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Thread started 11/21/05 3:49pm

Zelaira

WorldWIDE WHAT HAS PRINCE'S ALBUMS and SINGLES SOLD??

Since we are talking on another thread about MADONNA'S SALES....
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Reply #1 posted 11/21/05 3:55pm

Itch

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Zelaira said:

Since we are talking on another thread about MADONNA'S SALES....

rabbit rabbit rabbit
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Reply #2 posted 11/21/05 4:00pm

tane1976

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Mt figure from an earlier thread was 45million albums 20 million singles, giving atotal of about 65,000,000 items. This does not include videocassette and DVD sales
17 Years ago I made a commitment to Prince
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Reply #3 posted 11/22/05 12:27am

IstenSzek

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yeah, exactly, people always come up with these lists of what
Mariah and Whitney and such have sold from back catalogue for
the last month.

are there any such figures for Prince albums?

i guess it's very hard to tell what with all his internet and
indi releases to be ordered directly from his sources.
and true love lives on lollipops and crisps
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Reply #4 posted 11/22/05 12:43am

Edu

All data dated 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)
(k= x1000 ; m=million)

For You = 800k (not RIAA certified; in US 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 1993 sales at more than 12m, Canada=600k, UK=600k, Germany=500k, Australia=200k, Japan=200k)

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

Parade = 3.5m (RIAA P=1m, J.B. says 1.9m ; UK=300k, France=300k, Germany=250k, Netherlands=100k, Japan=80k)

Sign Of The Times = 3.75m (RIAA P=1m, J.B. says 1.8m ; UK=300k, Germany=250k, France=200k, Netherlands=100k, Australia=35k, Japan=50k)

Lovesexy = 2.65m (RIAA G=500k, J.B. says 990k; shipped 700k in US at release week; UK=300k, Germany=250k, France=200k, Japan=40k, Netherlands=50k)

Batman = 4.6m (RIAA 2xP=2m; UK=300k, France=300k, Germany=250k, Japan=175k, Netherlands=50k)

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

Diamonds And Pearls = 5.8m (RIAA 2xP=2m; Warner 2.5 US + 3.3 outside US ; France=450k , Australia = 280k , UK=900k, Germany=250k, Netherlands=100k, 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 18m (this album according to Billboard sold within a year of release 4.5m outside US and RIAA 13xP=13m in 1996)

this means more 4m ... new total = 59.5m

Following albums, a kind of rough calculation:

The Hits/The B-Sides , global sales above 1 million (presently more than 600k in US)
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
Chaos and Disorder, maximum 500k worldwide, if that much...
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, 1.7m (1m in US, UK=300k)

This last = estimated 13.2m

1) Total ESTIMATED global sales (albums only) = 72.7 = roughly 73m (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 = 95m

4) If we count individual discs inside double and triple albums we should add roughly more 12m

5) Total final estimated RECORDS sold by Prince since 1978 till 2001= 106m

Presently with the additional sales of "Musicology", at more than 3 million worldwide and the renewed catalog sales of "The Very Best of Prince" we can considerer total career sales of Prince (albums + singles) at around a minimum of 110 million records.

His Top-10 best-selling albums worldwide shall be:

1 - Purple Rain
2 - Diamonds And Pearls
3 - 1999
4 - Batman
5 - Around The World In A Day
6 - Sign Of The Times
7 - Parade
8 - Symbol
9 - Musicology
10 - Lovesexy
[Edited 11/22/05 0:53am]
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Reply #5 posted 11/22/05 12:47am

IstenSzek

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Edu said:

The Black Album, around 750k worldwide (350k in US and 60k in Japan)


wasn't The Black Album a limited release of 1,000,000 copies or something?

or was it just on sale for a limited time. i can't remember. but if it was

indeed limited to 1 mil copies, I guess those are all sold by now.

cool
[Edited 11/22/05 0:48am]
and true love lives on lollipops and crisps
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Reply #6 posted 11/22/05 1:03am

poetbear68

WOW! Now that's a sales sheet I can get into. It musta taken some collecting for you to find all this info. Thanks.
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Reply #7 posted 11/22/05 1:08am

poetbear68

But where's the sales for The Rainbow Children? That sold like 250K worldwide.
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Reply #8 posted 11/22/05 2:08pm

tane1976

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Edu said:

All data dated 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)
(k= x1000 ; m=million)

For You = 800k (not RIAA certified; in US 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 1993 sales at more than 12m, Canada=600k, UK=600k, Germany=500k, Australia=200k, Japan=200k)

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

Parade = 3.5m (RIAA P=1m, J.B. says 1.9m ; UK=300k, France=300k, Germany=250k, Netherlands=100k, Japan=80k)

Sign Of The Times = 3.75m (RIAA P=1m, J.B. says 1.8m ; UK=300k, Germany=250k, France=200k, Netherlands=100k, Australia=35k, Japan=50k)

Lovesexy = 2.65m (RIAA G=500k, J.B. says 990k; shipped 700k in US at release week; UK=300k, Germany=250k, France=200k, Japan=40k, Netherlands=50k)

