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The top 15 highest selling female artists of the SoundScan era


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Old 05-03-2015, 20:58
JakeXY
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This includes US album sales from 1991 onwards. It's solo artists only. Someone on the ATRL forum compiled it.

1) Mariah Carey (54,209,000)
2) Celine Dion (52,129,000)
3) Shania Twain (34,250,000)
4) Britney Spears (33,300,000)
5) Reba McEntire (30,118,000)
6) Madonna (29,300,000)
7) Taylor Swift (27,100,000)
8) Whitney Houston (26,716,000)
9) Enya (26,623,000)
10) Mary J Blige (24,500,000)
11) Cher (22,411,000)
12) LeAnn Rimes (21,650,000)
13) Alanis Morssiette (20,658,000)
14) Faith Hill (20,105,000)
15) Janet Jackson (20,092,931)
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Old 07-03-2015, 01:11
inland16
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I find it very impressive that Taylor Swift has made it onto this list, considering she started around the time album sales were starting to see a decline. Just proves how much of a big star she has become in recent years. Her album sales continue to be strong to this present day.
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Old 07-03-2015, 01:39
NoughtiesMusic
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Seeing my girls Mary and Janet on that list makes me smile

Surprised Beyonce didn't make it into the top 10 though.
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Old 07-03-2015, 03:04
coun3spice
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surprised that Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry are not on the list
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Old 07-03-2015, 08:50
Hollie_Louise
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Happy to see most of them on that list. Was pretty shocked to see LeAnn though. I imagine with the exception of Taylor, those sales will remain quite close to what they are now.

According to the Wiki certifications of Beyoncé, Rihanna and Katy, they've only sold 12, 8.5 and 4 million albums respectively in the US so quite a long way off the list really.
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Old 07-03-2015, 09:11
little-monster
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surprised that Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry are not on the list
I'm not. Katy and Rihanna's albums don't sell a huge load in the US. They normally sell more worldwide.

As for Beyonce, maybe in a few more albums she will make the list

As for Taylor, her albums normally sell at least 5-6 million per album. Not a shock

Enya and LeAnn rimes surprise me the most. I knew they were successful in their own right but never knew they sold so many albums.
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Old 07-03-2015, 16:58
Hav_mor91
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I find it very impressive that Taylor Swift has made it onto this list, considering she started around the time album sales were starting to see a decline. Just proves how much of a big star she has become in recent years. Her album sales continue to be strong to this present day.
It's because Taylor started off as country which is a huge genre stateside then she did ''country-pop'' and now pop meaning she straddles the two largest genre's see Shania Twain.
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Old 07-03-2015, 17:09
cnbcwatcher
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Seeing Britney on that list makes me happy
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Old 07-03-2015, 17:18
Living4Love
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It's because Taylor started off as country which is a huge genre stateside then she did ''country-pop'' and now pop meaning she straddles the two largest genre's see Shania Twain.
Thats very true. 5 of those on the list are country artists. There are strong rumours that Christina's next album will be country influence. Be interesting to see if that direction works for her.
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Old 07-03-2015, 17:55
mialicious
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Thats only american female sales in the USA..pretty sure adele is in the mix.
seems like bollocks.
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Old 07-03-2015, 17:57
Hav_mor91
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Thats very true. 5 of those on the list are country artists. There are strong rumours that Christina's next album will be country influence. Be interesting to see if that direction works for her.
As much as dislike her it is still impressive but none too surprising when country shifts huge units. And that will be interesting good luck to her .
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Old 07-03-2015, 18:07
boysforpele
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its a shame for Cher, Tina, Madonna and Whitney as they had huge selling albums in the 80s too.

Madonna, Whitney - 80s big album sellers
Mariah, Celine, Shania, Janis - clearly were 90s big sellers
Britney late 90s - 00s big seller
Gaga and Taylor late 00s to 10's big seller
Adele 21 - need I say any more?


Rihanna, Katy P and Ri-Ri have never been big album sellers but this is changing. Madonna has perhaps had the biggest album sales over the most decades. 2m world wide is currently now the benchmark as global success.

It used to be 10m album sales were outstanding
5m a global success

Now it is 5m as outstanding and 2m as a global success....

