List of best-selling albums explained

This is a list of the world's best-selling albums of recorded music in physical mediums, such as vinyl, audio cassettes or compact discs. To appear on the list, the figure must have been published by a reliable source and the album must have sold at least 20 million copies and certified at least 10 million units (the equivalent of a diamond certification by the RIAA). This list can contain any types of album, including studio albums, extended plays, greatest hits, compilations, various artists, soundtracks and remixes. The figures given do not take into account the resale of used albums. Certified copies are sourced either from available online databases of local music industry associations or a country with an established certifying authority (see List of music recording certifications).

As a result of the methodology that the American and Canadian certification-awarding bodies (the RIAA and Music Canada respectively) use, each disc in a multi-disc set is counted as one unit toward certification, leading to many double albums on the list—such as Pink Floyd's The Wall and the Beatles' The Beatles (White Album) —being certified with a number double the number of copies sold there. Such albums have the certifications for the number of copies (not discs) shipped indicated. Conversely, the American certification level for double albums that fit onto one compact disc, such as the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack reflect the actual number of copies sold. In 2016, RIAA included streaming in addition to track sales and album sales based on the concept of album-equivalent unit for certification purposes, and certification therefore no longer reflects shipment alone.[1] [2] For example, in the update of the certification for Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) by the Eagles in August 2018, the album was certified 38× Platinum (increasing from the previous 29× Platinum certification in 2006) based on the new criteria, making it then the album with the highest certification in the United States.[3]

Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold 70 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album ever.[4] [5] [6] Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, Celine Dion has four, while the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Madonna and Whitney Houston each have three.

Groupings are based on different sales benchmarks, the highest being for claims of at least 40 million copies, and the lowest being for claims of 20–29 million copies. Albums are listed in order of number of copies sold. If two or more artists have the same claimed sales, they are then ranked by certified units and thereafter by the artist's last name. Markets' order within the table is based on the number of compact discs sold in each market, largest market at the top and smallest at the bottom.[7]

Legend

Colors
Studio albums
Greatest hits and compilations
Soundtracks
Live albums

40 million copies or more

ArtistAlbumReleasedGenreTotal certified copies
Reported sales*Ref(s)
Thriller 1982 70
Back in Black 1980 50 [8]
/ various artists The Bodyguard 1992 45[9] [10]
The Dark Side of the Moon 1973 45 [11]
EaglesTheir Greatest Hits (1971–1975)1976Country rock, soft rock, folk rock44[12]
Meat LoafBat Out of Hell1977Hard rock, glam rock, progressive rock43[13]
Hotel California 1976 42 [14]
Come On Over 1997

30–39 million copies

  • All sales figures are shown in millions
ArtistAlbumReleasedGenreTotal certified copies
Claimed sales*Ref(s)
Led Zeppelin IV 1971 37 [15] -Bad1987Pop, R&B, funk, rock35[16]
Jagged Little Pill 1995 33 [17] [18]
Dangerous1991New jack swing, R&B, pop32[19] [20]
Various artists Dirty Dancing 1987 32 [21]
Falling into You 1996 32 [22]
21 2011 31[23] - style="background:#FFFAE6;" 1 2000 31 [24]
Metallica 1991 31 [25]
Let's Talk About Love 1997 31[26]
Legend: The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers 1984 Reggae30 [27]
Appetite for Destruction 1987 30 [28] [29]
Born in the U.S.A. 1984 30 [30]
1992 30 [31]
Brothers in Arms 1985

