U2 Chart/Sales Statistics

[mosquito]

3 million through Music clubs? I think that is not possible.

 

[mosquito]

Well, it now seems to me that a couple of the chart experts at UKMIX.com are saying the same as what Dr Who said : that they do, & always have, extrapolated the figures. This would mean that the current 5,414,000 total for AB is more or less the exact number of over the counter sales to date.

However what this doesn't include is the extra number of copies sold through Music Clubs & such like (such as BMG). So, basically, for it to have been certified 8xPlat in Aug ' 97 AB must have sold another approx 3 million through the Music Clubs & such like, up to this point.

Unfortunatley UKMIX.com doesn't have any available sales for AB through the Music Clubs & such like although they do for other top selling albums, incl. JT.

So surely the figures do exist... anyone got them ? If so please post them here. Thx in advance.

What does Hanboo say about that question? I think he will have the answer.

 

[edge3]

What does Hanboo say about that question? I think he will have the answer.

There's now a good discusion on this matter in the 'REM Sales' thread of the Chart Analysis forum at UKMIX. I believe Hanboo thinks the same as Dr Who.

Their reasoning for AB being certified 8xPlat in Aug ' 97 with SS sales of just 4.5-5m (the extrapolation idea) seems to be something to do with the theory of 'returns to retailers' or something... maybe this means there are still another approx. 2m copies of AB to be sold in US stores ?

I mean it does, indeed, seem unlikely that it sold approx. 3m through the Music Clubs as it wasn't on BMG's top 100 all time sellers list (meaning sales of under 300k). However Shania Twain's 'Come On Over' has apparantly sold 5m through the Music Clubs incl. 3m outside BMG !

 

[STING2]

Well, it now seems to me that a couple of the chart experts at UKMIX.com are saying the same as what Dr Who said : that they do, & always have, extrapolated the figures. This would mean that the current 5,414,000 total for AB is more or less the exact number of over the counter sales to date.

However what this doesn't include is the extra number of copies sold through Music Clubs & such like (such as BMG). So, basically, for it to have been certified 8xPlat in Aug ' 97 AB must have sold another approx 3 million through the Music Clubs & such like, up to this point.

Unfortunatley UKMIX.com doesn't have any available sales for AB through the Music Clubs & such like although they do for other top selling albums, incl. JT.

So surely the figures do exist... anyone got them ? If so please post them here. Thx in advance.

If they extrapolated figures when Soundscan was only covering 40% of the market back in 1991, why were exact figures sometimes given for album sales during the week ex. 101,345?

Also, even if extrapolated figures were used, they could often be very inaccurate in the early 1990s given that some albums sold dispropotionate amount of albums at some retail chains as opposed to others.

As for the music club things, the only figures I have seen are from BMG, but I have not seen figures for Achtung Baby.

 

[STING2]

There's now a good discusion on this matter in the 'REM Sales' thread of the Chart Analysis forum at UKMIX. I believe Hanboo thinks the same as Dr Who.

Their reasoning for AB being certified 8xPlat in Aug ' 97 with SS sales of just 4.5-5m (the extrapolation idea) seems to be something to do with the theory of 'returns to retailers' or something... maybe this means there are still another approx. 2m copies of AB to be sold in US stores ?

I mean it does, indeed, seem unlikely that it sold approx. 3m through the Music Clubs as it wasn't on BMG's top 100 all time sellers list (meaning sales of under 300k). However Shania Twain's 'Come On Over' has apparantly sold 5m through the Music Clubs incl. 3m outside BMG !

Retailers can usually only return an album within the first 30 days of purchase/shipment. Retailers can sometimes over order an album initially when its released, but after the first few months, retailers only order albums based on their own sales, so the whole return thing only becomes an issue when the album is first released.

In addition, RIAA figures would take returns into account, and would not count albums shipped to retailers that were later returned.

I emphasise that Soundscan only covered 40% of albums sold at retail in 1991 and whether you believe they extapolated figures or not, this fact means that hundreds of thousands of albums sold at that time or in the other early years of Soundscan may not have been counted.

Record Clubs were at an all time high in the early to mid-1990s and it was not surprising to see some albums sale millions through the clubs alone. BMG was far from being the only music club and we don't know if Acthung Baby was including in BMG's list or special buying options at that time.

 

[edge3]

Thanks a mill for the explanations Sting. Much appreciated.

 

[STING2]

Just wanted to add this large amount of chart information on U2 singles and Albums posted here by SOLDATTI to this thread.



UK SINGLES
From New Musical Express: started 15-11-1952 (Top 12) changed: 1-10-1954 (Top 20) 14-4-1956 (Top 30)
From Record Retailer/Music Week: started 10-3-1960 (Top 50) changed: 13-5-1978 (Top 75) changed 8-1-1983 (Top 100) changed 5-1-1991 (Top 75)

US SINGLES
From Billboard: started 27-7-1940 (Bestselling Singles, Top 10) 15-11-1947 (Top 15) 12-6-1948 (Top 30) 12-11-1955 (Top 100) 24-8-1958 (Hot 100)



The chart run format

The numbers in a run represent chart positions in consecutive weeks. Example 13-*3*-45 means first week on #13, 2nd week at its peak on #3, 3rd week dropped to #45.
A "0" means NOT on the chart (see re-entries).
(36/24/5 wks) at the end of a runs means 36 weeks chart entries, including 24 in the top 10, and 5 at #1. If there's only one number, there were no weeks spent in the top 10.
If the run was interrupted by a drop off of no longer than 4 weeks, more numbers appear to indicate the number of consecutive
weeks.
Example: (51-41c/14-11c/1 wks) 51 weeks on chart, of which 41 consecutive, 14 weeks in top 10, of which 11 consecutive, 1 week at #1.

Runs interrupted by a new (calendar) year or chart runs that are re-entries are also followed by a weeks so far number.
Example: (1 wk, 52 wsf) 1 week on chart this run, 52 accumulated weeks (total weeks until this date).


For trans-atlantic records (charted in both UK and US), the chart info of the other country is shown at the end of the run.
Example: US #1/24/13/1 means this record was a hit in the US, it peaked at #1, had 24 weeks on the chart (of which 13 in the top 10 and 1 at #1) in that country.

Re-entries (for albums only)
When the record briefly drops out of the chart, a "0" will appear in the chart run. If the record returns within 5 weeks, the run will not be broken.
If a record drops out for 5 weeks or more and then re-enters the charts, a new run, indicated by "Re" and a sequence number will be printed.
Example: 45-0-0-0-0-33 dropped out the charts for 4 weeks, then re-entered at #33.
If there is more than 1 re-entry, which is not indicated as such, a "Total # of re-entries" is printed.
Also, the weeks on chart of all the runs (main and re's) are added up together and printed in the "Total # of weeks" line.

