Both are iconic figures in the music industry, with Elvis being considered the "King of Rock and Roll" and Garth Brooks being the biggest-selling solo artist in the US. That share dropped year after year until hitting a low of 39% and a high of 61% abroad in 1960 thanks to Its Now Or Never and You Are Lonesome Tonight? The album ITS Christmas Time sold over 17 million copies in the United States. Because the majority of the Beatles songs were written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, much of their royalties go to their estates. Led Zeppelin has over 112 million albums sold worldwide, making it one of the worlds best-selling bands. If we take that one step further and add 250,000 units as an average on all Gold albums (half of the difference between 500,000 and 999.,999, we find that The Beatles and Garth Brooks have only albums that have platinum status and therefore get no additional figures: Elvis 38 Gold x 250,000 = 9.5 mil. You might argue that these conditions are the same for all artists, which indeed they are, but because of the ever changing ways of releasing music over the past decades, the consequences are quite remarkable in that the more albums you have released, the more sales you lose by being under and in between levels. His recordings were released over and over again on numerous singles, EPs, albums and CDs. However, for any one individual, company or institution to be preoccupied with sales achievement alone detracts from one of the most enjoyable elements of music the listening. In the United States, it was marketed to 100,000 people. But, how many albums did this iconic band actually sell? Steppenwolf has sold over 25 million records worldwide, released eight gold albums and 12 Billboard Hot 100 singles, of which six were top 40 hits, including three top 10 successes: Born to Be Wild, Magic Carpet Ride, and Rock Me. Although the Beatles were only a byproduct of the changing times, their popularity transformed the face of music. The Beatles first appearance on the market a watershed moment in The Beatles careers. The band was more than just a band; they became icons as a result. (function() { We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The true start of Presleys career has been insane. Elvis did not sell 1 billion records by 1982, which claim first appeared via an article in the 'Washington Post' dated 12 July of that year and quoted RCA as its source. In 1956 Elvis first album sold 300,000 thousand copies and his single of Hound Dog and Dont Be Cruel sold more than 3 million in comparison. He is the only person in the music industry to have done so. Only The Beatles, with 1 million album sales, have sold more albums than the other two. However Hilary Rosen is absolutely right when she has Garth topping the lists according to the accepted rules of RIAA certifications. As a reminder, Soundscan is the process which scans every sale . In addition to selling over a billion singles in the United States, the Beatles have sold over 177 million albums. Beatles lead Elvis in #1 records Presley placed 102 titles in Billboards top 40, while The Beatles had 50 entries that made it that far up the chart. The Beatles: 600 Million Records Sold - taprootmusic.com on the Come Back show in 1968. Elvis with a shorter career outsold Mj. Want to explore the king's home yourself? If Every Day Is Christmas As It Should Be, A Million Like It Is. Those two were undoubtedly influential figures in the world of music. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Is Elvis the Biggest Selling Recording Artist? This album was one of the bands most important and rockiest records and a defining moment in their history. The group toured and performed throughout the world during the following years, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. He is best known for his hits Youll Never Walk Alone and ARTIST OF THE CENTURY, as well as covers of songs by Elvis, the Beach Boys, and others. Additionally, the Stones have had more #1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart than the Beatles, with nine versus the Beatles seven. This year, 49,483 orders have been placed. I can understand the Beatles selling over 85% of their albums post break up given that they were still a major chart force and had been successful for less than a decade whereas Elvis had been a superstar for 21 years but, by 1977 his record sales no longer dominated the charts as they had for the years 1956-63. The total of 135 million puts him nearly 20 million ahead of the Beatles in physical singles sales. If I recall correctly, this was a unique situation where a pressing plant wasRead more . Elvis Presley's records spent a cumulative total of 1,155 weeks on the UK singles chart since his first hit Heartbreak Hotel released on May 11, 1956. The Bee Gees have sold more than 220 million records worldwide, making them one of the worlds best-selling music artists of all time. In 1971, NARAS also recognized him with their Lifetime Achievement Award (known then as the Bing Crosby Award in honor of its first recipient). MORE:View Elvis Presley's full Official UK Singles & Albums Chart history. Tupac has sold 75 million records worldwide whereas Biggie Smalls has sold 58 million. The RIAA does not count any sales of any artist outside the U.S.A. As an example Its Now Or Never sold 1.2 million in England alone, as much as it did in the US. Abbey Road, the Beatles 1969 album, is regarded as the best album in history. