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Thread started 06/30/20 9:45am

feeluupp

Chart Masters: Total Prince Sales

Chart Masters published an updated list of the TOTAL sales for artists, including phsyical albums sales, physical single sales, digital album sales, digital single sales as well as streaming, and youtube views.

These are the TOTAL sales figures for Prince's career.

Prince landed at #30 for the biggest selling artists of all time with 132,570,000 all time sales.

Full list can be found here:

https://chartmasters.org/...streaming/

[Edited 6/30/20 15:47pm]

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Reply #1 posted 06/30/20 9:46am

feeluupp

#PICARTISTTOTAL CSPCSALESSTREAMS EAS (UPDATE)
STUDIO ALBUMSOTHER LPSPHYSICAL SINGLESDIGITAL SINGLESUPDATE
1 The The Beatles 412,880,000 160,650,000 203,392,000 116,080,000 35,230,000 03/01/17 8,730,000* (06/28/20)
2 Michael Michael Jackson 328,366,000 182,600,000 101,997,000 79,350,000 79,930,000 09/27/17 7,974,000* (06/28/20)
3 Elvis Elvis Presley 315,428,000 53,150,000 212,309,000 135,210,000 37,470,000 09/01/18 3,787,000* (06/21/20)
4 Queen Queen 265,743,000 90,230,000 139,348,000 49,960,000 59,650,000 01/25/20 12,226,000* (06/28/20)
5 Madonna Madonna 242,982,000 146,450,000 64,420,000 75,210,000 42,100,000 08/13/17 3,234,000* (06/28/20)
6 The The Rolling Stones 239,398,000 113,800,000 92,495,000 72,770,000 46,200,000 12/03/16 4,341,000* (06/28/20)
7 Pink Pink Floyd 232,477,000 169,600,000 52,025,000 8,800,000 23,360,000 06/18/17 4,708,000* (06/26/20)
8 Led Led Zeppelin 203,066,000 141,500,000 51,200,000 6,350,000 32,030,000 08/08/16 3,657,000* (06/28/20)
9 Elton Elton John 198,996,000 88,630,000 82,400,000 65,340,000 26,250,000 02/05/18 4,426,000* (06/27/20)
10 U2 U2 197,037,000 127,100,000 53,051,000 22,550,000 40,500,000 08/31/16 4,046,000* (06/27/20)
11 Céline Céline Dion 195,256,000 136,200,000 40,424,000 39,290,000 26,660,000 09/23/16 2,846,000* (06/28/20)
12 AC/DC AC/DC 194,054,000 132,470,000 49,349,000 7,200,000 33,450,000 02/20/18 5,057,000* (06/26/20)
13 Rod Rod Stewart & Faces 188,340,000 100,150,000 66,819,000 55,220,000 17,420,000 11/23/19 2,183,000* (06/19/20)
14 Eminem Eminem 182,345,000 97,920,000 25,487,000 14,380,000 197,610,000 07/31/19 24,984,000* (06/28/20)
15 Eagles Eagles 172,661,000 65,425,000 96,732,000 16,630,000 20,440,000 12/20/17 2,450,000* (06/20/20)
16 Mariah Mariah Carey 170,574,000 116,100,000 31,228,000 36,890,000 50,130,000 04/28/17 4,660,000* (06/28/20)
17 Bruce Bruce Springsteen 158,574,000 103,400,000 42,176,000 21,010,000 25,420,000 07/07/17 2,883,000* (06/26/20)
18 ABBA ABBA 158,484,000 45,300,000 91,491,000 54,400,000 17,870,000 11/02/16 2,693,000* (06/26/20)
19 Bee Bee Gees 158,428,000 75,525,000 56,477,000 72,790,000 17,230,000 04/09/17 2,004,000* (06/27/20)
20 Metallica Metallica 158,083,000 121,260,000 20,164,000 15,480,000 40,770,000 02/13/19 5,899,000* (05/07/20)
21 Whitney Whitney Houston 153,985,000 113,600,000 17,175,000 49,520,000 34,250,000 05/04/17 3,215,000* (06/28/20)
22 Barbra Barbra Streisand 152,809,000 91,370,000 49,714,000 35,250,000 3,680,000 03/16/18 597,000* (06/25/20)
23 Phil Phil Collins 148,719,000 93,780,000 39,905,000 29,910,000 22,690,000 04/11/18 2,658,000* (06/28/20)
24 Billy Billy Joel 148,162,000 91,400,000 40,235,000 36,900,000 21,000,000 10/19/16 2,307,000* (06/20/20)
25 Fleetwood Fleetwood Mac 147,174,000 84,550,000 46,392,000 26,060,000 32,030,000 10/08/16 3,610,000* (06/28/20)
26 Bon Bon Jovi 146,525,000 89,450,000 39,176,000 27,980,000 38,450,000 11/16/16 3,737,000* (06/27/20)
27 Garth Garth Brooks 144,423,000 81,605,000 62,341,000 950,000 90,000 01/05/19 177,000* (06/19/20)
28 Bob Bob Dylan 143,428,000 83,350,000 47,870,000 17,680,000 30,410,000 10/23/16 2,343,000* (06/28/20)
29 Bob Bob Marley 138,007,000 43,075,000 81,593,000 9,980,000 33,690,000 11/21/17 5,291,000* (06/28/20)
30 Prince Prince 132,570,000 86,580,000 27,141,000 42,910,000 29,590,000 10/04/18 1,538,000 (06/28/20)

