Well, about Prince there is indeed some information, here we go:

Data from September 1993, from Minneapolis Star-Tribune journalist Jon Bream:

Album = Worldwide sales (RIAA certification, US sales with source, some specific countries minimum sales)

For You = 800k
Prince = 1.75m (Us 1xP=1m)
Dirty Mind = 1.8m (US G=500k)
Controversy = 2.3m (US 1xP=1m)
1999 = 5m (US 4xP=4m)
Purple Rain = 14.7m (US 13xP=13m; Canada=600k, UK=600k, Germany=500k)
Around The World In A Day = 4.35m (US 2xP=2m, but Jon Bream says 3.4m in US)
Parade = 3.5m (US 1xP=1m, J.B. says 1.9m; UK=300k, France=300k, Germany=250k)
Sign Of The Times = 3.75m (US 1xP=1m, J.B. says 1.8m; UK=300k, Germany=250k, France=200k)
Lovesexy = 2.65m (US G=500k, J.B. says 990k; UK=300k, Germany=250k, France=200k)
Batman = 4.6m (US 2xPlatinum; UK=300k, France=300k, Germany=250k, Japan=200k)
Graffiti Bridge = 2m
Diamonds And Pearls = 5.8m (US 2xPlatinum; Warner 2.5 US + 3.3 INT; UK=300k, Germany=250k, Japan=200k, France=450k)
Symbol = 3.45m (US 1.85m)

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:

1999 from 5m to 5.5m
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)

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

Following albums,

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
The Gold Experience, also 1m worldwide
Emancipation, EMI said 1million triple albums
The Black Album, maybe 750k worldwide (350k in US)
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, 1m (500k in US)

This last sales = estimated 10.8m

1) Total estimated global sales (albums only) = 69.3 = roughly 70m (around 42.5m in US) (minimum number)

And singles?
A quick estimation

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 = 92m

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

5) Total final estimated RECORDS sold by Prince since 1978 = 104m

did someone say trainspotter?

what do you mean, Milty, with the question "did someone say trainspotter?", may i know?
[This message was edited Mon Sep 1 16:58:25 PDT 2003 by Edu]

no that is totally false it is ridiculous all the sales are off!!!

Edu said:

sorry. i mean not to offend. it's just that all the sales threads that are going up are getting annoying and now here's yours with all these detailed figures. well it seems a bit trainspotter to me.
i'm sorry i offended you. i just don't know why can't discuss Prince's music instead of trying to big up the case for him like many have been doing lately.

Can someone give LINKS to where everyone is getting Prince's Album Sales at?

*because not only Prince I would love to look up other artist and find out their worldwide album sales.. for each album



where is the best place to find out Prince's info & other artist..

links please

To lildragon:

all the data from Jon Bream (someone who is from Minneapolis and writes about Prince since Prince released his first album, and someone who inclusive once delivered personally to Prince an award (Minneapolis Music Awards)) is at disposal on the archives of the "Minneapolis Star Tribune", in articles very detailed about Prince sales, because Jon has many inside industry contacts (all his data agrees with all the other sources i came in contact with in the last 15 years). Everything that isn't from Jon Bream comes from the Billboard archives (which in turn comes from the Warner label, like the 4.5million "Purple Rain" international sales at the time of release of "Symbol"). Data from specific countries cames from their respective Gold & Platinum databases, some of the data given to me by direct contact of the persons in charge.
I'm a Prince fan for more than 20 years and i research data about his charts and sales performance since then...
[This message was edited Mon Sep 1 19:15:35 PDT 2003 by Edu]

well its wrong.. purple rain worlwide has sold a little over 17 million

diamonds and pearls sold 2.9 million in the us alone

and the symbol album sold 2.8 world wide

what would settle this.. is a LINK to where all these numbers are flying from.

give a LINK and people will shut up

learn.. & listen to what u have 2 say

Edu said:

In an interview at the time, Q Magazine I think, Prince stated that Emancipation had sold a million units worldwide in 1st week, so that he had already made his money back.

now this is the kind of topic where Bart comes into his own. Bart sort us out here [dont forget the insults, i think they are needed in this case!!.]