jurasic1968 wrote:Thanks a lot, Greystoke. I like to ask maybe a very difficult question for the year 2016: Why the impressive sales from the past are so big comparing to today? Because of the Internet? Maybe I am wrong but Michael Jackson with his LP Thriller was the last one to sell in such a big scale (more than 60 milion copies, I read).
I'm not Greystoke but it's like I said Bing Crosby's and Elvis' record sales were just made up and exaggerated by their record labels.
During the mid 80's all the way through the mid 2000s they did have a few albums that were huge sellers worldwide.
garyt wrote:What source(s) does the Guiness World Records use for the billion mark?
Well it certainly wasn't Brian.
Seriously, they have a index referring to their sources...printed in very small letters on 2 pages...literally hundreds and hundreds of sources. I have no problem believing them.
I am not in the music industry to know how the sales are certified. I was very surprised It's Now or Never sold 20 million copies. I think this represents the total sales in the whole wide world, not only US and UK. I didn't understand it at first.
"In 1960, "It's Now or Never" was a number-one record in the U.S., spending five weeks at number one and the U.K., where it spent eight weeks at the top in 1960 and an additional week at number one in 2005 as a re-issue, and numerous other countries, selling in excess of 25 million copies worldwide, Elvis Presley's biggest international single ever. Its British release was delayed for some time because of rights issues, allowing the song to build up massive advance orders and to enter the UK Singles Chart at number one, a very rare occurrence at the time."
Steve Morse wrote:I seem to recall that 100 million sales were achieved by, and announced in, 1964. 52 years later and with several changes of formats along the way, not to mention endless reissues, I am perfectly willing, now, to accept the 1 billion sales figure, first claimed about 20 (?) years ago.
Elvis didn't sell 100 million records by 1964 that was just PR hype by RCA.
Why, in 1964, would they need to lie ?
Because back in those days artists didn't sell a lot of records so record labels would make up stories about how much their artists had sold to make it sound better.
100 million records worldwide over 8 years sounds better than the more plausible 25 million.
So, 50,000,000 Elvis fans could be wrong, then, 5 years' earlier ?
Your "more plausible" 25 million figure (by 1964) is ridiculous, along with the implication that they would exaggerate that figure fourfold..
"Won't you sing me away to a summer night - let me hold her in my arms again"
Steve Morse wrote:So, 50,000,000 Elvis fans could be wrong, then, 5 years' earlier ?
Your "more plausible" 25 million figure (by 1964) is ridiculous, along with the implication that they would exaggerate that figure fourfold..
You are very naive if you believe that record labels, singers etc. don't exaggerate and even outright lie about record sales.
If you want to believe this PR hype like a few others have go ahead.
brian, I was skeptical as you (especially because many times the Colonel was bluffing) but now I changed my point of view because I didn't realize that these sales were in the whole wide world not only US and UK. If It's Now or Never only alone was sold to over 25 million copies, the 100 millions mark announced by RCA in 1965 is very possible. Maybe Elvis sold even more records. Japan, Australia, Canada, South East Asia, South Africa, Germany and other countries of Western Europe were other markets.
Steve Morse wrote:So, 50,000,000 Elvis fans could be wrong, then, 5 years' earlier ?
Your "more plausible" 25 million figure (by 1964) is ridiculous, along with the implication that they would exaggerate that figure fourfold..
You are very naive if you believe that record labels, singers etc. don't exaggerate and even outright lie about record sales.
If you want to believe this PR hype like a few others have go ahead.
"O.K. guys, let's stretch the truth a little and multiply the plausible sales by 4".
It may be irrelevant but I am 68, a retired accountant/secretary. Any hint of naivety in one's approach to life tends to markedly dissipate with advancing years.
"Won't you sing me away to a summer night - let me hold her in my arms again"
jurasic1968 wrote:brian, I was skeptical as you (especially because many times the Colonel was bluffing) but now I changed my point of view because I didn't realize that these sales were in the whole wide world not only US and UK. If It's Now or Never only alone was sold to over 25 million copies, the 100 millions mark announced by RCA in 1965 is very possible. Maybe Elvis sold even more records. Japan, Australia, Canada, South East Asia, South Africa, Germany and other countries of Western Europe were other markets.
The U.S. market is by far the biggest market in the world and especially in Elvis' lifetime.
The Asian Market and South American market in particual was not that big during Elvis' career so it's unrealistic that he would have sold enough records outside of America to make the 1 billion sales figure.
To give a very specific example Elvis has only had one million selling single in the U.K. and you would think that if he had sold 1 billion he would've had more than that.
He would have to have 700 million sales in the United States just to realistically get to the 1 billion worldwide sales figure.
jurasic1968 wrote:brian, I was skeptical as you (especially because many times the Colonel was bluffing) but now I changed my point of view because I didn't realize that these sales were in the whole wide world not only US and UK. If It's Now or Never only alone was sold to over 25 million copies, the 100 millions mark announced by RCA in 1965 is very possible. Maybe Elvis sold even more records. Japan, Australia, Canada, South East Asia, South Africa, Germany and other countries of Western Europe were other markets.
To give a very specific example Elvis has only had one million selling single in the U.K. and you would think that if he had sold 1 billion he would've had more than that.
