document_title: List of best-selling music artists

question_text: who are the top 3 selling music artists of all time

text: List of best-selling music artists

text: Definitions

text: All artists included on this list, which have begun charting on official albums or singles charts have their available claimed figures supported by at least 20% in certified units. That is why Cliff Richard, Diana Ross, Scorpions, Bing Crosby, Gloria Estefan, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Tom Jones, The Jackson 5, Dionne Warwick, the Spice Girls, Dolly Parton, Ozzy Osbourne, Andrea Bocelli and others have not been included on this list. The more recent the artist, the higher the required percentage of certified units, so artists such as Rihanna, Chris Brown, Taylor Swift, Flo Rida, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Adele, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj and Ed Sheeran are expected to have their claimed figures supported by over 75% in certified units. The certified units are sourced from available online databases of local music industry associations. All certified units are converted from Gold/Platinum/Diamond certification awards based on criteria provided by certifying bodies. The certified units percentage varies according to the first year that an artist appeared in the charts.[a]

text: The requirements of certified units are designed to avoid inflated sales figures, which are frequently practiced by record companies for promotional purposes.[1][2] The claimed figures are referenced from online articles created by highly reliable sources. For clarity, the sources used, say the term "records" (singles, albums, videos) and not "albums". However, if all available sources for an artist or band say "albums", such sources are only used if the certified album units of the said artist meet the required percentage amount. This list uses claimed figures that are closest to artists' available certified units: inflated claimed figures that meet the required certified units amount but are unrealistically high, are not used.

text: The claimed figures are upgraded only when there is a significant progress in artists' certified units. In other words, the available certified units for each artist should get relatively closer to already listed claimed figure in order for higher figures to replace the listed ones.

text: The certified units of the newer artists may sometimes be higher than their listed claimed figures. This is because Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and almost all other certifying bodies count streaming towards Gold and Platinum thresholds required for Digital Single Award certification.[3][4][5] For this reason, some singles and even albums get over certified by hundreds of thousands of units. The over certified figures, however, are often in millions of units for RIAA certifications, one such example is Rihanna's single "We Found Love", which is certified at nine times Platinum by the RIAA, yet during the time of the certification, it had sold 5.4 million downloads.[6][7]

text: The certified units for some artists/bands who have multi-disc albums can be higher than their listed claimed figures due to Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) counting each unit within set as one unit toward certification.

text: Issued certifications for songs which have been recorded by multiple artists including featured artists are added to each artist's total amount of certified units, as all the artists would have played a significant part in a song. For example "This Is What You Came For" and "Where Them Girls At" include Rihanna and Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj as featured artists respectively, so the certifications issued for these songs are added to the total amount of certified units for all involved artists. However, the certifications issued for songs that have been recorded by four or more artists are not included as the artists involved would have played minor roles, examples of such songs are Kanye West's "Monster" and/or "All Day".[b]

text: Artists by reputed sales

text: 250 million or more records

text:
The Beatles

Elvis Presley

Michael Jackson

Elton John

Madonna

Led Zeppelin

Pink Floyd

text:
To ensure the highest level of fact checking and editorial control, this list sources sales figures to news organizations and highly regarded music industry related organizations such as MTV, VH1, Billboard and Rolling Stone.
The figures of total certified units within the tables below are based on certified units of albums, singles (including digital downloads) and videos.
Markets' order within the tables is based on Retail Value: each market generates respectively, the largest market at the top and smallest at the bottom.[8][9]

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

The Beatles
United Kingdom
1960–1970[10]
1962[10]
Rock / Pop[10]
7002271600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 271.6 million

US: 212.250 million[11]
JPN: 4.950 million[c][12]
UK: 18.445 million[c][13]
GER: 8 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.890 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 14.455 million[c][17]
AUS: 3.060 million[c][18][19]
ITA: 380,000[c][20]
BRA: 550,000[c][21]
SWE 485,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.250 million[c][23][24]
SWI: 350,000[c][25]
BEL: 390,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 1.606 million[c][28][29]
DEN: 270,000[c][30][31][32]
AUT: 500,000[c][33]
POL: 175,000[c][34]
NZ: 660,000[c][35][36]

600 million[37][38]
500 million[39]

Elvis Presley
United States
1954–1977[40]
1954[40]
Rock and roll / Pop / Country[40]
7002223100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 223.1 million