The line with Total # of weeks is only printed when there is at least one re-entry. The highest number of consecutive weeks and total weeks spent in the top 10, top 20 and top 40 (if applicable) is also printed.
Example: 43-26c (Top 10: 12, Top 20: 16) 43 weeks on chart, of which 26 weeks was the longest consecutive run, 12 weeks in the top 10, 16 in the top 20.


01. FIRE
UK Date: 08/08/1981 - Run: 39-39-36-*35*-39-49 (6 wks)

02. GLORIA
UK Date: 17/10/1981 - Run: 62-*55*-61-72 (4 wks)

03. A CELEBRATION
UK Date: 03/04/1982 - Run: 53-*47*-53-70 (4 wks)

04. NEW YEAR'S DAY
UK Date: 22/01/1983 - Run: 23-12- *10*-13-21-36-55-72 (8/1 wks) US:#53/12

US Date: 02/04/1983 - Run: 90-83-77-70-62-57-*53*-53-62-76-84-96 (12 wks) UK:#10/8/1

05. TWO HEARTS BEAT AS ONE
UK Date: 02/04/1983 - Run: 24-*18*-22-42-68-0-89 (6 wks)

06. I WILL FOLLOW
US Date: 14/01/1984 - Run: 90-85-*81*-81-91 (5 wks)

07. PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)
Date: 15/09/1984 - Run: 8-4-*3*-4-8-13-19-25-34-55-61-0-82-97-85-82-78-0-99 (17-11c/5 wks) US:#33/15
Date: 27/10/1984 - Run: 85-74-55-50-45-39-35-*33*-38-38-44-54-69-83-94 (15 wks) UK:#3/17/5

08. THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
UK Date: 04/05/1985 - Run: 8-*6*-12-26-40-59-0-83-91-0-0-0-79-89-0-84-99 (12-6c/2 wks)

09. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
UK Date: 28/03/1987 - Run: *4*-4-5-8-11-18-24-28-43-59-68-0-0-0-0-0-94 (12-11c/4 wks) US:#1/18/8/3
US Date: 21/03/1987 - Run: 64-44-35-23-13- 10-6-3-*1*-1-1-5-9-20-38-51-68-99 (18/8/3 wks) UK:#4/12/4

10. I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
UK Date: 06/06/1987 - Run: 13- *6*-7-13-21-29-39-53-62-72-74-0-0-0-0-95 (12-11c/2 wks) US:#1/17/7/2
US Date: 13/06/1987 - Run: 51-38-25-17- 10-7-3-2-*1*-1-6-11-25-33-49-63-88 (17/7/2 wks) UK:#6/12/2

11. WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME
UK Date: 12/09/1987 - Run: *4*-5-13-29-50-64-0-83-80-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-96-96 (10-6c/2 wks) US:#13/14
US Date: 12/09/1987 - Run: 70-56-43-35-24-21-18-14-*13*-13-28-39-73-98 (14 wks) UK:#4/10/2

12. IN GOD'S COUNTRY
UK Date: 19/12/1987 - Run: 83-*48*-48-48-61 (5 wks) US:#44/12
US Date: 05/12/1987 - Run: 84-70-61-53-53-50-47-*44*-47-70-76-88 (12 wks) UK:#48/5

13. DESIRE
UK Date: 01/10/1988 - Run: 3-*1*-2-17-30-37-58-63-88-83-0-88-0-0-0-92-79 (13-10c/3/1 wks) US:#3/17/5
US Date: 01/10/1988 - Run: 50-37-25-18-14- 8-6-4-*3*-5-12-22-36-36- (14 wsf)
07/01/1989: 49-57-92 (17/5 wks) UK:#1/13/3/1

14. ANGEL OF HARLEM
UK Date: 17/12/1988 - Run: 10-*9*-12-17-35-53-0-83-88-91 (9-6c/2 wks) US:#14/15
US Date: 17/12/1988 - Run: 74-51-51-42-33-25-23-17-*14*-14-21-38-57-82-100 (15 wks) UK:#9/9/2

15. WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN (by U2 With B B King)
UK Date: 15/04/1989 - Run: 12- *6*-14-27-40-63-72-0-0-0-89 (8-7c/1 wks) US:#68/7
US Date: 01/04/1989 - Run: 89-79-72-69-*68*-77-86 (7 wks) UK:#6/8/1

16. ALL I WANT IS YOU
UK Date: 24/06/1989 - Run: 5-*4*-8-23-34-60-0-0-0-93 (7-6c/3 wks) US:#83/4
US Date: 01/07/1989 - Run: 93-88-*83*-89 (4 wks) UK:#4/7/3

17. THE FLY
UK Date: 02/11/1991 - Run: *1*-2-5-27-52-0-0-0-0-62 (6-5c/3/1 wks) US:#61/11
US Date: 09/11/1991 - Run: 74-68-*61*-63-80-89-91-91-91-91-97 (11 wks) UK:#1/6/3/1

18. MYSTERIOUS WAYS
UK Date: 14/12/1991 - Run: *13*-21-28-29-54-64-72 (7 wks) US:#9/20/1
US Date: 23/11/1991 - Run: 77-74-48-33-26-26-21-20-15- *9*-11-11-12-13-19-25-31-34-41-46 (20/1 wks) UK:#13/7

19. ONE
UK Date: 07/03/1992 - Run: 23- *7*-9-24-43-64 (6/2 wks) US:#10/20/1
US Date: 14/03/1992 - Run: 76-41-30-22-22-19-13-13-12- *10*-11-15-18-23-25-33-42-41-51-54 (20/1 wks) UK:#7/6/2

20. EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING (OR.VERSION)
UK Date: 20/06/1992 - Run: 13-*12*-18-43-55-51-57 (7 wks)

21. EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
UK Date: 11/07/1992 - Run: 13- *8*-13-22-41-60-62 (7/1 wks) US:#32/15
US Date: 11/07/1992 - Run: 72-52-48-42-40-36-36-37-36-*32*-44-57-72-89-96 (15 wks) UK:#8/7/1

22. WHO'S GONNA RIDE YOUR WILD HORSES
UK Date: 05/12/1992 - Run: *14*-15-33-35-39-46-59-68 (8 wks) US:#35/16
US Date: 07/11/1992 - Run: 77-59-49-48-39-37-*35*-35-38-43-42-56-68-79-88-100 (16 wks) UK:#14/8

23. STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE): I'VE GOT... (by U2 / Frank Sinatra with Bono)
UK Date: 04/12/1993 - Run: 6-*4*-14-24-29-28-48-60-69 (9/2 wks)

24. STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE!)
US Date: 18/12/1993 - Run: 75-66-*61*-61-61-61-61-62-66-71-69-81-93 (13 wks)

25. HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME, KILL ME
UK Date: 17/06/1995 - Run: *2*-2-3-6-10-6-4-7-13-17-26-41-55-71 (14/8 wks) US:#16/17
US Date: 24/06/1995 - Run: 23-21-18-*16*-16-16-19-25-30-32-41-50-58-69-78-82-95 (17 wks) UK:#2/14/8

26. DISCOTHEQUE
UK Date: 15/02/1997 - Run: *1*-6-15-28-39-51-62-66-71-0-0-0-0-72-75 (11-9c/2/1 wks) US:#10/11/1
US Date: 22/02/1997 - Run: *10*-12-20-33-52-67-77-85-85-96-98 (11/1 wks) UK:#1/11/2/1

27. STARING AT THE SUN
UK Date: 26/04/1997 - Run: *3*-17-34-41-60-74 (6/1 wks) US:#26/18
US Date: 26/04/1997 - Run: 30-30-*26*-26-26-29-31-36-46-56-61-73-88-87-96-94-93-97 (18 wks) UK:#3/6/1

28. LAST NIGHT ON EARTH / POP MUZIK / HAPPINESS IS A WARM GUN
UK Date: 02/08/1997 - Run: *10*-29-43-69-0-68 (5-4c/1 wks)

29. LAST NIGHT ON EARTH
US Date: 19/07/1997 - Run: *57*-61-68-64-69-73-93-98 (8 wks)

30. PLEASE
UK Date: 04/10/1997 - Run: *7*-26-47-72 (4/1 wks)

31. IF GOD WILL SEND HIS ANGELS / MOFO
UK Date: 20/12/1997 - Run: *12*-33-40-52-52-67 (6 wks)

32. SWEETEST THING
UK Date: 31/10/1998 - Run: *3*-4-10-18-31-38-44-60-59-55-70-71-72 (13/3 wks) US:#63/17
US Date: 05/12/1998 - Run: 66-69-*63*-69-67-63-63-68-71-72-77-86-87-87-97-100-95 (17 wks) UK:#3/13/3

33. BEAUTIFUL DAY
UK Date: 21/10/2000 - Run: *1*-3-14-25-38-44-50-62-65-74-73-58-43-52-58-73 (16/2/1 wks) US:#21/25
US Date: 07/10/2000 - Run: 75-73-71-68-69-61-47-44-40-42-32-28-25-28-24-22-*21*-21-21-25-26-36-33-38-46 (25 wks) UK:#1/16/2/1

34. STUCK IN A MOMENT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF
UK Date: 10/02/2001 - Run: *2*-10-25-40-37-39-43-67 (8/2 wks) US:#52/20
US Date: 29/09/2001 - Run: 62-58-55-*52*-52-59-56-55-54-54-67-65-73-78- (14 wsf)
05/01/2002: 82-72-78-79-81-83 (20 wks) UK:#2/8/2

35. NEW YEARS DUB (by Musique Vs U2)
UK Date: 02/06/2001 - Run: *15*-37-55-74-0-0-75 (5-4c wks)

36. ELEVATION
UK Date: 28/07/2001 - Run: *3*-13-24-35-41-48-53-60 (8/1 wks)

37. WALK ON
UK Date: 01/12/2001 - Run: *5*-27-52-68-70-68-58-64 (8/1 wks)

38. ELECTRICAL STORM
UK Date: 02/11/2002 - Run: *5*-12-23-36-52-59-54-47-48-61-57-63-74 (13/1 wks) US:#77/7
US Date: 28/09/2002 - Run: *77*-77-85-87-88-93-100 (7 wks) UK:#5/13/1

39. TAKE ME TO THE CLOUDS ABOVE (by LMC Vs U2)
UK Date: 07/02/2004 - Run: *1*-1-3-4-5-11-17-21-27-33-48-62 (12/5/2 wks)

 

[STING2]

UK ALBUMS
From Melody Maker: started 8-11-1958 (Top 10)
From Record Retailer (RR)/Music Week (MW): started 10-3-1960 (Top 20) changed: 14-4-1966 (Top 30) 8-12-1966 (Top 40) 12-2-1969 (Top 15) 5-3-1969 (Top 30) 12-3-1969 (Top 15) 14-6-1969 (Top 20) 28-6-1969 (Top 40) 9-8-1969 (Top 32) 16-8-1969 (Top 40) 11-10-1969 (Top 25) 8-11-1969 (fluctuated between 20-77 pos.) 9-1-1971 (Top 50) 5-7-1975 (Top 60) 2-12-1978 (Top 75) 8-8-1981 (Top 100) 14-1-1989 (Top 75)

US ALBUMS
From Billboard: started 8-1-1955 (bi-weekly Top 15) changed: 24-3-1956 (weekly Top 10-25, fluctuating) 25-5-1959 (Top 50) 4-1-1960 (Top 40) 9-1-1961 (Top 25) 3-4-1961 (Top 150) 1-4-1967 (top 175) and since 13-5-1967 a Top 200.



01. BOY
UK Date: 29/08/1981 - Run: 71-*52*-75-85-73-83-95-80-98 (9 wks)
Re #01: 29/01/1983 94-91-63-84-88-89-88-88-55-77-59-61-94 (13 wks, 22 wsf)
Re #02: 09/07/1983 82-0-95-0-0-0-99-77-94 (5-3c wks, 27 wsf)
Re #03: 27/07/1985 77-81-0-90-0-95 (4-2c wks)
Total # of re-entries: 7
Total # of weeks: 31-13c (US:#63/47)

US Date: 14/03/1981 - Run: 135-98-76-70-*63*-63-74-74-73-74-76-78-78-88-102-112-125-137-135-156 (20 wks)
Re #01: 10/11/1984 192-188 (2 wks, 22 wsf)
Re #02: 19/01/1985 181-179-194 (3 wks, 25 wsf)
Re #03: 25/04/1987 193-160-150-147-128-116-111-107-107-120-111-116-136-133-153-170-155-160-168-183-185-181 (22 wks)
Total # of weeks: 47-22c (UK:#52/31)


02. OCTOBER
UK Date: 24/10/1981 - Run: *11*-13-17-33-40-67-85-94-0-0-0-0- (8 wsf)
16/01/1982: 90-99 (10-8c wks)
Re #01: 14/08/1982 98 (1 wk, 11 wsf)
Re #02: 29/01/1983 78-72-59-61-75-95-81-84-64-75-51-64-62-63 (14 wks, 25 wsf)
Re #03: 09/07/1983 97-86-0-0-0-94-86-76-86-84-0-0-92 (8-5c wks, 33 wsf)
Re #04: 14/01/1984 97 (1 wk, 34 wsf)
Re #05: 06/10/1984 94 (1 wk, 35 wsf)
Re #06: 12/01/1985 88 (1 wk, 36 wsf)
Re #07: 27/07/1985 76-99-94-95-0-0-92 (5-4c wks, 41 wsf)
Re #08: 13/06/1992 72 (1 wk)
Total # of re-entries: 12
Total # of weeks: 42-14c (Top 20: 3 Top 40: 5) (US:#104/38)

