The Top Selling Female Artist Madonna Or Mariah Carey
Contributed by StilettoSadist:
There has been a lot of debate over who is the best selling female artist. Is it Madonna or Mariah Carey? According to the RIAA, the organization that awards album certifications it’s neither. Per the RIAA’s web site, the top selling female act in the United States is Barbra Streisand followed by Madonna and Mariah Carey in third. Rounding out the top 5 is Whitney Houston and Celine Dion.
Tags: Madonna, Mariah Carey
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October 1st, 2008 at 5:13 am
Madonna is the top selling female artist worldwide since 1983-2008.
The SoundScan era only started in 1991 to date. Before than Madonna released 4 studio albums and 4 soundtracks/compilations. Madonna sales 1983-1990 (before the Soundscan era) worldwide/US:-
1983 Madonna the Album 9,500,000/ 5 x platinum US (estimation)
1884 Like A Virgin 21,000,000/10x platinum (diamond)
1886 True Blue 22,500,000/7x platinum
1987 Who s That Girl 5,000,000/ 1x platinum
1987 You Can Dance 5,000,000/1x platinum
1989 Like a Prayer 14,000,000/4x platinum
1990 I’m Breathless … 6,500,000/2x platinum
1990 The Immaculate Collection 26,500,000/10 x platinum (diamond)
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:30 am
maybe, but mariah carey started singing ten years later!
if u consider the number of studio albums and Mariah sales… There’s no comparison!
ten years of mariah carey are like 40 of madonna!
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Total Album sales; Madonna: 189 Million, Mariah: 146
Albums released; Madonna: 21, Mariah: 16
Average album sales; Madonna: 9 million, Mariah: 9.1 m
Biggest selling album;
Madonna 26.5 million (The Immaculate Collection)
Mariah 26 million (Music Box)
Madonna has sold more, but both artists average album sales are virtually the same. Madonna’s current album Hard Candy has sold almost a million more than Mariah’s new one E=mc2 though. I think the argument could go on forever, but, it looks as though at present both artists are on a par with one another.
If we are true to total sales though, Madonna is clearly the most successful female recording artist of all time, and the likelihood of Mariah surpassing this is very unlikely.
December 14th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
i think mariah is ,even though hard candy sold better than e=mc2 so far,look at the emancipation of mimi that sold 15 million ,far more than madonnas confessions on a dance floor,being the top two,the top position fluctuates,last time was mariah this time madonna
December 28th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
i want to add that there are besides album sales the single sales of an artist. madonna is definitely the most successful single artist in the world, even outselling the beatles.
December 29th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
THERE IS NO DISCUSSION, THE DAY MARIAH CARY CAN GO ON TOUR, SELL 282MIL IN TICKETS IN 4TH MONTHS, SELL OUT STADIUMS, PLAY IN FRONT OF 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE, THEN YOU CAN PUT MARIAH CAREY AND MADONNA IN THE SAME SENTENCE. TILL THEN MADONNA IS THE ONE AND ONLY MOST SUCCESSFUL FEMALE RECORDING ARTIST OF ALL TIME IN MUSIC.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Madonna may be the most successful female recording artist of all time, but she certainly isn’t the most talented. There are far more talented female artists who don’t rely on gimmickry or shock tacticts to get their records sold. Let Madonna sell out stadiums; her shows are akin to reality TV and summer blockbuster movies: all flash and no substance.
January 7th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I don’t know why this continues to be debated. Wihtout question Madonna takes the crown for top selling female artist. It’s that simple.
Madonna both in terms of albums and singels takes the crown. It’s not even close on the total count.
Madonna’s lead gets even bigger when you measure it in terms of revenue generated. Add up the music, + tours, and her total revenue take is easily at least twice that of mariah’s.
Folks can debate all they want about who’s more talented, but there is no debate on who’s the most commerically successful.
January 9th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Mariah Carey’s(Voice) is her money maker… Thats Has decreased in that last 5 years even with massive success of her MIMI cd… Still No match for Madonna. Though Mariah does have a better singing voice than Madonna, Still She lacks in public interest… Funny Madonna can still at least over half a million copies of her latest cd Hard Candy in the U.S But roll in 280 million US dollars with her tour. No match at all.. Its all about tickets sales now, cause Mdonna knows that where the money is at!
January 21st, 2009 at 6:06 am
Okay, first off, since when does sold out stadiums, decide who is the most successful. Lucrative maybe but not successful. Mariah Carey has sold 200 million records worldwide. If you add in her single sales as well, that almost accumulates her to 300 million. The success Mariah Carey has had in nearly 20 years, it took Madonna 30 years, that alone should be proof enough. Besides Madonna’s only real strong market is Europe, that’s cause all they like over there is that gay/dance music stuff. Mariah Carey has a poor market in Europe, compared to Madonna, but mops the floor with her in North America and the orient area. The think with Madonna is most of her songs are dance tunes. Mariah Carey on the other hand mixes it up with powerful ballads, songs that are tweaked with R&B and rap. And there is always a few dance songs on there. (Of course her dance songs dont come close to being as good as Madonna’s). What I am trying to say is that Madonna may be the queen of reinvention, but her sound has always stayed moderately the same, just her image changed.
Mariah Carey on the other had has shown great versatility. Her first album was power ballad heaven. On her second disc, she changed it up a bit whe went for a little gospel/soul touch. And all in all it was a great disc. Then in the mid to late 90’s she changed it again. She infused R&B and rap into her music completely, giving herself a new sound. At this point in her career she just makes the kinda music that she wants. Adding a little bit of what she has done through the course of her career into her new music. So this is why Mariah Carey is the most successful female artist in the history of recorded music.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
ONCE AGAIN….. Before Nielson soundscan Madonna Has release 6 releases.. The numbers then or infact under certified.. When they come to date.. Madonna numbers will be much higher well deserved to be acknowledge..
Madonna has always been BASHED…. since day one. Mariah has for the most part has been well received. But there was nothing re-Inventived nothing fresh.. And at 40 she still like to ask like a child…Sorry my friend above
Mariah Carey may have acheived Massive in less time than Madonna.. She may have changed thing here and there.. But has featured 50 artist per track, plus most of Mariah’s hits are NOT solo efferts.. Like 99% of Madonna’s are solo HITS…
Madonna has always been ahead of the game and her time…Leaving Mariah Carey 5 years behind to date.
February 7th, 2009 at 2:11 am
the title do much deserved by Queen Celine D. because she totally sold out 250 million album copies worldwide, she is humble and down to earth female recording pop artist. she is good and makes her spectators amazed to her ever powerful, echoic 5 octave vocal even not using whistle…
February 16th, 2009 at 4:19 am
nono Mariah is the biggeest selling artist..she already receive award by World Music award for Being BEST SELLING ARTIST OF THE MILLENIUM.And she is the first female artist to ger Chopard Diamond Award by W.M.Award for album sales surpassing 150 millions in 2003..and only 2 female artist receive this award so far..Mariah and Celine..No Madonna.
1.Mariah Carey=13,500,000
2.Emotion=8,000,000
3.Mtv Unplugged=7,000,000
4.Musix Box=32,000,000 in an interview by radio station mariah said that she had sold 30 millions albums with music box..you can check Wikipedia and type Best selling album of all time
….Merry Christmas=12,000,000
5.Daydream=25,000,000
6.Butterfly=15,500,000
7.#1’s=17,000,000
8.Rainbow=10,000,000
9.Glitter=3,500,000
10.Greatest Hits= 4,000,000
11.Charmbracelet=5,000,000 sold by late 2008 announced by Universal
12.The Emncption Of Mimi=10,2000,000 by late 2008
13.E=Mc2=2,500,000
14.The Ballads=600,000 so far released 3 weeks ago
February 17th, 2009 at 10:15 am
celine dion sold over 230m albums, its official.
mariah carey sold over 200m albums, again its official
madonna sold over 180m albums worldwide, once a90gain it is official.
madonna sold the most singles for a female artist. 130m(including 4 minutes and gi2m)
mariah carey sold over 100m singles worldwide
celine dion sold over 70m singles worldwide.
c
February 17th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
oh my oh my!
madonna ruLes!.. eventhough what you may say.. blah blah blah…
and why dont you mind BRITNEY SPEARS?.. in a short span of time she’s on the top list.. as we all know, she’s the POP PRINCESS!
and to think, mariah is the WORLD’s SELF-PROCLAIMED DIVA!
my my my… pity on her!
