Christina Aguilera Vs. Britney Spears, Talent Vs. Sales
Contributed anonymously:
This is in response to those who think album sales are more important than recognition, talent and respect by people and the recording industry..
First, this isn’t a popularity contest. I love Christina Aguilera because she’s a uniquely gifted artist and an amazing entertainer. I don’t like her because of her record sales. And if you do want to talk about record sales. The music world does not start and end with Christina and Britney Spears. There are lots of music stars out there that sell more than Xtina/Britney and there are also lots of artists out there that sell less than Christina/Britney. Album sales just say if an artist is popular. Britney is more popular than Christina in the US. That is unimportant to me. Most of the artists that I love are not popular. Christina is more respected in the US though. Most people see Christina as a genuinely talented artist, and they see Britney as a pop tart.
About the Grammy’s. The Grammy’s are not perfect. But they are still the most prestigious award you can win if you’re a music artist. You become eligible for the recording academy when you release 6 commercial songs (I think it’s 6… could be 5, 6 or 7). At that point, they can either accept your application or reject you. If they accept you, then you can only vote in the category that you specialize in. Aretha Franklin votes in the R&B category, Sheryl Crow votes in the rock category… etc… all the recording academy members can vote in the big 5 (record of the year, song of the year, best new artist, album of the year, producer of the year). Record executives are not allowed in the academy. Because of the way the Grammy recording academy is put together, this is the most prestigious award you can win if your a music artist. The academy does have a lot of older members though, like Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, Emmylou Harris… etc… that’s why the veterans have an advantage. The veterans usually have a lot of friends in the recording academy. When the Grammy nominations are announced, look at the full list of nominations and look at all the categories. Check out how detailed the categories are. The recording academy puts a lot of time into this award show. This award show is not like the other award shows.
I hate the fact how some biased Britney fans under-estimate her sales as well..
The breakdown:
“Christina Aguilera”- Over 5 million singles sold (GIAB, WAGW, ITTY, COOB)
NWTBL - One of the biggest selling singles of 2001. There has never been an exact figure released, but since it was in the top 5 best selling singles in Europe and sold incredibly well in the rest of the world… I’m willing to assume it at least sold 2 million copies, possibly more.
LM - Confirmed as the Biggest Selling Single of 2001 with sales of over 5.2 million copies.
Total: 12.2 million singles sold.
“Stripped” - Over 2 million confirmed for Dirrty and Beautiful. Unknown sales for Fighter and CHUD. But I’m estimating that combined, they sold at least 1 million copies worldwide. Total… 3 million.
Unknown singles from her Spanish album are not accounted for.
So I’m going to estimate that her single sales are around 15 million copies. If anyone has anything to add or correct me with, please do.
Her album sales:
Christina Aguilera - Over 13 million
Spanish and Christmas Album - 6 million
Stripped - Over 9 million
Totoal (Plus single sales) = 43 million records sold.
And don’t even suggest im making these ’stripped’ sales up..
The official year-end issue of MAG Weekly will be released on November 18th 2003 and calculated the 150 Best Selling Albums ( Nov. 1 2002 - October 31, 2003):
POS ALBUM ARTIST SALES
1 Come Away With Me Norah Jones 12,821,000
2 Let Go Avril Lavigne 11,736,000
3 Up! Shania Twain 11,183,000
4 Get Rich Or Die Trying 50 Cent 8,789,000
5 Stripped Christina Aguilera 8,643,000
Well well well, only a rough 10 million gap, not as large as some of you claim it is. And it’s no suprise since Britney released more main Albums. Ofcourse she’s going to sell more. But Christina prefers to take her time, and produce quality over quantity.
Oh and I guess you also forgot her radio success with 5 no.1 singles and top 20 songs from stripped (#2, #20, #12). That is because she has a radio friendly voice and radio friendly songs i.e. they are played on several stations; Adult Contemporary, Pop, Rhythmic etc.. People who wont be buying her album, will still be requesting a particular song they like due to the diversity in her music and the flexibility in her vocals. She appeals to a much wider audience, including the alternative crowd, the urban audience and ofcourse pop. Britney only fits in one format - pop.
Also did you forget the music markets OUTSIDE the USA? Christina is much more successful in the UK (2nd biggest market), her stripped sales are nearing 4x platinum more than “Britney” ever sold.. Australia and the rest of Europe are also more keen of Aguilera. This mainly due to Dirrty and Christina’s full transition into adult territory and Britney’s backlash in England and Mexico last year.
So yeah.
In the end pop music is entertainment. Comparing the sales is like comparing blockbuster movies to “artistic” movies (you know the ones with subtitles ). Are blockbuster movies better because more people go watch them? Are the directors and actors better than in indie movies?
Tags: Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera
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7 Responses to “Christina Aguilera Vs. Britney Spears, Talent Vs. Sales”
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October 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 am
Lol your a fool, Britney’s worldwide sales are estimated at 83 million, when it comes to Album sales Christina cannot touch Britney, at all….do better research
December 13th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
britney is a lot better than christina since when screaming is considerated as singing britney does it better in the dance floor and her sales are even better so im afraid im in agree with angelina christina cant toch britney shes not even close to her!!!!
December 14th, 2008 at 8:39 am
britney sold more albums coz it was more for kids in the being. . where as xtina was attractin her age groups and older. . .o and some more facts come on over sold 3.8 million. fighter sold 3.5mil. aint no other man sold 4.8mil. cant hold us dwn sold 3.8
December 15th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
i think your right Christina Aguilera is way better artist that britney, the sales are not important whats important is the quality of music, and those ones here that posted comments are so stupid and blind because they dident undertood what you meant i think more people should do what you.
December 16th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Definitely Spears! Britney’s songs are better dhe is WAY more talented and yeah Christina’s got quite the voice box but for example…
Circus (brit’s newest album) has debuted at number one selling over 505,000 in it’s FIRST week and entering at number…ONE!
Keeps Gettin’ Better: A Decade of Hits
(XTINA’S Newest album)
entered at number nine with it’s single peaking at number 7 (britneys womanizer peakin at number…ONE! And her second single has just debuted in number 3!)it’s US sales are 148,680+ and it’s out since Nov. 7th!
Lets face it no matter how good Christina’s voice is she can NEVER step out of the shadow of…
Miss Britney Spears !!! :) No Offense to XTina’s fans!
December 18th, 2008 at 3:22 am
I get what you’re saying about Christina but I don’t agree! The fact that Britney has sold so much is not just a question of popularity. Britney can outperform Christina in dance, in charisma, in beauty and in quality. Let’s face it, all singers have huge production teams behind them and christina is no different. Let’s not pretend that christina has written, prduced and crafted all her own work. I find when she sings she screams and I found her dirty video to be a pathetic attempt to have britneys sex appeal but instead came off as raunchy, disgusting and desparate cry for the media attention only britney can generate!
January 8th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
I don’t agree your words ” Ed” ! Christina will never better than Britney ! I compare with their Album & songs that Britney Spears songs more attractive than Christina! I agree that Christina Aguilera voice is so strong! But Britney Spears Voice more sweet than Christina ! I love Britney voice ! Britney Can Dance , sing & also good at performance ! Britney Will always stand on the Pop Queen & will success more than Christina! Britney is stronger than yesterday forever ! That’s why Christina can’t be catch to Britney Spears forever! Briney is more beauty than the past ! Now I don’t like Christina Hair Style ! She’s is very ugly now ! Circus Album will be always on the top song & it is the most better song than Christina song” Keeps Getting better” ! Long live Briney Spears ! I will be always your fans & love you forever ! No one can touch my Britney ! May Success always crown you Britney !