Madonna is the best selling female recording artist of all time. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Madonna is the most successful female solo artist, having sold around 120 million albums and 40 million singles (estimation); a combined total more than any other female singer worldwide, since 1982.
Madonna is also the top selling female in the USA, that is if we combine both her albums and singles sales. However, when counting only albums, Barbra Streisand is the best selling female artist in the United States, with over 71 million albums shipped. Madonna is second, with 63.5 million albums shipped.
Source: riaa.org
Madonna also holds the record for most Hot Dance Club Play #1 in the US, with 39; more than any other female artist.
Source: Billboard.com
In the UK, the best selling album artists, (up to 2007) are; The Beatles (28.745m), Queen (20.665m), and Madonna (18.328m.).
In Europe, the best selling album artists are, The Beatles (92.5 million), Queen (80.05 million), and Madonna (74.6 million), including Hard Candy.
There is no true way to verify who is actually the best selling female singer. Most sources state that Madonna and Celine Dion are the two best selling female artists, with record sales exceeding 200 million, worldwide.
1. In 2004, Celine Dion was awarded the Chopard Diamond Award at the World Music Awards for 175 million albums sold, and given the accolade of best selling female artist of all time. In April 2007 Sony BMG announced Dion had sold over 200 million albums, worldwide.
Sources: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2007/11/05/worldmusic-awards.html
Sources: http:/www.sonymusic.ch/Celine-Dion/Releases
2. Numerous sources state that Madonna is also the best selling female singer, with record sales in excess of 200 million. They also state she is the richest female singer.
Sources:http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE49E2IA20081015
Sources:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-407501/Queen-Pop-Madonna-crowned-highest-earning-female-singer-earth.html
Garth Brooks is the top selling solo artist of all time any genre in US history with 123 million sales. Elvis is second place with 118.5 million.
Both are second and third respectively on the list of all artists (including groups). The Beatles are the top selling of all time with 170 million +.
see
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-quick6nov06,1,194649.story
edit:
Garth's second and third CD's both sold over 9 million copies.
"No fences" his second album, sold 9,010,000
"ropin' the wind" his third album which sold 9,570,000 is the best selling album by any male artist in Country Music history. It is also the first country album to debut at number 1 on the Billboard 200.
"The Hits" (7,821,000) best selling greatest hits album in country music history
There's more at http://lounge.teamshania.com/showthread.php?t=6780
In terms of 'during their careers', here are the top 8
1 - Michael Jackson = 750 Million
2 - The Beatles = 560 Million
3 - Elvis Presley = 480 Million
4 - Madonna = 310 Million
5 - Elton John = 300 Million
6 - Led Zepellin = 280 Million
6 - Queen = 270 Million
7 - ABBA = 260 Million
8 - Rolling Stones = 180 Million
To end all arguments:
Michael Jackson - 750 Million
The Beatles - 515 Million
Elvis Presley - 500 Million
After their careers ended, they carried on selling more:
Elvis - 1977-2011 = 34 YEARS his records were able to sell an extra 500mil
Beatles - 1970-2011 = 41 YEARS the full catalogue sold an extra 485mil
Michael Jackson-2009-2011 = 2 Years in two years, he sold 10mil
The King of Popular Music is The Greatest Artist of all Time
The Beatles are The Greatest Band Ever
The King of Rock n Roll is Second The Greatest Artist Ever
Nobody knows for sure because back in the day there was no organisation that followed worldwide sales. Based on record companies of each diva, numbers that can't be verified 100%, the biggest selling female artist is a battle between: Madonna, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey.
Artists 'claimed' to have sold 250 million records or more worldwide: if we combine both albums, dvds, videos and singles sales worldwide.
ABBA Sweden 70s-80s Pop
Alla Pugacheva Russia 70s-00s Pop
The Beatles UK 60s-70s Rock / Pop
Bing Crosby U.S. 20s-70s Pop
Chubby Checker U.S. 60s-00s Pop / R&B
Cliff Richard UK 50s-00s Pop
Elton John UK 60s-00s Pop
Elvis Presley U.S. 50s-70s Rock / Pop
Frank Sinatra U.S. 30s-90s Pop
Julio Iglesias Spain 70s-00s Pop /Latin
Led Zeppelin UK 60s-80s Hard Metal
Madonna U.S. 80s-00s Pop /Dance
Michael Jackson U.S. 60s-00s Pop
Nana Mouskouri Greece 60s-00s Pop
Pink Floyd UK 60s-90s Rock
Queen UK 70s-00s Hard Rock
Rod Stewart UK 60s-00s Rock / Pop
Tino Rossi France 30s-80s Pop
Madonna is the top selling female recording artist in the U.S but if you're going to break it down, in the album category, she is second to Barbra Streisand with 63.5 x certified platinum status by RIAA.
Jay-Z
(11 number 1 studio albums)
elton john
Drake
The Best selling album artist in the UK was the group Queen with their Greatest Hits album. It sold 5.68 million.
Celine Dion (of course) she is my favorite singer.
The First Family by Vaughn Meader around 1962
Yes he is, was, and will forever be.
the top selling country artist of all time is George Strait with 59 no. 1 hits
The Best selling album artist in the UK was the group Queen with their Greatest Hits album. It sold 5.68 million.
Celine Dion (of course) she is my favorite singer.
ELVIS
15th Best Selling Female Recording artist of all time. 8th Best in America. Over 90 million records (As of June 2009)
Beatles
The First Family by Vaughn Meader around 1962
victorica
Yes he is, was, and will forever be.
frosty the snowman
WHITE CHRISTMAS
elvis
UB40