Is Elvis The Best Selling Artist Of All Time? Part 3
This is yet more discussion about whether Elvis Presley is the best selling artist of all time from an anonymous editorial posted February 1, 2005. Check out the second part of the discussion here.
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“LIVEACTION 777”, please stop talking about MJ because I will have an orgasm :o)
ADRIANO, even if the goal of this forum is to debate about sales, I will take your remarks to correct some of them. And just after this I’ll do no comments on MJ because he should not be on this forum as we are talking about sales (it’s between Elvis and the Beatles).
MJ beat EP in :
1-Writing/composing/arranging/producing/directing
Tom: I never saw MJ having a musician language to be able to compose something (same for arranging). About producing, this is a big word used by medias to glorify the new artists. In fact every big artist is/was behind a big production (do you think that Elvis or the Beatles or Madonna were passive on the biggest choices?!)
2-dance skills
Tom: Yep, even if Elvis had a tremendous dancing skills and an incredible elastic body at his beginnings, he was never attracted by that part of the show. He always preferred to sing to avoid doing playback concerts like the clown.
3-philantropy
Tom: Read little bit more about Elvis on this subject. The only difference that you will find is that Elvis did it without calling the medias.
4-Charisma
Tom: ?!! :o( We are talking about Elvis Presley and not Elvis Costello :o)) You know what a black artist (Eddy Murphy) said about Elvis ? “He’s just the greatest entertainer that ever lived. And I think it’s because he had such presence. When Elvis walked into a room, Elvis Presley was in the f—ing room. I don’t give a f— who was in the room with him, Bogart, Marilyn Monroe”.
5-popularity in the thieniest places of the world ( South America,Africa,Middle-Asia ,East-Asia,etc…)
Tom: In terms of popularity, MJ can beat Elvis in Africa, and Elvis kicks MJ’s ass in America and Europe. When you compare the importance/popularity of the continents then the choice is quickly done about who was more popular!
5-influence
Tom: I don’t know how old are you but I’m 35 and I can confirm you that in Asia MJ didn’t influence anyone (public or artists). In his prime period (80’s), all the artists in my small country had a model to follow, that was the King, they moved like him, they dressed like him, they tried to sing like him… Many many huge artists decided to perform because of Elvis (Beatles, E Murphy, B White, Rolling Stones, B Dylan, E John, …), who did MJ influence? B Spears? Come on…
EP beat MJ in :
1- Voice
Tom: Oh yeah, one sings like a man, the other like a teen age girl !
2-sing skills ( ability to sing different musical genres)
Tom: Oh yeah! He has been inducted into four music halls of fame! He could sing anything.
3-popularity in the western civilisations ( North America,Europe,west-Asia )
Tom: Yep, as I said above…
4-physical appeal
Tom: “Every women wanted to have him, and every men wanted to look like him”
I thought this was only in my tiny country in Asia, but I saw the same thing in Europe when I left my country for good.
The both are equal in :
Legacy,artistical creativity,sales ( as some sources claim MJ ’s sales are greater and some others claim Ep’s are greater ),impact,etc…
Tom: For sales… RIAAAAAAA, the others are my grand mother’s internet sites…
A Lesson in hype for LIVEACTION 777
WSJ – Michael Jackson Sales Hype July 2009 Associated Press
In the last three years of his life, long after the release of his final original album, Michael Jackson’s career album sales took a curious leap.
For many years, Mr. Jackson’s lifetime sales tally typically was reported at 200 million albums world-wide. But in late 2006, news articles began putting the number at 750 million, a figure that became part of the popular lore as Mr. Jackson was attempting a comeback. In the last few weeks, it has popped up in obituaries and retrospectives.
So how did the sales figure nearly quadruple? A likely explanation is that a rough tally of individual songs was misinterpreted or misrepresented to reflect album sales.
Inflated numbers aren’t unique to Mr. Jackson. The Beatles’ supposed one-billion-plus sales record also reflects an estimate of the number of songs, not albums, according to trackers of such landmarks. Other performers, such as AC/DC, Julio Iglesias and ABBA, supposedly are members of the 200 million album club, but compiled sales figures put their respective totals closer to 100 million.
How Many Albums Did Michael Jackson Sell? SoundScan isn’t the only source of sales data. In the U.S., the Recording Industry Association of America charges record labels a few hundred dollars to certify shipments of albums. The RIAA reported 61.5 million album sales by Mr. Jackson throughout his career, fewer than half the total for Garth Brooks, and only 17th in the U.S. overall.
But record labels don’t always request certification, and sales might not be tracked for more than a short period of time after an album is released. On the other hand, the certified numbers might overstate sales if stores order more albums than they are able to sell.
RIAA shipment figures also are used to determine which albums can claim coveted “gold” status (500,000 albums sold in the U.S.); or platinum (one million albums).
Outside the U.S., industry trade groups have their own methods for tracking album sales, but the data aren’t standardized or readily accessible. The IFPI, the international trade group, provides rankings and industry wide totals, not sales by a given artist or album.
Turning to the Guinness World Records won’t yield more definitive information, either. In the record book’s most recent entry on “Thriller” sales, Guinness notes that in 1982, “estimations from Sony and the Recording Industry Association of America put sales at over 55 million copies, although Jackson’s management claims that international sales have pushed the total world-wide figure to over 100 million.” Guinness concludes that “while it is impossible to verify the final global sales, there is no doubt that it remains the biggest-selling album of all time.”
With so little hard data made available by the recording industry, amateur music-data trackers have stepped in to try to fill the void. These sleuths dig through certifications, SoundScan figures and other sources to compile sales by album and artist.
One such enthusiast, Lau Ho Hoi, who works for a construction firm in Hong Kong and posts on a popular U.K. online music forum, gained attention on the music blog Hitsville last week for his posts from 2004 compiling Mr. Jackson’s sales by country. In an updated analysis, he calculated that the pop star sold 131.5 million albums world-wide, and 65.6 million singles.
Guillaume Vieira, an engineer in Paris, has compiled his own totals for his Web site, Fan of Music. By his count, Michael Jackson had sold 205.5 million albums before his death, plus many millions more in singles and downloads.
This is far fewer than 750 million being thrown about. That figure first got legs in late 2006, when Raymone Bain, a publicist for Mr. Jackson at the time, touted in a letter to Jackson fan clubs that sales had “exceeded over 750 million units.”
Units could be interpreted to mean a rough tally of the number of songs sold, not albums. But many journalists and fans interpreted the figure as albums sold, and a wildly inflated number was born.
Mr. Jackson’s record label, Sony Music, declined to share sales numbers. Ms. Bain didn’t respond to requests for comment.
NO, TOM I WILL NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON. YOU KNOW TOM, I’M BEGINNING TO THINK THAT YOUR NOT WORTH MY VALUABLE TIME. THE REAL TRUTH IS YOU AND YOUR FRIEND ARE BOTH TOO JEALOUS AND RACIST TO ADMIT THAT A BLACK ARTIST CAN BEAT OUT TWO RESPECTED WHITE ARTIST. YOU SEE AS LONG AS A BLACK ARTIST STAYS IN THEIR “PLACE”, THAN THEY’RE ALRIGHT WITH YOU. THE PROBLEM WITH MICHAEL, IS HE DIDN’T HAVE A PLACE, HE BEAT OUT MANY OF ELVIS’ AND THE BEATLES’ RECORDS MANY TIMES, AND THAT’S YOUR REAL ISSUE WITH MICHAEL. TOM YOU AND YOUR WEIRD FRIEND, BOTH OF YOU WEIRDOS, KNOW MICHAEL VERY WELL DESERVES TO BE IN THIS COMPETITION, BUT YOU BOTH ARE TOO AFRAID AND RACIST TO ADMIT IT. YOU CAN’T CHANGE THE FACTS NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU TRY TO DENY IT, THAT MICHAEL JACKSON, SOLD MORE RECORDS WORLDWIDE, MAY I REPEAT, WORLDWIDE(NOT IN AMERICA) THAN ELVIS. SO, TOM WHATEVER SMALL LITTLE COUNTRY YOU COME FROM… THE WORLD DOES NOT AGREE WITH THEM. SO DON’T SPEAK FOR THE WORLD. AS FOR AS ARTICLES GO, THERE MANY ARTICLES OUT THERE THAT SAY ELVIS’ AND THE BEATLES’ SALES WERE EXAGGERATED ALSO, FRED. YOU ARE A PATHETIC RACIST TOM, AND YOUR ELVIS PRESLEY IS A SORE LOSER, AND THE MORE YOU TALK THE MORE DESPERATE, DELUSIONAL, AND RACIST YOU SOUND, TOM. YOUR DENYING THAT MJ HASN’T SOLD MORE RECORDS WORLDWIDE THAN ELVIS DOESN’T MAKE IT FACTUAL, IT JUST SHOWS YOU UP AS BEING IN DENIAL OF THE TRUTH, BUT HEY WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE ROOTING FOR ELVIS, BUT LIVE IN DENIAL YOURSELF. HOPEFULLY, ONE DAY SOMEONE CLEARS THIS UP, AND SHUT UP PEOPLE LIKE YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY TOM, AND FRED.
OH YEAH I FORGOT ONE MORE THING, I NEVER SAW ANY POLICE OR MILLITARY SOLDIERS RUNNING AFTER THE BEATTLES OR ELVIS PRESLEY.
LIVEACTION 777 Says:
March 5th, 2011 at 8:22 am
OH YEAH I FORGOT ONE MORE THING, I NEVER SAW ANY POLICE OR MILLITARY SOLDIERS RUNNING AFTER THE BEATTLES OR ELVIS PRESLEY
Thats because they didn’t have an arrest warrent for the Beatles or Elvis!!!
LIVEACTION 777 Says: OH YEAH I FORGOT ONE MORE THING,
ME TOO, ME TOO
Graceland Mansion Designated National Historic Landmark
March 28, 2006 - 1:33:00 AM
Elvis Presley’s Graceland
Following is a press release issued today by the U.S. Department of the Interior and Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.:
Secretary Norton Designates Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion National Historic Landmark
MEMPHIS, Tenn.-Interior Secretary Gale Norton joined Priscilla Presley today in announcing the designation of Graceland, home of the king of rock ‘n’ roll Elvis Presley, as a National Historic Landmark. Norton made the announcement during a special ceremony on the grounds of Graceland Mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.
“It didn’t take Americans and the rest of the world long to discover Elvis Presley,” Norton said, “and it is abundantly clear that they will never forget him. His popularity continues to thrive nearly 29 years after his passing, with each new generation connecting with him in a significant way.”
Elvis Presley, known throughout the world by his first name, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of 20th century music and popular culture, and his status as a cultural icon appears ever stronger as time goes by. His extraordinary talents produced achievements that remain unparalleled in American and world history. The international superstar was an accomplished and influential artist in several genres of music - rock, pop, country, R&B and gospel - and he triumphed on television, the concert stage and the silver screen. Elvis has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame - the only artist with the distinction of being honored by all three. It is estimated that Elvis Presley has sold more than one billion records worldwide.
“In recognition of Elvis Presley’s achievements and contributions to American culture and musical history, today we designate his home Graceland as a National Historic Landmark,” Norton said. “This is our nation’s highest recognition for historic properties.”
Graceland was Presley’s primary residence for 20 years of his 23-year career and is the one site most associated with him. Elvis Presley’s Graceland is one of the five most visited home museums in the United States and the most recognizable residence in the nation after The White House. Since its opening to the public in 1982, millions of fans from around the globe have toured Graceland and its ancillary attractions.
“American culture and music changed irreversibly because of Elvis,” said Norton. “It would be difficult to tell the story of the 20th century without discussing the many contributions made by this legendary, iconic artist.”
The National Historic Landmark designation is the highest such recognition accorded by our nation to historic properties. These special places are the actual sites where significant historical events occurred, or where prominent Americans worked or lived, and represent the ideas that shaped our nation.
THAT’S GREAT FRED, YOU GOT A SECRETARY, BUT YOU STILL DIDN’T GET A PRESIDENT, KING, OR A QUEEN TO HONOR HIM, BUT NICE TRYING THOUGH. ANOTHER THING FRED, THE PART IN ARTICLE ABOUT THE NEW GENERATION NOT FORGETTING ELVIS… THEY ALREADY HAVE AT LEAST MOST OF THEM. WHEN THE OLDER GENERATION OF ELVIS FANS DIES OUT, THAT WILL PRETTY MUCH BE THE END OF ELVIS, BUT THE SECRETARY WAS JUST TRYING TO BE NICE. I THINK THEY’RE GOING TO BE TURNING MICHAEL JACKSONS, NEVERLAND RANCH, INTO A STATE PARK, AND IT DIDN’T TAKE NEARLY 30 THIRTY YEARS AFTER HIM PASSING FOR THEM TO DO SO. LAST BUT NOT LEAST FRED, HOW COME YOU DIDN’T REFUTE BEING A RACIST.
LIVEACTION 777 - sorry what were you saying?
President Bush Visits Graceland with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi
Graceland
Memphis, Tennessee, June 30 2006
PRESIDENT BUSH: First of all, the Prime Minister and I would like to thank Priscilla and Lisa for their gracious hospitality. And we thank the Graceland staff, as well, for arranging this unusual experience. First of all, my presence here shows it’s never too late to come to Graceland. Laura and I are — we’ve known Elvis Presley since we were growing up. He’s obviously a major part of our music history. He had an international reputation. His reputation was so strong that he attracted the attention of the now Prime Minister of Japan.
I was hoping the Prime Minister would want to come to Graceland. I knew he loved Elvis — I didn’t realize how much he loved Elvis. He not only knows Elvis’ history, he can sing a pretty good Elvis song. This visit here shows that not only am I personally fond of the Prime Minister, but the ties between our peoples are very strong, as well.
And so, again, to the Presleys, thank you all. And Mr. Prime Minister, glad you joined us. Want to say a few comments?
PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI: It’s like a dream. I never expected President come with me to visit Graceland. There’s Elvis song: To Dream Impossible. (Singing Elvis song.) (Laughter.) My dream came true. Thank you very much for — thank you. Thank you very much for treating me nice, the Elvis song. (Singing Elvis song.) Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: We’re going to go have some barbeque, thank you
LIVEACTION 777
HOW COME YOU DIDN’T REFUTE BEING A RACIST - “do you have an infiriority complex?”
Interview with Myrna Smith
August 21, 2005
Myrna Smith is one of the original Sweet Inspirations, the backing group who sang with Elvis in concert from 1969 until the end. The Sweet Inspirations had success with R&B, gospel and pop recordings of their own, most notably their first hit single Sweet Inspiration, which gave the group their name in the late sixties and earned them a Grammy nomination. It was that song that caught the attention of Elvis Presley, who signed them to provide backing vocals and be an opening act for his record-breaking 1969 Las Vegas engagement
Q : The first performances outside was the Houston Astrodome. There was a story behind that.
A : Well, Elvis — the Rodeo didn’t want us to come. There was a message sent to leave the black girls, they didn’t need the black girls. And so Elvis responded with, ‘Well if they don’t come, I don’t come’. But he was really upset about it. There was one person in particular who had sent the message. So when we got there, we were greeted by this little blonde in a convertible and she had to drive us around and she was his daughter. So Elvis always made sure he got even. I’m sure he said, ‘And I want your daughter to drive them’. But, when it was happening we didn’t know. We learned that later.
FRED, WHILE ELVIS WAS ALIVE, NO PRESIDENTS HONERED HIM IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD, BUT MICHAEL ON THE OTHER HAND WAS HONERED WHILE HE WAS ALIVE BY COUNTLESS PRESIDENTS, KINGS, QUEENS, PRINCESS, AND OTHER LEADERS HERE AT HOME AND AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD . HE EVEN WAS CROWNED A KING IN AN AFRICAN COUNTRY, AND NUMEROUS LEADERS WANTED HIM TO LIVE IN THEIR COUNTRIES. THE KING OF DUBAI, EVEN LIVED WITH HIM AND WAS A BUSINESS PARTNER WITH HIM. WELL I GUESS BEING HONERED AFTER YOU ARE DEAD, BY A FEW LEADERS IS NOT THE WORST THING. GOOD TO HEAR THAT ELVIS SYMPATHIZED WITH BLACK PEOPLE, BUT I ASKED IF YOU WERE RACIST, AND A GIANT NO, I DO NOT HAVE AN INFERIORTY COMPLEX, I AM PROUD OF MY HERITAGE.
LIVEACTION 777, did you read the title of the forum? “Is Elvis The Best Selling Artist Of All Time?”
We are talking about the best selling artist, what the hell MJ is doing here? You are talking about police running after MJ! Police was running after Elvis in the documentary “Elvis on Tour”, as I said everything was done by the King many years before the king of the medias! You can watch on YouTube an other impressive mass hysteria with the Beatles in the streets in England…
Go on other forums where the subject is “is there police running after the artist”!!! But here the subject is how many records did the artist sell? And the answer for MJ is 200 million (maxi 300), then he has nothing to do here!
The problem with MJ is that RIAA which is an official source killed him by placing him in 11th or 12th position with 70 million sells (which is not bad for electronic music!), as the numbers outside US are not reliable, MJ fans started to tell that MJ sold 70 million in US but 750 million in the world! Can you believe to this bullsh** ! Come on grow up!sh
TOM, WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE! TELLING ME TO GET OF THIS FORUM. THE REAL TRUTH IS YOU ARE IMTIMIDATED BY MICHAEL JACKSON, AND ME, THAT’S WHY YOU DON’T WANT HIM IN THIS COMPETITION. LIKE I SAID BEFORE TOM, YOU ARE NOT GOD, YOU ARE NOT EVEN WITHIN HIS REACH, SO DON’T START TO GIVING ORDERS AROUND HERE. THE VIEW THAT HAVE THAT THE IFPI, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS ARE NOT RELIABLE, IS YOUR OPINION, AND IS A VIEW YOU HOLD TO SO YOU CAN KEEP LIVING IN A FANTASY WORLD AND KEEP BELEIVING THAT ELVIS, IS KING. GUESS WHAT IN REALITY, THERE IS STILL AN IFPI, AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIST, THAT EXIST AND KEEPS ACCURATE TRACK RECORDS ON MUSIC SALES OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. . NO MATTER HOW YOU WANT TO WISH THEM AWAY, SO YOU CAN KEEP IDOLIZING, ELVIS, THEIR NOT GOING ANYWHERE TOM, AND NEITHER AM I. I’LL REPEAT THE IFPI, HAS LISTED MICHAEL JACKSON, AS THE NUMBER 2, BEST SELLING MUSICIAN OF ALL TIME, ABOUT 50 MILLION RECORDS AHEAD OF YOUR ELVIS PRESLEY, AND THEY WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN YOUR RIAA, WHO ARE ONLY EXPERTS FOR THE UNITED STATES. SO EAT THAT TOM, AND MICHAEL IS STAYING IN THIS COMPETITION!
