PRINCE's records sales worldwide: an essay

Based mainly on data from September 1993, collected by Minneapolis Star-Tribune journalist Jon Bream , with additional data from Billboard, Rolling Stone and Time Magazine:

Album = Worldwide sales in 1993 (RIAA certification till 1993 end; US estimated sales till 1993 end; some specific countries MINIMUM sales till 1993) (m=million)

For You = 800k (not RIAA certified; in US at least 400k sold)

Prince = 1.75m (RIAA P=1m)

Dirty Mind = 1.8m (RIAA G=500k)

Controversy = 2.3m (RIAA P=1m)

1999 = 5m (RIAA 3xP=3m; 2.3m sales in US when "Purple Rain" was released)

Purple Rain = 14.7m (RIAA 10xP=10m in 1989 with US sales at more than 12m, Canada=600k, UK=600k, Germany=500k, Australia=140k, Japan=130k)

Around The World In A Day = 4.35m (RIAA 2xP=2m, but Jon Bream says 3.4m in US, shipped 2.7m in US at release week; UK=100k, Japan=75k)

Parade = 3.5m (RIAA P=1m, J.B. says 1.9m; UK=300k, France=300k, Germany=250k, Netherlands=80k, Japan=50k)

Sign Of The Times = 3.75m (RIAA P=1m, J.B. says 1.8m; UK=300k, Germany=250k, France=200k, Netherlands=80k, Australia=35k, Japan=20k)

Lovesexy = 2.65m (RIAA G=500k, J.B. says 990k; shipped 700k in US at release week; UK=300k, Germany=250k, France=200k, Japan=45k, Netherlands=40k)

Batman = 4.6m (RIAA 2xP=2m; UK=300k, France=300k, Germany=250k, Japan=175k, Netherlands=40k)

Graffiti Bridge = 2m (RIAA G=500k; UK=100k, Japan=75k)

Diamonds And Pearls = 5.8m (RIAA 2xP=2m; Warner 2.5 US + 3.3 INT; France=450k , UK=300k, Germany=250k, Netherlands=80k, Japan=60k)

Symbol = 3.45m (RIAA P=1m; UK=300k, Japan=85k)

From Jon Bream data we have

Worldwide sales = 55.5m

Now, some RIAA awards were given some time after 1993, so some data must be added:

i would say:
1999 from 5m to 5.5m (RIAA 4xP=4m in 1999)
Purple Rain from 14.7 to a minimum of 17m (this album according to Billboard sold within a year of release 4.5m outside US and RIAA 13xP=13m in 1996)

this means more 3m ... new total = 58.5m

Following albums, a kind of rough calculation:

The Hits/The B-Sides , global sales above half-million, let's say a maximum of 750k
The Hits 1 + The Hits 2 = at least a combined 2m from US and a probable combined international minimum of at least combined 1.5m
Come, 1m worldwide (US=500k, UK=100k, Japan=80k)
The Gold Experience, also 1m worldwide
Emancipation, EMI said 1million triple albums worldwide (US=700k shipped, Japan=95k)
The Black Album, around 750k worldwide (350k in US and 60k in Japan)
The Crystal Ball, 300k worldwide
New Power Soul, i would say 500k
Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, no more than 1m
The Very Best Of Prince, 1.5m (800k in US, UK=300k)

This last sales = estimated 12.2m

1) Total ESTIMATED global sales (albums only) = 70.7 = roughly 71m (around 42.5m in US) (MINIMUM number)

And singles?
A quick estimation (NOT official), global sales

When Doves Cry = 3m
Purple Rain, Kiss, Batdance = 2m each
Let's Go Crazy, Gett Off, The Most Beautiful Girl In The World = 1.5m each
I Wanna Be Your Lover, 1999, Thieves In The Temple, Cream = 1m each
Raspberry Beret, Sign Of The Times, Alphabet Street, Sexy MF, 7 = 750k each
Little Red Corvette, U Got The Look, Diamonds And Pearls = 500k

2) Estimated total for more succeful singles = 22m (only in US from RIAA = 9.5m)

3) Estimated total albums+singles Prince sold in carreer = 93m

4) If we count discs inside albums we should add roughly more 12m

5) Total final estimated RECORDS sold by Prince since 1978 = 105m

good job. This is a very nice breakdown