US: 199.150 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12]
UK: 13.145 million[c][13]
GER: 1.2 million[c][14]
FRA: 2.590 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 2.925 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.797 million[c][18][41]
ITA: 105,000[c][20]
BRA: 125,000[c][21]
SWE 380,000[c][22]
SPA: 300,000[c][23][42][43]
MEX: 105,000[c][44]
SWI: 185,000[c][25]
BEL: 115,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 110,000[c][28]
DEN: 120,000[c][45][46][47]
AUT: 205,000[c][33]
FIN: 213,945[c][48]
NZ: 117,500[c][35][36]

600 million[49][50]
500 million[51]

Michael Jackson
United States
1964–2009[52]
1971[52]
Pop / Rock / Dance / Soul / R&B[52]
7002185600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 185.6 million

US: 104.5 million[11]
JPN: 4.650 million[c][12][53]
UK: 28.245 million[13]
GER: 11.275 million[14]
FRA: 11.375 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 4.670 million[17]
AUS: 6.670 million[c][18][19][55][56][57]
ITA: 1.195 million[c][20]
BRA: 280,000[c][21]
SWE: 1.230 million[c][22][58]
SPA: 1.995 million[c][23][24][42][43][59]
MEX: 3.670 million[c][44]
SWI: 910,000[c][25]
BEL: 665,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 124,000[c][28][29]
DEN: 1.224 million[c][60][61][32]
AUT: 1.197 million[c][33]
POL: 530,000[c][34]
FIN: 384,127[48]
NZ: 902,500[35][36]

350 million[62][63]
300 million[64][65]

Madonna
United States
1979–present[66]
1982[66]
Pop / Dance / Electronica[66]
7002171000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 171 million

US: 85.675 million[11]
JPN: 6.450 million [c][12][53]
UK: 29.045 million[13]
GER: 12.4 million[14]
FRA: 12.81 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 6.030 million[17]
AUS: 4.787 million[c][18][67][68]
ITA: 465,000[c][20]
BRA: 3.440 million[c][21]
SWE: 1.070 million[c][22][58]
SPA: 2.815 million[23][24][42][43][59]
MEX: 510,000[c][44]
SWI: 1.080 million[c][25]
BEL: 715,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 1.098[28][29]
DEN: 407,000[c][60][61][69][32][70][71]
AUT: 602,500[c][33]
POL: 530,000[c][34]
FIN: 652,686[48]
NZ: 417,500[35][36]

300 million[72][73]
275 million[74]

Elton John
United Kingdom
1964–present[75]
1969[75]
Pop / Rock[75]
7002181000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 181 million

US: 129.350 million[11]
JPN: 1.1 million [c][12]
UK: 22.595 million[c][13]
GER: 7.9 million[c][14]
FRA: 4.825 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 5.975 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.947 million[c][18][76]
BRA: 835,000[c][21]
SWE: 740,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.2 million[c][23][24][43][59]
MEX: 100,000[c][44]
SWI: 1.313 million[c][25]
BEL: 390,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 128,000[28][29]
DEN: 195,000[c][46][61][77][32]
AUT: 765,000[c][33]
POL: 150,000[c][34]
FIN: 163,481[48]
NZ: 255,000[c][35][36]

300 million[78][79]
250 million[80][81]

Led Zeppelin
United Kingdom
1968–1980[82]
1969[82]
Hard rock / Blues rock / Folk rock[82]
7002140000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 140 million

US: 114.1 million[11]
JPN: 400,000 [c][12]
UK: 9.530 million[c][13]
GER: 3.775 million[c][14]
FRA: 2.310 million[c][15][16][83]
CAN: 4.710 million[17]
AUS: 2.8 million[c][18][84][85]
ITA: 420,000[c][20]
BRA: 820,000[c][21]
SPA: 450,000[c][24][43][59]
SWI: 211,000[c][25]
ARG: 360,000[c][28]
POL: 120,000[c][34]

300 million[86][87]
200 million[88][89]

Pink Floyd
United Kingdom
1965–1996, 2014[90][91]
1967[90]
Progressive rock / Psychedelic rock[90]
7002119600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 119.6 million

US: 78 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][92]
UK: 11.520 million[c][13]
GER: 7.5 million[c][14]
FRA: 6.360 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 6.790 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.932 million[c][18][19]
ITA: 1.910 million[c][20]
BRA: 540,000[c][21]
SWE: 220,000[c][22][58]
SPA: 625,000[c][23][24][42][59]
SWI: 390,000[c][25]
BEL: 115,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 582,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 460,000[c][33]
POL: 590,000[c][34]
NZ: 787,500[c][35][36]

