The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) just released their updated figures.
1 The Beatles 40+ 400,000,000 UK 60s (1962-1970) Rock/Pop Guinness/EMI
2. Michael Jackson 14 350,000,000 US 70s-00s (1979-) Pop/R&B MJ Stats
3 Elvis Presley 150+ 300,000,000 US 50s-70s (1956-1977) Country/Rock
4. Madonna 16 275,000,000 US 80s-00s (1984-) Pop WBR [1]
5. Nana Mouskouri 450 250,000,000 Greece 60s-00s (1959-) Pop [2][3]
6. Cliff Richard 60+ 250,000,000 UK 50s-00s (1959-1969,1977-1979,1986-1999) Rock/Pop [4]
7.The Rolling Stones 54 ~250,000,000 UK 60s-00s (1964-1981) Rock 60.5 million in the US [5]
8. Mariah Carey 14 230,000,000 US 90s-00s (1990-) Pop/R&B
9. Elton John 43 ~220,000,000 UK 70s-00s (1972-1976,1989-1991,1997-) Pop [6]
10.Celine Dion 21 220,000,000 Canada 80s-00s (1990-) Pop Music/Pop Discography
11. Pink Floyd 21 ~210,000,000 UK 60s-00s (1970-1983,1994-1995) Prog Rock 73 Mil US
12. Led Zeppelin 9/12 200,000,000+ UK 60s-70s (1969-1979) Rock/Blues MSNBC
13. Metallica 10 ~200,000,000 US 80's-00's (1991-1997) Hard Rock 57 mil US
14. Julio Iglesias 80 ~200,000,000 Spain 70s-00s (1969-) Latino Pop [7] [8]
15. Queen 22 180,000,000 UK 70s-00s (1975-1995) Rock R&R
16 AC/DC ~180,000,000 Australia/UK 70s-00s (1980-1992) Hard Rock AC/DC
17 Whitney Houston 10 ~180,000,000 US 80s-00s (1985-2000) R&B/Pop Discography
18. ABBA 160,000,000 Sweden 70s-80s (1974-1982) Disco/Pop ABBA discography
19. U2 ~150,000,000 Ireland 80s-00s (1983-) Rock/Pop 50m.US
20.The Jacksons 150,000,000 US 60s-80s (1969-1980) R&B 71m.US
21. Garth Brooks ~145,000,000 US 80s-00s (1989-2001) Country 105m.US
22. Janet Jackson 11 130,000,000 US 80s-00s (1986-) R&B/pop
23. The Eagles ~120,000,000 US 70s-00s (1974-1979) Country/Rock 89 million in US
24. Wei Wei ~120,000,000 China 80s-00s (1986-) Pop [12] [13]
25. The Bee Gees 110,000,000 UK/Australia 60s-00s (1975-1979) Pop/Disco src.1
26. Bon Jovi ~110,000,000 US 80s-00s (1986-2000) Rock/Hard Rock (100m.alb.)
27. R.E.M. ~110,000,000 US 80s-00s (1991-) Rock [(106m.alb.)
28. Kenny Rogers 105,000,000+ US 60s-00s Country/Pop/Rock [15]
29. Black Sabbath 100,000,000+ US 70s-00s Hard Rock/Metal [17]
30. Barbra Streisand 100,000,000+ US 60s-00s popular 70.5 million in US [18]
31. Mireille Mathieu 37 ~100,000,000 France 60s-00s Pop src.
32.Alla Pugacheva 15 ~100,000,000 Russia 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(10m.US) [19]