Batman = 4.6m (RIAA 2xP=2m; UK=300k, France=300k, Germany=250k, Japan=175k, Netherlands=50k)

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

Diamonds And Pearls = 5.8m (RIAA 2xP=2m; Warner 2.5 US + 3.3 outside US ; France=450k , Australia = 280k , UK=900k, Germany=250k, Netherlands=100k, 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 18m (this album according to Billboard sold within a year of release 4.5m outside US and RIAA 13xP=13m in 1996)

this means more 4m ... new total = 59.5m

Following albums, a kind of rough calculation:

The Hits/The B-Sides , global sales above 1 million (presently more than 600k in US)
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
Chaos and Disorder, maximum 500k worldwide, if that much...
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, 1.7m (1m in US, UK=300k)

This last = estimated 13.2m

1) Total ESTIMATED global sales (albums only) = 72.7 = roughly 73m (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 = 95m

4) If we count individual discs inside double and triple albums we should add roughly more 12m

5) Total final estimated RECORDS sold by Prince since 1978 till 2001= 106m

Presently with the additional sales of "Musicology", at more than 3 million worldwide and the renewed catalog sales of "The Very Best of Prince" we can considerer total career sales of Prince (albums + singles) at around a minimum of 110 million records.

His Top-10 best-selling albums worldwide shall be:

1 - Purple Rain
2 - Diamonds And Pearls
3 - 1999
4 - Batman
5 - Around The World In A Day
6 - Sign Of The Times
7 - Parade
8 - Symbol
9 - Musicology
10 - Lovesexy
[Edited 11/22/05 0:53am]



biggrin This is very well done and I reckon I will throw my figure of 65million out the window and accept urs, thanks!!!

lol
17 Years ago I made a commitment to Prince
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Reply #9 posted 11/22/05 2:18pm

tane1976

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His Top-10 best-selling albums worldwide shall be:

1 - Purple Rain
2 - Diamonds And Pearls
3 - 1999
4 - Batman
5 - Around The World In A Day
6 - Sign Of The Times
7 - Parade
8 - Symbol
9 - Musicology
10 - Lovesexy
[Edited 11/22/05 0:53am]
[/quote]


And to say as well, I like the way that u have added sales post their immediate release period. Purple Rain and 1999 introduced a lot of people to his earlier albums, such as I noticed Controversy would have sold 500k in 1983-84 alone as it was the 1st Prince album to be released on CD in August 1983, I have it and on the back it says "From his 1979 smash "I wanna be your lover" to the platinum success of "1999" Prince has become known among both R&B and rock circles as one of the most exciting and accessible musicians since Jimi Hendrix"

Its obvious it was written to capitalise on the new fans who had been mesmerised by the Triple Threat Tour and the 1999 and LRC videos on MTV. I also read 1999 was relaeased on Cd in Nov 1983 as a double album with DMSR not on the first pressing as discs until mid 1984 could only take 68 minutes. Purple Rain was released on CD in August 1984 and finally in 1985, CDs of each album were released at the same time as cassettes and vinyl. Overall Purple Rain had amore positive effecyt on Prince than he gives credit for, ythere was some bitching when some sales of ATWIAD were not as fast as PR, Prince didnt want PR2 and thought PER picked up alot of fairweather fans...FOOL, he sold a million Dirty Mind and Controversy and another muillion combined of the 1st 2 albums he forgets that.
17 Years ago I made a commitment to Prince
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Reply #10 posted 11/22/05 2:32pm

tane1976

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I could guess NZ sales too. NZ is a small market, u only need to sell 15,000 singles or albums to get a platinum record given 2 u by RIANZ (Recording Institute Association of New Zealand) 7,500 it goes gold. Up to 1990 there were record pressing plants in New Zealand, now all our discs are imported across from Germany, Australia and now even CHINA!!
Purple Rain sold 50k, (WDC #2, LGC #4, Purple Rain #18 1 week!) Other figures
4U about 1,000 (not released until post Purple Rain)
Prince 5,000 (Gold in 1979, Lover got to #3 on our charts)
Dirty Mind and Controversy 3,000 each
1999 Platinum got 15,000
ATWIAD Gold 7,500 RB #8
Parade 5,000 Kiss #3
S.O.T. 7,500 s.o.t and u got the look both #2
Lovesexy 25,000 (Alphabet St his first #1 hit here!!!)
Batman 20,000 (Batdance no 1)
Grafitti Bridge 10,000 (Thieves in the Temple no 1)
D&P 20,000 (Cream #5 only, but 17 weeks on chart)
Albums to present 30,000, hasnt ahd a chart hit since 1995, when I hate u spent one week at #26. We have a top 50.

Overall total albums about 180-200,000
Singles (slow here) maybe 45,000 (#1s sell as little as 3,000)
Total sales of Prince in New Zealand about 230,000, of which I have 33 items!!!!
I remember when I was 9, my Purple Rain vinyl album had a purple insert with pictures of all his albums and track listings to date, including the Time, Sheila E and Apollonia/Vanity 6 so they tried at least (Label here was WEA)
17 Years ago I made a commitment to Prince
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