250 million[93][94]
200 million[95]

text: The column for certified sales includes markets, the databases of which contain certifications representing figures of 100,000 and more.

text: 200 million to 249 million records

text:
Rihanna

Eminem

Mariah Carey

Queen

Celine Dion

Whitney Houston

AC/DC

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

Rihanna
Barbados
United States
2005–present[96]
2005[96]
R&B / Pop / Dance / Hip-hop[96]
7002257600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 257.6 million

US: 189.55 million[11]
JPN: 1.4 million[12][53]
UK: 32.1 million[13]
GER: 10.075 million[14]
FRA: 1.465 million[16]
CAN: 3.120 million[17]
AUS: 9.325 million[18]
ITA: 1.550 million[c][20]
BRA: 705,000[21]
SWE: 2.480 million[22][58]
SPA: 1.470 million[23]
MEX: 410,000[44][97]
SWI: 840,000[25]
BEL: 660,000[27]
DEN: 1.127[60][61][32][69][77][98][99][100]
AUT: 135,000[33]
POL: 500,000[34]
IRE: 240,000[101]
NZ: 682,500[35][36]

230 million[102][103]

Eminem
United States
1996–present[104]
1999[104]
Hip-hop[104]
7002216300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 216.3 million

US: 163.2 million[11]
JPN: 2.9 million [12][53]
UK: 24.325 million[13]
GER: 6.7 million[14]
FRA: 3.288 million[16][83]
CAN: 4.010 million[17]
AUS: 5.807 million[18]
ITA: 700,000[c][20]
BRA: 220,000[21]
SWE: 910,000[22][58]
SPA: 290,000[23][59]
MEX: 365,000[44]
SWI: 805,000[25]
BEL: 505,000[26][27]
DEN: 656,000[c][60][32]
AUT: 362,500[33]
PL: 250,000[34]
FIN: 124,547[48]
IRE: 285,000[c][101]
NZ: 600,000[35][36]

220 million[105]
200 million[106]

Mariah Carey
United States
1988–present[107]
1990[107]
R&B / Pop / Soul / Hip-hop[107]
7002137300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 137.3 million

US: 92.6 million[11]
JPN: 14.5 million [c][12][53][108]
UK: 10.220 million[13]
GER: 3.750 million[14]
FRA: 4.690 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 4.1 million[17]
AUS: 3.515 million[c][18][109]
ITA: 200,000[c][20]
BRA: 835,000[21]
SWE: 425,000[22]
SPA: 1 million[23][24][43][59]
SWI: 515,000[25]
BEL: 175,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 280,000[32][110]
AUT: 200,000[33]
POL: 100,000[c][34]
NZ: 240,000[c][35]

200 million[111][112]
175 million[113][114]

Queen
United Kingdom
1971–present[115]
1973[115]
Rock[115]
7002126300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 126.3 million

US: 65 million[11]
JPN: 2.850 million[c][12][53][116]
UK: 29.075 million[c][13]
GER: 12.375 million[c][14]
FRA: 4.495 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 1.870 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.167 million[c][18][19]
ITA: 545,000[c][20]
BRA: 970,000[c][21]
SWE: 190,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.720 million[c][23][24][42][43]
SWI: 1.256 million[c][25]
BEL: 175,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 205,000[32]
ARG: 1.080 million[c][28][29]
AUT: 900,000[c][33]
POL: 810,000[c][34]
FIN: 366,152[48]
NZ: 275,000[c][35][36]

200 million[117]
170 million[118]

Celine Dion
Canada
1981–present[119]
1981[119]
Pop[119]
7002125700000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 125.7 million

US: 56.550 million[11]
JPN: 7.150 million[c][12][120][121]
UK: 13.915 million[13]
GER: 8 million[14]
FRA: 15.768 million[15][16][54][83]
CAN: 12.245 million[17]
AUS: 3.302 million[c][18][19]
BRA: 505,000[c][21]
SWE: 1.105 million[c][22]
SPA: 1 million[43][59]
SWI: 1.685 million[c][25]
BEL: 2.110 million[c][26][27]
ARG: 340,000[28]
DEN: 370,000[c][46][122][123][32]
AUT: 440,000[c][33]
POL: 680,000[c][34]
FIN: 356,183[48]
NZ: 192,500[35][36]

200 million[124][125]
175 million[126][127]

Whitney Houston
United States
1977–2012[128]
1984[128]
R&B / Soul / Pop[128]
7002114900000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 114.9 million