20–29 million copies

  • All sales figures are shown in millions
Artist Album Released Genre Total certified copies
Claimed sales* Ref(s)
Come Away with Me 2002 Jazz28 [32]
Music Box 1993 28 [33] - style="background:#E6F2FF" Various artists 1978 28 [34]
The Eminem Show 2002 Hip hop27 [35] [36]
1997 27 [37]
NirvanaNevermind199126[38] - style="background:#FBE9F7;" Unplugged 1992 Acoustic rock, acoustic blues26 [39]
Greatest Hits 1981 Rock25 [40] - style="background:#FFFFFF;"...Baby One More Time 1999 Pop25[41]
Slippery When Wet 1986 Hard rock, glam metal25 [42]
Greatest Hits 1988 Rock, hard rock, pop rock25 [43]
No Jacket Required 1985 Pop rock25 [44] - style="background:#FFFFFF;" Whitney Houston 1985 Pop, R&B25 [45] [46]
The Marshall Mathers LP 2000 Hip hop25 [47]
Hybrid Theory 2000 Nu metal, rap metal, alternative metal25 [48]
The Joshua Tree 1987 Rock25 [49]
Prince and The RevolutionPurple Rain1984Pop rock, new wave, R&B25[50] - style="background:#FFFFFF;" Tapestry 1971 Pop25 [51] - style="background:#FFFFFF;" True Blue 1986 Pop, dance25 [52] - style="background:#FFFFFF;" Bridge over Troubled Water 1970 Folk rock25 [53]
Faith 1987 Pop, R&B, funk, soul