MADONNA AND BRITNEY RULES!
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
All too funny this goes on all these years later. All one has to do is research (takes about as much time as tying in your disputes here). All one has to do is go to Guiness book of WORLD Records and ALL the information is there for you. Sorry Mariah Fans…it is indeed CERTIFIED to be MADONNA.
Also, the person posting all of Mariah Carey sales numbers need to check those. They are WRONG! No album in History has sold that many copies other than Michael Jackson’s Thriller AND Shania Twains COME ON OVER.
Best wishes to all.
Michael
March 1st, 2009 at 5:23 pm
dear michael, you are retarded. music box has sold over 32m copies worldwide, shania twains come on over has sold over 39m and the best selling album by a female artist is the boydguard ost by whitney which sold over 42m worldwide. thriller has sold over 67m worldwide. madonnas best selling album is the immaculate collection which sold over 26.5m worldwide, the next one is like a virgin which sold over 22m worldwide, true blue only sold 19m. worldwide. thats it. highest selling album of the 90s for madonna was the ray of light cd, it only sold 15m. and every other one flopped. in 2008, madonna released her 11th studio album meanwhile so did mariah. mariah worked harder in her shorter career span.
besides overpriced concerts dont decide who is the best selling femalre artist.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:13 am
It’s a bit silly to compare Mariah and Madonna, Mariah is a true singer with her own style while Madonna is a performer who is doing some new “tricks” everytime.
I respect Mariah for her talent and Madonna for her
business-instict.
March 30th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Guinness world records list Madonna as the greatest selling female artist ever. Only The Beatles, Elvis, MJ, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra have sold more. I would believe that more than what fans say.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:40 am
are uou sick.dont you know that madonna is the best selling femal artist of all time,and it isnt some fu**ing mariah carey!!!!!!Madonna is the queen of pop!!!
March 31st, 2009 at 9:44 am
and james,you speaking the truth,in guinnes worlds record you can read it.Madonna is the greatest female artist on the earth
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Barbra Streisand is for sure the most talented of all. Not only the best singer in the world but also a great actress. None of the others ever had an A hit movie.
April 6th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
if Mariah isnt number one than why did Sharon osbourne announce it at one of her live performances on live television stating that mariah topped elvis and also earlier before she topped elvis she performed the national anthem where they announced her top female recording artist in history. if they were lying it would have been turned into a scandel which it wasnt
April 6th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
srry i made a mistake but it still proves that she beat madonna
April 6th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
youtube.com/watch?v=dbRZAYdpyW4
April 9th, 2009 at 8:11 am
i don’t think we have to argue about who’s better than the other… Both artist are extremely talented and no one else follows!
Madonna is best in pop, Mariah, ballad & R & B… Btw, I’m big fan of both… Let’s just be happy that they are both continually giving good music for us to hear!!! Peace!!!
April 17th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Wow, what arguments! It isn’t simply talent and “voice.” Mariah has one of the most beautiful voices of all time, no question. I don’t think people should underestimate Madonna’s contributions to music. She, live Elvis, was a pioneer, and is eternally a music legend. She helped change the face of music for female artists. No one should diss on the fact that her accomplishments took 30 years compared to Mariah’s 20. How many artists have the staying power to last 5 years?? That is their true legend, both of them…to be remembered 50 years later like Elvis, The Beatles, Jimmy Hendricks…and so on.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Madonna is the greatest female artist of the World. There´s no doubt. Mariah 18 #1´s are only in USA. Outside USA, Madonna has more #1´s than Mariah.
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:43 am
Mariah takes the crown indefinitely. Yes, Mariah is behind Madonna with a slight difference. BUT, do not forget, Mariah came out like, what, 10 YEARSS later than the “like-a-virgin” Moodonna!!!
10 YEARS! Yet, only a slight differnce in their millions of album sales. This all goes to show Mariah’s album’s sales capability. That is, way better than moodonna!
PLUS. MARIAH WAS THE BIGGEST SELLING ARTIST OF THE 90′S WITH A NUMBER 1 HIT SINGLE EVERY SINGLE YEAR! BEAT THAT – MADONNA!
AND SHE TOO TRUIMPH MADONNA IN FIRST WEEK SALES DURING “E=MC2″ AND “HARD CANDY”.
Needless to say, MARIAH also has the voice capability madonna can never reach. yes, madonna can dance – so WHAT?! EVERYONE can do that, some even better! but not everyone can acquire and mimick Mariah’s god-given voice of 5 octaves or so.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 pm
guiness book of records stated madonna as most succesful fmale artist..but not biggest selling fmale artist..mariah even beat Whitney,Michael Jackson,Celine,Garth Brook etc to be Most Succesful Artist in the 90’s By Billboard Music Award.Plus Mariah Is the FISRT Female Artist To get Chopard Diamond Award by World Music Award.and And World Music Award also give mariah an award for beinf the Best Selling Female artist of The Millenium…………….some of them ar fool…..the biggest selling album is thriller which blive to sold more than 100 mill.mariah album music box sold more than 32 million copies..so far highest slling album by madonna is juz immaculate collction which sold 22 mill…mariah have 2 album listed as 100 best selling album of all time.madonna have one..mariah daydream album sold 25 million.and sony music stated that daydream sold 16 million within 6 month only..for yur info….madonna takes more than 35 yaers to sold 200 mill record.but mariah takes 18 years ro sold the same amount as madonna…plus mariah has 18 number singles.Plus BMI,Mtv,World Music Award,Billboard,American Music Award.dubbed mariah as biggest slling fmale artist…..plus hard candy might outsold E=Mc2 by a million.but dont u remmber mariah 2005 album outsold madonna by more than 2 mill worldwide,and outsold more than 4 mill in US market.where cvonfession on the dnce floor went paltinum.and mariah 2005 album went 6 times platinum.also US number album in that year.and we belong tgether also the year best slling single.14 weeks at number #1….harg candy does not score any number one single for madonna..but mariah has both number one album and single
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:49 am
You have to decide what are criteria to make a decision!
You can’t just compare numbers like that! Madonna sold 3,5 million copies of Hard Candy in 2008., then we must see same about Mariah! She sold 2,5 millions! 2008 is specific year about album sales! It’s lowest selling year! Coldplay’s Viva la Vida is best selling album of 2008 with 6 millions – which makes Madonna and Mariah one of best selling artist last year! Even that’s their lowest selling albums! You also need to conclude why did Madonna “failed” in 90′es! Her erotica period cost her a lot! Then she sold just 5 millions copies of album Erotica, but today people can understand importance and quality of that album! Madonna was always more controversial than Mariah so that’s the reason why she failed in moments! Absolutely, i have to agree that Mariah is better vocal than Madonna is, but we can’t use that as criterion. Good voice doesn’t mean good artist!
Someone said that full stadiums are not criterion for this! But I can’t agree! Let’s face it, Mariah can’t do her concerts on big stadiums because she can’t even sell-out her concerts in small arenas (in USA)! And that’s fact! Percentage Sold is between 70-100% in her last tour The Adventures of Mimi Tour (2006)! 5 concerts are even cancelled (Denver, Seatlle, Hershey, New York) due to low ticket sales! I’m saying this because Lawrence said somethin about Madonna’s low sell in USA and gay/dance success in Europe! Lawrence, dance music is not gay. Your sentence can tell us about you don’t know anything about Europe, and you don’t understanding why’s that music style so great for them! Anyway, Europeans think of our music is gay (because of girlie voices in rap, R&B songs – Kanye West, Justin Timberlake,much more…..). What’s more relevant criterion for our debate than concerts and album sales (they are singers!!!!). Madonna sold more albums, she was best solo artist on tour back then in 80′es (in 90′es she toured once because of Evita film and pregnancy), she’s best solo artist today! What else do you need???? I don’t know why is it so difficult to accept????? Madonna is not Queen without reason! And one more, can you tell me who is better paid artist???? Again Madonna! that’s all with reason!
