According to Wikipedia Prince is not a best selling artist. Funny when Janet Jackson, Destiny's Child, Jay-Z and Brittney Spears are listed. I hope it's a typo cause they don't have James Brown listed either. He is however on the list of beast selling US artists.

Top 100

What is a list of beast selling artists? who sells beasts?

i guess it depends on what you mean by "best selling".

are we comparing "21 nights" to "harry potter"?

when you think about it, it's kind of sad Parade, Sign "O" The Times and Lovesexy didn't sell 10 million each. Prince sure deserved better sales rates than he got in the mid 1980s, in his "peak era" - after the Purple Rain phenomenon...

but what the hell, sales are not telling about the art created, I guess Prince can live with the rather low sales, he has sold 100 million albums after all (so they say at these award shows....)...


[Edited 7/29/09 16:42pm]

btw.. I would love to see sales figures for each of Prince's albums,

Can some kind soul here help with that...?

wikipedia can drop dead.

the list is inaccurate. I use to refer to the same list frequently and Prince was listed in the 100 million to 199 million records category. Prince must have requested his name be removed from the list. Because prior to a month ago, he was listed. Don't fret.... Prince has sold millions & millions of records.

Some numbers I have (sorry, no links )


Year - Album - Worldwide estimated sales = USA estimated sales + International (outside US) estimated sales

The 70's + 80's

1978 For You 930,000 = 550,000 + 380,000
1979 Prince 1,950,000 = 1,500,000 + 450,000
1980 Dirty Mind 2,015,000 = 1,085,000 + 930,000
1981 Controversy 2,650,000 = 1,550,000 + 1,100,000
1982 1999 6,075,000 = 4,320,000 + 1,755,000
1984 Purple Rain 19,880,000 = 14,480,000 + 5,400,000
1985 Around The World In A Day 4,585,000 = 2,845,000 + 1,740,000
1986 Parade 4,155,000 = 2,105,000 + 2,050,000
1987 Sign Of The Times 4,025,000 = 1,840,000 + 2,185,000
1988 Lovesexy 2,825,000 = 960,000 + 1,865,000
1989 Batman (Soundtrack) 4,790,000 = 2,500,000 + 2,290,000

Total 70's + 80's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
53,880,000 = 33,735,000 + 20,145,000

The 90's

1990 Graffiti Bridge 2,305,000 = 980,000 + 1,325,000
1991 Diamonds & Pearls 6,450,000 = 2,780,000 + 3,670,000
1992 Symbol 2,700,000 = 1,100,000 + 1,600,000
1993 The Hits/The B-Sides 1,000,000 = 650,000 + 350,000
1993 The Hits 1 2,750,000 = 2,000,000 + 750,000
1993 The Hits 2 2,250,000 = 1,750,000 + 500,000
1994 Come 1,000,000 = 500,000 + 500,000
1994 The Black Album 575,000 = 275,000 + 300,000
1995 The Gold Experience 900,000 = 550,000 + 350,000
1996 Chaos & Disorder 350,000 = 150,000 + 200,000
1996 Emancipation 1,200,000 = 700,000 + 500,000
1998 Crystal Ball 275,000 = 125,000 + 150,000
1998 Newpower Soul 425,000 = 225,000 + 200,000
1999 The Vault 250,000 = 125,000 + 125,000
1999 Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic 750,000 = 500,000 + 250,000

Total 90's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
23,180,000 = 12,410,000 + 10,770,000

The 00's

2001 The Very Best Of Prince 2,000,000 = 1,300,000 + 700,000
2001 The Rainbow Children 300,000 = 175,000 + 125,000
2004 Musicology 1,500,000 = 1,000,000 + 500,000 (concert sales NOT included)

(add 3121, Planet Earth, Lotus, MPLSound, let's say 1,5 / 2 millions)

Total 00's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
3,800,000 = 2,475,000 + 1,325,000

Total (Estimated) Career All-Time Album Sales Worldwide:

80,860,000 = 48,620,000 + 32,240,000


Wikipedia:

- 1 billion records or more:

The Beatles
Elvis Presley

- 500 million to 999 million records:

Bing Crosby
Michael Jackson

- 200 million to 499 million records:

AC/DC
A. R. Rahman (India)
ABBA
Alla Pugacheva (Rusia)
Bee Gees
Bob Marley
Celine Dion
Cliff Richard
The Drifters
Elton John
Herbert von Karajan (Austria)
Julio Iglesias
Led Zeppelin
Madonna
Mariah Carey
Nana Mouskouri (Grecia/Francia)
Pink Floyd
The Rolling Stones
Tino Rossi (Francia)
Wei Wei (China)

- 100 million to 199 million records:

Adriano Calentano (Italia)
Aerosmith
Backstreet Boys
Barry White
Billy Joel
Bon Jovi
Boney M (Alemania)
The Carpenters
Charles Aznavour
Cher
Chicago
Dave Clark Five
David Bowie
Deep Purple
Depeche Mode
Dire Straits
Dolly Parton
The Eagles
Electric Light Orchestra
Engelbert Humperdnicks (USA/UK)
Fats Domino
Fleetwood Mac
The Four Seasons
Frank Sinatra
Garth Brooks
Genesis
George Michael
Guns N' Roses
Iron Maiden
James Last (Alemania)
The Jackson 5
Janet Jackson
Johnny Hallyday (Francia)
Kenny Rogers
Lionel Richie
Luciano Pavarotti
Michiya Mihashi (Japón)
Mireille Mathieu (Francia)
Modern Talking
Neil Diamond
Olivia Newton-John
Patti Page
Paul McCartney
Perry Como (USA)
Pet Shop Boys
Phil Collins
Prince
Queen
Ricky Nelson
Roberto Carlos
Rod Stewart
Salvatore Adamo (Bélgica)
Status Quo
Stevie Wonder
Teresa Teng (Taiwán)
Tina Turner
Tom Jones
U2
Valeriya (Rusia)
The Ventures
Whitney Houston
The Who