Tom ,You’re a Michael Jackson hater,it’s clear ! You call him clown,you decrease his sales deliberately,you diminish his achievements to improve Elvis’s,no doubt,you’re a hater .How easy is it to stay behind your PC and insult other artists ( MJ ),trying to ridicule them for favorising your own idol ( EP ) ? Even little children can do the same ! They can defend themselves by insults ,against other children . MJ fans could do the same,they could call EP crack joke,while you call MJ clown .Stop acting like a hater,you make Elvis Presley look bad by spreading negativity for him.He would disagree with your attitude towards MJ . EP and MJ are both great musical legends in their own rights,why can’t you just enjoy their music ? Stop this non-sense thread !
BEATLES,MJ OR EP ? Which is greatest artist of all times ?
( I take this calculation from the best selling female artist debate ) : There are three important and determinant things that can determine whom among the 3 best selling artists/group of all times ( The Beatles,Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley ) is the GREATEST ARTIST ( GROUP ) OF ALL TIMES : Success,Talent,Achievements. The greatest artist will be the one that will collect the most artistical assets.So,the artist ( or group ) which will score the mosts points will be the winner, the greatest artist( group ) and the best artist ( group ) of all times.
SUCCESS include Albums sales ,Singles sales,Concert Ticket sales,Amount of Hits worldwide,Popularity worldwide.
TALENT include Voice quality,Sing skills,Dance skills ,Diversity of Musical genres mastered, Involvement in the making of Music, Composing/Writing/Arranging/Producing/Directing skills
and Musical Mark,Stage Presence/Charisma,Originality & creativity
ACHIEVEMENTS include Most Prestigious Records,Impact & Contribution on Music,Musical/Artistic Influence , More impressive Amount of great fulfillments ,Philantropism.
Now ,fans of The Beatles,Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley ,or any regular people which are advised on music ,objective music lover, come on !Prove that your favorite artist is the most deserving of the Greatest Artist ( Group ) Of All Times title.Don’t forget that The one which would combine every of each respective assets better and also the most,will be obviously the winner . Let’s go !
PS: If we have a constant number of point distance we eventually have a bigger clarity of the difference between the artists!
The Beatles is the group with the greatest artistical dissimilarity!
Michael Jackson is the greatest solo artist :
SUCCESS:
Albums sales:
Beatles -> 10
MJ-> 9,5
EP -> 9
Singles sales:
Beatles-> 10
EP-> 9,5
MJ-> 9
Concert ticket sales:
MJ -> 10
Beatles-> 9,5
EP -> 9
More successful Tours:
MJ -> 10
Beatles -> 9,5
EP-> 9
Hits worldwide:
Beatles-> 10
EP -> 9,5
MJ-> 9
Popularity :
Beatles -> 10
MJ-> 9,5
EP -> 9
Results for Success: The Beatles scores 59 , Michael Jackson scores 57 , Elvis Presley scores 55 . The Beatles wins in success.The Beatles are the most successful group/artist of all times
TALENT :
Voice quality:
EP -> 10
MJ -> 9,5
Beatles -> 9
Sing Skills:
EP -> 10
MJ-> 9,5
Beatles-> 9
Diversity of musical genres mastered:
EP-> 10
MJ-> 9,5
Beatles -> 9
Involvement in the making of music:
Beatles -> 10
MJ-> 9,5
EP -> 9
Dance and choreographical annexation:
MJ -> 10
EP -> 9,5
Beatles -> 9
Writing/Composing/Producing/Arranging/directing skills
Beatles-> 10
MJ-> 9,5
EP-> 9
Stage Presence/Charisma
MJ->10
EP->9,5
Beatles->9
Musical/Artistical Mark,Originality & Creativity
MJ-> 10
Beatles->9,5
EP->9
Results for Talent :, MJ scores 77,5 . EP scores 76 , The Beatles scores 74,5 .So Michael Jackson wins in Talent .MJ is the most talentuous artist of all times.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Most Records:
Beatles -> 10
MJ -> 9,5
EP -> 9
Impact & Contribution on Music:
Beatles-> 10
MJ -> 9,5
EP -> 9
Musical/Artistic Influence:
MJ-> 10
Beatles -> 9,5
EP-> 9
Most Fullfilments:
Beatles-> 10
MJ -> 9,5
EP -> 9
Philantropy
MJ-> 10
EP-> 9,5
Beatles-> 9
Results for Achievements:
The Beatles scores 48,5 MJ scores 47 EP scores 45,5 .The Beatles wins .So the Beatles are the group/artists having the greater impact on music .
Therefore
The Beatles: Success = 59
Talent = 74,5
Achievements = 48,5
The Beatles’s total notes : 182
Michael Jackson Success = 57
Talent = 77,5
Achievements = 47
Michael Jackson’s total notes: 181,5
Elvis Presley
Success = 55
Talent = 76
Achievements = 45,5
Elvis Presley total notes: 176,5
CONCLUSION : The Beatles is the greatest group of all times.
Michael Jackson is the greatest solo artist of all times.
LIVEACTION 777
You posts are becoming vile and nausating. You are incapable of rational discussion. You are incapable of internalising reality.
You are showing signs of Psychotic disorder.
Your points are no points.
Your knowledge is no knowledge.
You are living in an internal fantasy that is your own creation, a world of distorted horror.
You have made Charlie Sheen sound rational.
There was another guy like that, he had a monkey called Bubbles. Let me guess you are Bubbles.
“Christy”, you can write the truth about Elvis (like he was fat at the end, or psychologically disturbed, etc…) and I’ll be a fool if I treat you an Elvis hater! I can be fan but never a fanatic! All I’m doing is telling the truth, nothing more and nothing less. If I’m calling the guy “a clown” because this guy WAS a clown! How many normal male artist do you know who put red lipstick ! :o() All the medias treated him like a clown, what are you trying to hide? The truth??? The last 15 years, all the news we had about MJ on the TV was about how much he was weird!
And please don’t try to change the real goal of this forum which is “Best selling artist”. And I repeat, MJ has nothing to do here with 200 or 300 million sales.
“MIKE”, what’s this sh… ! Did you do it yourself like a big boy or someone helped you ;o)
Mike,you out did yourself this time. Where in the world did all that come from? that is NOTHING but your opinion,not facts.
CHRISTY, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, FRED IS A MJ HATER, AND HE KNOWS IT. FRED SAYS- “Your points are no points.
Your knowledge is no knowledge.
You are living in an internal fantasy that is your own creation, a world of distorted horror”.
YOU KNOW FRED THIS IS FUNNY. IT SOUNDS SO FIMILIAR FRED, IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERTHING I SAID ABOUT YOU.
LIVEACTION 777, grow up please, we are falling in a childish debate!
By the way, How old are you ?
The absurdity of some throwing figures about can be seen by one Ethan.
who produce a list showing
Elvis had sale of sales of 300M and Cliff Richard 260M
With the Beatles and MJ at the top with 400 and 350.
Now no disrespect to Mr Richard, but consider this.
Mr Richard’s main sales market is the UK where 90% of his success lies. He has had 2 singles that were hits in the USA and that’s it.
In the UK Elvis combined singles and albums sales are are well ahead of those of Mr Richard. Yet Ethan produces a list and asks us to take it seriously when he produces nonsensical comparasins for Mr Richard’s and Mr Presley.
FRED, YOU MUST NOT BE THAT BRIGHT, YOUR PART OF THE CONVERSION HAS BEEN CHILDLISH FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. IT ISN’T SOMETHING THAT JUST STARTED. YOU KNOW FRED, I’M BEGINNING TO FIND YOU A LITTLE TO BORING FOR MY TASTE, AND AN OBVIOUS AND REPEATED LIER. WHO LIKES THE RIAA, BECAUSE THEY SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT YOU DELIBERATELY IGNORE THE VERY ACCURATE INFORMATION FROM THE IFPI, AND THE MANY OTHERS LIKE THEM, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT THEY SAY. YOU ARE NOT LIVING IN REALITY WORLD. YOU ARE LIVING IN DENIAL, AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY FRED, YOU STILL CAN NOT CHANGE THE FACTS. SO AS LONG AS YOU LIVE IN A FANTASY WORLD I’M GOING TO START TO COMPLETELY IGNORING YOU. BY THE WAY I SHOULD BE ASKING YOU HOW ARE YOU? BECAUSE YOU SOUND VERY FEEBLE(OLD).
@ Tom : I am not astonished by your reaction towards the list I show.You’re an obsessed Elvis Presley fan ,so you could’t say something positive about it.The list is right, otherwise challenge it if you can ! With solid proves !What is wrong exactly in that list ? THE LIST IS RIGHT ! You disagree with it because it put EP behind MJ ! What a childish behavior from a so-called adult ! BRING PROVES TO REfUTE IT If YOU Can ! Not just your usual nd irrelevant Bablabala “ EP is the king,EP is the king,MJ is a clown…etc…”talk with facts ! Bring arguments,not just insults !We don’t give a sh** about your opinion and personal preference of EP over MJ ! Everyone here has their own opinion of those artists ! You call the one you love king and the other clown ,so what ? In the same way,I call EP greedy /drugged Joke and MJ god of music ! So simple ! You attack MJ on his accusations,I’ll attack EP on his sexual and personnal affairs (incest and rape ).
Michael Jackson is the greatest solo artist of all times !Live with it haters,Your desperate insults and hating statements can’t change that,sorry !
You are wrong Tom. Based on available certified figures by the RIAA and Soundscan, MJs sales in the US stands at 114.3 million units, as of early 2011. This is based on both album and single sales. But both the RIAA and Soundscan has its weaknesses. The RIAA only counts sales, when they are payed. Therefore, MJs Motown records have never been audited for certification. Also, they only cover 85% of the sales in the US. Soundscan meanwhile, only count retail sales, meaning millions of MJ-records are not recognized by them.
Based on these facts, its reasonable to estimate that MJs record sales surpasses 150 million units in the US. If you further consider that around 4/5 of the sales of the average MJ-record usually comes from outside the US, you come to realize that the 750 million figure is not so outrageous at second glance.
150×5=750.
Simple math…
Speed Deamon - what on earth are you talking about?
First 4/5th of MJ sales do not come outside the USA.
Secondlly the sales missing from the RIAA count for MJ only add up to a few million.
Thirdly the number of singles MJ has sold is miniscule in comparasin to Elvis and the Beatles.
Fourthly MJ had his whole international sales certified just a few years ago as has been mentioned in previous posts and this came to 100million.
Do your maths.
Let me just leave you with this to ponder, there are some 400 uncertified Elvis albums and further additional multi realeses from licenesed 3rd party arrangements with over 30 vendors since the 70’s also uncertified. And this is just in the USA.
Now go and do some further maths.
Fred, you are good at coming up with claims. But like the RCA, not so good at backing it up with verifiable sources…
Your claim that the Beatles has higher single sales than MJ aren’t backed up, if you add up the available figures by RIAA, iTunes and Soundscan. According to figures by the RIAA and iTunes, the Beatles has 33 million sales in the US (the iTunes figure is based on worldwide sales, but since majority of their iTunes single sales comes from the US, I just add the total up). As for MJ, figures by the RIAA and Soundscan, shows that his single sales stand at 40,2 million. So you are proven wrong, once again.
Both of these figures are as of early 2011.
I don’t doubt that there are 400 uncertified Elvis albums. It may have not entered your mind, that this is because nobody buys those albums? Its probably just rehashed material anyways.
You can do better than this, can’t you Fred?
I can repeat that MJ has sold over 100 million albums outside the US, according to IFPI and Guinness WR.
I can also repeat that this was recognized in 2006 by both bodies. And that Elvis still hasn’t been recognized by neither as such.
Missing sales?
Childish debate… Only official source RIAA, and it places MJ in 11th position.
No other company counts officially sales, they are based on estimations and not real sales.
Tired of talking with children!
Officially, the Beatles outsold Elvis. Because the only reliable source is RIAA, then I can bring arguments by saying that RIAA didn’t count all the King’s sales etc etc… But OFFICIALLY, the Beatles are first. Hope some day efforts will be done by RIAA and Elvis will take the first place (I’m convinced of that), but for the moment he’s second, and I’ll be childish like some idiots here if I deny this truth!
SpeedDemon
What exactly do you know and How would you know Speeddemon.You are still fantasing about MJ’s sales.
Better people than you and those with greater knowledge including one Ernst Jorgensen who looks after the Elvis catalogue at Sony has confirmed that the sales in this area (400 plus albums) are cumulatively in the 10s upon 10s of millions. As indeed are those sold through 3rd party liscenced arrangements.
I have already dealt with MJ’s oversea sales.
But if you can prevent your self from exploding after eating too much chick peas. Ponder this! One Madonna has 19 million of singles and albums certified in the UK.
Elvis has had 6 million, and Madonna also more than the Beatles have had certified.
Yet it is known that Elvis along with the Beatles have well more than double the sales of Madonna in the UK. And a lot more than MJ as well.
So don’t try to be too smart about overseas certification.
It ain’t worth it, it carries little credit except for those who are so desperate for publicity that they will have even their backside certified. Well the Beatles and Elvis haven’t bothered too much with this type of micky mouse certification.
The RIAA is the only one that carries any creedence.
And please learn to distinguish between certification and actual sales.
As for sounscan you are a bore or you cannot internalise certain things - Scoundscan is a very good indicator for the majority of artists Beatles, MJ, Stones, Brooks, etc.
But not very indicative if it picks up zero sales from Graceland, Christian Shops, Record Clubs, 3rd party liscenced , all areas of strong Elvis sales.
Let me leave you with a puzzle, did you know that Elvis has numerous RIAA albums certified multi platinum which have had virtually no chart showing, more sales than many NO1 albums. Can you figure out why?
Just recently 3 months ago a Brookville realeased album was certified 5 x Platinum, never charted at all.
You want to debate properly do so. But understand you subject first.
Tom, IFPI is as “official” as the RIAA. They are using the same methodology of auditing as well.
You are wrong on another thing too. RIAA doesn’t count sales, they count shipments. Also, there are other companies that counts actual sales. Soundscan, OCC and Oricon are some of them. So, wrong again…
Maybe you should educate yourself, before making yourself look ignorant?
I’ll add that you religious devotion that you clearly demonstrate, isn’t helping your credibility either.
Fred, for your information, the Beatles has also been verified as having sold over 100 million albums outside the US by the IFPI. Say what…?
“Soundscan meanwhile, only count retail sales.” I wrote this in one of my previous posts. You see, I know my subject before I debate. Maybe you need to pay attention to the opponents arguments before replying. Basic knowledge…
RIAA started in 1958
IFPI started in the middle of the 90’s
RIAA missed King’s best 2 years but still he’s second to the Beatles with many missing stuff due to counting methods.
IFPI has just missed all the King’s stuff and it is based on estimations concerning old records. For proof, I can give you the list of all Elvis’s albums with the corresponding RIAA certification (gold, platinium, …), but I’m not able to give you the same list for IFPI, simply because it is based on bull :o)
Then for conclusion, the Beatles and the King are over the billion and the others under 500 millions (MJ near 350 million).
An other thing proving how mush IFPI is wrong. Above the “king of pop”, we have other artists who have sold near 500 million but they are not in that list (Crosby & Sinatra). Even RIAA didn’t capture their sales because that was before 1958.
Only one official source and that’s RIAA (only for artists after 1958).
People are really kidding themselves thinking that MJ sold more than Elvis.RIAA has MJ around 70 million only,he is way behind Elvis. The 750 million worldwide sales for MJ is highly exaggerated.
This debate was between the two biggest selling artists, the Beatles & Elvis, what the hell MJ fans are doing here? They are everywhere! You go on YouTube to listen to an Elvis song and you can see silly comments! Just accept the fact that MJ can’t play in the same category! He’s not even 3rd! Even Sinatra & Crosby outsold him! You must accept that the biggest market is America, someone who have sold only 70 millions in US can’t sell 750 million worldwide! Just accept this fact and live with it!
P.S. May be MJ sold 600 million records in Africa where he was proclaimed king :o)
Tom, IFPI began their certification system in 1989, not “in the middle of the 90s.”
IFPI is recognized as the international equivalence to RIAA, by the music industry worldwide. Your personal bias can’t change that fact.
MJ is the best selling artist ever and the most successful entertainer of all time, according to IFPI and Guinness WR. I know you don’t like that, Tom.
According to RIAA, the Thriller album has sold more than Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby…
Another interesting fact, is that Thriller has outsold all 23 of Elvis studio albums and 19 soundtrack albums, put together…
Now that’s a feat!
The IFPI began their certification in 1989, Elvis died in 1977 so what in the heck would they know about his sales? There is an award in the trophy room at Graceland from the RIIA (the official source)that says his worldwide sales are well over 1 billion.
IT IS CLEAR THAT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE RACIST THAT ARE AGAINST MJ, BUT ESPECIALLY TOM AND FRED. ROBBY, GUESS WHAT, THERE ARE MANY SOURCES THAT SAY THAT THE SALES OF ELVIS, AND THE BEATTLES OR GREATLY EXAGGERATED ALSO. HATE TO RUIN YOUR FUN. JUST LOOK IT UP. THE PROBLEM WITH MICHAEL, IS HE WENT WHERE NO ONE BLACK PERSON HAS GONE BEFORE IN MUSIC, AND YOU GUYS CAN’T STAND HIM. HEY THE IFPI, STILL SAYS MICHAEL SOLD MORE ALBUMS AROUND THE WORLD THAN ELVIS. EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT, RACIST. HA, HA, HA, HA! WHAT WE CAN’T CHANGE WE IGNORE(EXAMPLE IFPI STATS), SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME.