So, please do not spend time on stupid debate! Answer is so clear!
Now surely all think that I’m a fan of Madonna! Surprise!!!!!! I’m NOT! I’m fan of Mariah! But i’m objective! You should to!
April 24th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Well, Nicolas, if you’re a fan of Mariah, you should be supporting and arguing for her :) That’s what fans do for their favourite artists and not be “objective” or whatever you call it. BTW, I call it – “backstabbing” :)
It’s MY opinion :)
April 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Q,
i don’t have to be supporting for Mariah because nothing will change my mind! :) I love her, and i will love her no matter how many album copies she sell! :)
I’m objective, so i must say that Mariah has better vocal than Madonna, but Mariah is not Queen! Madonna is! Well, Mariah is my Queen but that all!
I LOVE YOU MARIAH! (but i love Madonna too)
April 25th, 2009 at 6:23 am
I dont really see Madonna as the Queen. I dont see any reason why the hell ppl call her the Queen! What, just because she dance sexy and launched MTV or something?!
April 25th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Read my first post and you’ll see why… If you don’t get it, i can’t help you!
I said that good voice doesn’t mean good artist! People want more! And Madonna can give that to them! Her shows are spectacular! You should go on one! She wouldn’t do, what she does if people don’t like that!
You can write what ever you want and I’ll be happy to explain it to you! :)
April 28th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
lets make this official
madonna is a taste of hard candy.it looks sweet ,you taste,it and its nasty and it gives you rotten teeth.listening to a madonna album is like taking a rake and rubbing it against a chalkboard.no offense to madonna and no offense to her fans but i think its complete sh**.
now a mariah carey album is different you get timeless ballads,unforgettable lyrics and unreachable high and low notes.so let the record show madonna is abetter performer not because of her voice trust me,but because she use flashy lights to make up what she lack.but mariah has the voice and the talent so mariah definately has the upper hand.and she is also a better songwriter as well
April 29th, 2009 at 5:53 am
Raynaldo, i agree with you in almost everything you wrote!
Mariah is better singer, songwriter… That’s fact! And i’m supporting her 100%!
But what we are talking about is best selling, most wanted artist… which is totally different thing! I repeat, good voice doesn’t mean good artist! (which Mariah is, i’m not saying she’s not)
There’s no place on Earth where people don’t know Madonna and where most of them like her! She can do tours in every city she wants! And it’s not same when it comes to Mariah! She’s not that commercial as Madonna and it’s price for it! Madonna has good sense for success and money and that’s what it makes her biggest female star right now! She’s better entertainer, maybe the best! And that’s why she’s biggest star, and why millions of people come to her concerts….
But what I can’t agree is that her all song lyrics are sh**! She’s so controversial so her lyrics are too! For example, American Life album has great lyrics (especially Nothing Fails)! And her Erotica album is missunderstood… and whole other! She has some other way expressing her emotions! That’s big difference!
May 17th, 2009 at 8:26 am
mariah is truly a zero here in europe. No one really cares. madonna is a WORLDSTAR.
May 17th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Mariah is BIG in the USA and Japan but Madonna is HUGE worldwide.
Enough said!
May 17th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
..and people dont call Madonna- The Queen of Pop… for nothing.
May 23rd, 2009 at 7:35 am
OH my God,,, and they keep fighting even if they see the truth on records!!!!
they must be either blind or stupid…..
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE!!!
and 26 years of amazing music.
May 26th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Completely agree with you ‘Mack’. Long live the Queen!
May 31st, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Ok let me tell you someting
Madonna sold more…ya….in 30 years!
Mairah has had 20! lets see how much Madonna sells with 10 years taken of her carrer…who wins..Mariah.
When Mariah is Madonna age in music…with she can do if she pleases because she has the TALENT, she will out sell Madonna.
I dont hate Madonna but hounestly besides “COADF” she has hasn’t had a really amazing CD since “The Ray Of Light”
All Mariah CDs have bean good in my book besides “Rainbow” and “Glitter” and she has that amazing voice that is one of the best of all time, you cant lie about that. You think Madonna could sing Emoshions, didn’t think so.
Also how has more number 1 singels…MARIAH
1/2 of Madonna’s fan’s are gay, i dont have a problem with gay people but there are more gay people in the world then people think. Alot of them just never come out.
Frig im gay……………………………………………………………………………………………….
but i would rather lissen to someone how has true talent can hold a note and wright meaningful songs that make you think. Yes Mariah has her share of pop songs, but Madonna that allllllllllll you here pretty much the girl should retire because even THE GAY PEOPLE <<<<<<<<< arnt liken her sh**. Well at lest im not.
Mariah forever yes her voice is not as good as it was in the 90’s but she need to rest it because she works all the time. Works alot harder then Madonna’s diry as, also mariah have NEVER crossed the line for sex aple, have you seen the touch my body video, if anything she makes fun of it. Something Madonna HAD TO DO to sell album,
Madonna’s Erotica anyone”)
Msriah forever
June 1st, 2009 at 6:14 pm
OMG !!!
THE ANSWER IS SO OBVIOUS !!! MARIAH CAREY = BEST ARTIST AND THE BEST SELLING ARTIST EVER.. AND WELL: PRETTY MUCH THE BEST IN MUSIC !!!
MARIAH 4EVER !!!! YAY !!!! :D
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:47 am
OK, some like Mariah and other like Madonna. There’s nothing wrong about it.
I’m just saying that Madonna is biggest selling female artist, most wanted, but not best vocalist! She’s too far from good vocalist!
But, if you ask someone to tell you some Madonna’s songs, everyone would know it! Everyone knows Vogue, Like a Prayer, Like a Virgin, Material Girl, Papa Don’t Preach, La Isla Bonita, Holiday, Frozen, Music, Hung Up, 4 Minutes etc. But I wouldn’t say same for Mariah. People know few her songs. And we talk about regular people, not craziest fans.
And one more thing! People do not care only about singing, they want whole packing. Madonna is not singer, she’s icon.
Btw. what’s wrong with gay people loving Madonna. You know what people say about gay. They have have more sense for aesthetics! :)))) (joke) Gay people, don’t be mad at me! :))))
And we are not talking about what will be in 20 years! We talk about now! Madonna is better entertainer! That’s fact!
In 80′es, Madonna was on beginning of her career but she was icon then too! And just after 2 albums! Mariah didn’t made that success! Maybe in USA only!
One question, why Mariah doesn’t have highest grossing tour by a solo artist???????? Madonna’s tours are highest grossing tours or one of highest that year! Sticky & Sweet grossed 280 millions $ with 2,5 millions people watching it, and it not end! She continues this summer, and 1 million tickets are sold at the bigging of sale (that’s 100 millions $). Not to mention that she didin’t go to Japan and Australia, where they want her so much!
So please, stop being babies and be realistic!
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:15 am
I forgot!
Look this!
RIAA
riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt
1. Barbra Streisand= 71 miliions (8. overall)
2. Madonna= 63,5 millions (15. overall)
3. Mariah= 62,5 millions (16. overall)
And it even doesn’t matter! They are both great! Long live the Queen and Mariah!
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Madonna is the greatest female artist ever!!!