33. Prince ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop src.
34. Ricky Nelson ~100,000,000 US 50s-80s Pop/Country/Rock
35. Luciano Pavarotti ~100,000,000 Italy 60s-00s Opera [20] [21]
36.Brenda Lee ~100,000,000 US 50s-60s Pop/Country [22]
37.OmPrakash ~100,000,000 India 90s-00s [23]
38.Illayaraja ~100,000,000 India 70s-00s [24]
39. Johnny Mathis ~100,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock/Pop [25]
40. Lionel Richie ~100,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop/R&B [26] 21.0 mililion in US
[27]
41. Dolly Parton ~100,000,000 US 60s-00s Country [28]
42. Donna Summer ~100,000,000 US 70s-90s Disco
43. Aerosmith ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock [30] [31]
44. Billy Joel ~100,000,000 US 70s-00s Pop / Rock 78 mil.US, [32] [33]
45. Fleetwood Mac ~100,000,000 UK/US 60s-00s Pop/Rock 2
46. Johnny Hallyday ~100,000,000 France 50s-00s Pop src.1 [34]
47. Charles Aznavour ~100,000,000 France 50s-00s Pop [35]
48. Bruce Springsteen ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop *(61 mil. albums US)
49. Def Leppard ~90,000,000 UK 80s-00s Hard Rock 55.5mil.US
50. Bob Dylan ~90,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk-Rock *35m.US,
51. Earth, Wind & Fire 90,000,000 US 70s-00s R&B/Funk/Disco/Pop *(23 mil.US)
52. KISS 30 ~90,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock source
53.B'z 14 ~86,000,000 Japan 90s-00s Rock See also: discussion #22
54. Eddy Arnold 85,000,000 US 40s-90s Country source
55. Britney Spears ~85,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop *(32 mil. US), src.
56. Modern Talking ~80,000,000 Germany 80s-00s Eurodance
57. Jean-Michel Jarre 19 ~80,000,000 France 70s-00s Synth Pop sourceSee also: discussion #19
58. Santana ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Rock src.1 *[37mil. US]
59. Dalida ~80,000,000 France 50s-80s as of 1981 See also: discussion #19
60. Salvatore Adamo ~80,000,000 Italy 60s-00s [38]
61. Fairouz ~80,000,000 Lebanon 60s-00s Traditional Arab, Modern, Pop *(35 mil. US)
62. Eric Clapton ~80,000,000 UK 80s-00s Rock, Blues *(38 mil. US)
63. Stevie Wonder ~80,000,000 US 60s-00s Soul/R&B/Pop,Disco [39]
64. Hank Snow ~80,000,000 Canada 30's-90's Folk [40]
65. Spice Girls 3 ~76,000,000 UK 90s-00s Pop source
66. Backstreet Boys ~75,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop src.1 [41]
67. Journey ~75,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop 40mil.US, [42]
68. Paul McCartney ~75,000,000+ UK 60s-00s Rock
69. Dire Straits 74,000,000 UK 70s-90s Rock
70. Shania Twain 4 ~73,000,000 Canada 90s-00s Country/Rock/Pop
71. Depeche Mode ~70,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop/Rock
72. A-ha 10 70,000,000 Norway 80s-00s Pop [43] [44]
73. The Carpenters 70,000,000 US 60s-80s Pop
74. Gloria Estefan ~70,000,000 US 80s-00s Latino Pop src.1, [45]
75. Enya 5 70,000,000 Ireland 80s-00s New Age/Celtic
76. Roberto Carlos ~70,000,000 Brazil 60s-00s [46] [47]
77. Charley Pride ~70,000,000 US 60s-00s Country source
78. Bay City Rollers ~70,000,000 UK 70s-00s Rock [48]
79. Van Halen ~70,000,000 US 70s-00s Hard Rock [49]
80. Kylie Minogue 65,000,000 Australia 80s-00s Synth Pop source
81. George Strait ~65,000,000 US 70s-00s Country *54 mil. US
82. Iron Maiden 65,000,000 UK 70s-00s Metal [51]
83. Eminem 65,000,000 US 90s-00s Rap *(22 mil. US)
84. Tupac 60,000,000+ US 90s-00s Rap [52]
85. Genesis 60,000,000 UK Rock/Pop src.
86. Phil Collins ~60,000,000 UK Rock/Pop src.
87. Guns N' Roses ~60,000,000 US 80s-90s Hard Rock 71mil. albums
88. Chicago ~60,000,000 US 60s-80s Jazz/Rock [53]
89. Vicky Leandros 400+ ~60,000,000+ Greece 60s-00s Pop No reference given
90. Bryan Adams ~60,000,000 Canada 80s-00s Pop/Rock 1
91. The Doors ~60,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock *(30 mil. US)