US: 76.775 million[11]
JPN: 4.3 million[c][12][129]
UK: 15.205 million[13]
GER: 5.6 million[c][14]
FRA: 2.275 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 3.430 million[17]
AUS: 1.755 million[c][18][19][130]
ITA: 140,000[c][20]
BRA: 1.025[c][21]
SWE: 1.035 million[c][22]
SPA: 1.260 million[23][24][42][43]
SWI: 845,000[c][25]
BEL: 215,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 140,000[61][32]
AUT: 535,000[c][33]
POL: 180,000[c][34]
FIN: 247,222[48]

200 million[131][132]
170 million[133][134]

AC/DC
Australia
1973–present[135]
1975[135]
Hard rock / Blues rock / Rock and roll[135]
7002114900000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 114.9 million

US: 79.7 million[11]
UK: 5.5 million[13]
GER: 10.3 million[c][14]
FRA: 4.180 million[15][16]
CAN: 2.490 million[c][17]
AUS: 7.740 million[c][18]
ITA: 775,000[c][20]
SWE: 350,000[c][22][58]
SPA: 1.355 million[c][23][24][42][43][59]
SWI: 894,000[c][25]
BEL: 100,000[c][27]
ARG: 594,000[c][28][29]
DEN: 130,000[61][32][136]
AUT: 380,000[c][33]
FIN: 321,169[48]
NZ: 140,000[c][35][36]

200 million[137][138]
150 million[139][140]

The Rolling Stones
United Kingdom
1962–present[141]
1963[141]
Rock / Blues rock [141]
7001983000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 98.3 million

US: 74.750 million[11]
JPN: 950,000[c][12]
UK: 8.970 million[c][13]
GER: 3.8 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.377 million[c][15][16][54]
AUS: 417,500[c][18]
CAN: 3.025 million[c][17]
ITA: 205,000[c][20]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SWE: 310,000[c][22]
SPA: 690,000[c][23][24][42][43][59]
SWI: 238,000[c][25]
BEL: 120,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 718,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 300,000[c][33]
POL: 140,000[c][34]
NZ: 190,000[c][35][36]

200 million[142][143]

ABBA
Sweden
1972–1982[144]
1972[144]
Pop / Disco[144]
7001610000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 61 million

US: 12.7 million[11]
JPN: 1.5 million[c][53][145][146]
UK: 19.170 million[c][13]
GER: 10.450 million[c][14]
FRA: 2.750 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 2.785 million[c][17]
AUS: 6.127 million[c][18][147]
ITA: 120,000[c][20]
BRA: 275,000[c][21][58]
SWE: 800,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.005 million[c][23][42]
MEX: 260,000[c][44]
SWI: 600,000[c][25]
BEL: 380,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 238,000[c][28][29]
DEN: 600,000[c][148][149][150]
AUT: 175,000[c][33]
POL: 150,000[c][34]
FIN: 656,319[48]
NZ: 297,500[c][36][151][152]

200 million[153][154]
100 million[155]

text: 120 million to 199 million records

text:
Taylor Swift

Garth Brooks

Justin Bieber

Eagles

Bruno Mars

Ed Sheeran

Kanye West

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

Taylor Swift
United States
2006–present[156]
2006[156]
Country / Country pop / Pop / Pop-rock[156]
7002186300000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 186.3 million

US: 160 million[11]
JPN: 2.950 million[12][53]
UK: 8.9 million[13]
GER: 1.750[14]
FRA: 300,000[16]
CAN: 4.820 million[17]
AUS: 5.530 million[18]
ITA: 285,000[c][20]
BRA: 440,000[21]
SWE: 280,000[58]
MEX: 510,000[44][97][157]
DEN: 140,000>[32]
AUT: 100,000[33]
NZ: 382,500[35][36]

175 million[158]

Garth Brooks
United States
1989–present[159]
1989[159]
Country[159]
7002156100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 156.1 million

US: 149.4 million[11]
UK: 520,000[13]
CAN: 5.730 million[17]
AUS: 350,000[c][18][160]
IRE: 120,000[c][101]

160 million[161]

Eagles
United States
1971–1980, 1994–present[162]
1972[162]
Rock[162]
7002129600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 129.6 million

US: 108.9 million[11]
JPN: 600,000[c][12]
UK: 8.035 million[c][13]
GER: 925,000[c][14]
FRA: 2.040 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 4.2 million[c][17]
AUS: 3.395 million[c][18][163]
SWE: 140,000[c][22]
SPA: 500,000[c][23][24]
SWI: 290,000[c][25]
DEN: 185,000[c][61][32]
FIN: 124,749[48]
NZ: 352,500[c][35][36]