Mariah is a big zero, her music is so boring, and her destiny is to dissapear.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
madonna is the best selling female artist. she beats mariah hands down even in the united states. mariah got 62.5 million certified album because she has tons of shipment. shipments does not equate to sales.
music box for instance, sold less than 8 million copies according to soundscan, and yet her company has shipped 10 million copies. her overshipped albums include: emotions, music box, daydream, butterfly, #1’s and glitter. and they are overshipped at least 0.5 million copies each. up to even over 2 million copies for music box and daydream. counting sales, she has sold only about 59.5 million albums in ths united states, including her uncertified albums like the remixes etc.
madonna on the other hand, has a lot less overshipped albums, her only being bedtime stories, overshipped by 0.7 million copies, and something to remember, which overshipped 0.9 million copies, a lot less than what mariah can overship for one album. counting sales, madonna has sold 62 million albums in the united states. madonna is still 3 million ahead of mariah is america.
as for worldwide sales,
let me show you the most accurate statistics for album sales:
this is mariah carey’s sales:
- Mariah Carey: 13,500,000
- Emotions: 8,000,000
- MTV Unplugged: 6,000,000
- Music Box: 25,000,000
- Merry Christmas: 10,000,000
- Daydream: 20,000,000
- Butterfly: 7,000,000
- #1’s: 13,500,000
- Rainbow: 8,000,000
- Glitter: 2,000,000
- Greatest Hits: 3,000,000
- Charmbraclet: 3,000,000
- The Remixes: 800,000
- The Emancipation Of Mimi: 10,000,000
- E=MC2: 2,000,000
- The Ballads: 500,000
Total: 131,800,000
now for madonna’s sales:
- Madonna: 8,000,000
- Like A Virgin: 19,000,000
- True Blue: 21,000,000
- Who’s That Girl: 4,500,000
- You Can Dance: 4,500,000
- Like A Prayer: 12,000,000
- I’m Breathless: 5,500,000
- The Immaculate Collection: 25,000,000
- Erotica: 5,500,000
- Bedtime Stories: 6,500,000
- Something to Remember: 6,000,000
- Evita: 6,500,000
- Ray Of Light: 15,000,000
- Music: 11,000,000
- GHV2: 6,000,000
- American Life: 3,500,000
- Remixed & Revisited: 1,000,000
- Confessions On A Dance Floor: 8,500,000
- I’m Going To Tell You A Secret: 1,000,000
- The Confessions Tour: 1,300,000
- Hard Candy: 3,500,000
Total: 174,800,000
madonna has sold over 40 million copies more album worldwide than mariah. this is undeniable.
mariah, other than being the queen of r&b, is the queen of exaggeration.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Ms. Carey has talent, end of story! Without the flash, she could still wow her audience. Not so sure about the other candidates.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Ms. Carey is just a slut, and her albums are so boring,like her!
Actually she is only a local star.
Madonna is the Greatest Female Artist of All Time!
June 21st, 2009 at 5:00 am
I think both artist are very good. Financially Madonna is the best, and to be honest, I think she works much harder than Mariah at producing music. We must also understand that talent comes in many forms and cannot be based solely on vocal ability. Mariah is a vocalist and Madonna an entertainer.Album sales post-2000 are generally much weaker than album sales between 1970-2000 as a result of improved technology and the ability to copy, share and download music for free, so using Album sales totals or revenue generated would not be the best measure in determining who is better. The better artist would be the one who has had highest number of cumulative weeks at number 1 over the entire span of their music careers. Here Mariah(79 weeks) beats Madonna(52 weeks). Mariah shares this record with Elvis; even though she has had a shorter career span than Madonna thus far. The rating does not just rely on Album sale, but on many factors, such as radio/airplay hours, number of request,global distribution of demand…etc. Mariah also has 18 number 1 hits compared to Madonna’s 12. She is likely to surpass the record of 20 number 1 hits set by the Beatles. The reason for Madonna having higher sales is because she has been in the industry for longer and also because she is able to market herself better. As I said above, both Artist are good and it would be tough to choose the better. If we look at it from a financial perspective, then Madonna trumps. However, if we look at it from a statistical perspective then Mariah is the better one. I would go with Mariah.
June 21st, 2009 at 3:28 pm
No one can be 100% the amount an album sells, there can only be estimates. As for the best selling female artist, well everyone is forgetting Celine Dion. She sold 63 million albums worldwide with TWO albums nevermind all her other releases which have sold well. She has sold at least 210 million albums, easily and that is not including her single sales. MHWGO sold about 10 million copies (second biggest single by a female artist.) She has sold tens of millions of french albums for example: D’eux is the BIGGEST selling french album of all time as it has sold 9 million copies worldwide. However, between Madonna and Mariah i think Madonna clearly takes it on single sales (100M+). Fact. Mariah, i think, has sold more albums (190M+).
However, if the Guinness World Records says Madonna has sold 256M records and she has sold 100M singles, then that means she has sold about 150M albums, yeah? Slightly confusing.
June 21st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Nah, Celine Dion only sold around 170 million albums. like mariah carey, some of celine dion’s sales are being exaggerated by the shipment.
and even if weeks at no.1 or how many hits are being compared, other than usa, madonna wins everywhere else. madonna has 13 no.1 hits in uk, while mariah has 2 only. canada: madonna 20, mariah 7. australia: madonna 11, mariah 2. and of course there are a lot more countries which madonna has the most hits in, why else would hung up hold the world record for hitting no.1 in the most countries.
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:06 am
Celine Dion did NOT sold over 200 million! (real number is about 170 million)
If Mariah has 18 #1, Madonna has 37 Top 10 singles (more than anybody else)!
If Celine Dion has second best selling single by female artist, Madonna has highest selling video single of all-time (male or female artist)!
Madonna is best female artist in every country, Mariah and Celine aren’t!
Mariah has 5 Grammy Awards, Madonna has been nominated for 29 Grammy Awards, 7 of which she won!
Madonna has 12 multi-platinum albums (second only to Barbra Streisand)
Madonna has surpassed The Beatles for the most gold certified singles in the US (25) with the release of Hung Up. (after that she released 4 Minutes – 2x Platinum).
Madonna is also the most successful female artist on the UK charts with 62 top ten hits!
She is also the most successful artist on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Madonna’s 2005 single Hung Up topped charts in a record 45 countries (world record)!!!!!!!!!
Madonna is recently ranked as the most successful solo artist (second over-all, behind The Beatles) in the latest issue of Billboard magazine listing the Top Hot 100 Artists of All-Time.
Queen is still the Queen!
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:23 am
Who cares about sales? Mariah, Celine, Madonna, Whitney, Barbara, the female artists of the era. No one can deny how much they have achieved and how much some of them have influenced others. They all give amazing music and some are clearly a lot more talented than others e.g. Mariah: 5 octave vocal range and an unbelieveable vocal talent, wheras Madonna doesn’t even come close to the other female artists, vocally. They have all sold hundreds of millions of albums&singles so why is there such a big debate. They all have significant achievements:
Mariah – 18 Number ones. 180M albums sold worldwide. 5 octave vocal range.
Celine – Two albums that have sold over 30M. MHWGO is second biggest single by female artist. 200M worldwide. Approx $238M from her Taking Chances Tour.
Madonna – 100M Singles. 180M albums. Highest tour gross by a female artist, approx $280M.
Whitney – Not a lot of releases but 140M albums sold and 50M singles which is an amazing achievement considering the amount of albums released. IWALY is the best selling single by a female artist.
Barbara – Best selling female in the US and 140M albums.
They have all had some influence within the music industry and on other vocalists who are becoming prominent today. So why does it matter who has sold the most because they have all had success that everyone dreams of.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:21 am
fgs.
MADONNA – 150M SINGLES, OVER 200M ALBUMS
it’s big difference
CELINE – 170M ALBUMS!
MARIAH – close to 200M
you can’t take fan web sites for relevant source!
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:28 pm
celine dion has sold more than 170M albums. since the World Music Awards gave her the Diamond Award for sales of 175M in 2004 and it has been 5 years and she has sold millions of albums since then. So its more than 175M. your saying Madonna has sold 350M records, i find that hard to believe but all i was saying was that who cares about sales when they give us music.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Ok!
I doesn’t matter, but that’s the subject of this theme!
But after 2004, Celine sold around M!