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RIAA Debuts Album Award with Streams. RIAA. 1 February 2016. September 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160202081752/http://www.riaa.com/riaa-debuts-album-award-streams/. February 2, 2016. live.
  2. Web site: Gold & Platinum. RIAA. September 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20160109215629/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/about-awards/. January 9, 2016. live.
  3. Web site: RIAA: Eagles' Greatest Hits Certified 38x Platinum, Passing 'Thriller'. August 20, 2018 . Associated Press. Billboard. September 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928023328/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8470996/riaa-eagles-greatest-hits-certified-38x-platinum-passing-thriller. September 28, 2018. live.
  4. News: Adele's 21 overtakes sales of Thriller in UK album list. BBC News. May 4, 2012. July 2, 2021. June 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611174537/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-17935650. live.
  5. Web site: MJ nearly scrapped 'Thriller' release | Music News | Zee News. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926073042/https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/musicworld/mj-nearly-scrapped-thriller-release_42076.html . 2020-09-26. September 26, 2020.
  6. Web site: Best-selling album. . June 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171204004808/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/70133-best-selling-album. December 4, 2017. live.
  7. Web site: 31. Global Sales of Recorded Music by Country in 2010 (page 24). RIAJ. 2012. April 28, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121018142555/http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/issue/pdf/RIAJ2012E.pdf. October 18, 2012. live.
  8. AC/DC's 'Back In Black' at 35: Classic Track-by-Track Album Review . Partridge. Kenneth. Billboard. July 25, 2015. July 31, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170219202123/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/album-review/6642057/acdc-back-35-years-classic-track-by-track-album-review. February 19, 2017. live.
  9. Web site: 'The Bodyguard' Soundtrack: 25 Years After Whitney Houston's Masterpiece. Grammy Awards. June 21, 2023 . Billy. Johnson Jr. November 8, 2017.
  10. The Bodyguard Soundtrack worldwide sales:
  11. Pink Floyd, 'The Dark Side of the Moon' At 40: Classic Track-By-Track Review. Richard. Smirke. Billboard. March 16, 2013. June 28, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20160706221342/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1552399/pink-floyd-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-at-40-classic-track-by-track-review. July 6, 2016. live.
  12. Web site: Classic Album Eagles Harrogates Vinyl Sessions Fundraiser Harrogat hospita Charity . Chalmers. Graham . December 22, 2020. Harrogateadvertiser.co.uk . December 22, 2020. December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222214427/https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/classic-album-eagles-harrogates-vinyl-sessions-fundraiser-harrogate-hospital-charity-3076636. live.
  13. Associated Press . 2022-01-21 . Meat Loaf, 'Bat Out of Hell' Rock Superstar Dies at 74 . 2023-03-31 . Billboard . en-US.
  14. Web site: Black Jacket Symphony to re-create Eagles' "Hotel California" . Tuscaloosanews.com. October 27, 2018. October 27, 2018 . October 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181027171034/https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20181027/black-jacket-symphony-to-re-create-eagles-hotel-california. live.
  15. News: BY THE NUMBERS Led Zeppelin IV. WROR. February 14, 2021. May 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210522231403/https://wror.com/2018/11/08/by-the-numbers-led-zeppelin-iv/. live.
  16. Web site: August 31, 2017 . Michael Jackson's 'Bad' released 30 years ago . June 30, 2024 . ABC News.
  17. News: Montgomery . James . 'You Oughta Know': The Story Behind Beyonce's Grammy Cover . . February 1, 2010 . June 18, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110605150507/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630912/oughta-know-story-behind-beyonces-grammy-cover.jhtml . June 5, 2011. dead.
  18. News: Alanis Morissette: 'I would put guardians around 19-year-old Alanis who weren't exploiting and using her' . Hubbard . Chloe . . June 11, 2020 . June 21, 2021 . subscription . https://web.archive.org/web/20200614172835/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/alanis-morissette-interview-jagged-little-pill-anniversary-new-album-a9557041.html . live . June 14, 2020 . Her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill is a pop-rock classic that sold more than 33 million copies worldwide..
  19. All 147 Michael Jackson Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best. New York. December 25, 2017. December 25, 2017.
  20. Web site: 2009-06-26 . Michael Jackson's best selling studio albums . 2024-03-06 . The Telegraph . en.
  21. News: 'Dirty Dancing,' the mega-hit musical. Chris. Lee. Los Angeles Times. May 10, 2009. December 1, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131106030940/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-dirty-dancing10-2009may10,0,1950133.story. November 6, 2013. live.
  22. Web site: Celine Dion celebrates 25 years of multi-million selling Falling Into You album . 2022-08-10 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  23. Adele says she battled depression, before and after son's birth. Serjeant. Jill. Osterman. Cynthia . 31 October 2016. Vanity Fair. Reuters. 14 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170827173918/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-adele-idUSKBN12V20I. August 27, 2017. live.
  24. News: Beatles' catalog will be reissued September 9 in remastered versions. Lewis. Randy. April 8, 2009. Los Angeles Times. May 2, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090411024440/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-beatles8-2009apr08,0,242705.story. April 11, 2009. live.
  25. News: Kirk Hammett: Some kind of monster fan. Aidin. Vaziri. San Francisco Chronicle. October 10, 2012. December 10, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121117071740/http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Kirk-Hammett-Some-kind-of-monster-fan-3850850.php#page-2. November 17, 2012. live.
