[flyonthetable]

So officially Adele's 21 has sold 26.4 million copies worldwide. (18.1 million in 2011, 8.3 million in 2012).

Global best selling artists of 2012

The global albums and digital singles charts of 2012 reveal a recording industry that is investing in local talent and breaking it to a global audience. While English-language albums continue to sell well across borders, analysis of the charts in leading markets including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden reveals the vast majority of the top 10 selling albums of 2012 were local repertoire. The singles chart demonstrates the modern breakout hit can come from any corner of the globe.


Top selling global albums

British singer-songwriter ADELE achieved phenomenal success with 21, first released in January 2011, selling 8.3 million units globally in 2012 and 18.1 million in 2011. The album is the first to top the global albums chart for two consecutive years since IFPI began reporting global best sellers in 2001, and went to number one in more than 26 countries.

http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2013.pdf

[zeze88]

And yet, 1D won the Global Success Award at the Brits... riiiight.

Incredible sales for Adele - it will be hard to top that by any artist. I think only Adele could outdo herself right now.

[abrightyz]

the Global Success Award was for the year 2012.

[zeze88]

I know - but, she has still sold 9.2 million copies worldwide without ANY promo. That is still bigger than 1D sales of the 2 albums combined.

[konebyvax]

26.4 million in these times of poor album sales would surely equate to at least 50 million in the 80s/90s heyday of album sales. Maybe even 60 million.

[HandsClean]

Originally Posted by zeze88

And yet, 1D won the Global Success Award at the Brits... riiiight.

Incredible sales for Adele - it will be hard to top that by any artist. I think only Adele could outdo herself right now.

It will be easier for a new artist to beat her total than it would for Adele to due to the natural sharp decline in sales that naturally occur with the follow up releases.

[abrightyz]

Originally Posted by zeze88

I know - but, she has still sold 9.2 million copies worldwide without ANY promo. That is still bigger than 1D sales of the 2 albums combined.

maybe 1D singles sales made a bit of difference? they have 3 singles that passed the 1M mark in the US alone (not sure if the 3rd achieved that before the yearend though).

[zeze88]

Adele's singles in 2012 - Best selling single:

9. Set Fire To The Rain 3.6 million
11. Someone Like You - 3.2 million

Only What Makes You Beautiful reached the list at no. 22 with 2.2 million sales

That again is 6.6 million sales, while 1D sold 2.2 million.

[sjp07]

Originally Posted by abrightyz

maybe 1D singles sales made a bit of difference? they have 3 singles that passed the 1M mark in the US alone (not sure if the 3rd achieved that before the yearend though).

In the US they had two singles go platinum last year, but they were from two different albums. Adele's only single last year went platinum and it wasn't even on her album. Add to that her record sales. She had a better year than 1D with only releasing one song, not performing and barely leaving her house. She had a better year than everyone and didn't have to lift a finger. THAT is the epitome of global success.

[gpk]

Originally Posted by abrightyz

maybe 1D singles sales made a bit of difference? they have 3 singles that passed the 1M mark in the US alone (not sure if the 3rd achieved that before the yearend though).

adele sold 12.8 million with albums and singles in the us during 2012 and one direction sold 8.8 million.

[yellowlabbie]

Originally Posted by sjp07

In the US they had two singles go platinum last year, but they were from two different albums. Adele's only single last year went platinum and it wasn't even on her album. Add to that her record sales. She had a better year than 1D with only releasing one song, not performing and barely leaving her house. She had a better year than everyone and didn't have to lift a finger. THAT is the epitome of global success.

Yes, it is indeed. Shame on the Brits for manufacturing an award for 1D just because they didn't win anything. It should have, without any shadow of a doubt, gone to Adele. Now I remember why I do not usually watch this rubbish.

[konebyvax]

Gotta admire the 1D super fan who still argues for his/her faves even though the figures clearly show Adele was 2012s REAL global success. Devotion above and beyond the call of duty.....