2005. On ne change pas – 1.5M
2007. Taking Chances – 3.5M
2007. D’elles – 1M
2008. Complete Best – 0.2M
2008. My Love: Essential Collection – 1.5M
TOTAL: 7.7M
So if she sold 170M till 2004, after she sold 7.7M, total number is 180M
I0m just saying she did not sell as many as Mariah and Madonna!
June 25th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Madonna is simply a money making machine. Beyonce is heading in the same direction. We can banter all we like about album sales and records and various statistics and use it to justify our conclusions, but at the end of the day each individual will have an opinion of who is better. I prefer to listen to someone who can sing. Madonna has also had a much longer career than Mariah and Mariah has achieved in 10 years what it took Madonna to achieve. Madonna is just there to make money…simple. Celine is even better than her.
June 26th, 2009 at 7:26 am
bob,
speak for yourself!
I prefer listening Madonna rather than Mariah and Celine!
They are not my type of music!
And ther’s lot of people who agree with me!
And also, i respect Mariah’s and Celine’s fans!
June 27th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Come on !!!! ….EVEN your grandma, grandpa and little children around the world have heard of Madonna.
The same can not be said of Mariah Carey.
Talking about Madonna is like talking about Michael Jackson (RIP). He is the King and she is the Queen.
There is no debate…Madonna is the Goddess.
June 28th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Mariah Carey is the best selling female artist with a proven (yes proven!) 200 million albums sold worldwide, plus 50 million singles sold worldwide giving her total rounded sales of 250 million records sold worldwide. Also, Mariah Carey is the greatest female singer with the greatest female voice ever. Madonna can’t sing. Michael Jackson is the best selling solo artist, male or female, of all time! The Beatles are the best selling group artist of all time.
June 28th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Mariah is not best selling artist! You wish!
Best selling
female – Madonna
male – Michael Jackson
goup – The Beatles
Mariah’s fans are crazy! Why’s so important to you to hear that Mariah is best selling???
Madonna’s fans don’t care so much! Maybe because we know she’s best selling female artist! We enjoy her music! Maybe you should do the same, and not be obsessed about numbers! Maybe that’s why Madonna sold more!
MADONNA IS THE QUEEN (not Mariah)
and Jackson is the King!
The End!
June 30th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
l also think it does not matter who has bad more sells.lts hows made the fans and people who are not fans dance for all these years and enjoy feeling good and thats madonna and she is the only artist that makes you enjoy life throw her music for her music and shows are uplifting and all the artists that try to be like her are never the same and she made these other artists want to be in the industry cause they all want to be her but as justin timberlake said on air,their are so many madonna wantabees and that he has even dated a few.Also apart from her music the world does everything that she does.Foe example she does yoga,exercises everyday and gives millions of dollars to help children from dying and it makes everyone want to give money to people that dont have anything and so l think she is not just the one and only queen of pop but the only icon and RIP micheal jackson as l think apart from madonna he was the only person that deserves to be the king of pop of all time and even thow l was not a fan he did have alot of great songs back in the day but madonna is the dancing queen and her music will always stand the tests of time as she starts everything that is great and has been writing and had the producers that she wanted from day one, not the producers that the record company wanted her to have cause if she did not like the way an album sounded she would tell them the way she wanted the track to sound and were she wanted the bass etc and also insisted on producers that never produced before from day one and it worked.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Matthew, you arguments are deepy flawed.
Mariah’s best selling female title is a myth and her sales are inflated. Just because she can sing and she dominates US charts, they dont make Mariah the best selling female worldwide. Diamond Awards was given based on her sales in the 90s. Her US Number Ones are based on (mainly) airplay not sales. Her digital sales are less impressive than Madonna or Celine Dion.
July 10th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Oh Marcus, comment #6, you speak the truth. And Erwin and Friend and whoever else who an speak from fact that, apart from someone’s OPINION, the FACTS are that Madonna is the best, Madonna stretches our collective imaginations, has extended herself creatively, (hello? has B or Mariah EVER tried something new? No.), has more energy and selling power than anyone. Besides Barbra Streisand, I guess. Well, she’s a legend and Madonna is as well. So there we go.
July 11th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Mariah is boring and Madonna is just ok….. They may be the biggest of the 20th and 21st Century but Janet is the best that ever done it on the female side…….
July 11th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Madonna rules! You don’t know what to expect from her! She’s queen of reinvention! Best performer ever!
Mariah is boring! Very boring! She was good in 90es! But now – very bad!
Janet????????? Hahahahahahahaha! You’re trying to be funny????? I won’t even comment this!
July 19th, 2009 at 4:27 am
enough with all the talking…fans can say anything…and if we look through the history,even the guiness world book of record has done mistakes in listing the records holders…and not just once,but many times.so i would say here that we should look at the awards that madonna and mariah have received…mariah received artist of the decade award,artist of the millenium,and so on..and has madonna received that kind of respect???the awards were given by those music experts and are deniable…if madonna is the best selling female artist,then they would have awarded her,but why they awarded mariah???i guess all of u can simply think of the answer rightt???so that’s it,according to the music experts,mariah went beyond madonna..that’s why mariah got the awards
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Here’s the fact,
that’s your fact! Look better about awards! You said some dummest things i wouldn’t comment!
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Madonna is the biggest selling female artist of all time.
Okay, Madonna has more years of career than mariah, BUT !!!! let’s remember that Madonna went out of the artistic media for a while, because she was making evita film, she was pregnant,etc…. so you have to take those years less in those times, Mariah was selling a lot of cds, those were the biggest moments of mariah, but when Madonna reapeared on 1998, began to sell more cds than Mariah Carey, and then Mariah went down.
You have made some mistakes with some sales, confessions on a dance floor did not sell 8 million, now it has sold over 12 millions so far.
And well, let’s face it guys, Madonna is a much higher seller, even in her albums of the 80s, mariah’s 90 cds sold less than some of them, up to this date is still like that.
But Mariah is a better vocalist !!! no doubt of that !!! I would call mariah the queen of r&b.
Even though mariah is less successfull, is still so successfull , and is admirable as a person :D
But speaking about sales, Madonna is the biggest selling female artist og the world.
But, as another said, the important is that they are gret, and they give us good music.
So, I would call Mariah the QUEEN OF R&B
AS WELL AS MADONNA IS THR QUEEN OF POP
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
PD: Nicolas: Thank you very much for being objective and even though you are a huge mariah’s fan , thanks a lot for recognizing the truth: Madonna is a better seller than Mariah in cds and obviously much more in tours, see mariah’s fans ? He is an objective person and realistic, and you should too, and let me tell you, seeing a mariah’s fan speaking with the truth, that has more value than many other words that others may say.
Q: How do you want Nicholas tu support Mariah ? arguing for her ! and speaking with lies as most of mariah’s fans do ??? Nope, he he’s realistic. The best way to support her, is to buy her albums, believe in her, love her, being thankful of the music she brings to him, enjoy her !!! But you have to face it Q -> Madonna is a best seller ! That’s the topic, not the voice or the talent.
But as I said it yesterday. For me Mariah is the queen of R&B
And now, I’m objective too: Even though I’m a Madonna’s fan, I know she is the best selling female artist of all time in the world (I don’t say it cuz I’m a fan, I’m saying that cuz is true, if that wouldn’t be true, I would recognized it for sure) BUT !!!!! I know that she is not the most talented, I know completely that Mariah has a better voice and is a better songwriter and has a much more romantic way to express herself. In fact, I love a lot of her songs like: Love take time —> AW I love that song, Emotions, heratbreaker,etc…..
But the topic here, is who is the best seller, and that is Madonna.
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
jjajjaja COWRIAH FATREY ,sales only in USA she`’s nothing in latinamerica market ..in Europe nobody like her…only in USA and why because they love the fast and boring food..MADONNA is the queen shes the best,,get over it MADONNA haters…..