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 1 hits that spent 62 weeks on the charts. New Total: 109, Beatles 36 Platinum x 500,000 = 18.0 mil. Jay-Z has sold over 50 million albums and 75 million . These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The Most Successful Recording Artist of All Time IS Elvis Presley. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The Beatles have released thirteen studio albums, twenty EPs, and twenty-two singles, whereas BTS has released six studio albums, five EPs, and twenty-two singles. When touring Graceland, you will see gold and platinum Elvis records and awards of all kinds from around the world. I could smell his cologne! My friend immediatly ordered any Elvis product available-he was told RCA had sold out but was putting their plants into 3 shifts and were contracting with Capital and Colombia records to use their plants to produce Elvis records. How many gold records did Elvis get?. Over the course of Elvis life, he achieved some of the highest accolades in music and film. The United States devoured the album and purchased a million copies in a single day. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The 1960s were a decade of musical creativity and talent, with a diverse range of artists making their mark and some, like Ken Dodd, even outselling the Beatles. Amazingly, his singles cumulatively topped 5 million during 10 consecutive years. Maybe even more impressive is the volume of ground breaking smashes Presley amassed through the years. FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInSnapchatPinterestTiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom, Otto - Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Most Guinness World Records titles held. juke-box musical which has now played to over 54m people worldwide, the bands records continue to sell. Who sold more records Elvis or Garth Brooks? The RIAA can GO TO HELL along with all the other politicized organizations (such as the Academy of Country Music) which have always gone out of their way to diminish Elvis achievements and legacy. Rating. The closest battles for Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart, Artists with the most Number 1 singles on the UK chart, Every artist who has scored the Official UK Chart double, See the biggest songs of the year so far including Miley Cyrus, RAYE, PinkPantheress and more, Can David Kushner catch up to Calvin & Ellie, Battle lines already drawn for next week's UK Number 1 album race, Calvin & Ellie beat David Kushner to Number 1 in close race, Enter Shikari net first-ever Number 1 album with A Kiss for the Whole World, HMV's Oxford Street flagship store is making a comeback, This week's New Releases: Jessie, Jack, Labrinth and Freya, Rudimental celebrate Home's 10 year anniversary on the Official Chart, Conor Maynard returns with Storage: First Listen. 4. American singer Elvis Presley released his debut album in 1956. As a result, now is the time to invest in Elvis music. Both The Beatles and Elvis Presley had 14 No. The root cause appears on this page. It is interesting to note that, except for a handful of movie soundtrack songs, Elvis did not record in other languages, and, except for five shows in three Canadian cities in 1957, he did not perform concerts outside the United States. The Rolling Stones have released 30 studio albums, 34 live albums, 29 compilation albums, three extended play singles, 121 singles, 33 box sets, 48 video albums, 77 music videos, and 29 live albums in addition to their 30 studio albums, 34 live albums, 29 compilation albums, three In addition to their record sales, they have sold more than 240 million records throughout their careers. Elvis's second bestselling single is 1958's Jailhouse Rock (985,500 sales), the theme song of the motion picture he also starred in, and Are You Lonesome Tonight? SOLID ROCKS has sold over 100,000 copies and was certified by the RIAA to be Platinum. The tradition of giving also continues through the work of the Elvis fan clubs worldwide, most of which are heavily involved in charitable endeavors in Elvis' memory. Elvis record label, RCA Records, (owned by BMG) and all of us at Graceland/EPE completely understand and share the Elvis fans frustration. More than anyone who debuted after him, that means more than the Beatles, among many others. We ask of the RIAA to be more factual and accurate with their press releases. 