US Date: 07/11/1981 - Run: 181-143-114-*104*-104-118-123-137- (8 wsf)
02/01/1982: 137-145-157-157-159-180-180 (15 wks)
Re #01: 08/12/1984 183 (1 wk, 16 wsf)
Re #02: 25/04/1987 195-161-151-139-125-117-107-110-118-125-112-126-142-158-165-163-177-172-166-186-193-199 (22 wks)
Total # of weeks: 38-22c (UK:#11/42)


03. WAR
UK Date: 12/03/1983 - Run: *1*-4-4-6-6-6-8-13-23-28-33-43-37-46-69-80-35-19-21-24-27-29-29-25-25-27-31-33-37-37-38-41-49-53-56-65-65-71-79-76-0-94-94- (42 wsf)
07/01/1984: 76-35-36-43-48-56-53-69-74-71-45-75-0-85-81-85-86 (58-40c/7/1 wks)
Re #01: 07/07/1984 87-0-0-98-97 (3-2c wks, 61 wsf)
Re #02: 15/09/1984 82-58-37-39-41-61-74-70-65-92-81-89-0-90-92-86- (76 wsf)
05/01/1985: 61-74-71-77-46-67-59-83-0-96-76-99-0-0-100-0-0-95-81-0-0-80-88-83-88-0-80-83-90-32-41-29-37-38-34-38-47-44-62-48-60-60-76-93-88-96-99 (54-21c wks, 115 wsf)
Re #03: 18/01/1986 85-84-67-75-87-81-76-93-92-0-91-0-81 (11-9c wks, 126 wsf)
Re #04: 13/06/1987 84-72-78-88-98-67-73-83-48-50-57-66-77-74-88-96-94 (17 wks, 143 wsf)
Re #05: 13/06/1992 51-72 (2 wks, 145 wsf)
Re #06: 21/08/1993 38-59 (2 wks)
Total # of re-entries: 17
Total # of weeks: 147-40c (Top 10: 7, Top 20: 9 Top 40: 38, #1: 1) US:#12/179

US Date: 19/03/1983 - Run: 91-54-35-22-19-15-13-*12*-16-16-19-20-19-17-17-21-34-39-42-47-50-52-49-49-53-52-58-56-56-55-63-68-67-71-70-74-73-96-92-91-93-93- (42 wsf)
07/01/1984: 93-90-88-83-79-78-77-75-80-80-92-92-91-89-106-100-98-115-119-127-145-146-148-179-198-190-199-196 (70 wks)
Re #01: 10/11/1984 190-179-164-164-185-192-192-192- (78 wsf)
05/01/1985: 192-190-187-183-181-177-175-183-180-178-178-175-182-180-175-169-164-158-151-148-147-152-167-167-162-157-167-164-159-160-166-164-150-143-138-133-138-149-143-141-143-141-151-171-166-161-157-187-182-179-174-173- (130 wsf)
04/01/1986: 173-158-153-153-156-160-170-178-174-172-182-180-183-179-176-182-177-172-168-167-194-187-187-182-182-192 (86 wks, 156 wsf)
Re #02: 18/04/1987 162-131-118-113-113-96-84-81-82-80-80-86-88-96-108-103-119-122-125-118-136-132-137 (23 wks)
Total # of weeks: 179-86c (Top 20: 11 Top 40: 16) (UK:#1/147/7/1)


04. UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY
UK Date: 03/12/1983 - Run: *2*-6-7-17-17- (5 wsf)
07/01/1984: 19- 6-8-8-8-8-11-12-12-15-14-22-19-19-20-19-25-28-24-35-40-43-47-53-53-52-65-51-46-53-52-57-44-51-36-45-47-30-17-25-30-26-34-38-43-61-59-62-67-64-63-61- (57 wsf)
05/01/1985: 46-36-27-30-24-33-31-36-34-40-46-54-49-64-57-69-53-47-45-39-51-44-44-50-46-49-44-41-54-16-15-12-11-15-14-16-13-15-18-13-17-17-22-23-26-42-51-72-67-69-79-79- (109 wsf)
04/01/1986: 62-46-55-42-33-49-46-35-35-47-47-69-53-52-55-74-69-73-63-65-74-69-56-63-71-62-70-68-59-43-43-43-53-60-56-56-76-70-63-63-82-0-77-66 (152-150c/8-7c wks)
Re #01: 10/01/1987 89-0-93-0-93-100-0-0-95-67-48-51-34-49-50-57-57-56-87-76-72-72-49-43-42-43-43-34-36-38-27-23-28-37-31-40-52-51-60-72-84-76-91-92 (40-36c wks, 192 wsf)
Re #02: 09/01/1988 96-77-93-96-91-100-0-64-92-90 (9-6c wks, 201 wsf)
Re #03: 13/06/1992 56-73 (2 wks)
Total # of re-entries: 8 (Top 10: 1)
Total # of weeks: 203-150c (Top 10: 8-7c, Top 20: 34 Top 40: 73) US:#28/180

US Date: 10/12/1983 - Run: 68-46-44-44- (4 wsf)
07/01/1984: 33-33-29-*28*-28-28-35-35-34-41-35-35-34-34-42-58-71-71-88-88-96-98-117-123-123-122-119-123-138-146-148-149-149-153-151-149-143-138-135-157-153-141-133-131-149-145-142-139-176-199-189-189- (56 wsf)
05/01/1985: 183-172-158-154-148-147-142-137-144-142-143-127-125-137-135-129-129-127-125-122-141-138-138-130-130-145-145-144-142-148-143-141-132-126-126-121-123-124-134-130-133-129-141-139-134-135-152-163-165-159-155-150- (108 wsf)
04/01/1986: 150-125-125-124-134-151-164-162-157-158-158-155-150-147-147-145-147-126-126-126-168-162-158-162-156-162-170-174-164-159-156-158-167-167-172-166-160-160-148-148-148-143-153-151-157-186-192-180-180 (157 wks)
Re #01: 18/04/1987 183-132-117-108-108-102-81-75-88-84-85-87-91-108-106-114-117-112-116-120-114-121-121 (23 wks)
Total # of weeks: 180-157c ( Top 40: 13) (UK:#2/203/8)


05. THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
UK Date: 13/10/1984 - Run: *1*-1-2-6-9-12-18-26-35-31-31-30- (12 wsf)
05/01/1985: 21-19-19-22-28-34-41-32-42-50-47-57-88-66-77-78-91-41-26-21-35-36-33-44-43-54-47-49-46-12-12- 9-9-10-12-12-15-17-17-21-19-23-33-34-45-55-59-67-82-91-88-89- (64 wsf)
04/01/1986: 56-44-39-36-39-38-49-42-43-48-68-56-60-59-70-51-70-64-64-87-84-91-87-0-75-74-76-97-91-0-84-0-86-79-81 (96-87c/8-7c/2 wks)
Re #01: 21/03/1987 45-61-59-72-69-99-96-85-0-0-94-80-63-58-49-69-52-54-52-59-35-39-43-42-58-65-64-66-73 (27-19c wks, 123 wsf)
Re #02: 09/01/1988 98-97-97-0-0-0-0-73 (4-3c wks, 127 wsf)
Re #03: 13/06/1992 38-46 (2 wks, 129 wsf)
Re #04: 28/08/1993 75 (1 wk)
Total # of re-entries: 9 (Top 10: 1)
Total # of weeks: 130-87c (Top 10: 8-7c, Top 20: 20 Top 40: 46, #1: 2) US:#12/132

US Date: 20/10/1984 - Run: 47-29-17-15-15-*12*-12-12-19-16-16- (11 wsf)
05/01/1985: 16-16-22-27-31-31-38-38-40-54-46-45-44-39-39-39-41-48-49-57-56-67-68-75-83-81-92-99-108-99-99-90-89-87-83-87-93-93-90-101-89-89-100-102-114-109-105-116-123-120-117-116- (63 wsf)
04/01/1986: 116-105-104-106-106-110-127-135-135-143-142-151-162-168-163-160-157-164-159-151-151-146-144-142-176-172-178-180-175-193-186-182-186-191-199-192-184-200-170-166-166-169-182-191-191-199 (109 wks)
Re #01: 18/04/1987 172-135-128-117-116-106-80-79-79-76-79-84-86-99-103-101-113-116-115-114-118-125-126 (23 wks)
Total # of weeks: 132-109c (Top 20: 11 Top 40: 22) (UK:#1/130/8/2)


06. WIDE AWAKE IN AMERICA
UK Date: 27/07/1985 - Run: 83-75-37-28-17-*11*-17-25-31-35-50-65-77-97-88 (15 wks)
Re #01: 24/10/1987 73 (1 wk)
Total # of weeks: 16-15c (Top 20: 3 Top 40: 8) (US:#37/23)

US Date: 29/06/1985 - Run: *37* (1 wk) *
Re #01: 25/04/1987 150-137-137-141-124-113-100-104-103-110-105-114-125-136-133-156-146-144-140-154-160-152 (22 wks)
Total # of weeks: 23-22c ( Top 40: 1) (UK:#11/16)

* Billboard removed this album on his second week because it was an EP, don't ask why debuted on the Billboard 200 the week before and why they made it re-enter 2 years before...


07. THE JOSHUA TREE
UK Date: 21/03/1987 - Run: *1*-1-2-2-3-4-7-4-4-8-5-4-4-3-2-3-2-2-4-5-3-6-6-9-6-9-5-10-12-14-16-19-22-27-37-41-43-45-46-44-42- (41 wsf)
02/01/1988: 38-21-18-21-24-28-32-13-15-19-17-21-28-33-38-42-45-53-50-62-59-61-55-55-58-69-60-70-60-70-58-57-60-56-58-66-53-57-61-69-56-54-61-86-83-71-77-85-0-100-0-0-99- (91 wsf)
07/01/1989: 69-60-70-64-73-68-72-74-58-66-71-0-69-67-75 (105-89c/28/2 wks)
Re #01: 01/07/1989 73-0-66-55-71-72-70-73-70 (8-7c wks, 113 wsf)
Re #02: 18/01/1992 57-73 (2 wks, 115 wsf)
Re #03: 04/04/1992 34-33-43-66 (4 wks, 119 wsf)
Re #04: 13/06/1992 19-19-29-32-72 (5 wks, 124 wsf)
Re #05: 22/05/1993 51-67 (2 wks, 126 wsf)
Re #06: 21/08/1993 27-30-41 (3 wks, 129 wsf)
Re #07: 24/08/1996 60 (1 wk, 130 wsf)
Re #08: 26/07/1997 53-46-72-0-0-50-49-69 (6-3c wks, 136 wsf)
Re #09: 25/10/1997 75-67 (2 wks, 138 wsf)
Re #10: 03/03/2001 35-24-37-52-0-67-0-67-20-27-42-56-0-0-0-72 (11-5c wks, 149 wsf)
Re #11: 25/08/2001 43-36-43-41-49-63-70 (7 wks)
Total # of re-entries: 19
Total # of weeks: 156-89c (Top 10: 28, Top 20: 40 Top 40: 64, #1: 2) US:#1/103/35/9

US Date: 04/04/1987 - Run: 7-3-2-*1*-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3-2-2-2-2-4-4-5-5-7-9-10-10-10-10-9-9-8-9-9-9-10-10-12-12-16-15- (39 wsf)
02/01/1988: 14-14-13-15-15-16-16-20-21-25-28-24-20-21-25-29-30-33-39-50-63-72-76-75-86-86-95-113-122-129-144-138-130-132-141-133-125-130-122-130-113-127-137-142-154-147-152-133-148-146-162-145-145- (92 wsf)
07/01/1989: 150-158-147-178-165-163-171-186-181-190-199 (103/35/9 wks)
Total # of weeks: 103 (Top 10: 35, Top 20: 48 Top 40: 58, #1: 9) UK:#1/156/28/2


08. THE JOSHUA TREE SINGLES
UK Date: 20/02/1988 - Run: *100* (1 wk)


09. RATTLE AND HUM
UK Date: 22/10/1988 - Run: *1*-2-2-4-11-18-21-23-23-21-19- (11 wsf)
07/01/1989: 18-15-19-23-28-33-43-32-41-40-48-46-39-37-35-29-32-28-38-45-48-47-50-49-38-35-34-35-36-44-49-56-50-64-68-63 (47/4/1 wks)
Re #01: 13/06/1992 42-37-51-54 (4 wks, 51 wsf)
Re #02: 21/08/1993 34-45-58 (3 wks, 54 wsf)
Re #03: 03/03/2001 69-53 (2 wks, 56 wsf)
Re #04: 25/08/2001 71-57-64-62-74 (5 wks)
Total # of weeks: 61-47c (Top 10: 4, Top 20: 10 Top 40: 33, #1: 1) US:#1/38/14/6

US Date: 29/10/1988 - Run: 14- 5-*1*-1-1-1-1-1-2-2- (10 wsf)
07/01/1989: 3-2-9-9-10-11-15-17-18-28-29-33-36-45-50-53-73-76-78-105-109-117-141-148-185-175-188-188 (38/14/6 wks) UK:#1/61/4/1