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
and COWRIAH has more number ones in USA because she use PAYOLA,,thats the fact,,jajajaj poor girl…
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Ok, for you, here’s the fact:
If u r asking to search the awards, u should ask also to search for information and biography of both singers ! Mariah received award of artist of the decade , because !! at the begining of the decade, Madonna was doing sexual scandals and then in the rest of the decade she was NOT MAKING ALBUMS !!! she was making films, was pregnant, etc…. in those times, Mariah was making a cds and selling a lot, but in 1998, Madonna re appeared with ray of light and began selling more than Mariah again in her last cds, but face it man –> in 2000, Mariah received Millenium award because all she did in 1990s when Madonna wasn’t making albums !!! and when she re appears at the last part of the decade, obviously how would she win that award, she couldn’t do what she didn’t do in a long part of a decade in 1 or 2 years ! DOUH !!! But face that when she re-appeared, she began to sell millions again and much more than Mariah again, and up to this date, each album of Madonna is selling more than each album of Mariah,even in 2005, u say that COADF sold 8 million, but actually, it sold 12 millions, and emancipation of mimi sold 11 million, so Madonna won for a million !! Hard Candy also sold more than E=MC2 and let’s not speak about the flops of glitter and charmbracelet.
See ? Mariah’s fans don’t wanna see the truth !! If Madonna would have worked in that decade, those awards would also be for her ! Madonna didn’t have that respect ?? of course she has it !! But she has received much more important awards, so good for mi Mariah (who I also love) but let’s face it guys, Madonna is the biggest selling female artist of all time, everybody know this.
July 28th, 2009 at 4:28 am
According to Mariah’s press release for her new albumm, Emancipation has sold 10M copies worldwide only. Confessions on a Dancefloor sold 9M worldwide. Madonna has dols more outside the USA and MAriah has sold more within her homecountry. There is no doubt that Hard Candy has outsold E=MC2 on a global sales. 4 Minutes is certified 2X platinum and Touch My Body just 1M. Let us not even talk about Madonna’s sales in UK and Japan, the second and third biggest music markets in the world.
July 28th, 2009 at 4:29 am
Combining single and album sales, hands down to Madonna. Btw, Im pretty excited about Whitney’s new album called I LOOK TO YOU.
July 29th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
first of all , I think celine dion’s sales are totaly inflated considering the fact that she hasn’t had a smash hit album in the last decade. It’s the same for M carey, her last international hit must be “my all” like 250 years ago.Marah only sells good in US (texas)
Now why Madonna is the queen of pop: she is an icon for millions of people in the world (not only gays), my grandmother (90yo) knows Madonna but not the others. her Best of “immaculate” album sold at least 32 mùillions (apparently the sales are underestimated, considering that it has officialy sold 12 M in US,4 M in UK and 2 M in japan, so do the math) her last world tour is the biggest grossing tour ever by a solo artist, beating her own previous record. Plus never forget that madonna is no longer played on US radio, because US have a serious problem with electromusic, and also a problem with getting more than 30 yo, and also a problem with freedom of speech …I guess they will praise her when she’s dead.
I think Mariah has 18 N° single in US which is great but not enough to make her a super star. she’s a local star. And last but not least: the biggest selling female is Greek singer Nana Mouskoury, beyond Madonna. but Madonna is Queen of pop who can dance and sing and entertain us for ever!!
July 30th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Sorry but it really does not matter what awards were given to mariah as they mean sh**.For l am from australia and we actually excepted madonna a year before america did, when they we saying she would be a one hit wonder and god knows those experts were wrong.And being a dancer and dancing in american in 93, l could not berlieve that guys did not dance their even though they loved the show, they would always say in america guys dont dance and of course now it has chanced but still americans are lazy and these teenages need to lisen to madonna who makes you want to dance and not mariahs music that you can just sing and makes you feel down, thats why in other parts of the world like italy people are always happy cause they know we are suppost enjoy life and are always out dancing and eating well and dont get takeout food and if americans actually travelled more they would see what life is about and how to enjoy your music and be proud of what madonna has done instead of always putting her down cause their not happy in thier own lives
August 4th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
We shouldnt forget the the topic is TOP SELLING ARTIST
last i heard HARD CANDY has sold more than a million over E=MC2. and if it’s true that Mariah’s territory is the USA then why the hell did her last singles (Bye bye, Stay inlove, loving you longtime)flopped? MAdonna however, ehr single 4 minutes has sold more than Touch my body, eventhough it never reached number 1 in the US Charts it did sell well worldwide.
and lets talk about the concert, well girls, top selling MADONNA broke her own record tour, and what’s with MAriah? why didnt she tour this year?
and have ya all seen LA toya Jackson’s blog on Mariah’s performance on the King of Pops wake? Mariah got like 90% negavtive reviews, saying her voice, her only instrument to sell, has declined. sorry but that’s gonna leave a nasty mark in the music market.
and with mariah’s latest release of “Obsessed” from her upcoming Memoir’s CD, the single is plnging down the charts, every blog dont even care to react, the last i read was “Obsessed” is a remnant trash from E=mc2.
Now with MAdonna’s new single “Celebration” coming out this month, we’ll see who’s gonna sold more.
but I’m putting my bet on the Pop Queen. For mariah, sorry girlfriend you wouldnt last the next decade. and please girl start acting your age and stop using artists to fill up your dwindling career.
August 4th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I’m from Europe, and i have to say something about this subject!
Madonna is absolutely Queen, and we don’t care about Mariah! You can’t hear Mariah on radio. Maybe just first week when she relase single, but that’s all. People don’t like her or her music.
Instead, Madonna is really important in music, and you can hear her on radio, watch her on music channels…
And that’s not because someone boycotts Mariah, it’s because we don’t like her music!
And about markets! Europe is bigger market than USA! So, Mariah’s 18 No1 singles, doesn’t mean anything! And let’s not pretend that we don’t know the reason! Mariah gets more airplay in USA, and that’s whys she has 18 No1 singles. Not for bigger sale! example -> 4 Minutes vs Touch My Body! Look “Hung Up”…etc!
Anyway, it’s better to be recognized in whole world, than just USA! And tours have shown, about popularity in USA! Madonna has more fans!
That’s the fact!
August 5th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
also l think we need to remember that most people just download music these days and even people that claim to be the biggest madonna fans are still downloading instead of buying so as much as l love computers if they did not make it so easy for people to get music free madonnas record sales could be up to a billion and mariah would not even come close.Its just ashame that people cant spend $20 dollars on a cd as its very little money and then madonnas sells would be back at the 20 million per album at the least and thats why the concerts are the only way of knowing how popular an artist is and no one comes close to madonna and she has not even been to australia since 93 and if she did she would sell at least 5 shows per state and last time she was in melbourne she did so many shows with up to 90,000 people per show.
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:33 am
This will solved all your doubts. Its OFFICIAL.(PERIOD!!!!)
billboard.com/#/column/chartbeat/ask-billboard-madonna-vs-whitney-vs-mariah-1004005695.story
August 29th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
The reason why Mariah is said to sell more in the 90’s than Madonna is that she has released more albums (for any decade), remember how many? i think she released like 10 or more albums in the 1990’s, compared to Madonna who had like 4 i think. Madonna takes a year or two break from the music scene to have time to rest of course! no wonder Mariah had a mental breakdown, she’s the hardest working bitch in the 90’s.
So for “think” who said what’s 10 years for mariah is 40 years for MADONNA? yah right! like Duh! Well that 40 years for Madonna is like a millennium for Mariah. I would be more impressed is mariah wouldve surpassed MADONNA on all aspects of sales WORLDWIDE not just bluffing on US Billboard. We should remember that RIAA still holds MADONNA better than Mariah on sales. and what’s stopping MADONNA? NONE!
mariah’s album Imperfections are now encountering “imperfections” cancelling every now and then the release date. well like who cares anyway? and for her latest single “Obese” well i heard it is doing poorly on the US Charts, Funny i thought the US Charts is dear to Mimi? She’s being kicked off by artists like Miley and the BEP.
now back to sales. Madonna’s final offering for Warner is a greatest hits album, not much we can say cause it’s like a greatest hits cd, like it is expected to not sell as much as the Immaculate Col. I’m more geared what surprise the Queen of Music has in store for us when she starts recording for LIVE NATION. Rumors said MADONNA will re-dominate the POP Culture by going back to POP music and should we say MADge is paying respect to the legacy of his King, Michael Jackson. They both had this HUGE legacy on POP. no other Hiphop acts has sold more han these TWo, not even mariah carey.
i wonder if Madonna’s Greatest Hits album should again topple mariah’s imperfections? it’s quite obvious Mariah’s losing grip on reality and fantasy as her career is like plunging.