1956 - Elvis Presley - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You [Orphan] - 1,230,000 51. Throughout the 70s I was lucky enough to see him in concert in Phoenix AZ, Tempe AZ, and twice in Las Vegas. They were in a quandary between artistically daring pomp and artistically daring direction. What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? The future may require completely different ways of measuring sales, when downloading of individual recordings will be an accepted way of selling music. Of course, Its Now Or Never is nowhere near the 20 million sales often claimed. But despite his untimely death aged just 42, Elvis remains one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of all time and an icon of the '50s and '60s. GET IN TOUCH WITH A RECORD SPECIALIST (Opens in a new window), How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. var cx = 'partner-pub-3868619518247857:4666236348'; Over the course of Elvis' life, he achieved some of the highest accolades in music and film. Donate to Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation. How many records have ABBA sold world-wide? Elvis Presley is second with 149 million units sold, followed by Garth Brooks with 157 million. With the 1960s, there was an unprecedented amount of musical creativity, as well as a wide range of genres, styles, and artists making their mark on the decade. If you continue using our website, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website and you agree to our Privacy Policy. Still LOVE this guy so much. 1957 - Elvis Presley - Take My Hand, Precious Lord [Elvis' Christmas Album] - 1,280,000 50. Its Now Or Never emerges at the top with 5,42 million units sold. 3717 Elvis Presley Blvd. It was released by the Fab Four in 1964, and it is perhaps their most complete pop pomp distillation. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? The memorial opened a year later. Elvis Presley's US album sales - ChartMasters He is best known for his songs I Got Lucky, How Great Thou Art, and The King of Rock and Roll. Elvis Presley was famous for giving away cars, cash and jewelry, often on the spur of the moment. Only a fraction of Elvis Presleys sales are captured by the RIAA but in spite of all Elvis is still their most certified artist! There were about 10 people, including me, that found a way to get close to him back stage and he was RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! This article is years old and the figures well out by today but the argument is still there.It seems Elvis Presley Enterprises and his record company put nothing into getting Elvis fully recognised as far as his sales figures are concerned.Saying that Garth Brooks is the biggest selling solo artist in history is nonsense not only because it is not true and they know it but also it only covers USA sales and does not cover the rest of the world where Brooks would not even come in the top 50 let alone number 1.The sooner this misrepresentation of musical history is sorted out the better. Elvis Presley also holds more all time records than ANYBODY this includes The Beatles (as an entity they are NOT bigger than Elvis Presley). In America alone, Elvis has had 150 different albums and singles that have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with more certifications expected as research into his past record sales continues and as current sales go on. . Elvis, however, has more than 200 non-certified! How many records did Elvis sell when he was alive? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He can fill half a dozen 12-tracks playlists with half a million sellers. After all these years I cannot believe how lucky I was. Its hard to believe its been 50 years since The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, with millions of viewers listening to their classic songs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These figures are only for the pop charts and only in America. Elvis 1975 Cadillac is being auctioned in Sweden, How Did Elvis Die? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Or is it Garth Brooks? In addition to The Beatles, Sony/ATV owns rights to songs by Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Hank Williams, and Roy Orbison, among others. Top-selling artists worldwide from 1954 to 2016 Second is Elvis Presley with almost 207 million sales, followed by Michael Jackson with 169.7 million. For a full list of record titles, please use our Record Application Search. (Note: the chart is based on all-time sales of all Elvis digital track and physical single releases up to August 2017), View Elvis Presley's full Official UK Singles & Albums Chart history, Rock A Hula Baby / Can't Help Falling In Love*, A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight*, (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame / Little Sister*, It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You). The Ellis Song catalog sold 90,860 copies. Back then I must have spent months trying to determine the accuracy of those releases that had achieved Gold Award status rather than simply taking all of the hype as gospel. 922,601 of the latter are not counted. Memphis, TN 38116 The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". New Total: 168, Garth 12 Platinum x 500,000 6.0 mil. Then we should add the missing RCA numbers sold in the 12 months after his death and the 81 million singles we can document, the RIAA statement reaches the absolute absurdity. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In France and Italy he hasnt make it because of a lack of success. ELVIS PRESLEY album sales - BestSellingAlbums.org Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Elvis Presley is an American icon of the 1950s, and his music was popular among teenagers across the country. I NEVER had any doubt!! 1961 - Elvis Presley - Flaming Star [Orphan] - 1,180,000 Please note that an estimated 300,000 units can be added for various additional releases of this nature. The motive is clear to further each individuals own interest, regardless of historical accuracy and the grand perspective of it all. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. We get tons of inquiries about Elvis record sales his total sales, his total RIAA gold/platinum certifications, comparisons of Elvis to other artists, etc. The album from "Blue Hawaii" was number one for 20 weeks and was on the chart for 79 weeks. Obviously, he was also popular in Canada but singles have never been that big there. The continuous media hype rages on each year as new methods of calculating sales converge with ever-changing consumer buying patterns and new technologies. Career totals have also been quoted through the years by Jorgensen and NME while the Worldwide Gold Awards compilation listed every song that made it past a million globally. (You will need to register / login for access) In terms of numbers, The Beatles have sold 42.5 million more albums in the U.S. than Elvis, yet Elvis sold 25.5 million more singles than The Beatles. Rounding off the Top 5 is The Wonder Of You. While Elvis Presley may have surpassed the Beatles in terms of fame, the King of Rock n Roll is still considered the greatest. While both acts have achieved incredible success in their own right, it is clear that Elvis Presley stands as the solo artist with the most number one hits in the United States. Heres a look at The Beatles as well. So whereas the controlled release policy of The Beatles repertoire worked fine towards RIAA certifications, Elvis classic songs were spread over as many as 30 or 40 releases. The performances and concert merchandise sales were a benefit raising $75,000 for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund in Hawaii. In August 1992, he was awarded with 110 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and singles, the largest presentation of gold and platinum record awards in history. As consultants to RCA Records we are 100% convinced that Elvis is the biggest selling artist of all time we hope you are, too! Meanwhile, critically rehabilitated and driven on by the Mamma Mia! 49. During his career, Elvis sold over one billion records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. All rights reserved. Luckily, we have much more data about each of them. The Beatles have reigned as the number one band on the charts since they burst onto the music scene in the 1960s and have gone on to become one of the most influential bands in history. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Fans have come to know them for decades as a result of their music, which has resulted in a massive catalog of timeless hits. A total of 162,247,784 albums were sold by Elvis Presley, including 140,450,001 in the United States and 9,881,000 in the United Kingdom. so as all records were sold out so elvis did sold 2 billion records after . Garth Brooks is not the best selling solo artist of all time, but he is the highest certified album artist in the US, according to the rules of the RIAA and his achievement should be congratulated. [3] This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Some of the countries represented are: Norway, Yugoslavia, Japan, Australia, South Africa, England, Sweden, Germany, France, Canada, Belgium, and The Netherlands. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; Radio stations throughout the world played the king's music. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. In addition to his music and film career, his three network television specials"Elvis" (1968), "Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii, via Satellite" (1973), and "Elvis in Concert" (1977)stand among the most highly rated specials of their time. Plan your ultimate trip to Graceland with our Plan Your Visit tool. Since there is no pricing issue, no multi-discs troubles and almost exclusively RCA records concerned, their RIAA tally is fairly straightforward and clear. When I formed my band at the tender age of 12, James stated, I never thought it would go so well. One notable fact is that Ken Dodd outsold the Beatles in the 1960s. As for the Billboard Singles Chart I regarded that as a sales indicator with some reservation havingRead more , ROBERT/ My previous comments noting SINGLES sales of Elvis Presley product before 1977 are noted to add to your CHARTMASTERS update of September, 2018./ These are LATER sales to add.