Robby, there were trade magazines devoted to music, that tracked sales in the US (though less accurate than the RIAA), during the time of Elvis career. You had Billboard, Variety, Guinness BR, Cash Box and Record World among others, just in the US. You would be surprised how much the IFPI actually know, though its not definitive of course.
As for the RIAA, they only audit US sales, not overseas. But I think its RCA you are referring to… Not a very credible source at all.
Speed Demon
Stop it with the IFPI actually know rubbish - they don’t - all they are aware of is what is in the public realm.
What is not in the public realm are the sales pertaining to the vast majority of Elvis catalogue and those sold through 3rd party liscences and record clubs. And thess sales are significant. Better and more knowledgeable people than you have reasonablly estimated them to be so.
I have already shown in earlier posts the nonsencicality of the IFPI estimates, viz a viz Mr Richards and Madam Madonna.
By the way I have a copy of the Guinness book of singles and albums. It says that Elvis was the most important and influential recoding artist in popular music, has sales estimated at over a billion, 20 million of which was sold the day after he died and has or holds all major records that were set.
You do beieve that don’t you? - after all it comes from the Guinness Book of singles and albums, go buy a copy.
LIVEACTION 777
The real racist here is you. What have you got against White American Trash? Because that’s the real background Elvis arose from. They attacked him through out his career and withheld credit from him.
But talent won, that voice packaged with heaps of charisma.
Singularly the most important and influential and best selling recording artist of all time. The King.
FRED, IF YOU ARE NOT A RACIST, THEN PROVE IT BY TRYING NOT TO SOUND LIKE ONE, OK.
OH, AND FRED STOP SOUNDING SO DESPERATE. YOUR LAME ATTEMPS AT TRYING TO SOMEHOW PROVE THAT ELVIS’ RECORD SALES ARE UNDERSTATED, IS MAKING YOU SOUND LIKE A COMPLETE IDIOT.
As told by FredAistair, you can judge IFPI’s credibility only with the following : “Elvis 300M and Cliff Richard 260M”.
In conclusion, the King has sold just 40 million more records than an unknown artist in almost on the 3/4 of the globe!
How old are you MJ fans? Really I want to know your age because I feel that you’re not very mature… In that case I’ll not continue this debate with children!
IFPI is a new entity who can “count” new sales (always based on RIAA for US sales). This means they are not reliable for old stuff. This means when they say 350 million for MJ, this is surely a maximum because all his stuff has be captured and counted, when they say 300 million for Elvis, this is a minimum because the stuff is too old and even RIAA didn’t yet capture all his sales! And I’m not telling bulls like some limited people here, RIAA is continuing searching/counting the King’s sales, the last 2 certified albums helped Elvis to take the 2nd position in US behind the Beatles.
“LIVEACTION 777”, racist?!! I can’t get you! What are you trying to prove? You know that if MJ sold 350 million records, this means that at least 300 million were bought by white people! Grow up! Music has no color, when I listen to the song “Hello” from Lionel Richie, I can’t say that I don’t like this song because it is sung by a black artist! Grow up!!!
FredAistair is right, the IFPI is rubbish,there is no way anyone could be close to Elvis.I can’t figure out why, but Elvis does not get the credit he deserves. There are millions upon millions sold through 3rd parties and millions sold after he died that don’t get credited.
Fred, I have never heard about “Guiness book of singles and albums.” Sounds like a cheap and tabloid version of Guinness WR. Unfortunately, they don’t have the same acclaim and recognition as the Guinness WR worldwide, who states that MJ is the first entertainer to sell over 100 million albums outside the US. MJ wins again!
How convenient of you, Tom, to say that all of MJs sales “must have surely” been captured by the IFPI, when they started certifying sales, years after the release of Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad, not to mention MJs Motown back catalogue. Ever heard about the word “hypocrisy?” Should sound familiar to you…
Robby, the RIAA are rubbish because they haven’t been updating MJs single sales for the last decade, never counted MJs Motown sales and haven’t been re-certifying albums like Number Ones and The Essential.
I can’t figure out why, but MJ never seem to get the credit he deserves.
“years after the release of Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad, not to mention MJs Motown back catalogue”
Thriller and Bad were in the 80’s, so comparing to the 50’s that’s new for IFPI! And I didn’t know that MJ sold 100 million of his Motown catalogue ;o)
The equation is very very simple except for stubborn or limited children. MJ sold 70 million albums in US, lets say that he sold the same outside US, or no lets say that he sold 3 times more (which is theoretically impossible because the biggest market is US and by far) ! 210 + 70 = 280 million. He still remains faaaaaar behind many other people (Beatles, Elvis, Crosby, Sinatra, and may be Madonna too!). This is simple maths, I don’t know how old you are but I tried to give you the most simple equations to help you understand :o)
Oh one point, MJ sold 70 million ALBUMS! Albums was his biggest market! The king has sold 130 million albums in US (RIAA confirmation and not bulls), albums was his smallest market!
These are proofs Speedy, not dreams like you want to have :o)
Speed Demon,I really get a kick out of some of the things you say.You make me laugh alot.
There seems to be only three or four of us debateing this issue now.I guess the others that use to comment lost interest or used their brain and finally realized that Elvis really is the biggest seller and there is nothing else to discuss.
Speedemon
MJ asked the IFPI to certify his sales when he couldn’t get Sony to make outrageous claims on his behalf. When trying to make a comeback.
There is very litte of his sales unaccounted for, his sales are pretty much an open book.
And by the way why would you want to add the Jacksons 5 sales to his - they were a group, and in any event even that would not be a significant addition.
Live with the fact that his US sale have pretty much all been accounted for by the RIAA, and no amount of sensible maths can get his global saes to exceed 300 Million and that’s being generous.
Thriller and Bad were released in 1982 and 1987 respectively. The majority of their sales came in the first couple of years. In Bads case 1987-88. IFPI began its certification system in 1989. Even a mentally limited child can figure this out… Can you, Tom?
MJ has over 114 certified million albums and singles sales in the US, as confirmed by the RIAA and Soundscan. Add verified sales by the IFPI, Guinness WR, OCC and Billboard to the equation, this jumps to over 250 millions. This is certified and verified sales only.
As for Crosby and Sinatra… Thriller has outsold both of them, according to the RIAA. Silly to compare them to MJ. Keep your fantasies to yourself, ;)
And regarding single sales, MJ has over 40 million single sales just in the US, compared to Elvis 75 million and the Beatles 33 million, as confirmed by the RIAA, Soundscan and iTunes. This is impressive figures from MJ, who was mainly an album act.
I think the other users gave up feeding you with facts, because you would reply with fairytales. The appropriate place for that is Neverland, not a (supposedly) serious forum site.
Speedy is really a stubborn child! He can’t see the difference between 1988 and 1956 ! Speedy 1988-1956=32 years :o)
So for IFPI, RIAA, or any other entity, it’s easier to count/find sales from 80’s than from 50’s. That’s easy to understand no? Tell me if you have difficulties I’ll explain you with apples and oranges ;o) This means that almost all the MJ’s stuff was counted, but still he remains faaaar behind many people. Bing Crosby can kill MJ with only 2 singles (whites Christmas & silente night)!
Speedy I really want to help you, so I’ll explain you differently. Take a look to RIAA or IFPI, can you find Sinatra in the top 5 or top 10 or top 20? You know better than me that Sinatra was the one of the best selling act no? An other example, can you see Crosby in the list, even in the top 50? The answer is NO. So in conclusion Speedy, you can notice that more an artist has old sales, his sales are not captured by any entity. To be short, they captured nothing from Crosby (the oldest one), captured tiny things from Sinatra (best years 40’s), captured some stuff from Elvis (best years 50’s), captured 99% from MJ (best years 82 -> 90). I was clear Speady? But still Peter Pan is behind the King! So imagine if RIAA or IFPI had captured all the King’s sales! For that reason this forum is not for MJ fans, we are discussing the matter between Beatles and Elvis fans to see if Elvis can take the first position if the totality of his stuff is counted. RIAA is doing some efforts since years, that helped Elvis to take the 2nd position, but still not enough to take the first position because some of his sales are really lost!
Bonne journée Speedy :o)
now now people… I don’t really want to comment on this because the people on here a stubborn, Anyway I know it can be difficult putting your idol’s in second place but it’s something you have accept. If you look at all the reliable sources the beatles come out the winners, who sells the most records today the beatles. The Beatles aren’t even my favorite band, but facts are facts. You could argue all day long about elvis’s hypothetical sales which is stupid, he could of sold 1million or 100million not certified sales, people get over it!
so to answer this question no Elvis isn’t the best selling artist.
How can Crosby “kill” MJ, when he can’t even “kill” Thriller. According to Guinness WR, Thriller has sold more than double the amount that White Christmas has sold, which is the best selling single ever released. Needless to say (except to you), Thriller has easily outsold White Christmas+Silent Night. Aren’t you tired of being wrong?
If not, I’ll carry on… According to the IFPI, MJ is ahead of Elvis and the Beatles in terms of sales, not the other way around, so what on Earth are you talking about? They named MJ the best selling artist ever for a reason; He has sold the most. But you can just continue to babble about “lost sales” (or shall I say ghost sales) and so forth. The music market was multiple times bigger in the 80s and 90s (MJs peak decades worldwide), than it was in the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Much bigger.
Capiche?
Ryan, we have never said that Elvis was the best selling act! We just said that RIAA’s counting method butchered the king’s sale and Elvis was in 2nd position just after the Betales. We have given the reasons why the King’s stuff was not well counted (non certified labels, sales before 1958 not counted, some albums like Aloha from Hawaii which would be counted double were counted simple (5 million and not 10 million, etc, …), some period in the 70’s where RCA didn’t pay RCA to count Elvis’s albums, etc…).
But don’t worry, we are ok with you that officially, the Beatles are first and Elvis second. Just don’t forget that RIAA’s efforts helped Elvis to earn the second place just in few years (he was 4th I think!), so don’t be surprised if he beats the Betales some day because huge quantities of his albums were not counted and this is an absolute truth.
March 2011:
1) Beatles
2) Elvis
No problem with that…
Sorry…RCA didn’t pay RIAA to count Elvis’s albums
Just a remark, you know I’m very impressed when I see Elvis 2nd below aaallllllll other artists (old or new). This is very very impressive because if you look at other artists who began with Elvis in the 50’s (white or black), they are not even in the top 50. 50’s was a difficult period where only singles were sold comparing to albums (albums were a tiny market in that period). But only one star succeeded to kill the time, and this was Elvis. Every other 50’s stars had small sales averages and are even not close to MJ or Madonna who are in the top 15.
Elvis was the man! This guy was magic. I’m sad that one day there will be no witness to talk about the king and how much he was great. I’m really sad about this because this is something that I lived personally and other generations will miss it!
In my country in Asia, Elvis was a model for everyone (not just for fans). People used to buy guitars because they sow Elvis playing guitar, they used to take up their collar up because Elvis used to do it, we were used to go to the haircut and just tell him “I want an Elvis cutting”, it’s impossible to people in the 2000’s to understand how Elvis was big, when someone used to sing a song with some style, people used to tell him “hey, you think you’re Elvis!”. It makes me laugh when I see comments like Elvis was not worldwide. These people should be in Asia in the 80’s! 90% of the Asian professional singers had model the King, that’s hard for you to imagine this because you didn’t live it, but I can tell you that this still impress me when I think about it!
I have never seen something bigger than Elvis. Beatles are great musicians and my respect is unlimited to their contribution to the music (By the way, MJ or Madonna are just a joke), but as an image and global influence, I have never seen other artists even coming close to what I have seen and lived with the King!
We all have our favorites and we can debate all day long,but I have to agree with Tom in that it makes me shake my head when people say(especially MJ fans)that Elvis wasn’t worldwide.Elvis is the only singer in history to do worldwide concert,no single artist or group has ever played to such a big audience.Plus there are more Elvis fan clubs around the world than any performer and EPE has deals to sell Elvis products in 122 countries.Elvis has been worldwide for many decades and did it without playing outside the U.S. Now that’s impressive.
MJ was a joke, Tom? Who is the only act to be inducted into Songwriters, Dance and Vocals Group Halls of Fame? That’s right; MJ. In fact, MJ is the only artist from the world of popular music, to be inducted into Dance Hall of Fame. Shall I also mention the embarassing truth about MJ being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame more times than Elvis?
MJ was a music icon, fashion icon and dance icon. He was a composer, arranger, lyricist, producer, coreographer, poet, dancer, drawer, singer and actor.
What was Elvis? A singer and an actor. Who is a joke, Tom?
tom, I wasn’t talking specifically to you when I said “some people think Elvis is the best selling artist” but just read some of the comments on here. you’ll find people.
“non certified labels, sales before 1958 not counted, some albums like Aloha from Hawaii which would be counted double were counted simple (5 million and not 10 million”
sales in the 50’s were small anyway. and your a bigger Elvis fan than me, how many number 1’s did he have in the 50’s? If for argument’s sake say the figures people gave above are correct The beatles on about 500million and Elvis just over 400million sales are correct do you think 100million sales went undetected? however I do think your right, some of elvis’s sales did go undetected, maybe 20 - 35million but nowhere near some of the figures people have been saying.
I’m sure Elvis was a popular figure in asia but in leads your mind to wonder if he was so big why in the by far biggest music market in asia wasn’t he very successful?
Ryan, Elvis had 18 no1 singles in his career, almost the half of them were in the 50’s! So imagine these millions which are uncounted or not counted completely. It’s like not counting the Beatles’ sales from 1964 to 1966 ! Can you imagine this!
Now I can’t tell you if these missed sales in the 50’s were 20 million, 30 or 100… But these were Elvis’s best selling years.
Now why Elvis was not successful in numbers in Asia. The answer is very simple Ryan. Today a teenage can ask money to his mother to go and buy several albums per month. This act was difficult even in US in the 50’s because albums were very expensive and people used to buy only singles. So if buying albums was difficult in US, imagine in other countries and worst in Asia! For information, when I was 14 years old in Asia, I had more than 30 Elvis’s albums, ALL COPIES !!! All the people I knew who were fans had also hundreds of copies. So if you just look at the numbers, mathematically you will see no fans, but you should be there to realize and feel the King’s impact! You know, people like Madonna, MJ (or other new artists) had lot of chance because during their best selling years, people had money to buy albums, but still they are behind the Beatles and Elvis in global sales! This means that they are not playing in the same category. I remember one they a friend of mine brought an Elvis original vinyl! We were all touching it like it was a diamond :o)
Elvis’s impact can not be measured with numbers in Asia (all the stuff was copied), but you should be their to see a phenomenon that you will never see again in your life. You entered in a shop to buy a shoe and you could see an Elvis poster hanging there! It’s just impossible to explain… You should be there to understand.
Speedy, Elvis has been inducted into four music halls of fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame , the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
So what! What’s your point !
THE REASON NO ONE IS COMMENTING ANYMORE, IS THAT YOU ELVIS FANS ARE A BUNCH OF STUBBORN, RACIST, LOSERS, THAT WANT TO KEEP LIVING IN A RACIST FANTASY WORLD AND IGNORE EVERYONE. ALSO THIS THREAD HAS BECOME BORING, THANKS TO TOM, AND FRED. GO AHEAD YOU PATHETIC, RACISTS, LOSERS, THE TRUTH WILL STILL GO ON WITHOUT YOU.
SpeedDemon, YOU POINTS ARE TOO FACTUAL, TRUTHFUL, AND CLEVER FOR FRED, TOM, AND ROBBY. THEY HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO RESPOND TO YOU, SO THEY ALL MAKE UP THINGS IN THEIR HEADS, SO THEY CAN GET SLEEP AT NIGHT. YOU EMBARRASS THEM EVERYTIME, THAT’S WHY THEY CALL YOUR COMMENTS FUNNY, AND TRY TO TELL PEOPLE TO FORGET THE FACTUAL IFPI. TOM IS JUST PLAIN RETARDED, TALK ABOUT GROW UP, YOU HAVEN’T EVEN MADE IT TO PRE-SCHOOL TOM,YOUR POINTS DON’T MAKE ANY SENSE, YOU ARE CLEARLY BIASED AND STUCK ON ELVIS. FRED JUST WISHES THE IFPI, WOULD JUST DISAPPEAR SO HE CAN GET SLEEP AT NIGHT, BUT GUESS WHAT FRED THEY ARE STILL THERE, THANK GOD, AND SO IS SOUNDSCAN, HAHA! FRED YOU ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM GO AWAY. SO YOU ELVIS FANS CAN KEEP IGNORING THE TRUTH FOR ALL I CARE, YOUR WAY IS THE OLD WAY, AND IT WILL BE DYING OUT SOON.BY THE WAY TOM, WHO SAID THIS DISCUSSION IS JUST BETWEEN THE BEATTLES AND ELVIS ANYWAY, YOU.
Cool it down LIVEACTION 777, don’t get physical ! Not good for your health :o)
This debate is between Elvis and Beatles just because it’s between the best selling artists. We know theoretically that the Beatles are 1st and Elvis 2nd. There’s nothing surprising there. The interesting part is to explain why Elvis in 2nd and not 1st. We were trying to do that but you MJ fans (like Justin baby fans) came to make little bit noise and disturb our debate!
Never mind, we love babies. Not in the same context as MJ of course :o) Don’t get angry LIVEACTION 777, just kidding :o))
Tom, Elvis only started charting successfully on the Billboard pop charts in 1956 with both his singles and albums. You talk as if he charted successfully throughout the 50s. So the sales “missing” of Elvis, would hypotethically be sales from the period 56-57. As we know, the music market was relatively small back in the 50s, even in the US. You could hypotethically add a few million unit sales for good measure. But when you are talking in the region of 10s of millions and even 100 millions, you are seriously deluding yourself.
As for the Asian market, Japan, who has the biggest music market in that region, has MJ as one of the biggest international music sellers in the country. On a personal note: In Thailand, were I was recently, you could hear MJ-music being played at the bars and clubs. Of Elvis music I could only hear people karaoke singing his songs. And I believe this is the common case in rest of Asia, if not the world.
Remember, MJ is Guinness WR most successful entertainer of all time. They count the 50s too… But continue your daydreaming if it makes you happy.
My point was that MJ could dance, sing and songwrite at a world class level. Elvis could only sing at a world class level… You actually proved my point!