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Reply #2 posted 06/30/20 9:49am

feeluupp

Although many publications always say Prince sold over 100 Million Albums, the actual figure for album sales not including singles are: 86,580,000.

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Reply #3 posted 06/30/20 9:53am

TKO

avatar

feeluupp said:

Although many publications always say Prince sold over 100 Million Albums, the actual figure for album sales not including singles are: 86,580,000.



I think they mean 100m records (including album and singles)
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Reply #4 posted 06/30/20 9:53am

feeluupp

Also to be noted, since Prince came so late to streaming, he has one of the lowest streaming numbers out of all the artists in the TOP 50.

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Reply #5 posted 06/30/20 10:11am

feeluupp

Updated totals for his 5 biggest selling albums:

1. Purple Rain - 23,030,000

2. Diamonds & Pearls - 7,100,000

3. 1999 - 7,010,000

4. Batman - 6,680,000

5. The Very Best Of Prince - 5,250,000

[Edited 6/30/20 10:13am]

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Reply #6 posted 06/30/20 10:15am

feeluupp

An update on The Hits 1, The Hits 2, The Hits/The B-Sides

Since they were released into 3 seperate versions, invidudally the single sales are not impressive for an artist of Prince's caliber for a greatest hits compliation, however combinding all the sales together, The Hits 1, 2, The Hits/The B-Sides sold a total of 10,570,000 Million Copies.

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Reply #7 posted 06/30/20 11:44am

SantanaMaitrey
a

I'm surprised to see Rod Stewart so high.
[Edited 6/30/20 11:45am]
If you take any of this seriously, you're a bigger fool than I am.
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Reply #8 posted 06/30/20 12:01pm

feeluupp

TOP 20 BEST SELLING PRINCE ALBUMS:

(Including compilation albums, and combining The Hits 1/2 The B-Sides in one)

1. Purple Rain - 23,030,000

2. The Hits 1,2/The B-Sides - 10,570,000

3. Diamonds & Pearls - 7,100,000

4. 1999 - 7,010,000

5. Batman - 6,680,000

6. The Very Best Of Prince - 5,250,000

7. Sign O' The Times - 5,200,000

8. ATWIAD - 5,000,000

9. PARADE - 4,560,000

10. LOVESEXY - 3,390,000

11. LOVESYMBOL - 3,020,000

12. MUSICOLOGY - 2,830,000

13. GRAFFITI BRIDGE - 2,550,000

14. CONTROVERSY - 2,320,000

15. PRINCE – 2,080,000

16. DIRTY MIND - 1,540,000

17. EMANCIPATION - 1,420,000

18. COME - 1,270,000

19. THE GOLD EXPERIENCE - 1,130,000

20. 3121 - 1,080,000

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Reply #9 posted 06/30/20 1:33pm

pdiddy2011

#30 is not bad for someone who took a VERY different approach from industry standards for the last 20 years of his career. Had he made some of the "routine" choices as an artist his cumulative numbers undoubtedly would have been much higher. For example, he hardly had an official online presence at all, he didn't typically do awards shows, he didn't typically do interviews, he didn't use "the best" technicians on his albums, and so much more...

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Reply #10 posted 06/30/20 2:23pm

Moonbeam

avatar

Awesome! Cool to see him as high as #30.

Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you!
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Reply #11 posted 06/30/20 2:24pm

Moonbeam

avatar

feeluupp said:

TOP 20 BEST SELLING PRINCE ALBUMS:

(Including compilation albums, and combining The Hits 1/2 The B-Sides in one)

1. Purple Rain - 23,030,000

2. The Hits 1,2/The B-Sides - 10,570,000

3. Diamonds & Pearls - 7,100,000

4. 1999 - 7,010,000

5. Batman - 6,680,000

6. The Very Best Of Prince - 5,250,000

7. Sign O' The Times - 5,200,000

8. ATWIAD - 5,000,000

9. PARADE - 4,560,000

10. LOVESEXY - 3,390,000

11. LOVESYMBOL - 3,020,000

12. MUSICOLOGY - 2,830,000

13. GRAFFITI BRIDGE - 2,550,000

14. CONTROVERSY - 2,320,000

15. PRINCE – 2,080,000

16. DIRTY MIND - 1,540,000

17. EMANCIPATION - 1,420,000

18. COME - 1,270,000

19. THE GOLD EXPERIENCE - 1,130,000

20. 3121 - 1,080,000


Just to clarify, these totals are based on the calculations from ChartMasters in 2018. I don't imagine there are appreciable bumps since then, though.

Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you!
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Reply #12 posted 06/30/20 2:32pm

feeluupp

Purple Rain and TVBOP still are his biggest catalouge sellers every year, so I assume since 2018 in a few more years TVOP would reach 6 million soon...

Moonbeam said:

feeluupp said:

TOP 20 BEST SELLING PRINCE ALBUMS:

(Including compilation albums, and combining The Hits 1/2 The B-Sides in one)

1. Purple Rain - 23,030,000

2. The Hits 1,2/The B-Sides - 10,570,000

3. Diamonds & Pearls - 7,100,000

4. 1999 - 7,010,000

5. Batman - 6,680,000

6. The Very Best Of Prince - 5,250,000

7. Sign O' The Times - 5,200,000

8. ATWIAD - 5,000,000

9. PARADE - 4,560,000

10. LOVESEXY - 3,390,000

11. LOVESYMBOL - 3,020,000

12. MUSICOLOGY - 2,830,000

13. GRAFFITI BRIDGE - 2,550,000

14. CONTROVERSY - 2,320,000

15. PRINCE – 2,080,000

16. DIRTY MIND - 1,540,000

17. EMANCIPATION - 1,420,000

18. COME - 1,270,000

19. THE GOLD EXPERIENCE - 1,130,000

20. 3121 - 1,080,000


Just to clarify, these totals are based on the calculations from ChartMasters in 2018. I don't imagine there are appreciable bumps since then, though.

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Reply #13 posted 06/30/20 3:41pm

RJOrion

Celine Dion though??....LOL.
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Reply #14 posted 06/30/20 3:46pm

RJOrion

ive never in life met anyone who ever owned, played, streamed, or talked about a Celine Dion song, show or album...somebody lyin'
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Reply #15 posted 06/30/20 4:14pm

jdcxc

pdiddy2011 said:

#30 is not bad for someone who took a VERY different approach from industry standards for the last 20 years of his career. Had he made some of the "routine" choices as an artist his cumulative numbers undoubtedly would have been much higher. For example, he hardly had an official online presence at all, he didn't typically do awards shows, he didn't typically do interviews, he didn't use "the best" technicians on his albums, and so much more...



Well Put. It’s actually shocking he is that high...prolly the most “Alternative” artist on the list.

Add to your List: Abandoned Majors (for the most part), didn’t do Commercials, Alienated Industry, Didn’t update/enhance/pimp WB catalog
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Reply #16 posted 06/30/20 5:27pm

gandorb

I wish more young people would sample him. His streaming numbers are really low comparatively to most of the other artists here. Not surprisngly, Queen's straming numbers blow every one else away here.

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Reply #17 posted 06/30/20 8:41pm

mynameisnotsus
an

RJOrion said:

ive never in life met anyone who ever owned, played, streamed, or talked about a Celine Dion song, show or album...somebody lyin'


Mid to late 90s she sold a fuckload when people still bought physical media - can't say I hear or play her but I know she had enormous sales. Tommy Motolla has a chapter in his bio called The Billion Dollar song about My Heart Will Go On. She was selling an album a second at her peak.
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Reply #18 posted 06/30/20 10:07pm

Mikado

gandorb said:

I wish more young people would sample him. His streaming numbers are really low comparatively to most of the other artists here. Not surprisngly, Queen's straming numbers blow every one else away here.




His catalog has been on streaming services for a much shorter period of time than the other artists listed.

