 10,000,000.

 

[Actorman]

Ooops... sorry that posted twice! My computer is acting goofy today!

 

[Rudy]

Ooops... sorry that posted twice! My computer is acting goofy today!

Database is a bit slow...I got rid of the dupe for you!

Anyway, you're right in your post: the reason the TJB and other acts aren't listed is due to the reporting methods the labels used, and how the RIAA tallied (and "certified") them. So the list itself isn't exactly flawed, but the RIAA's data is partially skewed through improper or altered reporting methods over the years. Harry Belafonte's "Calypso" album sold many millions in the late 50s, and tallied with his other albums (such as the "Carnegie Hall" album), he should probably appear in the list. And if I recall, wasn't one major label NOT reporting sales to the RIAA, then later had to go back and get albums certified? (I'm thinking Motown, but it could have been another one.)

Another thing I noticed: the Bee Gees are listed at #70, at 26 million sold. Since the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack was a various artists compilation, which sold millions (14 million?), does it count toward the Bee Gees' total or not?

Janet Jackson left A&M, so the post A&M albums are included in her total.

 

[Mike Blakesley]

I hadn't thought of this angle before, but the RIAA certifications have to be applied for by the record label. So lots of sales aren't necessarily counted in the listings.

A great example is Pink Floyd's THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON. That album only had "gold" status for years, even though it had sold millions and millions of copies, but since the band had left Capitol Records for Columbia, Capitol didn't bother to apply for the certification.

 

[Actorman]

That's correct, Mike. And along with the application (and application fee) the record company has to provide access to their books for the certification audit. Plus, they have to pay for each award plaque that is given out (which is probably recouped from the artist's royalties!)

The audit aspect was (from my understanding) the main reason Motown did not certify most of their 1960s and 70s records at the time. Barry Gordy did not want to allow any "outsiders" access to the company's financial records. However, when Lionel Richie sold a ba-jillion copies of "Can't Slow Down" in the early 80s, Motown wanted it to be formally recognized as one of the top selling albums of all-time and had it certified and it became standard practice for them after that.

But the Supremes, Jackson Five, Miracles, Temptations and all the other legendary acts that built the label have only a handful of certifications between for all the millions of records they sold in the 60s and 70s, most of which weren't even certified until the late 90s.

The other big thing that bugs me about this list is that it doesn't indicate the number of different albums and singles that make up the sales. For example, the majority of (ugh!) Britney Spears 31 million in sales came from her first three albums which reached 14, 10 and 4 million respectively. Comparing her to, let's say, Olivia Newton-John's "meager" 14 million which comprises 9 singles and 15 albums over 15-plus years, who deserves to be higher on an "all time" list? In my opinion, having a handful of mega-huge sellers over a few years time (with millions of dollars of marketing muscle behind them) is less significant than sustaining a long term career of consistant sales and hits. But that's just me!

So, while I do find lists like these interesting, I'm more fascinated by the "stories behind the list" like this discussion. It's just sad that most people will take this list at face value and consider The Backstreet Boys to be more successful than Herb & the TJB.

Shuttering at that thought,
Scott

 

[Mike Blakesley]

Yeah, I think "career longevity" is a much more interesting statistic. Britney Spears' "career" lasted what, about 3 years? She's now more like Paris Hilton, a celebrity who's main claim to fame is being a celebrity. What a difference compared to people like Herb Alpert and Sergio Mendes, still making the music charts after 40 years...and not a controversial moment in any of that time!

 

[LPJim]

Frank Sinatra ranks # 2, right behind Elvis Presley, among the best selling artists who placed albums in the Billboard Top 200 from 1955-96, according to Whitburn's guidebook -- my personal favorite.

Herb & TJB rank 22nd among the 500 who are ranked, which is none too shabby. There are other artists who haven't had a top album in many years who hold high ranks because they put out two or more albums a year during their heyday.

Examples are the Kingston Trio (#18 ) based on a ten year run from 1958-68, during which time they put out four LPs a year. Mantonvani ranked Eighth even though he had been dead 16 years when the book was published, but he cranked out a lot of records during the late '50s and early '60s.

Mariah Carey will never match that one.
JB