Liveaction, I realize that Fred, Tom and Robby seem to be a bit thick-skulled. But they don’t outright deny the facts I’ve posted, which gives me a tiny bit of hope that maybe they’ll get out of their fairytales.
You, I and the American Music Awards knows that MJ is the Artist of the Century. ^_^
“MJ could dance, sing and songwrite”?!!!
MJ COULD dance yes, MJ could sing like a teenage girl who has lost her iphone, and if you are an average musician you can understand that MJ couldn’t compose just by watching “This is it”.
For the 50’s sales, Elvis had 80% of his biggest selling singles in these years (heartbreak hotel, hound dog, blue swede shoes, jailhouse rock, love me tender, that’s all right mama, …). Each of these singles are sold by several millions. I don’t blame you Speedy, you’re writing what you have read on other forums by freak MJ fans ;o) Be a big boy and do some personal research :o(
For being worldwide, I have explained above the King’s impact to Ryan. I lived the 80’s in an Arabic country in Asia, even if I write you 10 pages still you will not feel and understand what I lived and saw. And I’m sad that some people missed that phenomenon, that was really something to live ! In this country the electricity was not stable and it was cut every time. An evening the first channel programmed “Aloha from Hawaii” at 8pm. Specially, all the country could have electricity that evening to watch the concert on their TV. Just at the end of the concert (Elvis left the scene and the band was still playing), they cut the electricity! This was the KING. The phenomenon was bigger than life!
I lived both MJ & Elvis era in a lost country in Asia (you can’t be more worldwide!). It’s silly even to compare the two artists because the difference is huge. And Elvis reached the entire planet without mass medias, internet, iphone, ipod, and I don’t know what kind of new gadgets.
Speedy, I even explained above why Elvis was not a big seller in Asia (I had 30 copy albums!). In each house you could find at least an Elvis album in the 80’s, but that was a copy album!
For Japan, many many Elvis fans too up there, “Elvis the Concert” has also toured Japan 30 years after Elvis’ death! Hope MJ can do better 30 years later :o) You are comparing a mouse with an elephant :o()
Personally I will stop commenting on MJ because it’s getting boring. I know that your goal is to talk about MJ on forums where the King is present, it’s some kind of honor for Peter Pan :o) But the game is over for me.
If you think that MJ sounds like “a little girl” on songs like She Drives Me Wild, D.S. and 2000 Watts, then I assume that you must have hearing impairment issues.
MJ couldn’t compose? Well, why don’t you tell that to the music professionals at Songwriters Hall of Fame. I’m sure they’ll have a good laugh at you…
While you’re at it, you may want to start to begin with writing proper English. By the way you write, I could mistake you for being a juvenile. Another indication of that is your non-stop fantasy about Elvis being a better seller than MJ. You have clearly been misguided little Tom.
Your nonsensical reasons for why Elvis was the better seller, shows how ignorant and oblivious you are my illiterate Tommy Bear.
Speedy, the only reason of why my English is poor is that I live in France and didn’t do the university in English language. But I speak 5 languages. You can count that on your hand, if you have all your fingers of course :o)
No more comments on Peter Pan ;o)
HEY TOM, MAYBE YOU NEED TO GO AND LEARN HOW TO READ AGAIN. MJ IS NUMBER 2, IN THE WORLD, NOT YOUR ELVIS. ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE PROVED MY POINT TOM. YOU ARE GREAT AT STEREOTYPING PEOPLE BY LISTENING TO EVERY LITTLE WORD THE MEDIA HAS TO SAY. FOR EXAMPLE YOU SAY MJ, HAS A GIRLY VOICE WHEN HE SINGS, HE DOES NOT, THAT IS A MEDIA STEREOTYPE(MOSTLY THROUGH COMEDIANS) NOT AN ACTUALL FACT. THE FUNNY THING IS YOU THINK YOU ARE SO RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING, WHEN IN REALITY, YOU’RE PRETTY MUCH WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU SAY. YOU LIVE IN A FANTASY WORLD, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO DEAL WITH REALITY. I NEED TO REPEAT AGAIN THAT MICHAEL JACKSON IS OFFICIALLY #2 IN WORLD SALES BEHIND THE BEATLES, AND THAT’S WITH ALL THE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY, SLANDER, AND WITH THE FACT THAT HE HAS ONLY 7 SINGLES TO HIS NAME. WHAT AN AMAZING ARTIST. SPEED DEMON, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT I HOPE THAT THESE THREE PEOPLE COULD BECOME MORE OPEN-MINDED LIKE OURSELVES, AND NOT LET SLANDERING LIES KEEP THEM AWAY FROM ACCEPTING THE TRUTH. MAYBE ONEDAY.
WRONG AGAIN LIVE ACTION 777
After the Beatles Elvis has the most certified sales.
And wshilst almost all of the Beatles and MJ’s catalogue are accounted for in certification. The majority of Elvis catalogue is actually not accounted for in certification.
So of you go back home to mummy and get back to doing you multiplication tables. You know 2X6 = 12, or in the case of MJ and his underaged fans 72.
Jerry Weintraub, How Elvis saved me from disaster: In the recent documentary Jerry Weintraub (see below) tells how Elvis saved him from a business disaster.
(Weintraub managed or promoted concerts for such musical acts as Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Cuba Gooding, Sr. and the Main Ingredient, The Carpenters, Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, The Moody Blues and Zager & Evans)
For New Year’s Eve 1975, I took Elvis Presley to Pontiac, Mich, for a concert at the Silverdome, which is the 80,000-seat stadium right outside Detroit.
more at…
newsweek.com/2011/04/03/my-favorite-mistake.html
Great article Fred.
Just for your remark “After the Beatles Elvis has the most certified sales”
Wrong Fred, Elvis is the most certified artist for RIAA. Beatles are second. But in terms of sales, the Beatles are first and Elvis second.
750 million is greatly inflated. MJ can’t even sell in his home country…which accounts for like 35% of worldwide CD sales. do you realize the ratio? their basically saying MJ sold more than 6 times more outside the usa. whatever…
flipadero, I have already explained many times these simple maths above. It’s the reason why I’ll do no more efforts. Lets get concentrated on the essential, Elvis and the Beatles.
It’s obvious that MJ beats Elvis in everything.Sales,talent,popularity,legacy,influence,dance skills,etc…But,Elvis was much more beautiful,sexy,and had a better voice.But, why do you still fight about these corpses? Both are death but everyone will remember their huge achievements and accomplishments during many,many years…
They are both legends !
An other freak MJ fan! Freak idol freak fans!
Susan Boyles both away MJ and EP ! Susan has the better voice of all times and is the best selling artist ever !
Who said Mariah Carey sings better than Susan ? Mariah is a bitch,she doesn’t know sing at all,only screams.Susan out sing Mariah every time. Susan has 8 octaves of vocal range while Mariah has only 3,5.See? and is able to out sing Maria’s emotions by far.eaus…and 3.Moreover Susan is a gorga classic lady while Mariah go half-naked every time.I hate Mariah and her lambs. Tom,speed demon and livereaction are 3 a-holes that keep talking about these corpses called MJ and EP. Susan is the true queen,not Elvis nor Michael,stupid guys !
Susan Boyle= 2 platinum albums. Elvis= 154 gold,platinum and muti platinum and growing.CASE CLOSED
Mohan, first of all, why are you talking about Susan Boyles on this forum? This forum is about the best selling acts and Susan is far behind everyone (not Elvis or Beatles but EVERYONE). Now I’m going to answer to you because I love Susan for many reasons. First she’s simple and talented artist. She has the courage to perform live and not playback like MJ or Mariah. By the way, Mariah has no voice and screams like a cat (little bit like MJ). One thing where you’re wrong is the range, do you know the meaning of 8 octaves?!!! Are you a musician to understand what a 8 octave means? NO ONE in the history of music has 8 octave range, even the greatest operatic singer Maria Callas had 4! But I repeat again I love Susan because SHE SINGS! But she’s far from the power and the range of a Whitney Houston when she had all her intelligence in the 80’s. I’m white and I always preferred white voices because they are very versatile, but Whitney was the first black artist to touch me with her interpretation (range, power, soft, romantic, …), can’t say the same for example for a Aretha Franklin who had only a bulldozer voice :o)
@Mohan: Susan Boyles…better than MARIAH CAREY ? are you fool? Susan Boyles is not a real vocalist.How dare you compare her to Mariah ? Who equals Mariah on vocal range and singing capability? Mariah even beat the giant Whitney Houston !In what Susan is talented ? In looking like a pig? All the songs on her Christmas album are similar and predictable unlike Mariah’s that have really amazing and incredibles !Do Susan could ever sings Mariah’s Vanishing? So Blessed? The Wind? Emotions? My Saving Grace? Fly Like A Bird? Melt Away? Fourth Of July? Bliss? Against All Odds? Underneath The Stars??????
Don’t be silly.Everyone got credits to Susan voice and talent just because she’s an old and ugly woman.In facts,Susan is not as great as people think.She’s too far to be compare with vocal legends as such as Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.Christina,Celine,Jessica,Kelly,Leona,etc… beat Susan on vocal range and singing ability.
Tom,if you hate MJ and Mariah that doesn’t make them as nil as Susan and Elvis on talent and voice.You said Mariah doesn’t sing and have a cat voice? You just prove how much you are stupid and silly ! Mariah has the greatest and the better voice of all times ! No matter say haters !
About MJ and Elvis the difference is simple.MJ was an incredible and unreachable male artist on those points: Sales,Popularity,Legacy,Writing and Producing skills.Elvis was just a popular sex-Symbol.He was more cute and sexy than MJ,but that doesn’t make him as great and successful as MJ.
The title of this debate: Is Elvis The Best Artist Of All Times? Answer: No. This is Michael Jackson the best selling solo artist of all times !
CANDICE, no comment for sales because that have already been explained hundred of times, MJ is far behind the Beatles, Elvis, Sinatra, Crosby and even Madonna. But I can do nothing for dreamers.
About talent, no comments too for MJ, you must be yourself musician to understand that he couldn’t be a musician, and you must be a vocalist yourself to understand that his voice was very limited compared to a giant like Elvis (specially Elvis in the 70’s).
Now for hating, I can’t say that I hate MJ but really I don’t like his freak personality (if he had one!). He cheated with his fans by doing playback concerts, he bought the half of his face from the supermarket, and he had strange relation with children, so no sympathy for this weird guy.
Hating Maria Carey? Of course not! I have nothing against this artist, but I’m a vocalist and I can make the difference between her and Whitney. Maria proved many times on live concerts that she was not the same diva as on the studio recorded songs! If you want to appreciate the vocal talent of an artist, listen to his/her live recordings (for example Elvis from 68 to 75 was a pure diamond!). Believe me no hate for Mariah just the truth.
I can continue this interesting debate with you if you’re a vocalist or a musician (even if this is not the subject of the forum), otherwise I will not speak to someone who will copy/past junk remarks from google!
Elvis Presley is the moast moron artist that ever live ! Nothing to compare with Michael Jackson,the true artist,the god of music !
Michael Jackson kills Elvis Presley not only in overall sales,but also in popularity,talent,achievement,artistry,creativity,influence,charisma,impact on music,etc….
Elvis Presley is far behind even Elton John John,Whitney houston,Celine Dion,Mariah Carey ,Rolling Stones,Cliff Richards,etc…Every official sources claim that.
This is an insult comparing an such great artist as Michael Jackson to trash wannabe artist Elvis Presley ! They are not in the same level ! MJ is far superior,everything proves it !
Michael Jackson is the greatest solo artist of all times,no contest,Elvis Presley is the most overrated artist of all times,that’s it !
MJ’s sales surpasses EP’s by very far !
Michael Jackson global sales are estimated around billion record sold,Elvis Presley global sales is around 200-300 million records worldwide.
No doubt whi is the best seller,Michael Jackson clearly take the crown !
The question should be : Is Elvis Presley the most overrated artist of all times ? Answer : Yes,he is !
Tired of freak fan!
Tired of the delusional Elvis crazy fans !
33 million watched MJ funeral in America.Not impressive. Over 50 million watched Elvis on ed sullivan in 1956
“33 million watched MJ funeral in America.Not impressive. Over 50 million watched Elvis on ed sullivan in 1956”
you do realize that there was only a few channels to choose from in 1956? compared with the 100’s today, TV viewing figures were much higher for shows back in the 60’s and 50’s.
Josh,the point is if so many people loved MJ the viewership would have been much much higher. Plus,wasn’t the funeral on several different stations?
200-300 million records sold by Elvis Presley as of 2011,not impressive .Over 1 billion records sold by MJ,That’s what really impressive ! Elvis could never come close to that ,sorry.
MJ =King and god of music
EP= king of motherfu**ers and king of overrated artists !
200 million records sold by Elvis Presley as of 2011,not impressive.
Over 1 billion records sold by MJ,that’s what is impressive !
MJ is the king of music,proved by his sales,success,achievements,talent,impact,contribution in music,legacy,popularity,etc…
MJ = god of music
EP=king of overrated artists and of funerals,not of music !
XXXXX, calm down you might have a stroke.The RIAA has MJ at 70 million, where does the other 930 million come from?
MJ or Elvis.Lets see,oh yea here we go.most #1 singles=Elvis,most#1 albums= Elvis,most gold=Elvis,most platinum=Elvis,most multi-platinum=Elvis. biggest Tv audience=Elvis.I could go on but I’m sleepy.LOSER=MJ
“Josh,the point is if so many people loved MJ the viewership would have been much much higher. Plus,wasn’t the funeral on several different stations?”
i’m not a MJ or Elvis fan btw, the reason for the higher viewing figures are
1. like I said less channels to choose from, Elvis was on 1 channel from a choice of 6, MJ might have been on 4/5 channels from a choice of 500. I live in the UK, and it was on 3 channels over here what I know of and I have about 700 channels to choose from.
2.think of the viewing figures if MJ died in 1985, at his peak. MJ had done nothing for about 15years prior to his death, I’m guessing Elvis was at his peak popularity when he went on Ed Sullivan show or more popular than MJ was at the time of his death?
3. not really a point, but how accurate is that 56million? seeing is how it’s from 1956 they could have been very wrong.
XXXXX
“Over 1 billion records sold by MJ”
any evidence for that? MJ ‘only’ sold about 100million in the US, which makes up about 30% of the music market, so where has this other 900million sales come from?
MJ is the 11th best selling artist in US with 70 million albums sold. Josh, the other 900 million sales come from Africa :o)
MJ sold much more than Elvis.no question about it ! He’s also way better than Elvis in everything musically.This is all the truth !
Calm down ? Why ? Why would I have a stroke ? Because you lie about MJ sales ? So,are you a doctor or a philantropist ? No,no, I’ don’t have to.Official claims already settle this question anyway.No Lies can change that,sorry.
MJ is the top selling solo artist of all times,supported by every official sources.Most albums sold worldwide=MJ
most singles sold worldwide=MJ
Best selling album of all times=MJ
Highest grsossing tour =MJ
Most videos sold =MJ
Best selling video=Mj
Most popular artist worldwide=MJ
Elvis sold around 200 million records worldwide,where did the so-called rest of 800 million come from ? Mars or Pluton ?
MJ=King of music & biggest selling solo artist of all times
Elvis Presley =king of gluttons/mother molesters
The 800 other million so-called sales of Elvis Presley surely come from the ass of Tom’s mother
Hey XXXXX relax why the personal attacks on Tom and YYYYY? Its not that serious.You like MJ and we like Elvis.
Besides selling way more albums and singles than MJ,unlike MJ (WHO ALWAYS MADE SURE THERE WAS A CAMARA OR PRESS WAS AROUND),Elvis’ phianthropic endeavors received no publicity.All through his adult life,for friends,family and total strangers,he QUIETLY paid hospital bills,bought homes,supported them,paid off debts,and much more. Every year he would donate money to 50 different charities.MJ was all about getting attention for himself,he was basically a sorry person,fooled a lot of people.
@ Robby
Ask themm first why personal attacks on MJ since the debut,then why personal attack against a continent ( Africa )while the debate is about artists. Then I’ll answer to you question. It’s not that serious ? Really ? If you want to be a judge, be fair and careful in what you claim.
MJ =king of music & best selling solo artist of all times
As an Elvis fanatic,you have your emit your negative opinion on MJ,so simple.Which MJ fan couldn’t do the same against Elvis ?
Write anything you want,this would change nothing on the fact by which Michael Jackson is the greatest solo artist of all times and the best selling one.
MJ has now surpassed Elvis in album sales since 1991, according to Soundscan, in the US. MJ has also superior single sales, according to Soundscan.
Another proof that MJ is the King of Popular Music.
RIP MJ, the most successful entertainer of all time and the best selling artist ever, according to Guinness WR and IFPI, respectively.
how old are you XXXXX ?!!
Speed Demon, what the hell are you talking about! Even artists like Bing Crosby, Sinatra or Madonna have sold more than MJ. Why this childish arguments?! When you go on RIAA’s internet site, all the albums are counted and certified (they have nothing to hide like other weird sources), and you can do the addition by yourself to realize that MJ is faaaar behind lot of people, beside this he’s lucky because all his stuff has been captured by RIAA and singles are not counted (the King’s biggest market!). But even with these advantages, MJ still remains 11th best selling act! Except if Africa helped him to raise his sales with 800 million ;o) In conclusion, MJ has sold only 70 million albums in US but 800 million in Africa :o))
God I’m talking with children!
Come on MJ fans leave this forum. Otherwise Lady Gaga’s fans will start commenting too on the forum by telling that Gaga sold more albums that the Beatles or Elvis! Come on be adult and let this debate be discussed between the two biggest selling acts.
Here we go again with Soundscan and IFPI, two UNOFFICIAL sources that came into existance way after Elvis died.They don’t know anything about Elvis’total sales.The RIAA is the official source.They know Elvis and others beat MJ.Oh,and as far as singles go,the RIAA presented Graceland an award (FOR ELVIS)years ago showing he is the biggest selling singles artist ever.try that on for size Elvis haters
I hope all Elvis fans are not as ignorant as the ones who posts on this site. Yes, both IFPI and Soundscan are “official sources.” No less “official” than RIAA. Soundscan tracks actual sales, while RIAA certifies records based on shipments.