And, of course, Prince did do his best to barricade his music from future generations in his lifetime.
A certain kind of mellow.
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Reply #19 posted 07/04/20 3:21pm

RJOrion

mynameisnotsusan said:

RJOrion said:

ive never in life met anyone who ever owned, played, streamed, or talked about a Celine Dion song, show or album...somebody lyin'


Mid to late 90s she sold a fuckload when people still bought physical media - can't say I hear or play her but I know she had enormous sales. Tommy Motolla has a chapter in his bio called The Billion Dollar song about My Heart Will Go On. She was selling an album a second at her peak.



amazing...i knew she was kinda big in Canada and Europe but i had no idea she was puttin up numbers like that... whoever managed her career is brilliant, because her voice hurts my teeth.. i cant do it... last i saw of her, she was famously fucking up a remake of "Purple Rain"on TV...her friends, family, and her husband apparently bought about 85% of those 195,256,000 units
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Reply #20 posted 07/04/20 10:45pm

sro100

avatar

How could Drake not be on there? According the RIAA he was/is the top selling solo artist of all time in America.

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Reply #21 posted 07/07/20 8:33am

steakfinger

RJOrion said:

ive never in life met anyone who ever owned, played, streamed, or talked about a Celine Dion song, show or album...somebody lyin'

No one is lying. There are a lot more bored housewives out there than you know. That's Covid-19 denial logic: "I don't know anyone who got Covid-19, therefore it's a hoax."

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Reply #22 posted 07/07/20 9:20am

RJOrion

steakfinger said:



RJOrion said:


ive never in life met anyone who ever owned, played, streamed, or talked about a Celine Dion song, show or album...somebody lyin'


No one is lying. There are a lot more bored housewives out there than you know. That's Covid-19 denial logic: "I don't know anyone who got Covid-19, therefore it's a hoax."




awkward analogy...there are literally people dying and being hospitalized for COVID19...although im sure its a possibilty, no one has yet died from listening to Saline Dion... they may have suffered from irreversible brain damage and/or anxiety attacks, though
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Reply #23 posted 07/07/20 9:12pm

TKO

avatar

sro100 said:

How could Drake not be on there? According the RIAA he was/is the top selling solo artist of all time in America.



He isn't big worldwide. He is local like most rappers. I doubt he even sold 30m albums when he has only 5 studio albums and 1st and 2nd sold less than 10m combined.
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Reply #24 posted 07/07/20 10:38pm

Moonbeam

avatar

sro100 said:

How could Drake not be on there? According the RIAA he was/is the top selling solo artist of all time in America.

He's #53 on the list as taken from the link in the OP, but the list indicates his stats were updated in 2017, so he may have risen quite a bit since then.

Feel free to join in the Prince Album Poll 2018! Let'a celebrate his legacy by counting down the most beloved Prince albums, as decided by you!
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Reply #25 posted 07/08/20 10:51am

renfield

avatar

Prince's RIAA certifications should be updated. Purple Rain and TVBOP for sure would receive a bump and several singles would get new or higher certifications. Just from streams (not even including digital sales) Raspberry Beret and 1999 should be certified gold, and Kiss and Purple Rain should be platinum. WDC may be at double or triple platinum. There are probably a few more; I wish WB or the estate would take advantage of that.

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Reply #26 posted 07/08/20 11:37am

feeluupp

renfield said:

Prince's RIAA certifications should be updated. Purple Rain and TVBOP for sure would receive a bump and several singles would get new or higher certifications. Just from streams (not even including digital sales) Raspberry Beret and 1999 should be certified gold, and Kiss and Purple Rain should be platinum. WDC may be at double or triple platinum. There are probably a few more; I wish WB or the estate would take advantage of that.

Yea... Purple Rain should be at least 16x Platinum by RIAA and TVBOP should be at least 4x Platinum by RIAA.

Also Dirty Mind should be Platinum by now, it is still certified as GOLD by RIAA.

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Reply #27 posted 07/08/20 12:08pm

feeluupp

The last time Purple Rain was certified was in 1996 for 13x Platinum. If the estate or WB actually audited the sales since 1996 for Purple Rain, all the released deluxe and super deluxe editions... I would even say Purple Rain could be close to 16-18 million sold in USA alone.

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Reply #28 posted 07/08/20 1:00pm

jaypotton

I am really surprised QUEEN are number four! I would expect them in top ten but number 4 amazes me.

Prince at number 30 is also pretty surprising but cool to see.

Also interesting to see that if you look at studio album sales alone then Prince jumps up that list.

Elvis, the Bee Gees and Abba drop right down.
[Edited 7/8/20 13:04pm]
[Edited 7/8/20 13:07pm]
'I loved him then, I love him now and will love him eternally. He's with our son now.' Mayte 21st April 2016 = the saddest quote I have ever read! RIP Prince and thanks for everything.
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Reply #29 posted 07/09/20 6:36am

Krid

Interesting to see that Garth Brooks according to these numbers has hardly any fan base going for the digital route - compare his 90.000 digital singles sales with Enimen's 197 million single sales... btw, Enimen has by far the highest number of digital single sales, amazing. The real Slim Shady cool

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