[abrightyz]

the brits actually said the Global Success Award is about worldwide sales of records for the year 2012. i'm sure they can produce proof where they based their tally on. as said in various threads, everyone expected it to adele-- including 1D fans. it came as a pleasant surprise for us.


we're happy with the amount of success the boys had achieved so far. beyond our wildest imaginations really seeing them from individual schoolboys with pop star dreams to this record-breaking/making global phenomenon. no, we wouldn't want a Global Success Award if it should have gone to someone else instead.


but the brits wouldn't be that foolish i should think to award it to them without basis. i'm also interested in the figures they have on their hands. just my thought of course.

[zeze88]

Originally Posted by abrightyz

the brits actually said the Global Success Award is about worldwide sales of records for the year 2012.

And we actually ARE all talking about worldwide sales of 2012 by Adele - I think The Brits made a huge mistake... and I have a feeling that this award won't be there by 2014 or at least 2015.

And by the way, committees can make a mistake and do that all the time - look at the Oscar's Academy for not nominating Affleck for the Best Director

[jackbell]

I think they just wanted to give 1D an award so they would turn up and be present to accept it.

A manufactured award for a manufactured band. Enjoy it whilst it lasts ...

[sjp07]

Originally Posted by abrightyz

we're happy with the amount of success the boys had achieved so far. beyond our wildest imaginations really seeing them from individual schoolboys with pop star dreams to this record-breaking/making global phenomenon. no, we wouldn't want a Global Success Award if it should have gone to someone else instead.

Let's not pretend you were following these kids hopes to become a popstar before they were on x factor. They never entered the world of showbiz as just ordinary schoolboys with big hopes like somebody like Bieber. None of them were good enough so they were lumped together. I can't see how anyone didn't think they would smash, it's the perfect formula and their hadn't been a successful boy band since backstreet boys and nsync. It was perfect timing.

[gpk]

Originally Posted by abrightyz

the brits actually said the Global Success Award is about worldwide sales of records for the year 2012. i'm sure they can produce proof where they based their tally on. as said in various threads, everyone expected it to adele-- including 1D fans. it came as a pleasant surprise for us.


we're happy with the amount of success the boys had achieved so far. beyond our wildest imaginations really seeing them from individual schoolboys with pop star dreams to this record-breaking/making global phenomenon. no, we wouldn't want a Global Success Award if it should have gone to someone else instead.


but the brits wouldn't be that foolish i should think to award it to them without basis. i'm also interested in the figures they have on their hands. just my thought of course.

the quoted global sales that the brits used in the trailer for that award placed one direction with 9.5 million sales. adele sold 12.8 million in the states alone in 2012, while one direction sold 8.8. the figures seem wrong to me, because we know that one direction sold more than 700k elsewhere in the world last year. however, adele`s us sales trumps that quoted figure before you even look at the rest of the world.

[abrightyz]

Originally Posted by zeze88

Adele's singles in 2012 - Best selling single:

9. Set Fire To The Rain 3.6 million
11. Someone Like You - 3.2 million

Only What Makes You Beautiful reached the list at no. 22 with 2.2 million sales

That again is 6.6 million sales, while 1D sold 2.2 million.

2.2 is quite different from this DS quote of 3.89 making WMYB the US No6 Bestselling single of 2012:


The Top 10 best-selling singles in the US in 2012 are as follows:

1. Gotye: 'Somebody That I used To Know' (6.8m)
2. Carly Rae Jepsen: 'Call Me Maybe' (6.47m)
3. fun.: 'We Are Young' (5.95m)
4. Maroon 5 ft. Wiz Khalifa: 'Payphone' (4.76m)
5. Nicki Minaj: 'Starships' (3.98m)
6. One Direction: 'What Makes You Beautiful' (3.89m)
7. fun.: 'Some Nights' (3.84m)
8. Kelly Clarkson: 'Stronger' (3.82m)
9. Psy: 'Gangnam Style' (3.59m)
10. Maroon 5: 'One More Night' (3.46m)


http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/ne...e-of-2012.html

[abrightyz]