As for RIAA, they have never counted MJs Motown albums, nor his digital single sales. This excludes tens of millions record sales.
So claiming that RIAA has counted all MJ sales, is highly inaccurate.
Official sources, such as Guinness WR, IFPI, Forbes and Soundscan confirms that MJ is above Elvis. Not to mention that MJs Estate owns Elvis music catalogue. In other words; MJ is the King.
@ Tom :
“ how old are you XXXXX ?!! “
Believe me, I am enough elderly to notice your multiple lies and to do not swallow the crap you keep posting here.You know damn well that even artists like Barbra Streisand,U2,Tina Turner,Cliff Richards,Nana Mouskouri ,Rod Stewart ,have sold way much more records than Elvis Presley ! I don’t even mention greater sellers like Mariah Carey,Rolling Stones,Celine Dion,Whitney Houston,Madonna,Elton John,etc…that are closest to MJ on sales ! Only The Beatles tops Michael Jackson , No one else .
Sad that there is still delusional crazy fanatics that try to provoke people on saying that Elvis Presley ( 200 million records sold worldwide ) tops Michael Jackson ( over 1 billion records sold ) on record sales ! They don’t understand that MJ is in will be the king of music,the best selling solo artist of all times,no matter what you write in this blog . Elvis Presley just have the chance to be hugely overrated like that by ignorants/liars like you thanks to the oldness of his career.
How an artist selling 200 million records worldwide ( EP ) can be compared with another one selling over 1 billion world wide ( MJ )? There is no comparison between them for god sake !Michael Jackson is the king by very far,no doubt.Michael Jackson is light years ahead Elvis Presley not just on sales,but in everything.
Elvis is not in the league of great sellers acts Michael jackson,The Beatles,The Rolling Stones,Mariah Carey,Madonna,etc…even Barbra Streisand tops Elvis Presley on worldwide sales ,while she’s the 5th best selling female artist of all times ! See how much you lose your time comparing Elvis with Michael ? So please,I’m sure that the title of this forum would be : IS ELVIS PRESLEY THE MOST OVERRATED ARTIST OF ALL TIMES ? The administrator,had certainly made a big error in the title,so simple.
And yeah Tom,Elvis has sold 200 million records worldwide but necessarily 800 million in your ass and in the ass of your mother respectively ( so probably 400 million in Tom’s ass in another 400 million in the ass of Tom’s mom ).Only explanation.
PS : Tom congrats,you and your mother are just what people could very well nickname “A-hole” in all means !
“ Otherwise Lady Gaga’s fans will start commenting too on the forum by telling that Gaga sold more albums that the Beatles or Elvis! “.
You’re so right cause actually it’s just what you do when you say that Elvis sold more than MJ ! Unfortunatelly,you’re not enough significant to impose this delusional absurdity nowhere ,not even in this blog.Every official sources ,every major medias,etc… recognize and claims Michael Jackson the best selling solo artist of all times.The only king of music.
“ Come on MJ fans leave this forum”.
OK, We’ll leave this forum when you and the other delusional Elvis fanatics will admit that Elvis is indeed the most overrated artist of all times and also the king of incestuous men,but not the best selling artist .
Yes Tom ,you talk with children ,but WELL ADVISED and well informed ones unfortunately,sorry .
@ Robby :
Don’t play the judge anymore ?
Speed Demon, as I told you before, any source who has nothing to hide expose numbers for the large public. The only source who does that is RIAA, you know why? Because they have nothing to hide. RIAA is the only honest source who accepts even its imperfections (all this is well explained on their site and by reading this you can understand why Elvis’s sales are not all counted). But you can also notice that with all these inconveniences, still the King is far ahead.
I repeat again, all other sources throw numbers in the sky by giving no proofs, for that reason all serious statistics are based on RIAA because they can calculate by themselves and have a valid conclusion. For this reason all serious medias (not junk) give Elvis the best selling act. You can watch French national TV channels, and everytime that they talk about Elvis, they mention two things, “The King” & “The best selling act ever”.
Really I’m not interested by MJ because he is too far in sales (several hundred millions below), the difference is huge. Not only in sales but also in talent.
Little ignorant Tom…. Billboard Magazine compile their weekly chart lists based on accurate data given to them by Soundscan, not RIAA. Besides, Soundscan PUBLICLY offer precise figures of the best-selling artists, singles and albums in the Soundscan era.
RIAAs certification system is flawed, as you have to reach a certain platform to get certified. RIAA also has to get payed to recognize or update record sales. That’s why MJs Motown records have never been counted. And that’s why RIAA loses a lot of credibility.
I don’t care what some French TV-channel has to say. For me, its enough to know that the relevant and reliable sources confirms that MJ is the best selling artist ever and the most successful entertainer of all time.
I’m not interested in Elvis by the way, as he never grew artistically or intellectually. The only reason I’m on this page, is to point out the inaccuracy of the name of the topic.
Michael Jackson is the best selling solo artist of all times
Elvis Presley is the most popular incestuous man of all times
ALL the IFPI comprehensive stats say Michael Jackson is the all-time top seller. So, sorry, saying otherwise is just utter futility in deception.
OMG. HAHAHAHAHAAHAH
And YES I AGREE (YAY!) that EP SHOULDN’T be compared to M J. Elvis is just NOT WORTHY! Michael is TOP VENUE, EP is honky tonk.
LOL
As I said, Elvis is NOT worthy to be described as an “Artist” so give it up. He’s just a singer/perforner of lame songs, someone who vocalizes gratuitously, thinking that over-singing means good singing.
Some People has this foolishly naive notion that if one is a “vocalist” (w/ a big voice), MJ is not manufactured unlike EP. MJ is a self-creation !
Elvis was a PRODUCT by others; Michael was his own self-creation.
And LAWD, WHAT STUPIDITY is this viewership of Elvis’s ed Sullivan in 1950 argument? hahahaha!
Tom is OUT OF CONTROL.
I kept mentioning– and RIGHTFULLY so– that Elvis fanatics are delusional yet instead of wising up and start looking at reality, they WORSENED their delusions!
Hey, Elvis fanatics, look up the dictionary the word DELUSIONAL, ok? That’s YOU.
Frankly dear, not only are your assertions here DELUSIONS, they are incoherent and full of contradictions and non-sense.
Ok, let me go to the points as much as I can
I. ON BEING THE ALL -TIME BESTSELLING ARTIST.
MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE WORLD’S BEST SELLING SOLO ARTIST OF ALL TIME. No buts, no ifs, NO DEBATE. It’s proven by REPUTABLE institutions and NO MERE CONJECTURE BY DELUDED FANATICS like you can change that. SO GET OVER IT.
* IFPI in their summary releases STATES SO.
* Guinness Book of World Records (with their stringent review process) STATES so.
* INDEPENDENT and IMPARTIAL DATA providers/compilers STATE so.
* Fans (of other artists) WHO HATE MICHAEL JACKSON even say so!
So saying that all of them HIDE NUMBERS and throw the numbers in the sky are just SOUR-GRAPING and an exercise in DENIAL.
So INCONTROVERTIBLE CONCLUSION: Michael Jackson IS the world’s biggest selling artist OF ALL TIME.
AS FOR TALENT
So, it is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE that a big selling artist like Elvis is NOT considered an artistic heavyweight.. (oh, he IS a heavyweight, but that’s getting LITERAL! specially in the last days of his life !Hahaha!)..
for it’s been experienced MANY TIMES. And EP is ONE of those BIG SELLERS but who do NOT have ANY MASTERPIECE.
but NO, none of his music has that. His lyrics are trite and obvious.
And his strong vocals, as I’ve said, turned singing into an acrobatic sport instead of COMMUNICATING the emotional truth in the song. So, sorry, FAIL again.
Even OTHER ARTISTS, despite the sweet talk and ass-kissing quotes by some of them on him, at the end of the day DON’T SEE ELVIS as that significant as an artist.
Michael– though unfairly derided for soft vocals– has shown GREAT MUSICAL ARTISTRY. He explored like NO OTHER MALE artist has when it comes to music and its diversity. ENDLESS FEMALE AND MALE ARTISTS can rightfully claim GREATER musical talent that he has–Prince,Celine Dion,Madonna,Mariah Carey,Justin Timberlake,Usher,Backstreet boys,Spice Girls,etc… How many significant artists had only cite Elvis as an influence ? the list could go on– but NONE of them achieved a GREATER RANGE of musical output and longevity at the very top and, most of all, ARTISTIC AND STYLISTIC IMPACT THAT SHAPED THE MUSIC BUSINESS like he has. That’s why Michael is so significant, the MOST significant male artist EVER.
Michael’s music is bought more.. Michael is EMULATED much more.. And Michael was ATTENDED WAY MUCH MORE LIVE worldwide than EP can even FRACTIONALLY hope for!
EP’s impact was more US and UK radio-based
Having more airplays doesn’t mean that significant
And Michael’s MUSICAL LEGACY FAR OUTSTRIPS EP’s in ALL METRICS by ALL CONSTITUENTS, be they media, other artists and music industry people, or general music fans.
And EP’s CONTRIBUTION to music is LIMITED to showing the world his strong vocals. His calling card WAS his voice and his friendly face that some call wrongly ” sex appeal “.
His music is NOT groundbreaking. His Gospel stuff , though noteworthy as a relic of a time when such a thing was DOMINANT (unfortunately), were at best MEDIOCRE musically, artistically.
As for EP, he TRIES to be sexy all the time but ENDS UP HILARIOUSLY, RIDICULOUSLY FUNNY AND SKANKY.
He couldn’t even move sexily,as he was a very bad dancer ( if we can say the word ” dancer” ).
That’s ALL. ;)
Hahahah
VII. LEGACY
Musically, artistically, Michael towers over EP
Commercially, Madonna towers over EP
Philanthropy– Madonna towers over EP
Business and wealth– Madonna towers over EP
Social impact and influence– Madonna towers over EP
Historical significance– EP towers over Mariah
Game changer– Michael towers over Elvis Presley
Artistic Influence– Michael towers over Elvis
Style influence– Michael towers over EP
Performing talent– Madonna towers over EP
Voice– Mariah towers over Madonna– still Michael used his voice much better than Elvis did with his one.So….Ha ha ha !
Singing– Michael TRUMPS Mariah
Fame– Michael waaay towers over EP
GLOBAL STAR– Michael ! Elvis is way out of sight!
TRUE ICON GIANT OF POP CULTURE: Michael is way up there. Elvis can’t BEGIN to keep up .
THE GREATEST MALE ARTIST OF ALL TIME: MICHAEL JACKSON
followed by … Crosby… .. Sinatra.. Richards.. Elton John.. several MORE!… then Elvis Presley…
FACT.
GET OVER IT.
Speed Demon, you are more adult comparing to other weird people here, that’s why I’m still responding to you. A strange guy named XXXXX is out of logic that’s why I’m not focusing on him. He’s citing some junk artists who were influenced by MJ (“How many significant artists had only cite Elvis as an influence”). Only with this remark I can understand that this guy knows nothing on Elvis, the King influenced giants and not junk second hand artists. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Barry White, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Eddie Murphy, Isaac Hayes, Al Green, … the list is long. All these people admitted that without Elvis they would be nothing and surely not artist. These artists are not Britney Spears or Spice Girls!
Now this is not the subject of this forum. Speed Demon, once again you’re wrong in your conclusion. The first entity who has started counting sales is RIAA (in 1958), all other sources came after. How can an entity who was created in the 80s (after the King’s death) can be reliable on sales before 1977!
Other 2 points where you have raised important and true remarks:
1) “RIAAs certification system is flawed, as you have to reach a certain platform to get certified.”
Yes my friend you’re right, and that’s why many many Elvis’s albums (movies and some in the 70’s from 1974 to 1977) were not counted. And in this game Elvis loses more than MJ and you know that better than me.
2) RIAA also has to get payed to recognize or update record sales. That’s why MJs Motown records have never been counted
That’s right! This is why Elvis’s sales in a very fine period (Aloha from Hawaii in 1973) were not counted because Colonel Parker didn’t pay RIAA. But the biggest loss was just after Elvis’s death where RCA mentioned that the 1/4 of the RCA records sold from 1977 to 1980 on our planet was an Elvis’s stuff!!! All this was not captured by RIAA because they were not payed! May be MJs Motown records were not captured by RIAA but I’m convinced that this was not more than 10 millions no ?
Now these are some proofs given by yourself proves that this number is a minimum for Elvis. With a minimum Elvis is placed second to the Beatles, that’s why Elvis fans can declare that Elvis could be first if all his stuff was counted. And this is the debate on this forum, Elvis or Beatles… Not other outsiders…
P.S. An other incredible loss for Elvis, RIAA started to count sales from 1958. The King’s best years were from 1956 to 1958! It’s like not counting sales for Beatles from 1964 to 1966 ! Meditate!!!
“MJ is the 11th best selling artist in US with 70 million albums sold. Josh, the other 900 million sales come from Africa”
thanks for the correct, 70million in the US, selling 1billion would be impossible if you’ve only sold 70million in the US. the way I see it and if anybody could prove otherwise I’d be happy to believe it.
1. The Beatles on about 450million
2. Elvis 350 - 400million
3. MJ around 300million.
to claim any of these artist have sold anywhere near a billion is stupid. Elvis might have had a couple of million sales lost in the 50’s however, 1950’s record sales were low anyway so it wouldn’t affect his sales that much.
Hello Josh, you’re wrong for Elvis because RIAA expose album sales only (weird because they have also the single sales!). The number of 130 million ALBUMS given by RIAA is ridiculous for a SINGLE selling artist. Don’t forget that the biggest markets for MJ or the Beatles were ALBUMS and not SINGLES! With only one single like “It’s nos or never” you must add 20 millions for Elvis!!! And your remark about 50’s sales is wrong too because Elvis’s biggest hits were in the 50’s, and it is told that Elvis used to sell 9 million singles for only 1 million albums in the 50’s, and RIAA is blind about all this! RIAA didn’t count also the Aloha from Hawai year which was a top year for the King and worst the first years after Elvis’s death! All these lost numbers are millions !
There’s an other problem with Elvis and this is a silly decision made by RCA/Sony that really makes me angry. The philosophy with the Beatles (or MJ) was to make few albums with huge advertisement, and even years after, they use to regenerate the same albums which increases the artist’s sales. With Elvis the thing is little bit different, they generate huge quantities of albums with zero advertisement! The only advertisement done was on “Little less conversation” and we know the success! Many people say that Elvis beats MJ because he has much more albums, this is wrong because this is not an advantage for the King because many of these albums are under the RIAA radar and so NOT COUNTED! Other stupid decision is to authorizes unknown music labels to sell Elvis stuff! All these labels don’t pay RIAA and sales are not counted!
Josh, the number of 350/400 you were giving for Elvis is right. But this is really the MINIMUM, without dozens of million selling singles, without lost and best years (56 to 58, 1973, 1977 to 1980), without non official labels, …
Mathematically, it’s not very difficult to prove that 350 million sales is nothing for Elvis. Only his singles are several hundred of millions!
“With only one single like “It’s nos or never” you must add 20 millions for Elvis!!!”
where is this 20million figure coming from? is it just a guess?
“The philosophy with the Beatles (or MJ) was to make few albums with huge advertisement, and even years after, they use to regenerate the same albums which increases the artist’s sales.”
explain what you mean here? Elvis has had loads of newly remastered versions of his old records come out, and a few greatest hit CD’s.
i think at most 25million sales have gone missing for Elvis, even after his death none of his albums went to number 1.
“elvis has had loads of newly remastered versions of his old records come out, and a few greatest hit CD’s”
Are you kidding me ? !!!!!!…..!!!!!! :o()
Josh do a little research on internet and you will be shocked by the number of new albums appeared after his death! They change 2 songs and the picture and here’s a new CD on the market with zero advertisement! Josh, you really don’t know what you’re talking about !
Tom, IFPI is a serious industry organization that knows its profession. I assume that they have recognized MJ as the top-seller, based on extensive, thorough research and relevant variables. Of course they can’t be 100% certain (nothing in science is 100% certain), but have probably concluded findings with reasonable certainty. I’m sure they wouldn’t have put their reputation in jeopardy, based on assumptions.
Your beliefs that most Elvis albums and singles should be certified by RIAA, comes more from wishful thinking, rather than reality. It seems to me that RIAA has pretty much covered virtually every certified-deserving sellers from Elvis. As for the so-called “missing sales,” its just planted in Elvis fans heads, by the ever-so-reliable RCA. Elvis couldn’t even reach #1 on the Billboard charts after his death. Likewise with his after-death certifications. No big sellers.
MJs Motown sales in the period 1971-1991 are unknown outside Motown offices. But we do know that MJs highest certified record sales in the US, comes from the 70s and 80s.
You are wrong Tom. The debate of this forum is about who is the best selling artist ever, not about Elvis and Beatles. That’s why they should not be mentioned in a conversation were MJ is recognized as the best seller, by the reputable IFPI.
Oh yes, on a side-note: MJ is recognized as the 1st entertainer to have sold over 100 million albums outside the US, by Guinness WR. This was back in 2006. Needless to say that Elvis still haven’t received this platform of remarkable achievement.
” A strange guy named XXXXX is out of logic that’s why I’m not focusing on him. ”
Right ! At least,I have the excuse to be a “child’ unlike these ” so-called “adults “.
This is so right,cause,there is rightly an obsessed and weird so-called ” adult” that post his crap in this blog since years ! And he call other persons ” weird ” !!!! Hilarious ! What kind of “adult ” is this ?
Ah! I know :The incestuous ones.To this guy,being not an incestuous guy is being a weird guy ! Very nice
way to see the things !
” He’s citing some junk artists who were influenced by MJ ” ???? Which artist can be “junk” beside Elvis Presley ? This delusional “adult” had really lost his mind !
EP is the king of junk artists and he got the nerve to call other artists “junks” !
“Speed Demon, you are more adult comparing to other weird people here, that’s why I’m still responding to you ”
Oh! So What I supposed to do the delusional “adult” don’t reply to my posts ??gonna cry,cause he doesn’t respond to my posts !
Anyway,you have posted enough of your stuff here “adult”.I won’t the one that would encourage you to continue on spreading your crap here,really !
You dream,delusional one ! Elvis Presley is trash next to MJ !