10. ACHTUNG BABY
UK Date: 30/11/1991 - Run: *2*-5-11-14-14- (5 wsf)
04/01/1992: 11- 8-9-9-11-19-22-22-27-22-19-17-16-25-31-30-32-35-42-37-40-43-32-24-24-21-17-18-23-20-21-29-28-31-30-33-40-42-36-43-53-54-50-59-62-75-0-0-72-43-46-43- (55 wsf)
02/01/1993: 39-27-26-32-37-47-42-41-36-51-58-73-0-0-0-0-65-70 (69-51c/5-4c wks)
Re #01: 17/07/1993 75-58-0-0-39-17-19-22-43-63 (8-6c wks, 77 wsf)
Re #02: 02/08/1997 68-0-0-0-75-65 (3-2c wks, 80 wsf)
Re #03: 03/03/2001 47-37-57 (3 wks, 83 wsf)
Re #04: 25/08/2001 50-46-55-61 (4 wks)
Total # of re-entries: 8 (Top 10: 1)
Total # of weeks: 87-51c (Top 10: 5-4c, Top 20: 19 Top 40: 52) US:#1/97/18/1

US Date: 07/12/1991 - Run: *1*-3-4-4- (4 wsf)
04/01/1992: 7-4-7-6-6-6-9-9-8-9-12-12- 10-7-7-12-13- 10-13-11-11-11-17-17-21-18-21-25-30-28-35-39-43-40-26-23-29-30-28-30-34-47-42-37-39-44-45-44-52-50-49-46- (56 wsf)
02/01/1993: 43-39-48-53-49-49-54-70-74-68-59-63-76-83-94-98-100-109-117-128-129-136-122-124-115-123-136-143-136-122-142-144-141-153-152-158-158-164-174-183-186 (97/18-16c/1 wks)
Top 10 re-entries: 2 UK:#2/87/5


11. ZOOROPA
UK Date: 17/07/1993 - Run: *1*-2-2-2-2-2-3-5-8-12-20-24-25-35-49-57-58-63-66-62-64-60-54-54- (24 wsf)
01/01/1994: 52-39-31-33-37-52-51 (31/9/1 wks) US:#1/40/7/2

US Date: 24/07/1993 - Run: *1*-1-2-3-4-6-10-11-13-16-20-22-29-37-40-42-52-62-73-86-81-79-76- (23 wsf)
01/01/1994: 65-58-54-60-58-68-82-99-111-118-122-103-112-137-159-172-188 (40/7/2 wks) UK:#1/31/9/1


12. POP
UK Date: 15/03/1997 - Run: *1*-3-4-6-13-17-16-13- 7-12-18-21-31-36-38-52-54-57-60-34-21-13-15-17-16-20-31-54-65-41-40-52-67 (33/5-4c/1 wks)
Re #01: 10/01/1998 67-73 (2 wks)
Total # of weeks: 35-33c (Top 10: 5-4c, Top 20: 16 Top 40: 24, #1: 1) US:#1/28/3/1

US Date: 22/03/1997 - Run: *1*-2-8-12-14-13-13-15-15-18-20-29-33-42-49-56-68-89-96-117-124-138-152-154-165-174-171-189 (28/3/1 wks) UK:#1/35/5/1


13. THE BEST OF 1980-1990/THE B-SIDES
UK Date: 14/11/1998 - Run: *1*-2-15-21-23-25-30- (7 wsf)
02/01/1999: 37-62 (9/2/1 wks)
Re #01: 16/11/2002 59-71 (2 wks, 11 wsf)
Re #02: 11/01/2003 66 (1 wk)
Total # of weeks: 12-9c (Top 10: 2, Top 20: 3 Top 40: 8, #1: 1) US:#2/17/2

US Date: 21/11/1998 - Run: *2*-5-21-28-29-33- (6 wsf)
02/01/1999: 38-45-56-68-85-92-102-125-134-157-190 (17/2 wks) UK:#1/12/2/1


14. THE BEST OF 1980-1990
UK Date: 21/11/1998 - Run: 8-9-*4*-8-9-7- (6 wsf)
02/01/1999: 8-7-8-9-10-17-17-16-32-29-24-34-37-50-43-36-37-41-51-65-63-68-64-61-62-61-72-65-0-0-0-63-49-48-54-71-73 (40-34c/11 wks)
Re #01: 27/11/1999 75 (1 wk, 41 wsf)
Re #02: 29/04/2000 73-69-61-59-65-60 (6 wks, 47 wsf)
Re #03: 24/02/2001 69-54-25-35-41-56-48-54-66 (9 wks, 56 wsf)
Re #04: 28/07/2001 50-68-73-0-52-56-74 (6-3c wks, 62 wsf)
Re #05: 06/07/2002 65-73 (2 wks)
Total # of re-entries: 7
Total # of weeks: 64-34c (Top 10: 11, Top 20: 14 Top 40: 23) US:#45/42

US Date: 28/11/1998 - Run: 57-*45*-68-70-70- (5 wsf)
02/01/1999: 56-58-53-46-57-61-62-68-69-83-94-96-96-102-131-138-138-144-145-153-154-141-150-160-158-166-182-189-196-199-197-0-0-182-176-163-188-0-197 (41-36c wks)
Re #01: 18/11/2000 192 (1 wk)
Total # of re-entries: 3
Total # of weeks: 42-36c (UK:#4/64/11)


15. ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
UK Date: 11/11/2000 - Run: *1*-4-10-20-25-26-28-29- (8 wsf)
06/01/2001: 29-23-17-12-12- 7-7-8-10-3-6-8-12-14-23-30-39-41-49-54-65-60-53-47-47-58-65-56-47-37-30-23-22-15-16-23-34-42-53-64-0-0-74-60-50-57-69-0-71-54-61-60- (57 wsf)
05/01/2002: 64-56-60 (60-48c/10-9c/1 wks)
Re #01: 09/03/2002 64-74 (2 wks)
Total # of re-entries: 3 (Top 10: 1)
Total # of weeks: 62-48c (Top 10: 10-9c, Top 20: 18 Top 40: 33, #1: 1) US:#3/94/3

US Date: 18/11/2000 - Run: *3*-5-12-22-23-24-20- (7 wsf)
06/01/2001: 18-22-16-19-19-25-33-37-35-11-15-25-31-38-40-42-45-45-48-50-48-50-58-60-53-50-66-74-82-81-89-88-99-105-106-108-104-78-66-53-50-57-55-54-58-62-67-80-77-78-76-69- (59 wsf)
05/01/2002: 71-74-58-39-56-61-66-25-26-28- 10-17-25-37-47-48-55-65-83-103-107-119-131-118-130-117-135-153-142-161-173-187-176-185-199 (94/3-2c wks) UK:#1/62/10/1