150 million[164]

U2
Ireland
1976–present[165]
1980[165]
Rock[165]
7002107500000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 107.5 million

US: 53.1 million[11]
JPN: 1.450 million[c][12]
UK: 18.720 million[13]
GER: 5.525 million[14]
FRA: 5.125 million[15][16]
CAN: 7.155 million[17]
AUS: 4.412 million[c][18][19][166]
ITA: 855,000[c][20]
BRA: 2.675 million[c][21]
SWE: 515,000[c][22]
SPA: 2.295 million[23][24][42][43][59]
MEX: 835,000[c][44]
SWI: 696,000[c][25]
BEL: 750,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 806,000[28][29]
DEN: 473,000[c][60][61][32][77][167]
AUT: 522,500[c][33]
POL: 370,000[c][34]
FIN: 235,460[48]
IRE: 316,000[c][101]
NZ: 765,000[35][36]

150 million[168]

Billy Joel
United States
1964–present[169]
1971[169]
Pop / Rock[169]
7002102600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 102.6 million

US: 87.950 million[11]
JPN: 2 million[c][12][170]
UK: 5.655 million[c][13]
GER: 1.250 million[c][14]
FRA: 925,000[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 3.275 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.267[c][18][19]
AUT: 125,000[c][33]
NZ: 162,500[c][35]

150 million[171]

Phil Collins
United Kingdom
1980–2011, 2015–present[172]
1981[172]
Rock / Progressive rock / Adult contemporary[172]
7001884000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 88.4 million

US: 39.850 million[11]
JPN: 800,000[c][12]
UK: 15.850 million[13]
GER: 13.8 million[14]
FRA: 6.410 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 3.375 million[17]
AUS: 1.522[c][18][19]
BRA: 1.370 million[c][21]
SWE: 245,000[c][22]
SPA: 2.150 million[23][24][43][59]
SWI: 973,000[c][25]
BEL: 330,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 1.044 million[28][29]
AUT: 440,000[c][33]
FIN: 182,581[48]
NZ: 122,500[35][36]

150 million[173]

Aerosmith
United States
1970–present[174]
1973[174]
Hard rock[174]
7001847000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 84.7 million

US: 70.250 million[11]
JPN: 2.7 million[c][12][53]
UK: 3.230 million[13]
GER: 2 million[c][14]
FRA: 225,000[15][16][54]
CAN: 3.950 million[c][17]
AUS: 225,000[c][18][175]
ITA: 100,000[c][20]
BRA: 600,000[c][21]
SWE: 260,000[c][22]
SPA: 200,000[c][23][43]
MEX: 230,000[c][44]
SWI: 145,000[c][25]
ARG: 338,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 125,000[c][33]
POL: 100,000[c][34]
FIN: 101,722[48]

150 million[176]

Frank Sinatra
United States
1935–1995[177]
1939[177]
Pop / Swing[177]
7001375000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 37.5 million

US: 28.2 million[c][11]
UK: 5.645 million[c][13]
GER: 1 million[c][14]
FRA: 600,000[c][15]
CAN: 650,000[c][17]
AUS: 315,000[c][18][178]
BRA: 350,000[c][21]
SWE: 130,000[c][22]
SPA: 500,000[c][24][43][59]
ARG: 188,000[c][28][29]

150 million[179]

Barbra Streisand
United States
1960–present[180]
1963[180]
Pop / Adult contemporary[180]
7001975000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 97.5 million

US: 82.450 million[11]
UK: 5.765 million[c][13]
GER: 750,000[c][14]
FRA: 3.150 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 2.650 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.152 million[c][18]
SWE: 120,000[22][58]
SPA: 150,000[c][59]
FIN: 186,501[c][48]
NZ: 137,500[c][35]

145 million[181]

Justin Bieber
Canada
United States
2008–present[182]
2009[182]
Pop / Teen pop, Dance pop[182]
7002148600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 148.6 million

US: 101.5 million[11]
JPN: 750,000 [12][53]
UK: 18.285 million[13]
GER: 4 million[14]
FRA: 1.098[16]
CAN: 5.780 million[17]
AUS: 4.795 million[18]
ITA: 1.895 million[20]
BRA: 810,000[21]
SWE: 2.020 million[22][58]
SPA: 880,000[23]
MEX: 2.970 million[44][97]
BEL: 450,000[27]
DEN: 2.250 million[32]
POL: 370,000[34]
AUT: 140,000[33]
NZ: 615,000[35]