Michael Jackson =best selling solo artist of all times
Elvis Presley =King of incestuous delusional/ pea-brained so-called “adults”.
That’s it
Speed Demon, I think you have missed an important point. I’m not talking about the counting methods or some uncounted stuff to prove that Elvis is ahead comparing to Peter Pan :o) No no no, Elvis is already the best selling solo artist with the current numbers. MJ who was an album seller (and not single seller like Elvis) has a very very very bad sales in albums in US (11th with only 70 million), and Africa will not save him!
If I’m talking about the King’s uncounted sales, is to prove that he can easily beat the Beatles too. And this is the interesting part of this debate. Not MJ who is in 11th position ! What the hell he’s doing on this forum!!!
tom, go on elvis’s wiki, he’s had loads of songs and albums remastered and released after his death.
“The philosophy with the Beatles (or MJ) was to make few albums with huge advertisement, and even years after, they use to regenerate the same albums which increases the artist’s sales.”
in the 60’s Elvis had just as promotion for his albums, and he died in the 70’s, would you expect them to market his new albums 30years after his death? The only reason the beatles get advertised more is because they are more popular, pretty simple.
Tom, MJ has well over 200 certified million album sales globally (that’s a conservative number.) This is according to figures by RIAA, IFPI, Soundscan, Billboard, OCC and Guinness WR.
As for single sales, MJ has almost 60 million certified single sales just in the US and the UK, according to RIAA, Soundscan and the OCC. Elvis has around 100 million certified sales in those two regions. Hardly a huge margin of difference you were suggesting, if you ask me.
As the figures above shows, its MJ that leads the certified sales-race. Well, of course if you excludes the hundreds of millions “missing sales” that the one and only Elvis has…
In case you’ll go on babbling about the IFPI not being in Elvis time, let me note that the Beatles were also recognized as having sold over 100 million albums outside the US by the IFPI. In case you happen to forget; Beatles broke up seven years before Elvis died…
I think I’ve made my point…
Josh, read again my notes because you’re out of subject. I said that every year we have new albums with a new name but almost the same content, these albums are then abandoned so that sales can’t progress to increase Elvis’s total sales. This is really a stupid decision and hope that someday a smart guy will take care of this case and promote Elvis’s original albums which are priceless.
“The only reason the beatles get advertised more is because they are more popular”
No Sir, and you have the greatest example with the song “Little less conversation” which was a No1 hit in more than 22 countries and this 25 years after the King’s death. The Beatles didn’t succeed to do this and MJ can do this only in his dreams (25 years after! Meditate!!!).
Speed Demon, I’m tired of explaining the same thing! If other entities have nothing to hide, then why these details are not public? Give me the name of an albums (of any artist post 1958), and I can tell you exactly the number of certified sales by RIAA! Without any proof I can say that my grandmother is the best selling artist! No proof/transparency = no credibility. So don’t give the same sources hundred of times if you don’t have details. The only proof we have about MJ is his 70 million album sold in US, and this is really a poor number! He’s far, very very far from the giants! SO STOP telling bulls!!!
Silly silly Tom. Maybe you aren’t aware how inaccurate the RIAA list is. Beatles three highest certified albums are counted twice. Beatles true RIAA figure is around 130 million, not 177. This is the opposite with MJ. None of his Motown albums have been counted. Add the undercertified Epic albums of his, his RIAA-number would probably be over 100 million album sales.
Soundscan is much more accurate than RIAA. Soundscan confirms that MJs Number Ones has sold over 4.5 million copies in the US, while RIAA has only certified 3 million sales. There are countless examples of RIAAs unreliable and inconsistent certification method.
As ignorant as you are, you probably aren’t aware that Soundscan publicly shows its annual Soundscan-tallies. Very public and transparent, silly silly Tom.
A Little Less Conversation was remixed in 2002. That’s why it got popular. None of Elvis original recordings are relevant to today’s pop music landscape, while MJs and Beatles relevance shines through to this day, with their pioneering of the video and album formats continues to influence serious pop artists.
the beatles album sales in America are about 140million, there was 30million that got counted twice from double albums. still 20million ahead of Elvis.
““Little less conversation” which was a No1 hit in more than 22 countries and this 25 years after the King’s death. The Beatles didn’t succeed to do”
it was the theme song to the 2002 football world cup, I think I’m right in saying the biggest sporting event in the world, I’m sure that helped it get advertised don’t you?
I’ve read the some of the prevous posts on this site and looked on offical sales websites like billboard and soundscan.
Soundscan Era Top 10 Artists 1991 - 2009
1 Garth Brooks – 68,143,000
2 Beatles – 57,088,000
3 Mariah Carey – 51,569,000
4 Metallica – 51,136,000
5 Celine Dion – 50,571,000
6 George Strait – 40,619,000
7 Tim McGraw – 37,591,000
8 Alan Jackson – 36,520,000
9 Pink Floyd – 35,213,000
10 Shania Twain – 33,707,000
Interestingly neither Elvis or MJ are in the top 10, I think it was early 2009 so maybe MJ’s death pushed him into the top 10 I don’t know, but Elvis is on 30million sales, so just outside the top 10.
Elvis’s greatest hits sold 11.5million worldwide compare with the Beatles greatest hits that sold 30million, with 11.5million in the US compared with Elvis’s 4.5million.
in 2009
Micheal Jackson sold 9million albums in the US.
the beatles 3.2million.
and Elvis just over 1million.
although in most years the Beatles sell more each year than both MJ and Elvis.
“9 March 1957 Billboard reports that Elvis has sold 12.5 million singles and 2.75 million albums.”
so just over 15million sold up until 1957? RIAA started tracking sales in 1958 didn’t they?
album sales between 2000 - 2009
Elvis is #25 with 16,486,000 sales. Beatles are #2 with 30,182,000, only Eminem sold more albums in America.
Album sales in Europe (including the UK):
The Beatles 93,000,000
Elvis Presley 43,000,000
only 4 artist have sold over 100million in europe, they are
#1 The Beatles
#2 Queen
#3 Madonna
#4 Michael Jackson
so Elvis is about 50million sales behind the beatles in Europe, at least 20million in the US.
album sales in Japan
#1 The Beatles 25 million
#2 Mariah Carey 18 million
#3 The Carpenters 11 million
The Beatles have also sold more than Elvis Presley in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
the beatles are at least 80million sales worldwide ahead of Elvis, I accept that some sales were lost but 80million? more like 20million, album sales were pretty low in the 50’s anyway, and even after his death I don’t think there were any of his albums that got to number 1 so claiming that 80million sales were lost is very hard to believe.
“9 March 1957 Billboard reports that Elvis has sold 12.5 million singles and 2.75 million albums.”
You are in an other world! In his first full year on RCA (1956), one of the music industry’s largest companies, Presley had accounted for over 50 percent of the label’s singles sales! You have no idea who was really the King! I didn’t know that RCA which was as important as Sony Music today had sold only 5,5 million albums in 1956 (2.75 million being the King’s stuff). You are really sucked and ignorant! Elvis’s uncounted stuff is not 10 or 20 million, you must be really stupid to think that Elvis have sold only 12,5 million singles in 1956! For information, in 1956 there was Elvis and the others!
Now for “little less conversation”, I didn’t know that it was too easy to have a no1 hit in more than 22 countries. Thank you for the advice! We just need to remix an old song! No ignorant people, this was a mega hit because this was an Elvis remix song and nothing else. MJ has nothing interesting and the Beatles stuff sounds too old to be remixed, but Elvis has a priceless songs in the 70’s which can be exploited (if a smart guy does the job of course like in 2002!).
Now go and play to playstation !
In 1956, Elvis Presley placed more songs in the top 100 than any other artist since records were first charted (there were already giants like Crosby or Sinatra before him!)! You have no idea of what you are talking about and your lack of culture annoying me :o(
I recently went on a Soundscan site that had Elvis at #15 with sales of 32 million between 1991 and 2010.MJ not even in top 15.The article also said that if Soundscan would go all the way back to 1956(and I quote)Elvis would NO DOUBT be #1.
The IFPI,Soundscan and the RIAA method of counting is flawed.Think what you want Elvis haters but rather its official or not ELVIS IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST SELLER OF RECORDS.
“The article also said that if Soundscan would go all the way back to 1956(and I quote)Elvis would NO DOUBT be #1.”
best selling single artist? it’s almost impossible to make a case for Elvis to be the best selling artist in America on confirmed sales alone.
tom how many times? in the 1950’s record sales were very small, anyway, to claim Elvis sold over 10million in one year is very very hard to believe, Elvis might, key word being might have sold more in America than The Beatles.
but what about japan? UK? Germany? France? Australia? Canada? The Beatles have outsold him in all of them countries. like I said it’s very hard to even make a case for Elvis selling more than The Beatles worldwide, as far as I know every single 1st world country The Beatles have outsold him.
Actually, Beatles certified albums sales (including subtraction of multiple counts) in the US is around 135 millions. Though still a hugely impressive total, it has been cut by over 40 million. If you compare this with MJs only multiple counted album, HIStory, which was counted from 3.5 million sales to 7 million certified sales in the US, the difference of MJs disadvantage to Beatles is close to 40 millions. That’s a lot of “sold” album sales…
As for the Soundscans best selling album-sellers in the US, MJ is at 15th place to date, having surpassed Elvis Presley, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and AC/DC the last year. This is amazing since as recently as 2008, MJ was outside top 60. That Soundscan list you have posted, Josh, is a couple of years old. Eminem has jumped up to 7th place on the newest list, bumping Shania Twain outside the top 10.
Chart Watch, by “Yahoos!” Paul Grein confirms that MJ is now the 15th best selling album-seller in the Soundscan-era. I know you don’t like the cold truth Robby.
Soundscan (era)doesn’t mean entire all time music sales. NO way MJ has sold more total records than Elvis.
IFPI confirms that MJ has sold more records than Elvis. Guinness WR recognizes MJ, not Elvis, as the most successful entertainer of all time. American Music Awards named MJ as the “Artist of the Century,” not Elvis. MJs inductions into Dance, Songwriters and Vocals Group Halls of Fame underlines his versatility and quality. Elvis is inducted into none of these Halls of Fame and in no way is Elvis underrated.
robby, you’re wrong about MJ, he sold less albums in US than the first solo artist who is Elvis (MJ 11th with only 70 million) but Africa which was the biggest market in the world helped MJ to leave the 11th position to become first :o))
robby, listen to speed demon, he knows what he’s talking about. For example about Halls of Fame, Elvis is introduced to none of them :o) , comparing to MJ who was introduced to Rock and Roll ,Country, Gospel, and the Rockabilly Halls of Fame :o(
Lack of culture and nothing else, but I don’t expect more from MJ fans :o()
Tom, MJ has outsold Elvis in most other countries outside the US. That’s why Guinness WR named MJ as the 1st entertainer to sell over 100 million albums outside the US. I know it pains you. Also, I stick to the fact Elvis has never been inducted into any of the Halls of Fame I mentioned.
As for “culture,” you might, next time, want to use the word “inducted” instead of “introduced” into Hall of Fame. But you have probably gotten used to the word “introduce,” since that’s what the presenter announce to the audience, when you are about to perform your nightly karaoke singing.
Speed Demon, unfortunately for you, the biggest market (and by far) is US. For example ABBA who was a very very very famous group in the entire world (Europe, Australia, …) couldn’t beat the Beatles or Elvis because they didn’t sell much in US. The same case for Peter Pan, he’s very far in sales in US, can you imagine that he’s not even in the top 10!!! That’s frightening for a “king” of pop!
“American Music Awards named MJ as the “Artist of the Century,””
Oh if American Music Awards named MJ the artist of the century then he is :o)
The Rolling Stone magazine did a list for the 100 Greatest Artists of all Time and MJ is in 35th position (Elvis 3rd), so what’s the point? Who cares about these lists! I don’t need the Rolling Stone magazine to determine that Elvis had a better voice or was a better artist than our Peter Pan! You must use your ears and your brain!
Tom, you are 100% correct Elvis is the only artist in all major hall of fames. Speed Demon thinks that dance,hip hop and a few other cheesy hall of fames are important. Heck lets just throw in the karate black belt hall of fame in also,which Elvis is also a member of.Tom,I agree with everything you say about the real King of Music (ELVIS).
Tom,your right.Elvis is the only artist in all MAJOR music hall of fames.Speed Demon thinks that dance,hip hop and a few other cheesy fames that MJ is in really mean something.By the way,i can’t stand MJ.Been major Elvis fan all my life.Saw in in concert August 27th 1976 in San Antonio TX.His stage presence was and still is unmatched.
Didn’t think comment 149 was submitted, that’s why 150 looks the same
Robby, you saw the King on stage in 1976!!!!!! God I’m jealous!!! Robby you really can’t imagine the luck you had in your life! Unfortunately I was born in Asia and it was impossible to me to see this giant on stage (because of my age too! I was 1 year old in 1976!), but really, the hardest thing for millions of Elvis’s fans is to not see him at least once in their lifetime, but you had that luck!
I repeat, I’m very very jealous :o(
Hey Tom,I don’t know why I didn’t mention it before but yes,I was 16 years old when I took a bus from Corpus Christi TX to San Antonio to see Elvis.He looked and sounded great.The power of his voice was incredible.Oh,now I’m just waiting for an MJ fan to say something negative.
For those MJ fans who thought his UK concert records would never be broken,I’ve got some bad news for you.The UK band TAKE THAT recently played 8 consecutive sold out shows at Wembley Stadium,breaking the 22 year old record held by MJ.Also broke record for highest grossing concert stand ever.Plus broke record for most tickets sold in one day(1.35 million)Ticketmaster says demand was a staggering 30 times higher than 2009 MJ’s This Is It.Also said call volume was at least twice that of when Michael Jackson went on sale for This Is It.OMG,I thought those records would never be broken.
Michael Jackson is the best selling solo artist of all times !
Michael Jackson outsold Elvis Presley by far, this is a waste of time to continue talking about it. The King of pop rules!
Elvis Presley was before all an Illuminati superstar, unlike MJ.
The only waste of time is me responding to you,but i will anyway.YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT.
Uh!Lou,look up RIAA top record sellers.Elvis sold twice as many albums in US as MJ did.The US is the biggest market,no way MJ sold more.Plus did you read post #154?MJ got his butt kicked by Take That.
Unfortunately for you Tom, IFPI named MJ, not Elvis, the worlds best-selling recording artist of all time. In case you didnt know, the US is part of the world. Guinness WR also included the US when they named MJ as the most successful entertainer of all time. I guess the US wasnt as big as you wanted it to be. ;)
In 2010, VH1 made a list of the 100 greatest artists of all time and MJ was ranked as the greatest solo artist of all time. Overall, he only came behind the Beatles. Elvis was ranked number 8, behind Prince. How ironic!
And one more thing Tom, a NME poll recently named MJ as the greatest singer of all time, ahead of Freddie Mercury and Elvis Presley. But of course, only cultured and intellectual people would know that MJ is a better artist and singer than our Teddy Bear.
Sorry Robby, u can’t cherry pick whats “major” or not. I guess it irks you that Elvis will never be inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame, which includes such esteemed musicians such as MJ, Gershwin, Dylan, Lennon etc. Oh yes, and MJ is inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame more times than Elvis. Ouch! Gotta hurt…
“Speed Demon thinks that dance,hip hop and a few other cheesy hall of fames are important.”
Some Dance Hall of Fame inductees: Fred Astaire, Nicholas Brothers and Bob Fosse. If these dancers are “cheesy,” then I can’t argue with your level of intelligence, Robby. Or maybe you’re just angry that MJ floors Elvis in virtually every category possible.
From MJs Bad, Dangerous and HIStory World Tours, Old Wembley Stadium tickets were sold to over 1.1 million (all sold-out of course.) Until the demolition of the 1923 stadium, this record had not been beaten. So Take That will never beat that record. Also, MJ has sold more albums and singles in their own country and rest of the world. That, they’ll never beat either.
“More than 1.5?million Michael Jackson fans sent websites into meltdown today as they scrambled to buy tickets for his London gigs.
People from across the world, including Congo, Paraguay and Korea, caused two sites offering pre-sale tickets to The O2 arena concerts in July to crash within minutes of going online.”
- Evening Standard
Apparently, Ticketmaster got it all wrong.
Anyways, MJs This Is It film went on to become the highest grossing concert movie and documentary of all time. MJ not only holds onto records like no one else, he keeps breaking them like no one else!
No wonder MJ is the most successful entertainer of all time, according to Guinness WR. Take That who?
Actually,Take That did beat MJ,the 1.35 million was just what was sold in less thsn 24 hours(Ticketmaster crashed early that morning for them too).They went on to sale 1.78 milliom tickets for only 29 uk dates.The new Wembley stadium was built on the exact same site as the old one.They did beat MJ.MJ’s record is gone.Live with it.
Uh!Speed Demon,when Elvis played Vegas,hotel management said they would get phone calls from every major country in the world from people wanting tickets.That’s the difference between Elvis and MJ,Elvis didn’t even travel around the world like MJ and he still is the artist with the most fan clubs worldwide.And once again Take That has beaten MJ’s record.Sorry
And the ONLY reason This Is It is the biggest grossing concert film is because he died right before. Heck, even 16 year old Justin Bieber’s concert film broke This Is It’s record in the states.
Two million people tried to buy pre-sale tickets [of MJs This Is It concerts] in the space of 18 hours.
- Herald Sun
Veronica Schmidt of The Times stated of the reception; “Michael Jackson has floored his critics.”
Randy Phillips of promoters AEG Live said: “Not only are these concerts [This Is It] unparalleled, these records will never be broken.
“We knew this was show business history, but this is a cultural phenomenon.”
The new Wembley Stadium is not the same as the old one, no matter how much you wish that was the case. So MJs Old Wembley record stands for all time. Live with it.
“And the ONLY reason This Is It is the biggest grossing concert film is because he died right before.”
In the space of 24 hours, nearly a million people from around the world registered for pre-sale tickets [for the This Is It concerts], enough to fill the venue 50 times over.
- Daily Mirror
Then whats the reason for MJ being able to fill up the O2-arena 50 times over, in the space of a day? Your logic seem to deteriorate.
MJs This Is It-film remains the world’s highest grossing concert movie and documentary of all time. Fact. Live with it.