16. THE BEST OF 1990-2000 & B-SIDES
UK Date: 16/11/2002 - Run: *2*-6-25-28-27-36-38- (7 wsf)
04/01/2003: 36-30-33-52-56-70-0-69-69 (15-13c/2 wks)
Re #01: 31/05/2003 72-0-67-63-66-48-69 (6-5c wks)
Total # of re-entries: 3
Total # of weeks: 21-13c (Top 10: 2 Top 40: 10) US:#3/12/1

US Date: 23/11/2002 - Run: *3*-27-49-62-80-91- (6 wsf)
04/01/2003: 88-93-100-134-163-184 (12/1 wks) UK:#2/21/2


17. THE BEST OF 1990-2000
UK Date: 23/11/2002 - Run: *37*-48-49-47-44-43- (6 wsf)
04/01/2003: 48-62-65-72-69 (11 wks) US:#34/14

US Date: 30/11/2002 - Run: *34*-57-49-58-56- (5 wsf)
04/01/2003: 58-64-88-94-115-117-154-171-166 (14 wks) UK:#37/11

 

[STING2]

SINGLES
MISS SARAJEVO
UK Date: 02/12/1995 - Run: *6*-12-17-26-24-38-44-56-70 (9/1 wks)

ALBUMS
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACKS 1
UK Date: 18/11/1995 - Run: *12*-46-51-61-73 (5 wks) US:#76/4
US Date: 25/11/1995 - Run: *76*-98-158-176 (4 wks) UK:#12/5

THE MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL - SOUNDTRACK
UK Date: 25/03/2000 - Run: *13*-24-47 (3 wks) *
US Date: 01/04/2000 - Run: *104*-196 (2 wks)

 

[edge3]

Couple of sources at UKMIX just posted the following, US only, sales figures for both Best Of's. :

Best Of 80-90 (1CD) - *2,696,200
Best Of 80-90 (2CD) - 1,400,000

Best Of 90-00 (1CD) - 711,000
Best Of 90-00 (2CD) - 556,000

*this is definitely an official up to date SoundScan figure... not so sure about the others but they seem about right.

 

[mosquito]

Anybody can definitely confirm this two questions?:

Total soundscan numbers are since Jan.1 1991,March 91 or MAy 91?
Did soundscan extrapolate their numbers only in the early years, all the years (including now),or never extrapolated the numbers?

Many thanks.

 

[fedeu2]

I´m not sure about question 1 (sting2 or edge will be able to tell) but I´m afraid noone (except insiders) has a definite answer for question 2.

Anybody can definitely confirm this two questions?:

Total soundscan numbers are since Jan.1 1991,March 91 or MAy 91?
Did soundscan extrapolate their numbers only in the early years, all the years (including now),or never extrapolated the numbers?

Many thanks.

 

[edge3]

I believe SS started on / week of May 29th 1991 & i am currently in favour of the 'extrapolation theory' although 295k 1st week for AB does seem relatively low when one considers :

a/ the late November release date
b/ that it came in the wake of the 5xPlat R&H which supposedly sold 1m in it's 1st week
c/ Zooropa did 377k 1st week

 

[ChargedVT]

I have recently pulled together a lot of data about Australian charts for U2 albums.

The first one is Best of 1980-1990
I don't have all the weeks but I do have most
Now the thing to remember about this album is that it was certified as 5xplatinum (350k) in January 1999, and since then it spent 4 years straight on the charts, yet still has not been recertified... my guess is its sold about 620k by now.
Also up until the end of year 2000 i only had physical top 50 charts to work on and missed a lot of weeks, which explains a lot of unknown positions...

Ok here we go...

1998
1(2p)-1-1-1(3p)-3-3(4p)-2-1 End of year #6 - 260-280,000

1999
3-2-3-3(5p)-2-3-3-3-3-3-6-5-17-7-19-??-13-22
28-26-30-31-30-37-37-??-45-50-44-39-46-44
47-45-??-??-??-??-27-21-30-29-40-42-47-46-40-
47-??-35-??-?? End of year #28 - 130-140,000

2000
??-28-36-44-39-??-45-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??
??-??-??-47-47-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??
??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-??-36-43-??-??-??-??
52-52-44 End of year #69 - 45-50,000

2001 (top 100 from here on)
37-49-50-47-79-72-75-85-77-82-69-82-91-84-87-92
87-out-96-88-62-63-43-43-47-44-48-55-??-??-out-89
69-75-74-71-92-out-90-86-88-95-85-81-77-77-70
70-90-82-77-76 End of year #70 - 45-50,000

2002
53-57-82-66-79-78-82-82-85-72-83-99-96-93-out
out-out-out-98-94-out-out-50-36-43-42-55-74-61
69-81-88-91-82-out-95-92-64-70-77-58-50-56-52
34-46-58-57-59-71-59-54 End of year #66 - ~ 50,000

2003
55-71-75-89-91-out-out-out-out-88-100-93-out-out
out-out-out-out-out-out-out-out-out-64-93-94
And from thereon out of top 100
End of year - ~ 30,000

Estimated sales 2004-2005 = 30,000 total
Total weeks on top 100 album chart = 217
Total sales estimate 590-630,000
Hopefully this album gets re-certifed SOON!!!

Other albums will be posted soon...

 

[edge3]

So 5wks at # 1, 19wks in top 5 & you reckon it should now be 8/9xPlat... impressive. Thx for posting ChargedVT

 

[ChargedVT]

Ok next album from Australia is All That You Can't Leave Behind.
Again this album needs to be recertified... It turned 4xplatinum early on in 2001 and charted well for a year since then but hasn't been updated yet.

2000
1-1-2-3-3-3-3-3 End of year #8 - 200k?

2001
3-6-9-??-??-15-14-14-9-8-7-8 (4p)-6-6-6-5-9-12
16-18-24-25-29-27-29-30-27-28-27-33-29-38-36
39-43-47-46-48-54-51-52-33-35-36-43-44-39-62
74-62-66-52-29 End of year #10 - 180-190k

2002
28-37-59-??-64-61-72-46-19-13-19-30-20-27-39
49-67-66-75-76-90-out-out-out-out-out-out-out-out
89-85-97-out-out-out-out-out-94
And thereon out of top 100 End of year #69 - 45k?

I would estimate total sales at 440,000, or at the VERY LEAST it would have sold enough to be 6xplatinum (420k)

 

[ChargedVT]

Couple of sources at UKMIX just posted the following, US only, sales figures for both Best Of's. :

Best Of 80-90 (1CD) - *2,696,200
Best Of 80-90 (2CD) - 1,400,000

Best Of 90-00 (1CD) - 711,000
Best Of 90-00 (2CD) - 556,000

*this is definitely an official up to date SoundScan figure... not so sure about the others but they seem about right.