140 million[183]

Bruno Mars
United States
2004–present[184]
2010[184]
Pop rock / R&B[184]
7002126600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 126.6 million

US: 89.5 million[11]
JPN: 1.2 million[12][53]
UK: 14.8 million[13]
GER: 3.4 million[14]
FRA: 1.950 million[16]
CAN: 5.240 million[17]
AUS: 5.810 million[18]
ITA: 710,000[c][20]
SWE: 440,000[22][58]
SPA: 490,000[23]
MEX: 810,000[44][157]
SWI: 405,000[25]
BEL: 360,000[27]
DEN: 480,000[c][32][185]
AUT: 180,000[33]
NZ: 577,500[35]
PHL: 330,000[186]

130 million[187]

Ed Sheeran
United Kingdom
2004–present[188]
2011[188]
Pop / Folk pop [188]
7002123900000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 123.9 million

US: 54 million[11]
JPN: 350,000[12][53]
UK: 36.460 million[13]
GER: 7.4 million[14]
FRA: 1.691 million[16]
CAN: 6.440 million[17]
AUS: 7.490 million[18]
ITA: 2.490 million[20]
SWE: 1.360 million[58]
SPA: 730,000[23]
MEX: 180,000[44]
SWI: 635,000[25]
BEL: 645,000[27]
DEN: 2.295 million[32]
AUT: 340,000[33]
POL: 360,000[34]
NZ: 1.140 million[35]

126 million[189]

Kanye West
United States
1996–present[190]
2004[190]
Hip-hop / Electronic / Pop rock[190]
7002117700000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 117.7 million

US: 100.750 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[191]
UK: 11.460 million[13]
GER: 1.350[14]
CAN: 1.180 million[17]
AUS: 2.135 million[18]
ITA: 160,000[c][20]
SWE: 160,000[58]
DEN: 414,000[61][32][69][192]

121 million[193]

Bruce Springsteen
United States
1972–present[194]
1973[194]
Rock[194]
7002101900000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 101.9 million

US: 76.150 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[c][12]
UK: 7.345 million[13]
GER: 4.325 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.887 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 3.2 million[c][17]
AUS: 3.362 million[c][18]
ITA: 575,000[c][20]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SWE: 810,000[c][22][58]
SPA: 1.730 million[c][23][24][42][43][59]
SWI: 400,000[c][25]
BEL: 155,000[27]
DEN: 255,000[c][60][32][69][195]
AUT: 290,000[c][33]
FIN: 449,800[48]
IRE: 189,500[c][101]
NZ: 375,000[35][36]

120 million[196]

Metallica
United States
1981–present[197]
1983[197]
Heavy metal / Thrash metal[197]
7001952000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 95.2 million

US: 73.3 million[11]
JPN: 900,000[c][12]
UK: 3.535 million[13]
GER: 4.025 million[14]
FRA: 940,000[15][16]
CAN: 3.885 million[17]
AUS: 2.637 million[c][18][19][198]
ITA: 180,000[c][20]
BRA: 380,000[c][21]
SWE: 675,000[c][22]
SPA: 420,000[23][43][59]
MEX: 430,000[c][44][97]
SWI: 560,000[c][25]
BEL: 385,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 180,000[32][61]
ARG: 874,000[28][29]
AUT: 340,000[c][33]
POL: 735,000[c][34]
FIN: 530,676[48]
NZ: 315,000[35][36]

120 million[199]

Bee Gees
United Kingdom
Australia[200][201]
1963–2003
2009–2012[202]
1963[202]
Pop / Disco[202]
7001688000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 68.8 million

US: 42.5 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12][203][204]
UK: 9.525 million[c][13]
GER: 6.675 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.4 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 3.215 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.187 million[c][18]
BRA: 350,000[c][21]
SPA: 450,000[c][24][42][59]
SWI: 415,000[c][25]
ARG: 188,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 125,000[c][33]
POL: 100,000[c][34]
NZ: 380,000[c][35][36]

120 million[205]

text: 100 million to 119 million records

text:
Katy Perry

Adele

Lady Gaga

Jay-Z

Lil Wayne

B'z

Bon Jovi

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

Lady Gaga
United States
2005–present[206]
2008[206]
Pop / Dance / Electronic[206]
7002102100000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 102.1 million