Originally Posted by sjp07

Let's not pretend you were following these kids hopes to become a popstar before they were on x factor. They never entered the world of showbiz as just ordinary schoolboys with big hopes like somebody like Bieber. None of them were good enough so they were lumped together. I can't see how anyone didn't think they would smash, it's the perfect formula and their hadn't been a successful boy band since backstreet boys and nsync. It was perfect timing.

BIB: who's pretending what?


were they not schoolboys when they applied for the x factor to try their luck?


i'm sure they were planning to only temporarily leave school whilst on the show. even the boys repeatedly express their surprise at hitting the big time and their appreciation of their fans for bringing them to where they are now.

[zeze88]

Originally Posted by abrightyz

2.2 is quite different from this DS quote of 3.89 making WMYB the US No6 Bestselling single of 2012:


The Top 10 best-selling singles in the US in 2012 are as follows:

1. Gotye: 'Somebody That I used To Know' (6.8m)
2. Carly Rae Jepsen: 'Call Me Maybe' (6.47m)
3. fun.: 'We Are Young' (5.95m)
4. Maroon 5 ft. Wiz Khalifa: 'Payphone' (4.76m)
5. Nicki Minaj: 'Starships' (3.98m)
6. One Direction: 'What Makes You Beautiful' (3.89m)
7. fun.: 'Some Nights' (3.84m)
8. Kelly Clarkson: 'Stronger' (3.82m)
9. Psy: 'Gangnam Style' (3.59m)
10. Maroon 5: 'One More Night' (3.46m)


http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/ne...e-of-2012.html

Even if that is right, it is still LESS than Adele's singles sales wordwide

[Chem]

Originally Posted by sjp07

She had a better year than everyone and didn't have to lift a finger. THAT is the epitome of global success.

I just find this insane on how she kept on selling. She probs will not have to lift a finger again money wise. People will keep on buying in the future

[yellowlabbie]

Originally Posted by abrightyz

BIB: who's pretending what?


were they not schoolboys when they applied for the x factor to try their luck?


i'm sure they were planning to only temporarily leave school whilst on the show. even the boys repeatedly express their surprise at hitting the big time and their appreciation of their fans for bringing them to where they are now.

This may be a silly question but could you explain to me what it is you like about them? I really do struggle with 1D with their limited 'talent'.

[gpk]

Originally Posted by zeze88

Even if that is right, it is still LESS than Adele's singles sales

it is right and here is where i got my official figures from. its lists everything there, including combined sales which puts adele way ahead of one direction in the us for sales in 2012.

[flyonthetable]

I think it is time to throw these figures here.

Best Selling British Singles of 2012 (source MusicWeek).

#1 One Direction - What Makes You Beautiful 4.8 million sold
#2 The Wanted - Glad You Came 3.8 million sold
#3 ADELE - Set Fire to the Rain 3.6 million sold
#3 Alex Claire - Too Close 3.6 million sold
#3 Ellie Goulding - Lights 3.6 million sold
#3 Coldplay - Paradise 3.6 million sold
#7 ADELE - Someone Like You 3.2 million sold
#8 ADELE - Skyfall 3 million sold
#9 ADELE - Rolling in the Deep 2.8 million sold
#10 Jessie J - Domino 2.6 million sold


CASE CLOSED, PERIOD!


There is an amazing thread on UKMIX covering all things related to sales and charting of Adele. http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopi...28&start=32140

[abrightyz]

Originally Posted by zeze88

Even if that is right, it is still LESS than Adele's singles sales wordwide

can you please quote your source?


i'm trying to look for sources of figures but google has too many inconsequential sites...


ETA i think someone else has just quoted a source above.