The climate has changed
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Old 07-03-2015, 18:14
boysforpele
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the list of belling selling albums is very telling


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...selling_albums
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Old 07-03-2015, 18:33
Living4Love
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Madonna's album sales are simply outstanding. To have one album sell over 25 million is impressive but to have several really does make your jaw hit the floor. It many ways it was obvious that sort of thing couldn't be sustained but what amazes me most is the fact Music sold 4 million in 7 days! When at her peak Madonna really was untouchable. It really makes me wonder just how much MORE she would have sold if downloads had been around back then.
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Old 07-03-2015, 19:28
Hollie_Louise
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Thats only american female sales in the USA..pretty sure adele is in the mix.
seems like bollocks.
Nope. Adele has sold 13 million albums in the US so 7 million certified sales behind Janet.
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Old 07-03-2015, 20:25
vdp2791
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surprised that Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry are not on the list
Really? I'm not remotely. Beyoncé I could somewhat understand but neither Rihanna or Katy have ever been album artists.
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Old 07-03-2015, 22:34
spursboy68
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This includes US album sales from 1991 onwards. It's solo artists only. Someone on the ATRL forum compiled it.

1) Mariah Carey (54,209,000)
2) Celine Dion (52,129,000)
3) Shania Twain (34,250,000)
4) Britney Spears (33,300,000)
5) Reba McEntire (30,118,000)
6) Madonna (29,300,000)
7) Taylor Swift (27,100,000)
8) Whitney Houston (26,716,000)
9) Enya (26,623,000)
10) Mary J Blige (24,500,000)
11) Cher (22,411,000)
12) LeAnn Rimes (21,650,000)
13) Alanis Morssiette (20,658,000)
14) Faith Hill (20,105,000)
15) Janet Jackson (20,092,931)
Mariah. Where she should be. End of.
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Old 08-03-2015, 02:59
StratusSphere
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Madonna's album sales are simply outstanding. To have one album sell over 25 million is impressive but to have several really does make your jaw hit the floor. It many ways it was obvious that sort of thing couldn't be sustained but what amazes me most is the fact Music sold 4 million in 7 days! When at her peak Madonna really was untouchable. It really makes me wonder just how much MORE she would have sold if downloads had been around back then.
Yes imagine! although their sales can still get a boost from downloads now too
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Old 08-03-2015, 09:47
NoughtiesMusic
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Mary J Blige's US album sales dipped in the past 5 or 6 years. But until her 2005 album The Breakthrough, she was selling very well. One of those R&B artists who crossed over legitimately.

Also, how many sales does Toni Braxton have? The sales for her first two album were incredible.

Is the list only compiling solo artists? I'm pretty sure TLC would rank pretty well. CrazySexyCool went Diamond in America and Fan Mail sold strongly too.
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Old 08-03-2015, 10:04
little-monster
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Mary J Blige's US album sales dipped in the past 5 or 6 years. But until her 2005 album The Breakthrough, she was selling very well. One of those R&B artists who crossed over legitimately.

Also, how many sales does Toni Braxton have? The sales for her first two album were incredible.

Is the list only compiling solo artists? I'm pretty sure TLC would rank pretty well. CrazySexyCool went Diamond in America and Fan Mail sold strongly too.
The OP does say solo female artists only
TLC would rank high though if it was based on girl groups.

Now i looked into Toni's US sales

First album - 8 million
2nd album - 8 million
3rd album - 2 million
4th album - 500k
5th album - 300k
6th album - 400k
7th album - 150k
8th album - 200k
Greatest hits - 500k

I think she falls somewhere in the top 20/25
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Old 08-03-2015, 16:40
Quixotic
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Madonna's album sales are simply outstanding. To have one album sell over 25 million is impressive but to have several really does make your jaw hit the floor. It many ways it was obvious that sort of thing couldn't be sustained but what amazes me most is the fact Music sold 4 million in 7 days! When at her peak Madonna really was untouchable. It really makes me wonder just how much MORE she would have sold if downloads had been around back then.

It wasn’t only Madonna who achieved huge record sales like that in the 1980s. Whitney Houston’s debut album has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, including 13 million in the US alone (more than any Madonna album), and her second album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. She has also sold over 45 million copies of the 1992 soundtrack to The Bodyguard. She probably would've sold more albums than Madonna had she released more music in the 1980s and 1990s.

Celine Dion has released two albums that have both sold over 30 million copies worldwide and two others that have both sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Mariah Carey has released two albums that have sold over 30 million copies and 25 million copies worldwide. Shania Twain and Britney Spears have both released two albums that have sold over 30 million and 20 million copies worldwide. Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

It's strange that none of Madonna's studio albums have reached the 30 million sales mark worldwide. The Immaculate collection has, but it's a greatest hits album. I wonder why Whitney, Britney, Mariah, Shania, Celine and Alanis all sold 30 million copies of a studio album at the peak of their careers but Madonna didn't. Even Adele has managed to. By the way, The Spice Girls reportedly sold five million copies of Spiceworld in one week in 1997. Alanis Morissette sold over four million copies of Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie in one week in 1998.