September 8th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Mariah of course. Over 200 million albums sold! And she writes 90% of her music unlike Ms Madonna. And she has her own inimitable style. And she has influenced almost all of todays female artistes- do you honestly think Madonaa has influenced any artistes? I mean, lets be for real, watch any singing competition and people will sing 7 MC songs BEFORE THEY SING BORING MADGES SONGS. Give me ten decent self- written Madonna songs and I’ll give you thirty Mariah ones. And the most amazing thing about MC is that she never rests- she releases an album then the next year, she’s already working on her next one and never suffers from writers block! Mariah Carey is a musical genius- accept it!
September 9th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Dear SUSAN,
“Mariah of course.” Of course???? Do you work in music industry???? How do you know that?! You’ve read it in some newspaper???? Or mariah’s fan blog?????? After you wrote it like that, we don’t need to read your article anymore!
“Over 200 million albums sold!” They say same about Madonna. But in real life, you can’t measure album sales. It’s very hard especially in most of countries. It’s easier fos US, it measures in album certification (which btw. Madonna=63,5xPlatinum and Mariah 62xPlatinum). Another important thing is shipments if you know what it is???? If you do, i don’t have to explain it anymore!
“And she writes 90% of her music unlike Ms Madonna.” Madonna does write her music, but not alone! And some of songs she wrote alone (like “Miles Away” which is great song, even better then most of Mariah’s)!
“And she has her own inimitable style. And she has influenced almost all of todays female artistes- do you honestly think Madonaa has influenced any artistes? I mean, lets be for real, watch any singing competition and people will sing 7 MC songs BEFORE THEY SING BORING MADGES SONGS.” Maybe it’s inimitable because it sucks! Who listens Mariah (unless US, but in US she can’t sold so much albums as she did)???? Who goes to her concerts???? Do I have to mention Madonna’s tours (example Sticky & Sweet Tour – highest grossing tour by a solo artist and second highest grossing tour of all time, with 3.5 millions people) Belive me, beside regular people, she does influence among numerous music artists! And i would not say same about Mariah! And about that singing competition – those are people who have no idea about singing! Most of them! Have you seen any audition????? Most of girls think they could sing, so they choose Mariah because they heard that she can sing very well. And it’s true, she can! I’m not saying she can’t! Madonna has boring songs????? Have you ever listen to her???? Her music is very dance and pop, and you can dance and party! But it’s not same when it comes to Mariah! Her music is very boring, especially after 2000. She didin’t have any world hit after 2000. So did you ever thought it why???? It’s not because people don’t like Mariah! It’s because people don’t like her music!
“And the most amazing thing about MC is that she never rests- she releases an album then the next year, she’s already working on her next one and never suffers from writers block!” Well, she has to if she wants to be in music industry! Otherwise would have been forgotten! And if she relases so much albums isn’t it sad that she sold less than Madonna????
“Mariah Carey is a musical genius- accept it!” We won’t! But, thanks for your suggestion! We do not like lying to ourselves!
It was my pleasure to explain you real situation!
And, btw. how old are you???? 12?
September 9th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I really think that MOST of you should research and make sure that what you find is accurate before posting false info here.
Madonna’s 1st release was in 1983 and we are in 2009, so that’s 26 years of music from Madonna NOT 30 years. Released 18 albums (including soundtracks, greatest hits, live albums etc…) She has sold more than 280 million albums worldwide, 400 million records (singles included etc…)
Mariah has been doing it for 19 years (7 years after Madonna) She released 17 albums (including soundtracks, greatest hits etc…) THAT’S 1 ALBUM LESS THEN MADONNA. IF MADONNA WAS RUSHING TO RELEASE A NEW CD LIKE MARIAH DID, THEN IMAGINE HOW MANY MORE ALBUMS SHE WOULD HAVE SOLD.
Mariah sold more than 200 million albums worldwide (including singles etc…)
Yes Mariah has surpassed the Beatles, Elvis, Madonna IN THE US with #1 singles.
Madonna surpassed them all WORLDWIDE.
We all know that Madonna does not have Mariah’s voice, but every new album released by Madonna is different them the previous ones, and I think that’s what a true artist is.
Mariah’s albums sound like a continuation of the one before. Don’t get me wrong, I love her music, but it’s always the same, and that’s why in the US she is more successful. The rest of the world is just more open minded and grow with time.
Both artists are fantastic in their own way.
I am sure that all of you saying that Mariah writes her own music are so young that you don’t even know that MOST of Mariah’s “HITS” are REMAKES taken from other artists. Legally of course.
Madonna does write/co-write 99% of her music and has done just a few covers unlike Mariah.
Make no mistake there people. There is only 1 QUEEN OF POP AND IT IS MADONNA. Mariah may be a pop Princess like Britney, but the CROWN BELONGS TO, ALWAYS DID, AND PROBABLY ALWAYS WILL BE MADONNA’S.
Like someone else said above, Neilson scans did not count 7 of madonna’s 1st releases, so right there is where it all should stop.
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
September 11th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Proofs that lead to Mariah’s chart manipulations are abundance.
Mariah’s success in the Billboard could not be translated to her overall sales , worldwide. No doubt that she was the biggest selling in the 90s but since Glitter her sales almost inconsistent.
If Mariah is the biggest selling female of all time, show me the money? How come her wealth doesnt tally with her records sales. Oh yeah, she is well-know for dropping her singles to 0.49 cents per piece …
September 11th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Madonna is definitely the top-selling female artist. Mariah Carey’s boring, all her music sounds the same.
Madonna has more of a variety of tracks. Dance, ballads, hell, even some “rap” as you may call it.
But for Mariah, nothing fresh, nothing new… just another album with highly exaggerated high notes that get, well, annoying after a while.
September 20th, 2009 at 1:21 am
What the fu**, Who fu** care about Madonna, Mariah, Celine, Whitney and Barbara,,They all old and not sell anymore,,,,we need the young and fresh one,,,
and I think Lady Gaga and Miley had what it takes to be the next best selling female artist,,,,
Go Gaga and Miley..!!!!
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
goodness gracious… the lambs in this thread are terribly young and are in dreamland with butterflies alongside their icon MARIAH who looks more like a horse!!! Sales wise, it is Madonna… And please do not compare the number of years the two have been making music if you cannot make the soundest comparison… consider demographics, population, technology in the 80’s and 90’s when these two stars came out… people in the 90’s have more access to cable tv, radio programs, music formats, et al… then equate that with POPULATION!!… do a simple arithmetic and analysis for all of you to understand why Pariah would sell that number of albums when she came out in the 90’s… 00’s is better footing for both since they are past their major eras… and mariah still couldn’t come close… and i so agree, mariah has a far better voice but goodness, only you lambs will pay to see her sing live!!!… have the two go together in separate concerts anywhere in the world (even the USA) and your Pariah will ABSOLUTELY eat dust… how does that make her the queen or the greatest?… i love these discussions… very poor of us all, right?… hahaha… mature, lambs!!!
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:58 pm
oh by the way, wanna make a bet who sells more with their current releases? Lambs, you tally the sales around the world, ok? America is not the world, puhleez!!!!
October 5th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
jeez people… its official… Barbara Streisand #1 Madonna #2 and Mariah #3..LAY IT TO REST!
1. yeah so mariah has done so much and made so much in 10 years…have we considered that back when madonna started times and economic spending was much different? Not to mention that accessibility to music was much diff. Hello if i had iTunes back in the 80s….Imagine if the economy was like it is now when Madonna started…she would have definitely created a MAJOR gap between her and Mariah.