92. Tina Turner ~60,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock/Pop [54]
93. Perry Como ~60,000,000 US 30s-00s Standards [55] [56]
94. Frank Sinatra ~60,000,000 US 40s-90s Standards *(25 mil.US)
95. Simon and Garfunkel ~60,000,000 US 60s Folk-Rock *(36mil.US)
96. Pearl Jam ~60,000,000 US 90s-00s Alternative *(29 mil. US)
97. John Denver ~60,000,000 US 60s-00s Folk/Rock/Country [57]
98. The Monkees ~60,000,000 US 60s-90s Rock [58]
99. Hank Thompson ~60,000,000 US 40s-00s Country
100. Barry Manilow 60,000,000+ US 70s-00s Pop/Standards [59]
101. Boyz II Men ~60,000,000 US 80s-00s R&B/Pop *(27mil.US), [60]
102. Paul Anka ~60,000,000 Canada 50s-00s Pop [61]
103. Alanis Morissette ~55,000,000 Canada 90s-00s Rock/Pop src.1 [62]
104. TLC 55,000,000+ USA 90s-00s *(28 mil.US)R&B BMG
105. The Police *53,000,000 UK 70s-80s Rock/Pop 22m.US, [63]
106. Nirvana *52,000,000 US 80s-90s Alternative 24m.US
107. Michael Bolton 52,000,000 US 80s-00s Pop [64]
108. Luis Miguel 55,000,000 Mexico 80s-00s Latin Pop [65]
109. Andre Kostelanetz 52,000,000 US 70s-00s Classic src.1 [66]
110. Tony Bennett ~51,000,000 US 50s-00s Standards/Jazz [67]
111. Alabama *~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Country 46m.US
112. Johnny Cash 4 ~50,000,000 US Country [68]
113. Motley Crue *~50,000,000 US 80s-00s Hard Rock 22m.US, [69]
114. Foreigner *~50,000,000 US/UK 70s-90s Rock/Pop 36m.US
115. Oasis ~57,000,000 UK 90s-00s Rock ~50m.albums
116. Meat Loaf ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [70] src.2
117. Olivia Newton-John ~50,000,000 Australia 70s-00s Country/Pop [71]
118. Bjork ~50,000,000 Iceland 80s-00s Alternative [72]
119. Gene Autry ~50,000,000 US Country [73]
120. Nat King Cole ~50,000,000 US 30s-60s Jazz [74]
121. The Seekers ~50,000,000 Australia 60s, 90s-00s Rock/Pop/Folk [75]
122.The Doobie Brothers ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock 50mil.US
123. Three Dog Night ~50,000,000 US 60s-70s Rock [76] [77] src.3
124. Bob Seger ~50,000,000 US 70s-00s Rock [78]
125. Roger Whittaker ~50,000,000 UK 70s-90s src.1 [79]
127. Annie Lennox ~50,000,000 UK 90s-00s src.1 [80]
128. Ace Of Base ~50,000,000 Sweden 90s-00s Pop/Dance source
129. David Bowie ~50,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock src.
130. Reba McEntire 48,000,000 US 70s-00s Country [81]
131. Andy Lau (??‰Ø 48,000,000 Hong Kong 80s-00s Country [82] [83]
132. Ayumi Hamasaki 46,000,000 Japan 90s-00s J-Pop src.
133. Willie Nelson 46,000,000 US 50s-00s IRS
134. George Michael 45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop [84]
135. Biggie Smalls ~48,000,000 US 90s Rap *(38mil.US)
136. Bananarama ~45,000,000 UK 80s-00s Pop/Rock/Dance 40mil albums
137. Chris de Burgh 45,000,000 Ireland 70s-00s Pop/Rock src.1 [85]
138. Red Hot Chili Peppers 44,000,000 US 80s-00s Alternative
139. Milli Vanilli 44,000,000 Germany 80s-90s Pop [86]
140. Alan Jackson 43,000,000 US 90s-00s Country source
141. *NSYNC 42,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop *(30 mil. US)
142. Christina Aguilera 4 ~40,000,000 US 90s-00s Pop 34m.albums
143. Vicente Fernandez 40,000,000 Mexico 70s-00s Mexican
144. Waylon Jennings +40,000,000 US Country [87]
145. Jose Feliciano 40,000,000 Puerto Rico 60s-00s Pop
146. Judas Priest 15 ~40,000,000 UK 70s-00s Hard Rock
147. The Who ~40,000,000 UK 60s-00s Rock *(20mil.US)
148. Ozzy Osbourne ~40,000,000 UK 60s-00s Hard Rock *(27mil.US)
149. John Lennon ~40,000,000 UK 60s-70s Rock *13.5mil.US
150. The Beach Boys 40,000,000 US 60s-90s (1961-1996) Pop/Rock
I only found two japanese acts in that list, and that means a lot.
BTW I got this from another forum, I tried to search for the list on the official IFPI site, but couldn't find it, so if anyone finds the source, please post it, thanks.
