Where can I get a list of the top album selling music artists of all
time? I?d like a list that cuts across genres if possible (not just
pop stars, country stars, etc.). I?m just interested in album sales,
not concert revenues or anything.   I?ll add a $10 tip to anyone who
can answer this question for me.

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 12 Nov 2005 13:39 PST

I can provide you with the top selling record albums of all time (US
Sales) as of August 2003, according to the Recording Industry
Association of America.

I can also provide you with a list of the best-selling music artists
of all time, according to various sources.

Would this inerest you?

Best wishes,
Rainbow

---

Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 12 Nov 2005 13:45 PST

Sorry for the typo. That should be:
Would this interest you?

Rainbow~

Hi girly2go,

The following is the result of my research for top album selling music
artists of all time:

Global All-Time Top 10 Albums (according to chart expert Hanboo)

"Thriller" - Michael Jackson (54 million)

"Black In Black" - AC/DC (42m)

"Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" - The Eagles (41m)

"Saturday Night Fever" - (Soundtrack) (40m)

"The Bodyguard" - (Soundtrack) (37m)

"Bat Out Of Hell" - Meat Loaf (37m)

"Dark Side Of The Moon" - Pink Floyd (35m)

"Come On Over" - Shania Twain (35m)

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - The Beatles (32m)

"Dirty Dancing" - (Soundtrack) (32m)

Phil Brodie Band 
http://www.philbrodieband.com/muso_solo_bestselling_albums.htm

============================================

Top Selling Record Albums of All Time (U.S. Sales) as of August, 2003 
  Source: RIAA
 
28 Million Albums Sold 

Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 - Eagles (Elektra) 
************************************
26 Million Albums Sold 

Thriller - Michael Jackson (Epic)
************************************
23 Million Albums Sold 

The Wall- Pink Floyd (Columbia) 
************************************
22 Million Albums Sold 

Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin (Swan Song) 
************************************
21 Million Albums Sold 

Greatest Hits Volumes I & II - Billy Joel (Columbia) 
************************************
19 Million Albums Sold 

Rumours - Fleetwood Mac (Warner Bros.)
Back in Black - AC/DC (Elektra)
The Beatles - The Beatles (Capitol)
Come On Over - Shania Twain (Mercury Nashville) 
************************************
17 Million Albums Sold 

Boston - Boston (Epic)
The Bodyguard (Soundtrack) - Whitney Houston (Arista) 
************************************
16 Million Albums Sold 

Cracked Rear View - Hootie & the Blowfish (Atlantic)
Greatest Hits - Elton John (Island/Mercury)
Hotel California - Eagles (Elektra)
The Beatles 1967-1970 - The Beatles (Capitol) 
No Fences - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette (Maverick)
************************************
15 Million Albums Sold 

Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)
Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin (Swan Song)
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd (Capitol)
Saturday Night Fever (Soundtrack) - Bee Gees (Polydor/Atlas)
The Beatles 1962-1966 - The Beatles (Capitol)
Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'N Roses (Geffen)
Double Live - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville) 
Supernatural - Santana (Arista) 
************************************
14 Million Albums Sold 

Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys (Jive)
Ropin' the Wind - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
Metallica - Metallica (Elektra)
Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf (Epic)
Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits - Simon & Garfunkel (Columbia)
************************************
13 Million Albums Sold 

Bruce Springsteen & E St. Band Live 1975-1985 (Box set) - Bruce
Springsteen (Columbia)
Greatest Hits 1974-1978 - Steve Miller Band (Capitol)
Purple Rain (Soundtrack) - Prince and the Revolution (Warner Bros.)
Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston (Arista)
Millennium - Backstreet Boys (Jive)
Baby One More Time - Britney Spears (Jive) 
************************************
12 Million Albums Sold 

Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks (Monument)
Yourself or Someone Like You - matchbox twenty (Atlantic) 
No Jacket Required - Phil Collins (Atlantic)
Hysteria - Def Leppard (Mercury)
Slippery When Wet - Bon Jovi (Mercury) 
II - Boyz II Men (Motown)
Abbey Road - The Beatles (Capitol)
Ten - Pearl Jam (Epic)
Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)
Breathless - Kenny G (Arista)
Forrest Gump (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (Epic)
Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits - Kenny Rogers (Capitol Nashville)
Hot Rocks - The Rolling Stones (abkco)
The Woman in Me - Shania Twain (Mercury Nashville)
************************************
11 Million Albums Sold 

James Taylor's Greatest Hits - James Taylor (Warner Bros.)
CrazySexyCool - TLC (LaFace)
Falling into You - Celine Dion (550 Music) 
Dirty Dancing (Soundtrack) - Various Artists (RCA)
Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles (Capitol)
Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. II - Eagles (Elektra)
Pieces of You - Jewel (Atlantic)
Titanic (Soundtrack) - (Sony Classical)
Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way... (Single) - Elton John (Rocket)
Devil Without a Cause - Kid Rock (Lava)
No Strings Attached - 'N Sync (Jive)
Human Clay - Creed (Wind-Up Records)
************************************
10 Million Albums Sold 

Fly - Dixie Chicks (Monument)
'N Sync - 'N Sync (RCA)
Let's Talk About Love - Celine Dion (550 Music/Epic)
Tragic Kingdom - No Doubt (Trauma/Interscope)
Life After Death - Notorious B.I.G. (Bad Boy/Arista) 
Up - Shania Twain (Mercury Nashville)
Best of the Doobies - Doobie Brothers (Warner Bros.)
Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em - Hammer (Capitol)
Dookie - Green Day (Reprise)
The Stranger - Billy Joel (Columbia)
Aerosmith's Greatest Hits - Aerosmith (Columbia)
The Hits - Garth Brooks (Capitol Nashville)
Music Box - Mariah Carey (Columbia)
Unplugged - Eric Clapton (Reprise)
Tapestry - Carole King (Ode)
Greatest Hits - Journey (Columbia)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic)
The Immaculate Collection - Madonna (Warner Bros.)
Like a Virgin - Madonna (Sire)
Legend - Bob Marley & the Wailers (Island)
Faith - George Michael (Columbia)
Greatest Hits - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (MCA)
Nevermind - Nirvana (DGC)
The Lion King (Soundtrack) - (Walt Disney)
Can't Slow Down - Lionel Richie (Motown)
Daydream - Mariah Carey (Columbia)
Van Halen - Van Halen (Warner Bros.)
Eliminator - ZZ Top (Warner Bros.)
The Joshua Tree - U2 (Island)
1984 (MCMLXXXIV) - Van Halen (Warner Bros.)

The remaining lesser sales can be found here:
DigitalDreamDoor
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_sold_albums.html

============================================

At the following site you can find a list of best-selling music
artists of all time. "The measure is the total number of singles and
albums sold world-wide (singles and albums weighted equally, paid
digital downloads included too)."

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_selling_music_artists


Search criteria:
top album selling music artists "all time"
album best-selling music "all time"
album best-selling music "all time" worldwide


I hope this is helpful. If you have any questions regarding my answer
please don?t hesitate to ask before rating it.

Best regards,
Rainbow

Very comprehensive answer!!! I also like the way it is divided to make
it easier for me to see all the information.

Thank you for the tip.
Best wishes,
Rainbow