2. yeah yeah talent blah blah blah…people Madonna has learned the secret to this industry like only some artists have…you have got to sell yourself. give the people what they want but at the same time give them the unexpected. Mariah doesn’t do that. You can almost predict that it will be R&B, Power Ballads, and some sort of gospel solo somewhere on her album. Madonna…well all u r guaranteed is a ballad. She has touched every genre of music and has made it her own. Lets take a look:
Pop- (like a virgin, most of her early albums)
R&B/Hip hop- (erotica)
Electronica/House- (bedtime stories)
Electronica/Techno/Trance- (ray of light and music)
Country- (music)
Dance- (confessions)
R&B- (hard candy)
Classical- (evita)
The only area she has touched and not been very successful at is Rap/Hip hop…yeah yeah fans i know but lets face it it’s true… Basically what i’m saying is Mariah likes to play it safe and stay inside the box whereas Madonna likes to experiment and play outside the box. It’s like comparing Karl Lagerfeld to Ralph Lauren…
3. Case and point.. Madonna is a SOLO artist. To have accomplished what she has accomplished, push the envelope, take risks(which has gained her negative reaction a lot), and continue to change the way we think of music and still do this at 50 years old??? That deserves a round of applause. Lets see if Mariah can still stay strong when she is 50 years old.
4. also lets not forget that most of Mariah’s income is coming from the contract breaking deal that payed her millions.
5. As for new artists…good luck because i think the day of ACTUAL music artists that write their own music and are about their craft are gone… the only luck you have is with Gwen Stefani. The days of the actual pop icon with longevity like Madonna, Mariah, and Whitney are gone. Gaga and Cyrus are only of the moment…and lets face it…they aren’t that talented. Gaga knows that secret that Madonna knows about selling yourself, but i dont think she will be able to reinvent herself let alone come out with another compelling album. lets just say i think she blew her all in this first go round. As for Miley…are we seriously considering her an artist? She is Disney people….Disney! Remember Hillary Duff? yeah i thought u wouldn’t…she was at the same level as Miley several years ago…nuff said.
6. And no im not swaying to either side or being a Mariah h8r…i’m just stating facts. I happen to like both Madonna and Mariah. so dont trip chocolate chip~
October 7th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Not sure where this 10 year head start for Madonna over Mariah arguement comes from – First hit in the UK was 1990 for Mariah – For Madonna December 1984 – I make that 6 years!! Maybe 8 in America as Everybody, Burning Up etc were club hits 82/83. The facts indicate that Mariah has sold more Albums in the US and about on par globally as Madonna’s early Album sales are not exact (as no artists are due to tracking methods then). Internatioanally Madonna has the edge on Albums driven by a much stronger presence in Europe notably in Recent years since Mariah went more R&B with her sound. There is little doubt in music circles that Madonna has sold far more singles than any other female artist – helped simply by the volume of releases – some 65 songs in the UK – slightly less in US. Mariah benefits in the US from Airplay that is included in calculating chart placings for singles but in the UK for example Madonna has had 14 top ten hits since 2000, Mariah 6. But guys whilst I understand your loyalty to your choosen aritist all the big guns, Madonna, Mariah, Celine, Whitney, Barbara are fantastically successful and Icons in their own right. Why not celebrate all of them and enjoy what they have given us rather than fight over who has sold more – lets face it they have all sold shed loads and have made fortunes so the odd million difference here and there is hardly a big deal. I’m sure their not bothered!!
October 25th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Mariah’s title as the best selling female is hype and this coming from her fan website and her record company. Reality is..Madonna has 5 great years before Carey emerged in the music industry.
And to make it sweet, Carey has 3 bigger flopped album than Madonna 1) Glitter 2) E=Mc2 3) Memoirs of An Old Diva.
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:26 am
The biggest selling female artis in the planet earth now and forever is Whitney Houston. Why because she is sincerely sing without using computer like madonna and mariah carey. She only produce 7 or 8 album within 25 years not like madonna and mariah carey which have nearly 20 albums madonna (30 years) and mariah (20 years). Can you imagine if Whitney produce 1 album every year like madonna and mariah carey just because she wants to be a [popular artis like madonna and mariah]. Of couse, total album sales for whitney may be 600++ million worldwide. No body can beat whitney until now. Whitney
1st album and 4th album already reach 33 million and 47 million album worldwide. She can reach to the highest point 33 and 47 million. I don’t think mariah and madonna can reach that point. If they try the can get crazy and physical disabillity.
Now i give you the list of whitney album
Album 1 33 million worldwide 1984
Album 2 25 million worldwide 1987
Album 3 17 million worldwide 1990
Album 4 47 million worldwide 1992
Album 5 17 million worldwide 1995
Album 6 9 million worldwide 1996
Album 7 15 million wordwide 1998
Album 8 19 million wordlwide 2000
Album 9 5 million worldwide 2002
Album 10 Not yet in progress 2009
2nd album 25 million and 3rd album 17 million.
5 th album 17 million and 6 album
November 12th, 2009 at 7:00 am
ohh…long arguments…mariah is the best selling female artist, artist of the millenium, artist of the 90’s decade!mariah has done many albums coz of the great demand! do you think her company will just let her release albums???helloo! that explains everything ok!
November 15th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Mariah is the third best selling female of all time.
That is official.
The only internationally recognised governing body of record sales is the IFPI.
To date, the combined sales of albums and singles have Madonna way, way ahead.
The only “source” to ever claim Mariah Carey is the World Music Awards which as we all know is a silly made up ceremony based on who will attend any given year. The only internationally recognised source for sales stats is the IFPI.
Their latest sales stats at September 2007 are:
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) just released their updated figures. The top 20 is noted below. Note that Madonna is the highest selling female artist ever and also the only artist in the top 5 who didn’t have a release prior to 1980. Also note that Mariah still hasn’t topped Nana Mouskouri! She claims to be the top selling female and she isn’t even number 2 yet! Also note that this doesn’t the 10.1million selling massive selling “Confessions on a Dance Floor” CD, 2million sales of Im Going to Tell You a Secret, 2million of Confessions Tour, 9million sales of Hung Up, 6million of Sorry, 4million of Get Together and 1.5million of Jump.
01. The Beatles 40+ 400,000,000 UK 60s (1962-1970) Rock/Pop Guinness/EMI
02. Michael Jackson 14 350,000,000 US 70s-00s (1979-) Pop/R&B MJ Stats
03. Elvis Presley 150+ 300,000,000 US 50s-70s (1956-1977) Country/Rock
04. Madonna 16 275,000,000 US 80s-00s (1984-) Pop WBR [1]
05. Nana Mouskouri 450 250,000,000 Greece 60s-00s (1959-) Pop [2][3]
06. Cliff Richard 60+ 250,000,000 UK 50s-00s (1959-1969,1977-1979,1986-1999 ) Rock/Pop [4]
07.The Rolling Stones 54 ~250,000,000 UK 60s-00s (1964-1981) Rock 60.5 million in the US [5]
08. Mariah Carey 14 230,000,000 US 90s-00s (1990-) Pop/R&B
Sadly Mariah Carey fans seem to quote silly industry awards and that ludicrous (and retracted) World Music Awards claim and ignore the solitary and only official source of data above.
Mariah’s management were apparently fined in 2006 for claiming she was the Biggest Selling Female of All Time and all European Mimi adverts stating this claim were withdrawn.
Poor Mariah fans just cant handle that she isnt first, nor second, but is third. Given that she hasnt been big outside of the US since the 90s, its unlikely she’ll ever overtake Nana or Madonna, especially as Madonna’s sales are strong (Confessions in 2005 was number 1 in more countries than any other album in history and has sold 10.1million copies so far).
Id expect we get a silly lot of responses from Mariah fans now quoting how many silly “Best R&B Video” and World Music Awards she has won, the facts remain, she is 3rd, and nothing will ever change that.