French magazine:

1 - Beatles = 346.500.000 (12/2007)
2 - Michael Jackson = 205.500.000 (09/2008)
3 - Pink Floyd = 193.700.000 (02/2008)
4 - Madonna = 188.500.000 (01/2008)
5 - Elvis Presley = 187.000.000
6 - Elton John = 177.200.000 (01/2008)
7 - Queen = 170.100.000 (09/2008)
8 - Rolling Stones = 169.100.000
9 - U2= 166.400.000 (02/2008)
10 - Led Zeppelin = 165.500.000 (01/2008)
11 - Celine Dion = 163.000.000 (12/2007)
12 - Eagles = 147.800.000 (12/2007)
13 - Mariah Carey = 147.800.000 (12/2007)
14 - Rod Stewart = 140.100.000 (03/2008)
15 - Barbra Streisand= 139.800.000 (02/2008)
16 - Whitney Houston = 134.200.000 (12/2007)
17 - AC/DC = 133.700.000 (11/2007)
18 - Garth Brooks = 131.900.000 (02/2008)
19 - Bruce Springsteen = 130.900.000 (02/2008)
20 - Eric Clapton = 129.000.000 (02/2008)
21 - Billy Joel = 124.500.000 (12/2007)
22 - Bee Gees = 122.100.000 (12/2007)
23 - Phil Collins = 122.000.000 (12/2007)
24 - Bob Dylan = 119.800.000 (12/2007)
25 - Fleetwood Mac = 118.100.000 (12/2007)
26 - Santana - 117.700.000 (03/2008)
27 - Neil Diamond = 117.300.000 (02/2008)
28 - Aerosmith = 113.500.000 (11/2007)
29 - Bon Jovi = 107.200.000 (12/2007)
30 - Simon and Garfunkel = 105.100.000 (03/2008)
31 - ABBA = 104.200.000 (09/2007)
32 - Paul McCartney - 103.700.000 (02/2008)
33 - Dire Strait = 102.800.000 (12/2007)
34 - Metallica - 102.500.000 (01/2008)
35 - Prince = 99.900.000 (02/2008)
36 - Genesis = 98.000.000 (12/2007)
37 - David Bowie = 95.700.000 (12/2007)
38 - Van Halen = 94.000.000 (02/2008)
39 - Guns N' Roses = 93.200.000 (12/2007)
40 - Kenny Rogers = 90.400.000 (02/2008)
41 - The Doors = 89.700.000 (01/2008)
42- Julio Iglesias = 89.500.000 (03/2008)
43 - Stevie Wonder= 87.100.000 (03/2008)
44 - Bob Marley = 86.600.000 (01/2008)
45 - Backstreet Boys = 85.900.000 (02/2008)
46 - R.E.M. = 83.800.000 (02/2008)
47 - Eminem = 83.400.000 (12/2007)
48 - Neil Young = 79.900.000 (06/2008)
49 - Enya = 78.300.000 (12/2007)
50 - Kenny G = 77.900.000 (03/2008)

- 100 million to 199 million records is very impressive when you consider he's written, produced, and performed nearly everything. The list doesn't include the stuff he's written for others. Simply amazing if you think about it.

I find it odd that the Black Album only got credited with 575,000 worldwide. Especially since it was a limited release with only 1 million copies pressed to insure it's platinum status for Warner Brothers. That's 425,000 copies unaccounted for and you can't find one anywhere.

Wiki is not perfect. The only info it has is what it is given. This is something that can be fixed.

Darwintheorgangrinder said:

The Michael Jackson sales (And no I am not bangin on about MJ) always confuse me-do they include Jackson 5, coz if Thriller is the biggest selling alum of all time-even if every album he released after that sold as much it would not be possible to reach some of the figures they have suggested after his death. Also on these figures (I know its crass) but I always think about how much money Prince must have churned over coz a producer takes 10% of roylatyh or whatever, studio time and musicians also cost a fortune-Prince has avoided major chunks of these outlays. If he hadn't squandered so much in the past he would be absolutely loaded by now-people like Madonna surely have to sell a hell of a lot more to recoup the cash he does (I know she is meant to produce/co-write etc) but even still she shares credits

why should we care about statistics?

As long as I dig the music, I could care less who else does or has purchased the material.

These sales must include singles,soundtrax. That and you can't forget his greatest hits albums. DOuble discs are counted as t albums. SO he migh t have sold 40 million of HIstory instead of 20 mil. That's how Michael got to almost a billion. ANd for whoever posted the list, that's got to be the old one.
[Edited 7/30/09 9:59am]

Depends how u look at it. Purple Rain is one of the all-time best selling albums.

Hes had number 1s all cross the world. A house-hold name.

Sam 8)

Don't these all time stats include record single sales into the total number sold (albums + singles)? I think that's another reason he's sometimes higher than expected on some of these lists. When Doves Cry sold a boatload of copies back in the day, if I recall.

PatricioRey said:

[quote]


[Edited 7/31/09 10:34am]

Thanks Patricio Ray, very impressive.

So Prince did -almost- sell 100 million albums, that's cool