List of best-selling albums
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | This is a list of the world's best-selling albums. The criteria are that the figure must have been published by a reliable source and the album must have sold at least 20 million copies worldwide. This list can contain any types of albums, including [[studio album]]s, [[greatest hits]], [[Compilation album|compilations]], various artists, [[soundtrack]]s and [[Remix album|remixes]]. | ||
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| + | All albums included on this list have their available claimed figure(s) supported by at least 30% in certified copies. The percentage amount of certified sales needed increases the newer the album is, so albums released before 1975 are only expected to have their claimed figures <!--These must be international or worldwide, not just American sales figures.-->supported by at least 30% in certified copies. However, newer albums, such as ''[[21 (Adele album)|21]]'' and ''[[Come Away with Me]]'', are expected to have their claimed figures supported by at least 70% in certified copies. Certified copies are sourced from available online databases of local [[music industry]] associations. | ||
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| + | Please do not add any albums into this section whose claimed figures are lower than 20 million. Also, keep in mind that all claimed figures must be published by reliable sources. To promote high levels of fact checking and editorial control, this list should source sales figures to news organizations and highly regarded music industry related organizations such as [[MTV]], [[VH1]], [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] and [[Rolling Stone]]. | ||
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| + | This is the reason why albums that would otherwise make the list, such as ''[[The Sound of Music (soundtrack)|The Sound of Music]]'', ''[[Parallel Lines]]'', ''[[In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (album)|In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida]]'', ''[[Spirits Having Flown]]'', ''[[Janet (album)|Janet]]'', ''[[Believe (Cher album)|Believe]]'', ''Bolo Ta Ra Ra'', ''[[Human Clay]]'', ''A Voice on the Ocean'', and ''[[Back to Black]]'', have not been included. | ||
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| + | As a result of the methodology that the American and Canadian certification-awarding bodies (the [[RIAA]] and [[Music Canada]] respectively) use, each disc in a multi-disc set is counted as one unit toward certification, leading to many double albums on the list—such as [[Pink Floyd]]'s ''[[The Wall]]'' and [[the Beatles]]' ''[[The Beatles (album)|The Beatles]]''—being certified with a number double the number of copies sold there. Such albums have the certifications for the number of copies (not discs) shipped indicated. | ||
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| + | Conversely, the American certification level for double albums that fit onto one [[compact disc]], such as the ''[[Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack)|Saturday Night Fever]]'' [[soundtrack]] reflect the actual number of copies sold. | ||
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| + | The figures given do not take into account the [[resale]] of [[used good|used]] albums. | ||
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| + | [[Michael Jackson]]'s ''[[Thriller (Michael Jackson album)|Thriller]]'', estimated to have sold between 51 to 65 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album. Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] follows up with four while [[The Beatles]], [[Whitney Houston]] and [[Celine Dion]] each have three. | ||
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| + | Entries without references will be deleted immediately, per [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources]] | ||
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This is a list of the world's best-selling albums. The criteria are that the figure must have been published by a reliable source and the album must have sold at least 20 million copies worldwide. This list can contain any types of albums, including studio albums, greatest hits, compilations, various artists, soundtracks and remixes.
All albums included on this list have their available claimed figure(s) supported by at least 30% in certified copies. The percentage amount of certified sales needed increases the newer the album is, so albums released before 1975 are only expected to have their claimed figures supported by at least 30% in certified copies. However, newer albums, such as 21 and Come Away with Me, are expected to have their claimed figures supported by at least 70% in certified copies. Certified copies are sourced from available online databases of local music industry associations.
This is the reason why albums that would otherwise make the list, such as The Sound of Music, Parallel Lines, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Spirits Having Flown, Janet, Believe, Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Human Clay, A Voice on the Ocean, and Back to Black, have not been included.
As a result of the methodology that the American and Canadian certification-awarding bodies (the RIAA and Music Canada respectively) use, each disc in a multi-disc set is counted as one unit toward certification, leading to many double albums on the list—such as Pink Floyd's The Wall and the Beatles' The Beatles—being certified with a number double the number of copies sold there. Such albums have the certifications for the number of copies (not discs) shipped indicated.
Conversely, the American certification level for double albums that fit onto one compact disc, such as the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack reflect the actual number of copies sold.
The figures given do not take into account the resale of used albums.
Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold between 51 to 65 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album. Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, Madonna follows up with four while The Beatles, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion each have three.
