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(Credits: Far Out / ACDC / Shawn Miller / Library of Congress / Kenny G / Tilly Antoine)
When tallying up the commercial fortunes of rock and pop’s biggest names, there’s often a mismatch between the mammoth sellers and their place in esteemed, critical consensus.
It’s no surprises that The Beatles confidently sit at the top spot, boasting just shy of 300million certified sales, but claimed units as high as 600m, with Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley respectively enjoying silver and bronze medal with their count well into 200m. But Elton John at fourth place? Really? Sure he’s a lauded artist with an acclaimed songbook, but would you have guessed the ‘Rocket Man’s’ dwelling in such a lofty sales stature?
One has to shake off the rockism that skews the musical lay of the land for many of a certain generation to avoid surprises. We all know Barbados pop sensation Rihanna is one of the world’s mega stars, but even the most committed poptimists may not quite have expected the ‘Umbrella’ singer to stand boldly as the eighth biggest-selling artists of all time, sitting atop a hefty over 411m certified sales. This is leagues above the likes of Aretha Franklin, who just nudges the league tables with a paltry 27m.
Music’s monster artists can chart an intriguing beeline around perceived good taste, through radio ubiquity, or the memory’s recollections of just exactly who were the cultural titans that spun the era’s essential soundtrack. Join us as we select, in ascending order, the gargantuan sales acts whose commercial successes make you go ‘What?!’
Five artists who’ve had unpreceedented commercial success:
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