Who sold 1 billion records?

Only two artists are credited with reaching the symbolic milestone of the 1 billion records sold around the world: the Beatles and Elvis Presley.

However, this figure is based on an outdated counting method that has never been certified by official bodies such as the RIAA. Michael Jackson, on the other hand, revolves more around 350 to 400 million records. We'll explain everything!

How are these sales figures calculated?

The famous 1 billion records sold assigned to the Beatles and to Elvis Presley comes from a counting method used in the 1980s. This approach mechanically inflates the totals:

• a 45s (two songs) counts as 1 unit ;
• An EP or «super 45» (four songs) is worth 2 units ;
• a album is counted as 6 units, or one per track.

With modern methods in album equivalents, the numbers are falling significantly. According to ChartMasters, them Beatles amount to, rather than 520 million records. They are still, however, the the best-selling band in history, but a billion isn't a certified official record : This is an estimate based on an older calculation.

1. The Beatles: the band that has sold over a billion records

The Beatles is the best-selling band in history. This quartet from Liverpool was founded by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. The drummer Ringo Starr joined the team in 1962, giving it its final composition.

In just 7 years of recordings (from 1962 to 1969), the Beatles have engraved 12 studio albums and nearly 200 songs. Timeless songs that explain their unique influence on the entire’history of rock. For many experts, they remain the greatest artist of all time, whether as a group or a solo artist.

Here are 5 key figures that sum up their success:

• 600 million : the record sales figure claimed by the band.
• 73 million : the number of people who watched their first television appearance in the United States, the February 9, 1964.
• 40,000 pounds sterling : the cost of producing the album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.
• More than 3,000 covers recorded by artists from around the world for the famous song Yesterday.
• 25 albums ranked No. 1 in sales in the United States, a record.

2. The King: Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was born on January 8, 1935 at Tupelo, in the Mississippi. He's nicknamed «The King» Where «The King of Rock and Roll», a title that reflects his pioneering role in this musical style. His breakthrough began as early as 1954 at Sun Records, and " Heartbreak Hotel » reached the top spot on the charts as soon as 1956.

Throughout his career, he has made a name for himself in several genres at once: the country, the pop, the gospel and the rock. Her fans love her just as much for her voice as for her provocative stage presence, which caused a scandal at the time. Her career came to an abrupt end on August 16, 1977, who suffered a cardiac arrest at just 42 years old.

When it comes to record sales, the figures vary widely depending on the method used. Official sources such as Graceland are moving forward more than one billion records sold worldwide. Using modern methodologies from certified organizations (RIAA, IFPI), estimates are significantly lower than that billion.

In both cases, Presley remains one of the biggest-selling artists of all time and one of the most beloved singers in the world.

3. The King of Pop: Michael Jackson (did not reach 1 billion in sales)

Nicknamed The King of Pop, Michael Jackson is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, and actor. Born on August 29, 1958 to Gary and who died on June 25, 2009 In Los Angeles, he was the eighth child from his family and was already singing with his brothers at a very young age. His professional career began in 11 years in the group of Jackson Five, before he embarked on a solo career starting in 1971.

His five albums, which have left their mark on music history, have become absolute classics:

• Off the Wall (1979)
• Thriller (1982)
• Bad (1987)
• Dangerous (1991)
• HIStory (1995)

Between his moonwalk With his iconic status and unique vocal styles, Michael has captivated hundreds of millions of fans. His album Thriller stay the the best-selling album of all time, with nearly 100 million copies that have passed.

When it comes to total sales, we often see the figure of 500 million records. In reality, the most reliable estimates (including both albums and singles) place him closer to between 350 and 400 million, a total not certified by the RIAA. So Michael Jackson never crossed the symbolic threshold of the 1 billion records sold.

Other Major Record Labels

Michael, Elvis, and the Beatles aren't the only ones at the top. Many other artists have also sold hundreds of millions of records worldwide.

Artists such as Garth Brooks, Whitney Houston, Billy Joel Where Bing Crosby are also among the largest catalogs in the history of music.

If you want to know where buy music online To support your favorite artists, here's a look at some of the best-selling artists of all time:

Between the Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, which one do you prefer?

If one of their songs left a lasting impression on you during your teenage years, find out how the download on Spotify.