US: 69.5 million[11]
JPN: 5.4 million[12][53]
UK: 11.585 million[13]
GER: 4.1 million[14]
FRA: 1.647 million[16]
CAN: 2.4 million[17]
AUS: 2.890 million[18]
ITA: 840,000[c][20]
BRA: 470,000[21]
SWE: 680,000[22][58]
SPA: 410,000[23]
MEX: 420,000[44][97][157]
SWI: 445,000[25]
BEL: 270,000[27]
DEN: 340,000[61][32][100]
AUT: 182,500[33]
POL: 130,000[34]
IRE: 165,000[101]
NZ: 277,500[35][36]

114 million[207]

Katy Perry
United States
2001–present[208]
2008[208]
Pop[208]
7002137800000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 137.8 million

US: 104 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[12][53]
UK: 13.010 million[13]
GER: 3.8 million[14]
FRA: 867,000[16]
CAN: 6.160 million[17]
AUS: 5.3 million[18]
ITA: 780,000[c][20]
BRA: 625,000[21]
SWE: 600,000[22][58]
SPA: 180,000[23]
MEX: 960,000[44][97][157]
SWI: 160,000[25]
BEL: 135,000[27]
DEN: 235,000[60][32]
AUT: 247,500[33]
NZ: 360,000[35][36]

100 million[209]

Adele
United Kingdom
2006–present[210]
2008[210]
Pop, soul[210]
7002105500000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 105.5 million

US: 61 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[12]
UK: 21.050 million[13]
GER: 4.7 million[14]
CAN: 6.120 million[17]
AUS: 3.955 million[18]
ITA: 1.570 million[c][20]
BRA: 1.310 million[21]
SWE: 240,000[22][58]
SPA: 800,000[23]
MEX: 1.490 million[44]
SWI: 510,000[25]
BEL: 795,000[27]
DEN: 857,500[60][32]
POL: 300,000[c][34]
FIN: 151,639[48]
NZ: 577,500[35]

100 million[211]

Jay-Z
United States
1996–present[212]
1996[212]
Hip-hop[212]
7002100600000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 100.6 million

US: 84.7 million[11]
JPN: 1.050 million[53]
UK: 9.320 million[13]
GER: 2 million[14]
FRA: 400,000[16]
CAN: 1.6 million[17]
AUS: 1.260[18]
ITA: 205,000[c][20]
SWE: 130,000[22][58]

100 million[213]

Lil Wayne
United States
1996–present[214]
1999[214]
Hip-hop[214]
7001913000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 91.3 million

US: 87.7 million[11]
UK: 2.460 million[13]
GER: 300,000[14]
CAN: 280,000[17]
AUS: 630,000[18]

100 million[215]

B'z
Japan
1988–present[216]
1988[216]
Rock / Pop rock / Hard rock[216]
7001857000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 85.7 million

JPN: 85.75 million[c][12][53][108]

100 million[217]

Bon Jovi
United States
1983–present[218]
1983[218]
Hard rock / Glam metal[218]
7001842000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 84.2 million

US: 49.9 million[11]
JPN: 4.400 million[c][12][53]
UK: 9.490 million[13]
GER: 5.650 million[14]
FRA: 825,000[15][16][54]
CAN: 4.735 million[17]
AUS: 3.030 million[c][18][219][220]
ITA: 135,000[c][20]
BRA: 435,000[c][21]
SWE: 365,000[c][22][58]
SPA: 1.620 million[23][24][42][43][59]
MEX: 250,000[c][44]
SWI: 1.275 million[c][25]
AUT: 725,000[c][33]
BEL: 290,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 358,000[28][29]
POL: 110,000[c][34]
FIN: 422,500[48]
NZ: 210,000[35][36]

100 million[221]

Beyoncé
United States
1997–present[222]
2002[222][223]
R&B / Pop[222]
7001833000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 83.3 million

US: 57.150 million[11]
JPN: 1.7 million [12][53]
UK: 15.145 million[13]
GER: 1.550 million[14]
FRA: 560,000[16][83]
CAN: 1.475 million[17]
AUS: 2.975 million[18]
ITA: 285,000[c][20]
BRA: 390,000[21]
SWE: 120,000[22][58]
SPA: 1.030 million[c][23][224]
MEX: 110,000[44]
SWI: 165,000[25]
BEL: 115,000[27]
DEN: 312,500[61][32][69][100][225][226]
POL: 100,000[34]
NZ: 210,000[35][36]

100 million[227]