“Your logic seem to deteriorate” Speed demon,do you think I’m making up the fact that TAKE THAT broke MJ’s record?Google “Wikipedia Progress Live” and read for yourself the MJ records they broke.Oh and I don’t care if This Is It is the biggest grossing concert film ever,doesn’t bother me a bit.Also,so what if someone from AEG said the records will never be broken,they promoted MJ they should say nice things about him.AEG rep didn’t know it at the time but he was wrong.
No, I think you’re making up the “fact” that the This Is It-film only became the highest grossing concert movie ever, just because MJ died. You should know that MJ has broken countless of records throughout his life, when he was ALIVE. How do you explain that?
As for Take That’s supposed “record-breaking” tour, the figures for demand of tickets for that tour just doesn’t measure up to MJs This Is It demand. That they sold out tickets faster than MJ, is only because the technology in that area, has improved since 2009, probably because of the lessons learned, when MJ-fans were crashing websites in pursuit of tickets back then.
What do you mean supposed “record-breaking” tour?They DID break MJs records.Did you not read the same information that I did? Ticketmaster also reported that they received 20m page views on one day that was quote “far in excess” of the number seen when MJs O2 arena dates went on sale.
Oh! and Take That has twice as many number one records than MJ. Elvis has triple that.Google UK chart records and search around you’ll see.
They didn’t break the Old Wembley record and the overall demand for tickets were higher for MJ, than for Take That. Ticket-sales for MJ was divided between different websites including MJs own official website, not just Ticketmaster. So Ticketmaster had no idea of the overall demand for the This Is It-tickets.
By the way, MJ has sold more albums AND singles in Take That`s own backyard (the UK) than they have. Just check OCCs sales-figures. MJ has also sold more records and been a more successful entertainer than Elvis, globally, as confirmed by IFPI and Guinness WR.
Take That.
I know it’s killing you,but MJs record are gone.Once again,the proof is in the pudding so to speak.And I never was good at math but Take That’s 8 consecutive Wembley sellouts (600,000+)beats MJs 7 consecutive Wembley sellouts (500,000+).
Wow,been out of town for awhile,I see the debate continues.After catching up on the post,I searched around and found out for myself that the group Take That did indeed blow MJs records out of the water.Even though if my life depended on it I couldn’t name one song of theirs.But still,what they did is pretty darn impressive.
No, Take That never broke MJs Old Wembley-record. That’s a fact. Take That’s record is on a DIFFERENT stadium. As MJ never performed at the New Wembley, there is no record to break. Simple logic.
Oh what denial!Once again for the last time.Wikipedia Progress Live tour says it all.Take That set the record for the fastest selling UK tour ever beating the record of MJ with ticket demand a whopping 30 times higher than that of MJs This Is It.Plus 8 consecutive sold out Wembley shows,beating MJs Bad Tour shows.A record concert stand for highest grossing stand also.DOUBLE OUCH!!
Michael Jackson is the best selling solo artist of all times,no contest. Elvis Presley can’t match the god of music.Michael Jackson is light years ahead Elvis Presley on sales,talent,popularity ,achievements and legacy.
Elvis fanatics are just delusional. Elvis is good to compare with Justin Timberlake or Usher.He’s not in Michael Jackson’s league.
RIAA has Elvis selling twice as many albums as the child molester.In the UK, Elvis has three times the number ones as the freak and sold millions more singles than plastic man.Elvis has more fan clubs around the world than any artist or group.It was Peter Pans spokesperson who came up with the highly exaggerated totals. Plastic man is no where near Elvis in total sales.
Plus just two months ago on the two year anniversary of plastic man’s death,only 30 people was gathered outside his resting place.That’s pathetic.Elvis has crowds of 35 to 50 thousand people outside his resting place 25 to 30 YEARS later.
Michael Jackson sold more than twice Elvis Presley total sales worldwide.The incestuous man has sold less singles too,than the god of music MICHAEL JACKSON.The self-mother molester has never sells as much as MJ. MJ is far ahead on sales.. So the incestuous mother molesters that support Elvis Presley the king of incest ,here are just pathetic /delusional.
Besides Michael Jackson is way more popular worldwide than the mother fu**er .The glutton mother/teen rapist is popular only in USA and UK,Michael is popular everywhere worldwide.
Popularity on death means nothing,popularity on record sales is what matters.
Michael Jackson is the best selling solo artist of all times.Haters can write whatever they want and lost their time posting their crap and lies,it would change nothing on that.
Michael Jackson is Guinness World Records, World Music Awards and IFPI’s best selling solo artist of all times .
Suck that haters.
Man,you really need a chill pill.Believe what you want,but the kiddie diddler is not even close to Elvis’s worldwide sales.The album (MICHAEL)released after he died couldn’t even make it to number one in the two biggest markets.Right now as I type this,the DVD-Elvis The Great Performances has debuted at no.1 on the billboard DVD music charts.That’s about 34 years after he died.Suck on that kiddie diddler lovers.
Michael Jackson is undeniably the best selling solo artist of all times.
@ Josh : I admire your posts ,cause we can notice that you try to be objective in your analysis unlike some crazy fanatics here.However,I have to tell you some things :
Referring to your post 135,you wrote :
[…..I’ve read the some of the previous posts on this site and looked on official sales websites like billboard and Soundscan.
Soundscan Era Top 10 Artists 1991 – 2009
1 Garth Brooks – 68,143,000
2 Beatles – 57,088,000
3 Mariah Carey – 51,569,000
4 Metallica – 51,136,000
5 Celine Dion – 50,571,000
6 George Strait – 40,619,000
7 Tim McGraw – 37,591,000
8 Alan Jackson – 36,520,000
9 Pink Floyd – 35,213,000
10 Shania Twain – 33,707,000
Interestingly neither Elvis or MJ are in the top 10, I think it was early 2009 so maybe MJ’s death pushed him into the top 10 I don’t know,but Elvis is on 30million sales, so just outside the top 10 ] ”
Well, You are somehow right cause MJ’s death has rightly pushed him ahead .After his death, Jackson became the best-selling albums artist of 2009; in the United States selling over 8.2 million albums and a total of 35 million albums worldwide in the 12 months that followed his death.
So Michael Jackson was ahead Elvis Presley ,just for 2009 sales !
Billboard has estimated that Jackson has generated at least $1 billion in revenue in the year following his death.
Following this surge in sales, Sony announced that they had extended their relationship with his material. See ? So I think you has underestimated MJ’s sales on your logic.
Michael Jackson is indeed the top selling solo artist ever.
Mango,I’m not trying to argue with you or imply that you don’t know what your talking about,but whoever sold the most between 1991-2009 does not mean they are the biggest sellers all time.Soundscan started tracking sales many years after Elvis died.I read a Soundscan article with the same totals you are talking about.The article also said if they (Soundscan)would go all the way back to the 50’s and count record sales since then,”quote” Elvis would definitely be number 1.
Record sales in the 50’s were not that significant anyway . I don’t think Elvis would be # 1 even if his 50’s record sales would be counted.
Beside, Elvis better part at these times were singles,not albums.
Some posters here has mentioned all this and analyzed it very well here and I don’t think I have the need to repeat it .
” whoever sold the most between 1991-2009 does not mean they are the biggest sellers all time ” its depends on what biggest seller consists.
first : Michael Jackson was by far the most successful artist of the 1980’s .
Second : The 1990’s are called ” the glorious decade ” and also ” the most successful decade ” on music because music sales were more important on this segment of time than in most other decades.
Third : Just the MJ’s sales for the 2009 year has surpassed Elvis Soundscan ( 1991-2009 ) sales in USA,his strongest market, as we see. So we can imagine how much Michael Jackson has surpassed him when we would collect all these sales together ( MJ Soundscan sales + 2009 year sales ).
Fourth : Unlike what many Elvis Presley fans claimed,sales in USA only are not determining ,neither always more important than the rest of the world. In 2009 Michael Jackson was the best selling artist in the world ,for selling 35 million albums worldwide ,including only 8,2 million for USA ! Like we see, the rest of the world worth more than 3 times the sales on USA ( in case of MJ ) .So saying that MJ can be the top selling worldwide because he is not the top selling in USA is just ignorant and dumb thinking.
All that lead us to the conclusion that Michael Jackson total more records sold than Elvis Presley.
Mango,your post says it all .No comments,Michael is the best selling solo artist of all time.
In 2009 ,he has indeed sold 9 million albums in USA and over 37 million worldwide ,outselling by very far every other artists.Following this surge in sales, Sony announced that they had extended their relationship with his material. The distribution rights held by Sony Music were due to expire in 2015. On March 16, 2010, Sony Music Entertainment, in a move spearheaded by its Columbia/Epic Label Group division, signed a new deal with the Jackson estate to extend their distribution rights to his back catalog until at least 2017, as well as to obtain permission to release ten new albums with previously unreleased material and new collections of released work.
The deal was unprecedented in the music industry as it is the most expensive music contract pertaining to a single artist in history; it reportedly involved Sony Music paying $250 million for the deal, with the Jackson estate getting the full sum as well as its share of royalties for all works released. Video game developer Ubisoft announced it would release a new dancing-and-singing game featuring Michael Jackson . The game entitled Michael Jackson: The Experience will be among the first to use Kinect and PlayStation Move, the respective motion-detecting camera systems for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 due out later that year.
Cirque du Soleil announced on 3 November 2010 that it would launch “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” in October 2011 in Montreal, while a permanent show will reside in Las Vegas.The 90-minute US$57M production will combine Jackson’s iconic musical oeuvre and choreography with the Cirque’s signature artistry, dance and aerial displays involving 65 artists. The tour was written and directed by Jamie King and centers on Jackson’s “inspirational Giving Tree – the wellspring of creativity where his love of music and dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature are unlocked.”
In April 2011, Jackson’s longtime friend and billionaire businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed, chairman of Fulham F.C., unveiled a statue of Jackson outside the club’s stadium, Craven Cottage.
Michael Jackson = greatest solo artist of all time
@ post 86 ( Tom ) : Better people than you that have greater knowledge ( Music professionals , experts ,other artists/superstars, opera singers,producers,vocal coaches,etc…) has confirmed that Mariah Carey voice is a single phenomenon in the music industry and that she’s one of top singers in the world.
“ [even the greatest operatic singer Maria Callas had 4 ( octaves ). ]” Childish argument ! Do ,This mean that no one could never surpass Maria Callas voice cause she was “ the greatest operatic singer “ ? Dear, “greatest operatic singer” doesn’t mean greatest voice of all time,neither larger vocal range of all time.
1-the vocals used by opera singers are very different to the ones used by pop singers.They doesn’t not the same vocal training So you cant’ really compare an opera singer to a pop/variety singer even if they would have exactly the same vocal range
2-The natural quality of an opera singer’s voice is not necessarily superior to a Pop/variety singer’s, even if it would be the case in general,there are exceptions and Mariah Carey would be one of them.
3-Mariah’s vocal range is not an opinion ,but a fact that everyone can hear.The 5,3 octaves of her vocal range is not an opinion but a fact that vocal coaches,doctors,producers,musicians,etc… have observed and that everyone can notice when listening her !
4-Maria Callas voice was not that extraordinary , There is many other opera singers that have better voice than Maria Callas,but a legend stay a legend whatever it takes .Maria Callas was just one of the first reputed opera singers in the world .So some people has assimilated that to largest vocal range ever ! Maria Callas couldn’t even hit a whistle note ! Nevertheless,every artist that have a vocal range reaching 4 octaves can whistle ( even though their whistle notes stand far under Mariah’s unique super high notes ) .Actually Christina Aguilera is the only international superstar that comes the closest to Mariah on vocal range ( she have rightly 4 octaves ) and she can whistle .so saying 4 octaves to Maria callas someone that couldn’t emit a C#5 note is simply ignorant.
‘” [ Mariah screaming like a cat …. ]” : Sorry to disappoint you but Mariah is also known as the female artist that has sung and the deeper /lower notes ! For example listen to Mariah’s O Holy Night ( first verse ),Melt Away , You’re So Cold ( the beginning ),Always Be My Baby ,etc… and tell me how many cats or other female artists did you ever notice screaming or singing so deep /low notes.
Mariah have so many distinctive vocal features over other artists that it’s impossible to enumerate them all.Only listening her songs could help people to understand .Not only the whistles are Mariah’s mark on music. Mariah is the only artist that has sang in very high notes that would be impossible for average/normal –voice singers to sing ( My Saving Grace ,Mine Again,etc….).Her voice have power,versatility,elasticity , unmatchable flexibility,stretchability and smoothness.
Sometimes she sounds blunty superhuman ,that’s rightly why some people supposed that her voice is fake.But she have proved her voice innumerable times ( just watch her live performances of Emotions at Arsenio Hall show in 1991,or at MTV live 1992 to have an idea ). Her techniques are flawless.Her high notes are silky,well-shaped,powerful , perfect.Mariah is also the mistress of melismas and vocal runs according to music critics and experts.Mariah sings with so much allure,elegance , virtuosity ,grace, ,sensuality that no other female had managed to match.Her voice releases much more femininity and grace than any other female singer.She was really born to sing !
She have great virtuosity and controls her vocal range like anyone else whereas her vocal range is larger than anyone else ! Music critics praise her vocal techniques that are so amazing, impressive and really unique….
As for live performances,inform yourself before spreading wrong infos and big mistakes : Mariah Carey is known as one of the artists using playback the less times in the music industry.Every other artists had used playback much more often than Mariah Carey,everyone knows that.Nevertheless,Mariah live vocal performances are among the better ones people had ever heard to! Her live performances beats any other female’s .She have so much good live performances that it would be impossible to cite even 1 /3 of them .However,just try to listen the entire MTV Unplugged EP album ,When You Believe live at Oprah Winfrey Show 1999,her live rendition of the American National Anthem at the 2002 Super Bowl ( for which Guinness World Records recognized her as the artist having the largest vocal range ever ) ,2009 live performance of I want To Know what love is at Italia X-Factor or her 2010’s O Come All Ye Faithful/One Child live at Washington White House.Talking about singing and vocals,No other female artist can beat Mariah .
Maybe you don’t really hate Mariah ,so please inform yourself about someone/something before saying wrong things simply because of ignorance.
Wow,MJs friend put a statue of him outside the club he owns.Big deal.There are more than a few countries that have Elvis statues.As far as Cirque du Soleil,yes that’s a big thing,but nothing that Elvis and the Beatles don’t already have.And (Elvis The Concert)which shows Elvis on a big screen backed by many of his band members has been playing to sold out crowds in many parts the the world for years.You guys throw out what you know about MJ or think might be true (like highly exaggerated record sales), but you don’t know anything much about the history of Elvis.
Once again for the last time Mango and Truth.Read this slowly so you can understand. Soundscan and IFPI came into existence many years after Elvis died,they don’t know the full history of his total sales.Elvis’s total sales are much more than MJs and judging from the sales of the album “MICHAEL”,MJs sales will never catch up to Elvis.
@ Mango : Oh and according to the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame,Michael Jackson is the most popular artist of show business history ,and the all time most popular man in the world !
Michael Jackson has also won more Awards and distinctions than any other artist on music history !
In 2000,MJ was named Artist of the Millennium !
Michael Jackson also holds more records than any other artist .Not astonishing that he’s the greatest solo artist of all time and the best selling solo artist of all time !
yes Truth,I agree with you.Every facts proves that Michael is the greatest and best selling solo artist ever.Indeed,being the most successful artist of the 1980’s ( most significant and successful decade on music behind the 1990’s ), garnering over 1 billion $ one year after the death ,being the most popular artist of all time in this planet ,Having 7 albums among the top selling albums of all time and many other records over all artists clearly indicates that Michael Jackson is indeed the best selling solo artist of all time and the greatest artist that ever lived.
Mango and Truth. KEEP DREAMING.
YYYYYY and Real Truth : KEEP DENY THE OBVIOUS TRUTH AND EVIDENCE.
YYYYYY and Real Truth : KEEP DENYING THE OBVIOUS TRUTH AND EVIDENCE.
I dare Elvis Presley fans to cite Elvis Presley 10 best selling albums worldwide,as they claim their idol the best selling artist of all times !
Monique,the RIIA has him at 70 million US sale (the biggest market),surely you can’t be dumb enough to think that he sold 680 million in the rest of the world.
@ Lisa,you surely can’t be enough dumb to think that Elvis has sold 1 billion albums while his very best selling album doesn’t reach even 15 million !
By the way,why don’t you show Elvis best selling albums ?
Oh and I think that I’ve found out Elvis Presley best selling album. It is his Christmas Album that reaches 12 million on certifications + shipments,including 9 million sold in USA ! It is equally Elvis best selling album in USA. Funny ,when we know that artists like 50 Cent , Christina Aguilera , or Usher have highest selling albums ! And I am sure that Lady Gaga,Rihanna or Justin Timberlake will soon top the best selling album of ” The King ” ( as some fans call Elvis Presley )!
And this is whom you say topping Michael Jackson on global sales ? Where did these 1 billion albums sold could come from for Elvis Presley ? Do the math ,Remove 12 million from 1 billion and you’ll see how much stupid is it .It would imply that the 66 lowest selling albums remaining has totaled 988000000 sales ( 15 000 000 - 1000 000 000 = 988000000 ). Then, 988000000 ÷ 66 = 14969696,9696 sales per albums ! All the lowest selling albums should necessarily sold each 14,9 million worldwide,whereas the best selling one couldn’t reach 13 million !
There is no evidence that Elvis could have even 20 albums reaching 10 million sales worldwide according to figure sales ! Elvis Presley sales are exaggerated by million light years ! He’s not that great seller ,in facts.
See how much uneducated and dumb thinking it’s like saying Elvis sold 1 billion albums worldwide ???
How many Michael Jackson’s can you find below in the ‘LIST of BEST-SELLING ALBUMS WORLDWIDE’???????????
FIVE out of MJ’s FIVE adult SOLO albums are ALL in the top 70!
Bear in mind that Michael only had 5 solo albums as an adult (10 SOLO albums in total if his teen years are included AND no EP’s and no singles sold separately ) whereas
ELVIS has: more than 80 albums + and 100 singles + and EP’s !
And hurray – Beatles has 2 albums included in the list!
None of Elvis’s albums are in the top-selling worldwide!!!!
