We all know that "Thriller" is the biggest selling album of all time.
26 million(U.S.) 45 million(worldwide), do you think that that's a record that can be ever broken?

I don't think so... so much anymore there isn't enough time for an album to be out and on the airwaves to get that much in sales... it's like a single or two maybe three and Clear Channel is done with it.

Plus the quality of the work isn't there to merit that many in sales...

Maybe, if the internet didn't exist.

sinisterpentatonic said:

Pretty much sums it up right there. I read an article in Billboard magazine about a year ago saying that top sellers now move units by the thousands and not millions. Obviously a few major artists do...but as you said; not like before. Due to downloading, burning, etc...

Is it possible... Anything's possible...but unlikely.

purpleworld said:

In last week's Billboard, there was an article about Usher being the #1 artist of 2004 and it said he was the next Michael Jackson in record sales for Pop, & R&B crossover success.
It said his album Confessions is at 7.8 million in USA and 14 million worldwide but has a long way yet to go to reach Thriller which has USA sales of 29.3 million and worldwide figures approaching 60 million.
At the end of the article, it gave credit to Sony for the sales totals.
Thrilller is desperately in need of a new re-certification in the US, as the 26x platinum award had been given in 2000. Ever since, the 2001 special edition has scanned over 708.000 copies in the US.

Thriller isn't the only Michael Jackson record who needs to be re-certified.
We Are The World is one too which deserves to be recertified. Look at the following article:

"We Are the World" Redux

Charity single out on DVD, remake in the works



A benefit DVD of the making of "We Are the World" is set for release on February 1st, the twentieth anniversary of the hit 1985 charity single.
The record -- spearheaded by producer Quincy Jones to raise money for the starving in both sub-Saharan Africa and American -- featured an all-star lineup, including Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder. "We Are the World," which was in heavy rotation for months on more than 5,000 radio stations, went on to sell 7.5 million copies in the U.S.

The DVD captures the all-night recording session for the single on January 28, 1985, after the American Music Awards. Narrated by actress/activist Jane Fonda, the DVD includes some four hours of footage, and two hours of bonus material, such as solo sessions by Dylan, Springsteen and Jackson. (Jackson and Richie penned the song.)

Meanwhile, producer Jones has invited Jermaine Dupri to produce a remake of the single, this time to be recorded after the Grammy Awards ceremony on February 13th. A lineup has not yet been confirmed, but Dupri hopes to include Jay-Z, Usher, Kanye West and many others on the track, to be titled "We Are the Future."



ALEX MAR
(Posted déc. 13, 2004)

We Are The World has been certifed 4x platinum back in April 1985 for 8 million units shipped in the US alone. Since then, it hasn't been upgraded to 8x platinum.

well sure, with time. no album sold 26 million copies in the first year it was released. or probably even the first 5 or 10.

Well, Shania Twain came close.....1997's COME ON OVER has just been awarded Double Diamond...for sales of 20 million. (Well 18 million has actually sold, 20 million shipped)

As for a rock or soul artist.....they really need to break some kind of ground.....the last current group to really make an impact was the White Stripes and their album sold 1.4 million. We got a long way to go!