How many single sales in the UK do you think Elvis has had since 1956 Brian?
jurasic1968 wrote:brian, I was skeptical as you (especially because many times the Colonel was bluffing) but now I changed my point of view because I didn't realize that these sales were in the whole wide world not only US and UK. If It's Now or Never only alone was sold to over 25 million copies, the 100 millions mark announced by RCA in 1965 is very possible. Maybe Elvis sold even more records. Japan, Australia, Canada, South East Asia, South Africa, Germany and other countries of Western Europe were other markets.
To give a very specific example Elvis has only had one million selling single in the U.K. and you would think that if he had sold 1 billion he would've had more than that.
How many single sales in the UK do you think Elvis has had since 1956 Brian?
I think they say he has sold 20 million singles in U.K. and I'd say that sounds about right.
jurasic1968 wrote:brian, I was skeptical as you (especially because many times the Colonel was bluffing) but now I changed my point of view because I didn't realize that these sales were in the whole wide world not only US and UK. If It's Now or Never only alone was sold to over 25 million copies, the 100 millions mark announced by RCA in 1965 is very possible. Maybe Elvis sold even more records. Japan, Australia, Canada, South East Asia, South Africa, Germany and other countries of Western Europe were other markets.
To give a very specific example Elvis has only had one million selling single in the U.K. and you would think that if he had sold 1 billion he would've had more than that.
How many single sales in the UK do you think Elvis has had since 1956 Brian?
I think they say he has sold 20 million singles in U.K. and I'd say that sounds about right.
I agree.
Maybe Brian Quinn can give a more accurate figure.
According to The Official Charts Company by the end of 2012 (18th October) Elvis had sold overall 21.7 million singles in the UK. Between 2002 and 2012 he sold 2.2 million singles and 5.7 million albums. Of course the albums total would now be well over 7 million with additional sales accruing to 'The Nations Favourite Elvis Songs' album (300,000) and the 'If I Can Dream' album (1 million) plus any others which have sold including Elvis' 30 No.1 Hits' and the many back catalogue/budget releases. I do not have a current tally for Elvis' single sales.
Greystoke wrote:In 2012 the Official Charts Company listed the best selling artists in the UK with regards to singles sales. This has since been updated and looks like this with regards to the top-ten.
1. Rihanna (23,100,000)
2. The Beatles (21,900,000)
3. Elvis Presley (21,600,000)
4. Cliff Richard (21,500,000)
5. Madonna (17,600,000)
6. Michael Jackson (15,300,000)
7. Elton John (14,800,000)
8. Queen (12,600,000)
9. ABBA (11,200,000)
10. David Bowie (11,000,000)
The sales for Rihanna cannot be physical, i'd like to see the breakdown of all these sales by type. That would make for interesting reading and discussion
Greystoke wrote:In 2012 the Official Charts Company listed the best selling artists in the UK with regards to singles sales. This has since been updated and looks like this with regards to the top-ten.
1. Rihanna (23,100,000)
2. The Beatles (21,900,000)
3. Elvis Presley (21,600,000)
4. Cliff Richard (21,500,000)
5. Madonna (17,600,000)
6. Michael Jackson (15,300,000)
7. Elton John (14,800,000)
8. Queen (12,600,000)
9. ABBA (11,200,000)
10. David Bowie (11,000,000)
Rihanna with more sales than The Beatles and Elvis? Yeah, sure.
Brian Quinn wrote:According to The Official Charts Company by the end of 2012 Elvis had sold overall 21.7 million singles in the UK. Between 2002 and 2012 he sold 2.2 million singles and 5.7 million albums. Of course the albums total would now be well over 7 million with additional sales accruing to 'The Nations Favourite Elvis Songs' album (300,000) and the 'If I Can Dream' album (1 million) plus any others which have sold including Elvis' 30 No.1 Hits' and the many back catalogue/budget releases. I do not have a current tally for Elvis' single sales.
Brian Quinn wrote:According to The Official Charts Company by the end of 2012 Elvis had sold overall 21.7 million singles in the UK. Between 2002 and 2012 he sold 2.2 million singles and 5.7 million albums. Of course the albums total would now be well over 7 million with additional sales accruing to 'The Nations Favourite Elvis Songs' album (300,000) and the 'If I Can Dream' album (1 million) plus any others which have sold including Elvis' 30 No.1 Hits' and the many back catalogue/budget releases. I do not have a current tally for Elvis' single sales.
Brian Quinn wrote:According to The Official Charts Company by the end of 2012 Elvis had sold overall 21.7 million singles in the UK. Between 2002 and 2012 he sold 2.2 million singles and 5.7 million albums. Of course the albums total would now be well over 7 million with additional sales accruing to 'The Nations Favourite Elvis Songs' album (300,000) and the 'If I Can Dream' album (1 million) plus any others which have sold including Elvis' 30 No.1 Hits' and the many back catalogue/budget releases. I do not have a current tally for Elvis' single sales.
Greystoke wrote:In 2012 the Official Charts Company listed the best selling artists in the UK with regards to singles sales. This has since been updated and looks like this with regards to the top-ten.
1. Rihanna (23,100,000)
2. The Beatles (21,900,000)
3. Elvis Presley (21,600,000)
4. Cliff Richard (21,500,000)
5. Madonna (17,600,000)
6. Michael Jackson (15,300,000)
7. Elton John (14,800,000)
8. Queen (12,600,000)
9. ABBA (11,200,000)
10. David Bowie (11,000,000)
Rihanna with more sales than The Beatles and Elvis? Yeah, sure.
You're right. The Wikipedia page is wrong. My fault for not checking myself. That's Rihanna's combined singles and album sales.