I remember reading at the time of its release that the 2CD version of Best of 1980-1990 was limited to 1,000,000 copies...
The amount written above (1,400,000) seems almost a guess or estimate due to it being EXACTLY 1.4 million.
Still, if its true then thats very good because it means that in reality Best of 80-90 has sold 4.1 million copies in USA.
I've added together all the data i know for this album and come up with a figure of 14 million worldwide.
1.3 million in USA for 90-00 isn't so flash but hey its nearly as much as POP! I estimate just over 5-5.5 million w/wide for this one.

 

[ChargedVT]

Next album from Australia is Best of 1990-2000
Released Nov 4 2002, this album was certified double platinum (140,000) first week of release, yet has not been re-certified since despite clearly selling much more...

2002
1(2p)-2-2-3-3-4-3-7
End of year #28 sales estimated 115k (however in 2002 apparently the end of year chart only accounted for sales until early december - only the first five weeks of best of 90-00)

2003
7-9-16-16-22-24-29-43-50-45-48-44-36-54
62-62-60-75-80-79-45-51-67-39-49-47-45
47-49-54-73-75-96-84-77-82-82-95-81-70
56-57-77-83-out-out-out-out-out-out-out-94
End of year #24 sales estimated 120-130k

2004
57-49-42-46-49-60-71-79-82-87
And thereon out of top 100
End of year estimated sales 25k
Plus another 10k or so up until now
Total sales estimate approx 280,000

 

[edge3]

Thx again CVT - v.illuminating. I really never thought 6xPlat for Leave Behind & 4xPlat for Best Of 90-00. Really makes me wonder just how undercertified the rest of Back Catalogue is.

 

[edge3]

Anybody can definitely confirm this two questions?:

Total soundscan numbers are since Jan.1 1991,March 91 or MAy 91?
Did soundscan extrapolate their numbers only in the early years, all the years (including now),or never extrapolated the numbers?

Many thanks.

Actually i just found out that :

'SoundScan started Jan 1st 1991, but Billboard did not start using it for compiling their charts until May 1995. This was just to make sure it was all working OK before making what was a huge change for them.'

 

[cjboog]

I have a very simple question that has probably been asked before, but people on other websites are arguing with me about this right now. I have claimed that U2 has sold about 150,000,000 albums worldwide, is that correct?? Also, does any one know how many albums the Rolling Stones have sold. I have said 220,000,000 is that also correct? Thanks

 

[fedeu2]

I would say that U2´s album sales are a few million shy of 150.
As for the Stones, that figure seems about right.

I have a very simple question that has probably been asked before, but people on other websites are arguing with me about this right now. I have claimed that U2 has sold about 150,000,000 albums worldwide, is that correct?? Also, does any one know how many albums the Rolling Stones have sold. I have said 220,000,000 is that also correct? Thanks

 

[ybird3k]

what is pink floyds total sales?

 

[edge3]

Well the current US album sales figures are :

Rolling Stones : 79m
Pink Floyd : 70m
U2 : 57m

So worldwide (still albums only) i'd be inclined to say :

Rolling Stones : 200-210m
Pink Floyd : 175-185m
U2 : 140-150m

 

[ybird3k]

thanks edge3. but what USA sales are these. the riaa has U2 on 50.5M

 

[edge3]

thanks edge3. but what USA sales are these. the riaa has U2 on 50.5M

Yeah, but that's just certified shipments not actual carefully calculated sales (see the following thread at the UKMIX.com Chart Analysis forum : 'Updated - USA's All Time Best Selling Artists and Albums')

 

[edge3]

Here's the up to date best selling bands in USA (albums only) based on that up to date info from super ace chart expert Basil at UKMIX.com (thx Basil) :

Key
Rank
Artist
(Raw) riaa totals in millions
Actual riaa shipments - extra units from multi-disc sets and EP's removed - in millions
Estimated total of all albums sold in USA using riaa/soundscan/billboard charts - rounded to nearest million

*All Time Top Best Selling Bands in USA (albums only) as at December 2005

1. The Beatles - 167.5m - 130.85m - 162,000,000
2. Led Zeppelin - 108.5m - 87.6m - 96,000,000
3. The Eagles - 90m - 84.3m - 86,000,000
4. The Rolling Stones - 65.5m - 56.25m - 79,000,000
5. Pink Floyd - 73.5m - 56.63m - 70,000,000
6= Aerosmith - 65.5m - 62.63m - 69,000,000
6= AC/DC - 66m - 64.2m - 69,000,000
7= Van Halen - 56.5m - 55m - 57,000,000
7= U2 - 52m - 50m - 57,000,000
8. Fleetwood Mac - 48.5m - 48m - 56,000,000
9. Metallica - 57m - 52m - 55,000,000

*List originally consists of the 27 best selling artists who've sold over 50m albums in USA (U2 are 19th). So these are the 11 bands to make the cut - in the correct order.

The following explanation is also included :

'The list on the riaa website is well out of date, so I've updated it.

The riaa list includes all the extra units from muli-disc sales and EP's, so I've removed all of these to give Actual numbers of albums shipped.

The estimated totals for All albums sold per artist was achieved by examining the performance of every charted album plus many non-charting albums by all these artists. Several thousand albums in total. By combining chart information, year of release, riaa figures with dates and patterns of certification, plus soundscan figures indicating annual rates of sale since 1991, it was eventually possible to reach estimated totals for each artist.

I hope I've produced the most accurate figures possible for all time USA sales. Lots of figures you see posted around the net are inflated, or the result of wishful thinking (fans will often wish sales of their favourites up and up), or use record company hyperbole which tends to round figures up and always includes extra multi-disc sales.

Minimum sale for the list is 50 million. This is the equivalent of 100 Gold Records, so for the 27 artists making the list it is a huge achievement.'

 

[fitz]

The Vertigo DVD has Diamond Status in France (100K) !

According to www.disqueenfrance.com

 

[edge3]

The Vertigo DVD has Diamond Status in France (100K) !

According to www.disqueenfrance.com

Sounds v.impressive... so now :

Approx 80k sold in UK
200k sold in USA ? (56k sold in 1st week)
Certified Diamond for 100k in France
Certified 3xPlat for 75k in Spain
Certified 2xPlat for 30k in Australia
Certified Gold for 3k in Switzerland

Total = approx 488,000 sold/certified so far in these 6 countries.

I would guess it's at 700-800k sold/certified worldwide though according to Paul M. they sold 2m DVD's in 2005 - so maybe it's more like 1m(+).

 

[fitz]

Slane Castle has been 5xplantinum certificated in Australia (75k). Respect!