  26. (advertisement) . Billboard . 2011-10-01 . 10 . en.
  27. Bob Marley: Legend. Rolling Stone. August 6, 2017. August 6, 2017.
  28. News: 'American Masters' highlights David Geffen's influence but only hints at a dark side . Sara. Smith. The Kansas City Star. November 18, 2012. March 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140309044138/http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/19/2494907_american-masters-highlights-david.html . March 9, 2014.
  29. Laurie. Havelock . Column - Still hungry? 25 years of Guns'N'Roses' Appetite For Destruction . . August 9, 2012 . March 1, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140311063307/http://news.qthemusic.com/2012/08/column_-_still_hungry_25_years.html. March 11, 2014.
  30. News: Bruce Springsteen still shows who's boss. Forde. Ian. Irish Examiner. July 13, 2012. September 21, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121019152223/http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/music/bruce-springsteen-still-shows-whos-boss-200576.html. October 19, 2012. live.
  31. News: Abba announce first new songs for 35 years. Alex. Needham. The Guardian. 27 April 2018. 1 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501190612/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/27/abba-announce-first-new-songs-for-35-years. May 1, 2018. live.
  32. News: Come away with Norah Jones. . .. Irish Independent. March 29, 2020. March 29, 2020.
  33. News: BET.com Exclusive: Mariah Celebrates 20 Years; Thanks Fans. Black Entertainment Television. August 15, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120716065832/http://www.bet.com/news/celebrities/2010/06/11/mariahtwenty.html. July 16, 2012. live.
  34. News: Retro top 10 - this week in 1978. Irish Independent. October 19, 2019. July 9, 2022. Josh. Fiallo. October 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191020231800/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/lifestyle/retro-top-10-this-week-in-1978-38593440.html. live.
  35. News: Eminem Total Albums Sold. July 11, 2017. Statisticbrain. January 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20171224222200/https://www.statisticbrain.com/eminem-album-sales-statistics/. December 24, 2017. live.
  36. News: Eminem music to hit stock exchange in deal offered by his producers. September 26, 2017. themusicnetwork. January 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185237/https://themusicnetwork.com/news/eminem-music-to-hit-stock-exchange-in-deal-offered-by-his-producers. January 26, 2018. live.
  37. News: 'Titanic' music composer James Horner dies. The Hindu. June 23, 2015. June 23, 2015.
  38. Web site: Jim Dever . Lindsay M Sieverkropp . September 23, 2016. Nirvana's Nevermind album cover baby, all grown-up . September 23, 2016. KING-TV.
  39. Web site: Bassist Nathan East on Eric Clapton and "Change the World," Plus, Watch His Documentary. Steffen. Chris. AllMusic. January 23, 2015. October 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107155847/https://www.allmusic.com/blog/post/nathan-east-eric-clapton. November 7, 2017. live.
  40. News: Queen retain UK album sales crown. BBC News. April 9, 2012. November 24, 2012. https://www.webcitation.org/67Q0hKnWr?url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17657389. May 4, 2012. live.
  41. Web site: January 11, 2019 . 20 years later, what's the legacy of Britney Spears' hit debut album?. March 8, 2024 . . en.
  42. News: 'You Give Love A Bad Name': Bon Jovi's First Anthem. Paul. Sexto. Universal Music Group. November 29, 2021. November 29, 2021.
  43. Graff . Gary . Steve Perry Won't Stop Recording, but Touring Is Another Story . Billboard . March 11, 2024 . January 4, 2012.
  44. 40 Albums Baby Boomers Loved That Millennials Don't Know. . May 14, 2014 . February 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306164922/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/40-albums-baby-boomers-loved-that-millennials-dont-know-20140514/phil-collins-no-jacket-required-1985-19691231 . March 6, 2016. live.
  45. News: Whitney Houston obituary. The Guardian. February 12, 2012. March 9, 2023.
  46. News: Music Industry Pays Tribute to Whitney Houston. Voice of America. February 11, 2012. November 30, 2017.
  47. News: How to chat live with Eminem during his 'The Marshall Mathers LP' anniversary livestream. The Ann Arbor News. May 27, 2020. May 27, 2020.
  48. News: Team Linkin Park on what the modern industry can learn from Hybrid Theory. Music Week. November 6, 2020. November 6, 2020.
  49. News: 25th birthday of U2's Joshua Tree album. Simon. Cunningham. The Irish News. March 9, 2012. November 27, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131102035554/http://www.irishnews.com/news/25th-birthday-of-u2-s-joshua-tree-album-1139438. November 2, 2013.
  50. News: Prince's 'Purple Rain' reissue re-enters Top 200 Albums in the top 5. AXS. 2018-09-15. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180915154858/https://www.axs.com/prince-s-purple-rain-reissue-re-enters-top-200-albums-in-the-top-5-120524. September 15, 2018. live.
  51. News: 'A Natural Woman' by Carole King. James. Rosen. The Boston Globe. April 19, 2012. November 24, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131102120430/http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2012/04/19/life-memoir-carole-king-traces-complex-life-early-success-song-writer-memoir-performer-and-trail-troubled-relationships-king-weaves-tapestry/T5woyB9T4tDv1qgoQhKR2K/story.html. November 2, 2013. live.
  52. News: Gil. Kaufman . Madonna And Lionel Richie To Reunite On Billboard Charts? . MTV (MTV Networks) . March 29, 2012 . April 7, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120331201523/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1682061/madonna-lionel-richie-top-billboard.jhtml . March 31, 2012. dead.
  53. News: Imagine... Simon & Garfunkel: the Harmony Game, BBC One, My Transsexual Summer, Channel 4, review. Michael. Pilgrim. The Daily Telegraph. November 8, 2011. December 13, 2012. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20130112005931/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8877549/Imagine...-Simon-and-Garfunkel-the-Harmony-Game-BBC-One-My-Transsexual-Summer-Channel-4-review.html. January 12, 2013. live.

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