On a side note, Michael Jackson’s album sales dwarf Madonna’s. Thriller has sold an estimated 65 million copies worldwide which is roughly what Madonna’s three biggest selling albums have sold combined. Thriller has sold 30 million copies in the US which is nearly half of Madonna’s total US record sales to date. Bad and Dangerous have both sold well over 30 million copies worldwide and Off the Wall and HIStory have both sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
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Old 08-03-2015, 16:44
Living4Love
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It wasn’t only Madonna who achieved huge record sales like that in the 1980s. Whitney Houston’s debut album has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, including 13 million in the US alone (more than any Madonna album), and her second album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. She has also sold over 45 million copies of the 1992 soundtrack to The Bodyguard. She probably would've sold more albums than Madonna had she released more music in the 1980s and 1990s.

Celine Dion has released two albums that have both sold over 30 million copies worldwide and two others that have both sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Mariah Carey has released two albums that have sold over 30 million copies and 25 million copies worldwide. Shania Twain and Britney Spears have both released two albums that have sold over 30 million and 20 million copies worldwide. Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

It's strange that none of Madonna's studio albums have reached the 30 million sales mark worldwide. The Immaculate collection has, but it's a greatest hits album. I wonder why Whitney, Britney, Mariah, Shania, Celine and Alanis all sold 30 million copies of a studio album at the peak of their careers but Madonna didn't. Even Adele has managed to. By the way, The Spice Girls reportedly sold five million copies of Spiceworld in one week in 1997. Alanis Morissette sold over four million copies of Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie in one week in 1998.

On a side note, Michael Jackson’s album sales dwarf Madonna’s. Thriller has sold an estimated 65 million copies worldwide which is roughly what Madonna’s three biggest selling albums have sold combined. Thriller has sold 30 million copies in the US which is nearly half of Madonna’s total US record sales to date. Bad and Dangerous have both sold well over 30 million copies worldwide and Off the Wall and HIStory have both sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
I'm not really interested in the sales of others which is why I only commented on the sales of Madonna. An artist I am interested in. Unlike you it would seem I don't view sales of an artist as a competition or the be all and end all. I'm well aware of what all the others sold (I adore Britney and Whitney) but my interest is in Madonna.

I imagine the reason Madonna falls short is because she has always managed to split opinion right down the middle with her views and opinions. Madonna has never been the golden girl next door or America's Sweetheart and that is why Madonna is where she is. Madonna is not and has never been a safe artist.

So keep posting all these stats everytime I post in an effort to convince yourself Madonna isn't that great but I should let you know they are irrelevant to me and at the end of the day Madonna will remain the biggest selling female of all time, at least for the foreseeable, no matter how much you try to discredit that.
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Old 08-03-2015, 20:43
BeatsDuJour
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I'm not surprised that Mariah and Celine are #1 and #2. Their album and single sales during the 1990s were incredible. Mariah had 14 #1 hit singles on the Hot 100 between 1990 and 1999 alone and 18 in total, the most by a female artist. One Sweet Day spent an incredible 16 weeks at #1 in the mid-1990s (still the longest-running #1 in history) and We Belong Together spent 14 weeks at #1. Billboard named We Belong Together the most successful song between 2000 and 2009. Mariah has spent a total of 79 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100, the most by any artist. She was also the first female artist to have three singles debut at #1 and the first female artist to have her first five singles all hit #1. Music Box has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, and Daydream has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. She owned the 1990s. Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston are the only female artists to have released singles that have sold 15 million copies worldwide. Amazing.
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Old 08-03-2015, 20:49
Ellie_Arbuckle
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Did Kylie not make this list?!! lol
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Old 08-03-2015, 20:52
Ellie_Arbuckle
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I'm not surprised that Mariah and Celine are #1 and #2. Their album and single sales during the 1990s were incredible. Mariah had 14 #1 hit singles on the Hot 100 between 1990 and 1999 alone and 18 in total, the most by a female artist. One Sweet Day spent an incredible 16 weeks at #1 in the mid-1990s (still the longest-running #1 in history) and We Belong Together spent 14 weeks at #1. Billboard named We Belong Together the most successful song between 2000 and 2009. Mariah has spent a total of 79 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100, the most by any artist. She was also the first female artist to have three singles debut at #1 and the first female artist to have her first five singles all hit #1. Music Box has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, and Daydream has sold over 25 million copies worldwide. She owned the 1990s. Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Whitney Houston are the only female artists to have released singles that have sold 15 million copies worldwide. Amazing.
Mariah's achievements are incredible because she wrote her own stuff. Whitney would have surpassed her and Madonna if she had released more material at her peak however like Celine her songs were all written for her.
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