List of best-selling female music artists
The following is a list of the world's best-selling female music artists of all time. The criteria for inclusion are women whose claimed record sales have at least reached 75 million or more of their musical productions. Artists are listed in order of the number of records sold and thereafter by their tenier and available cross-referenced music recording certifications, with the highest being for claims of at least 300 million records, and the lowest for claims of 75 million records.
Since there is no official entity that certifies sales in their totality;[1] the artists' sales figure must have been published by a reliable source (news organizations and highly regarded music industry-related organization) such as Billboard, Rolling Stone, MTV, and VH1.
To date, Madonna is believed to have sold the most records among any female music artists in history, with 335 million records sold worldwide,[2] recognized by the Guinness World Records and other major media outlets.[3]
Female artists by reputed sales[]
300 million or more records sold
Artist | Country of origin | Period of activity | Genre(s) | Estimated sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Madonna | United States | 1983–present | Pop / dance / | 335 million[2][4] |
200 million to 300 million records[]
Artist | Country of origin | Period of activity | Genre(s) | Estimated sales |
---|---|---|---|---|
Céline Dion | Canada | 1981–present | Pop/Rock[5] | 250 million[6][7] |
Rihanna | Barbados | 2005–present | R&B/Pop[8] | 250 million[9] |
Mariah Carey | United States | 1990–present | R&B / Pop[10] | 220 million[11] |
Whitney Houston | United States | 1985 - 2012 | R&B / Pop / soul[12] | 200 million[13] |
Taylor Swift | United States | 2006–present | Pop / country[14] | 200 million[15] |
100 million to 199 million records[]
75 million to 99 million records[]
See also[]
- List of best-selling boy groups
- List of best-selling girl groups
- List of best-selling albums by women
- Women in music
References[]
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- ^ a b "Best-selling female recording artist". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ Sevilla, Diario de (2009-06-27). "Madonna es la artista más poderosa e influyente del globo". Granada Hoy (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "Madonna at 60: The Queen of Pop in seven charts". BBC News. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "Céline Dion Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ Carey, Matthew (2021-09-28). "Céline Dion Documentary Project Launched, With Singer Promising "Honest And Heartfelt" Look At Her Life And Career". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ Billboard Staff (2017-05-01). "Being Celine: A Look Back at the Illustrious Career of Celine Dion". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ "Rihanna Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ "Rihanna appointed as ambassador by Barbados". BBC News. 2018-09-22. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
- ^ "Mariah Carey Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ Sullivan, Coleen (2017-11-01). "Mariah Carey gets hand and footprints cemented in Hollywood history". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ "Whitney Houston Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
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- ^ "Taylor Swift Albums and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
- ^ "In re-recording her back catalogue, Taylor Swift is feeling the fear – and doing it anyway". independent. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
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- ^ Journal Staff. "Katy Perry coming to Mohegan Sun in September". providencejournal.com. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
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- ^ "Olivia Newton-John displays movie memorabilia in Newbridge". RTE. 2019-07-23.
- ^ "Tina Turner marries her partner in Switzerland". BBC News. 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
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- ^ February 01, Ernest Macias; EST, 2018 at 03:20 PM. "The Catch-Up: Your guide to Kylie Minogue's disco-pop music career". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ "QUIZ: Are you more Jennifer Lopez or Shakira?". FOX TV Digital Team. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
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- ^ "Aretha Franklin, 'Queen of Soul,' gravely ill: report". DW.COM. 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
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- ^ "Gloria Estefan lo cuenta todo". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
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- ^ "Global Icon Jennifer Lopez to Perform at the BBMAs". Billboard Music Awards. 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- ^ "Seven child music stars who made it big". BBC Bring The Noise. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
- Lists of best-selling music artists
- Lists of women in music