MJ is the KING and Beatles is the Best Band ever!
1. 110M Thriller – MICHAEL JACKSON (1982)
2. 49M Back in Black – AC/DC (1980)
3. 45M: Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd (1973)
4. 44M The Bodyguard Soundtrack – Whitney Houston/Various Artists (1992)
5. 43M: Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf (1977)
6. 42M Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 – Eagles (1976)
7. 42 M: Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (1987)
8. 42M Dirty Dancing Soundtrack (1987)
9. 40M Millennium Backstreet Boys (1997)
10. 40M Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack Bee Gees/Various Artists (1977)
11. 40M: Rumours – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
12. 40M Come on Over – Shania Twain (1997
13. 37M Led Zeppelin IV – Led Zeppelin (1971)
14. 33M Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette (1995)
15. 32M: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles (1967)
16. 32M Falling into You – Celine Dion (1996)
17. 32M Music Box – Mariah Carey (1993)
18. 32M Dangerous – MICHAEL JACKSON (1991)
19. 31M 1 – The Beatles (2000)
20. 31M Let’s Talk about Love – Celine Dion (1997)
21. 31M Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John (1973)
22. 30M Spirits Having Flown – Bee Gees (1979)
23. 30M Born in the U.S.A.– Bruce Springsteen (1984)
24. 30M Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits (1985)
25. 30M Titanic Soundtrack – James Horner (1997)
26. 30M The Immaculate Collection – Madonna (1990)
27. 30M Bad – MICHAEL JACKSON (1987)
28. 30M The Wall – Pink Floyd (1979)
29. 28M Greatest Hits – Abba (1993)
30. 28M Backstreet’s Back – Backstreet Boys (1997)
31. 28M Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi (1986)
32. 28M Appetite for Destruction – Guns N’ Roses (1987)
33. 28M Grease – Various Artists (1978)
34. 27M Supernatural – Santana (1999)
35. 26M Baby One More Time – Britney Spears (1999)
36. 26M Nevermind – Nirvana (1991)
37. 25M: Tapestry – Carole King (1971)
38. 25M Faith-George Michael (1987)
39. 25M In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida- Iron Butterfly (1968)
40. 25M Daydream- Mariah Carey (1995)
41. 25M Greatest Hits – Queen(1981)
42. 25M Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
43. 25M The Joshua Tree – U2 (1987)
44. 25M Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston (1985)
45. 24M Black and Blue – Backstreet Boys (2000)
46. 25M Hybrid Theory- Linkin Park (2000)
47. 24M True Blue-Madonna (1986)
48. 23M Happy Nation/The Sign – Ace of Base (1994)
49. 23M Spice – Spice Girls(1996)
50. 22M Metallica-Metallica (1991)
51. 22M What’s the Story Morning Glory – Oasis (1995)
52. 21M No Angel – Dido (1999)
53. 21M Like A Virgin- Madonna (1984)
54. 20M Get A Grip- Aerosmith (1993)
55. 20M Some Gave All – Billy Ray Cyrus (1992)
56. 20M Legend – Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984)
57. 20M Parallel Lines – Blondie (1978)
58. 20M Cross Road – Bon Jovi (1994)
59. 20M Oops!…I Did It Again – Britney Spears (2000)
60. 20M The Colour of My Love – Celine Dion (1993)
61. 20M Believe – Cher (1999)
62. 20M Def Leppard: Hysteria (1987)
63. 20M Janet- Janet Jackson (1993)
64. 20M Ray of Light- Madonna (1998)
65. 20M HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book1 – MICHAEL JACKSON(1995)
66. 20M Off the Wall – MICHAEL JACKSON (1979)
67. 20M Come Away With me – Norah Jones (2002)
68. 20M Purple Rain – Prince and the Revolution (1984)
69. 20M Spiceworld – Spice Girls (1997)
70. 20M Private Dancer – Tina Turner (1984)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_singles_worldwide
Click on this link and it lists clearly that MICHAEL JACKSON’S FIVE out FIVE adult SOLO albums are among the top best-selling WORLDWIDE.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_worldwide
That’s a phenomenal stat!!!
MICHAEL: 10 SOLO ALBUMS + no EP’s + no SINGLES sold as stand-alone
ELVIS: more than 80 albums+ and 30 EPs + and 100 SINGLES sold as stand-alone
In the bottom part of the same site you can click on links of the BEST-SELLING ALBUMS per COUNTRY – where MJ’s albums are consistently among the top 10!!!!!!
No ELVIS AT ALL both in the list WORLDWIDE and PER COUNTRY.
SO WHERE DID THE 1billion SALES OF ELVIS COME FROM?
Easy answer - just a baseless claim from the Elvis camp in 1982 which up to now has NO rational explanation. Bear in mind that Graceland also opened in 1982.
Talk about exaggeration of figures to create a marketing campaign so the mindless public would believe into it.
HOW CAN ELVIS BE THE BIGGEST SELLER?
According to the 1980 Guinness Book of Records “by the end of 1978 the Beatles had sold 100 million singles and 100 million albums – more than any other recording act.”
According to the 1996 Guinness Book of World Record, Michael Jackson is the
“most successful entertainer of all time”
“the biggest selling artist of all time”
“the 1st to have reached more than 100million albums sold outside the USA”
SHORT STORY:
The title holder for Biggest-Selling Artist of All Time was first with the Beatles then given to Michael Jackson.
Chuck Thriller has sold nowhere near 110 million, sorry. It IS the best selling album ever but 110 million is false, it’s sold about 30million in the states so I’d say about 50/60million worldwide.
No,Thriller has sold 110 million worldwide.And anyway,it’s the best selling album of all time .Elvis Presley best selling album ( The Christmas album,10 million sold worldwide )is nowhere close to it !
Michael Jackson is the only king !
110 million, yea right.29 million in the U.S. and less than 5 million in the UK (check UK chart records,the biggest selling album ever there is Queens greatest hits)so that’s 34 million total in the two biggest markets,no way you can get to 110 million worldwide.Another BS number MJ’s people throw out that everyone runs with.
Elvis will never be the king he stole from the blacks.
MJ is king and sold the most a lot of people don’t like to admit it because he is black.
Michael is The King Of PoP but don’t forget PoP changers every few years but not Rock&Roll, Country, and other forms of music they tend to live on. I don’t mean to be unbecoming toward MJ but his music will only survive for a time it is common knowledge that pop doesn’t live on after the performers have left, I believe Michael will live on to a degree but not in a really big way because its pop,One day there will be another popular pop star no doubt. And my comment has nothing to do with the color of anyone`s skin. “MJ made a big impact on the music seen, yes he was the best for his time, Will it last questionable, Will he ever out sell “Enya” no way!
@WISEONE: Your not that wise,MJ has the biggest selling album of all time but overall sales can’t match Elvis or the Beatles.Elvis didn’t steal anything from black people,most of his number ones were written by white people.You obviously don’t know much about him.He grew up in poor black areas of the south,he loved black music and respected many black singers back then and they liked him.Someone way back started a rumor that he said something negative about blacks and some people just ran with that rumor.A representative from Jet magazine interviewed him and talked to others about him and was totally satisfied that it was just a rumor and in fact was positive Elvis WAS NOT a racist.People who were with him when it was announced that Martin Luther King was killed sad he cried like a baby when he saw that on the news.
@ Wiseone : You shouldn’t include racism in this debate.Michael Jackson is simply the greatest artist that had ever live and the best selling artist ever ,that’s all.We don’t give a sh** of his race.
@YYYYYYY You put into question the number of sales of MJ’s best selling album Thriller while you still don’t show Elvis 10 best selling albums ????! What a shame !
You lost your time,MJ is the best selling artist,admit it ! Otherwise prove Elvis sales ,and his sales per albums,please.
@YYYYYY Thriller is the best selling album of all times,every official sources and sales claimers agree with that .It sold 110 million worldwide .Shania Twain’s Come On Over sells 35 million copies worldwide and Whitney Houston’s The Bodyguard sold 45 million worldwide,and they are not the closest album to Thriller on sales,and you try to refute Thriller ‘s number of sales ? How many Elvis Presley best selling album has sold in USA and in UK respectively ? None of his albums are in the list of top selling albums in USA neither In UK ! What kind of seller was this ? Britney Spears and many other regular superstars got got albums in lists of top selling albums per countries and worldwide while Elvis has NONE of his albums in ANY of this lists !!!! This is whom you claim is better and greater than Michael Jackson ???!!! DAMN ! Admit the truth ! Michael is way superior to Elvis
Michael Jackson sucked.Michael the album released after he died couldn’t make it to number 1 in the two biggest markets and the weeks 2nd release Immortale won’t be number 1 either.Get over yourselves MJ fans
Adeles album 21 just broke Michael Jacksons record (BAD), as the album that has spent the most weeks in the top five in the history of the billboard charts.Last year his record for the youngest singer to have an album in the top ten was also broken by a 10 year old that won Americas Got Talent. Also,Google Take That Progress Live and see how they blew MJ,s records out of the water last year. MJs records are falling like flies.
Google Progress Live Wikipedia. That will tell you exactly what records they broke of MJs
And how many Elvis records they had broke ?…..Oh sorry,Does Elvis as much records as Michael that could be broken by other artists ? He has released more than 100 albums for being one of top sellers worldwide,not that brillant
Melissa, are you kidding?Elvis was dead 30 years before people started catching up to his records.MJ is done,the second release after he died(Immortal) only hit #65 on the UK charts and #24 in the US. Nobody in music history has played to a bigger worldwide audience than Elvis(Aloha From Hawaii),Fact-Elvis has more fan clubs around the world than any singer.All of his feats were done without the help of music videos to promote his work.
LOL, MJ fans get so mad and offensive.
No,It’s rather elvis fans that get offensive and had insult MJ ,as they ran out of arguments.Michael is the top selling artist,deal with it.
@Melissa , yea right. Do you believe in Santa also?
there are a whole lot of morons posting here…FACT ..ELVIS OUTSOLD EVERYONE…BY FAR!!!, ……{.1 billion, 650million} The biggest problem is politics…many of Elvis records were not even counted because of the format. If all Elvis records EPs and so on, were counted It would be an embarrassment to the Beatles and MJ. Elvis is factually so far ahead of the pack, that many people just lie, then make themselves believe that lie…sad.
@Vince, I agree Elvis is so far ahead it’s crazy. Most of the people on here (especially MJ fans) probably were not even alive when Elvis died so they don’t know much about what he did. They believe the outlandish totals his people throw out there. Thinking he sold 750 million and that when he died he sold more than Elvis is a joke.
@ Vince please prove the 1 billion 650 million sales of Elvis so that we can believe your claims. Show Elvis albums with their respective figure sales,making him reach 1 billion 650 million sales.We await.For instance Michael Jackson is the top seller ( till you prove the opposite ). Thank you and merry Christmas
of coarse Elvis was and is the biggest selling artist of all time…soooo many people do not care anything about facts, do your research and you will find Elvis “very far” out in front of everyone…its actually kind of a childish type of joke….like i said DO YOUR RESEARCH, BUT KEEP IT HONEST!
@ Vince : Great arguments/proofs ! Thank you ! We are so grateful that you prove Michael Jackson is the greatest artist ever and the best selling solo artist that ever lived,by your reply !
Indeed,every fact proves Michael Jackson is the greatest artist,you’re so right ! Thank you.
Michael Jackson is really the best selling artist and the most significant entertainer the world had ever known !
first elvis is the best selling solo artist off alltime if u dont believe look in Guinness world records 2012 book , the beatles are best selling group also check the Guinness world records , elvis and beatles are tied at over 1 billion sales and 4 all u weird mj fans this will cheer u up cos hes about 300 or 400 million sales short of elvis and beatles
clotilde u know nothing true about music all jackson had over presley was songwriting and had music videos but elvis had lots over jackson like best selling solo artist in history please look in gwr 2012 book , 30 no.1 hits , first entertainer to have a concert shown around da world via satellite ( aloha from hawaii ) seen by 1.5 billion people , inducted into numerous music halls of fame , but i have to say mj was the best singer in last 20 30 odd years well hes better than 2days sh**
MJ is not even close to Elvis,no matter what his fans think.
Michael Jackson is the best selling artist of all time, Michael Jackson sold more than Elvis everywhere worldwide except for USA.Michael Jackson ‘s 5 best selling albums outsold Elvis 50 best selling albums put together !
Michael Jackson
Thriller 110 million
Dangerous 36 million (updated )
Bad 32 million
History 30 million
Off The Wall 27 million ( updated)
total = 215 million
Elvis best selling album stands at just 12 million ! Ouch!!!!
Michael Jackson =king of music
Liveaction are you writing from inside a mental hospital? Michael Jackson will always be remembered for being a pedophile, for having more face transplants than Liz Taylor had marriages and for being a freak altogether.
you call Elvis Presley, the one and only King of music all kinds of names, but you can call him anything you like but MJ wasn’t even fit to polish the man’s boots.
Elvis sang better, moved better, had tons more charisma, was white of course and looked like a Greek god. What did MJ look like in the end? Like a washed up Muppet with a wig and without a nose.
Have a happy.
And people let there be no mistake whatsoever, the fact is that Elvis sold more records than The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna and some more put together. Don’t be fooled by people who say otherwise, they are lying, simple as that.
Fact is that Elvis will always be the greatest, the best selling artist that ever was, and all those Beatles, MJ fans can’t stand that. And that’s so silly really, as their idols all said Elvis was the greatest, John Lennon, McCartney, Michael Jackson, he even screamed in his well known fashion when Lisa Marie showed him Elvis’ stage suits. In a high pitched girly voice he screamed out: ‘Oh my godddd, those are the King’s clothes’!!!!!
Need any more facts? :)
Elvis The Concert is touring Europe at the moment, I went there last week. 9.000 fans cheering Elvis’ backing band and video images of the King.
No other artist can pull this off, no-one, Elvis was, is and always be the King, the Greatest, the most gifted, King of Music. And the beautiful thing is that Elvis didn’t want to be called King, he was that modest, and yet MJ had to INSIST people calling him King, now that’s the difference, one artist was so much loved for his artistry and warmth that they called him King out of appreciation. The other artist had to force people to call him that, says a lot about both men, well, man(Elvis of course) and man/woman/freakshow.
Totally agree with Simon. Elvis is by far the greatest recording artist ever. MJ lovers can’t accept that.
Seems like I finally made them see the light Rob :)
@Simon. Yes indeed, MJ fans are hardheaded but I think the truth may have finally sunk in.
there was no doubt from the beginning…no compairison at all….Elvis was and ever will be the world’s best selling artist of all time,no one will ever come close…and if there would be (wich is impossible ) at least put someone or a band like the beatles…. not a child abuser like Jackson…. end of discussion
The Beatles have obviously outsold elvis. Only in US & UK single’s sales has Elvis got anywhere near the amount of sales as the Beatles. As for MJ vs Elvis, probably Elvis wins, not due to being more popular just due to the fact that he had a team of songwriters churning out album after album.
The Beatles have not sold anywhere near what Elvis has sold. Elvis has sold more records than The Beatles, MJ, Garth Brooks and Sinatra combined. No-one can or will ever surpass his sales. He is not called the king for just his good looks, talent but also for his accomplishments and fact is that no-one can ever beat him. Too bad for MJ and Beatles fans but facts are facts.
We will never know who sold the most. So everyone can keep beating there head against the wall and keep on saying, so and so sold the most. It is impossible too get a good count World Wide because other counties do not keep them up to date. And there way the RIAA counts, is like the Democrats counting votes. RIAA say a Album has too be so many minute long, and must cost a certain amount in order for them too count. If you sell 1 million 900,000 copies of a song, they count the 1 million and knock off the 900,000. A #1 two sided hit, it counts as a 1 sided hit. But it two songs on one record. So BILLBOARD discount it as having two #1’s. So you see, counting record sells will never be right. If i were guessing on who sold the most with out all the junk from the RIAA i would say this. Very close,could go either way if you had every number. Elvis or the Beatles ??? I would give a slight edge too the Beatles only because they came out a decade later and the buying of records had changed. Elvis for the most part was wrap up in making movies more than making great songs. MJ not in the count. When MJ died, first thing that almost pop out of the mouth of people around Jackson, was he was the #1 selling Artist of all time. Elvis name and records/CD’s/Cassettes are no longer selling as they once did. He may sell 3 too 8 thousand a week, which is not bad when you add a years worth. Beatles are selling more per week. I dk how much more, but they are not setting the world on fire with there record/CD sells either. There numbers are not what it once was either. I will say this without Elvis coming along and giving R&R a shot in the arm, R&R would only be a foot note in the History Books. To me Elvis was the man, and still is the Gold Standard that other peoples success is measure by. Lot of great singers out there in the past and they many today, it just they are told what to sing, and when R&R was young and growing the singers felt what they were singing, instead of being told what too sing. One other note, Beatles, MJ went around the world singing there music, Elvis done it all right here in the good old USA. Except for 3 or so concerts in Canada . So 99.99 percent of his music was here again in the USA. A talent we will never see again in our life time.
Elvis is the biggest selling solo artist of all time, PERIOD.
I love how this topic escalated from Elvis vs Michael to The Beatles vs Elvis vs Michael. But, as a SOLO ARTIST - Elvis is the winner. Though The Beatles are the true legends out of both of them. So, yeah, suck it.
So, Thriller was certified by the RIAA for 30 Million in Sales in the U.S, 100 Million Worldwide, 1 Billion records sold. Countless of Michael’s records, songs, performances, are emulated, covered, performed. Michael Jackson’s legacy, career, artistry, is much stronger than Elvis’. And for the record, Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix did far more for Rock N Roll than Elvis. But because they’re black, and Elvis is white, that’s it. Paul Anka and Sinatra did more for music than Elvis. Please, get over Elvis, reading this is just disgusting.
I hope Michael faked his death. If he could come back and shut up, ALL THE HATERS, nothing would be better.
Lol! MJ did not sell 1 billion. Silly exaggerated numbers thrown out by his record company. Guinness Book has Elvis as the biggest seller. Elvis sold more than Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Paul Anka and Sinatra combined. Google best selling artist of all time, pretty much every article says Elvis. Nice try though.
Get on You Tube and type in:
Geraldo confirms Elvis has sold 1 billion records
Poor MJ and his PR people tried so hard.