Linkin Park
United States
1996–present[228]
2000[228]
Alternative rock / Nu metal / Rap rock[228]
7001828000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 82.8 million

US: 61.6 million[11]
JPN: 1.550 million[12][53]
UK: 6.605 million[13]
GER: 5.850 million[14]
FRA: 1.025[16]
CAN: 1.330 million[17]
AUS: 1.485 million[18]
ITA: 690,000[c][20]
BRA: 595,000[21]
SWE: 165,000[22][58]
SPA: 175,000[23]
MEX: 225,000[44]
SWI: 435,000[25]
BEL: 140,000[27]
DEN: 175,000[60][32]
AUT: 252,500[33]
POL: 220,000[34]
FIN: 120,469[48]
NZ: 252,500[35][36]

100 million[229]

Coldplay
United Kingdom
1996–present[230]
1999[230]
Alternative rock, Pop rock, Pop[230]
7001820000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 82 million

US: 30.6 million[11]
JPN: 750,000[12][53]
UK: 25.445 million[13]
GER: 4.350 million[14]
FRA: 3.013[16]
CAN: 3.525 million[17]
AUS: 3.795 million[18]
ITA: 2.835 million[c][20]
BRA: 340,000[21]
SWE: 750,000[22][58]
SPA: 1.030 million[23]
MEX: 1.890 million[44][97]
SWI: 510,000[25]
BEL: 765,000[27]
ARG: 528,000[28][29]
DEN: 894,000[60][32]
AUT: 197,500[33]
POL: 240,000[c][34]
IRE: 210,000[c][101]
NZ: 345,000[35]

100 million[231]

Britney Spears
United States
1998–present[232]
1998[232]
Pop / Dance / Dance-pop[232]
7001815000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 81.5 million

US: 46.2 million[11]
JPN: 2.1 million[12][129]
UK: 10.750 million[13]
GER: 5.350 million[14]
FRA: 3.732 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 3.680 million[17]
AUS: 3.165 million[18]
ITA: 200,000[c][20]
BRA: 380,000[21]
SWE: 1.010 million[22][58]
SPA: 990,000[23][43][59]
MEX: 1.175 million[c][44]
SWI: 485,000[25]
AUT: 365,000[33]
BEL: 935,000[26][27]
ARG: 248,000[28][29]
DEN: 180,000[c][60][61][233][234]
POL: 210,000[34]
FIN: 143,627[48]
NZ: 240,000[35][36]

100 million[235]

Rod Stewart
United Kingdom
1964–present[236]
1969[236]
Rock / Pop[236]
7001781009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 78.1 million

US: 43.650 million[11]
JPN: 450,000[c][12]
UK: 18.630 million[c][13]
GER: 3.8 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.8 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 4.055 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.610 million[c][18][19]
BRA: 980,000[c][21]
SWE: 440,000[c][22]
SPA: 290,000[c][23][24][42]
SWI: 100,000[c][25]
ARG: 524,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 100,000[c][33]
POL: 220,000[c][34]
IRE: 195,000[c][101]
NZ: 280,000[c][35][36]

100 million[237]

Fleetwood Mac
United Kingdom
United States
1967–present[238]
1968[238]
Rock / Pop[238]
7001773000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 77.3 million

US: 51.250 million[11]
UK: 14.785 million[c][13]
GER: 3.5 million[c][14]
FRA: 800,000[c][15][16]
AUS: 2.767 million[c][18][19]
CAN: 2.950 million[c][17]
SPA: 300,000[c][43][59]
SWI: 100,000[c][25]
BEL: 100,000[c][27]
NZ: 572,500[c][36][239][240]

100 million[241]

Guns N' Roses
United States
1985–present[242]
1987[242]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[242]
7001747000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 74.7 million

US: 48.5 million[11]
JPN: 1.7 million[c][12]
UK: 6.550 million[13]
GER: 4.1 million[14]
FRA: 1 million[16]
CAN: 3.520 million[17]
AUS: 2.410[c][18][19][163]
ITA: 710,000[c][20]
BRA: 1.9 million[c][21]
SWE: 485,000[22]
SPA: 450,000[23][24][42]
MEX: 760,000[c][44]
SWI: 365,000[c][25]
BEL: 165,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 1.248 million[c][28][29]
AUT: 365,000[33]
POL: 160,000[c][34]
IRE: 105,000[c][101]
NZ: 270,000[35][36]

100 million[243]

George Strait
United States
1981–present[244]
1984[244]
Country[244]
7001728000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 72.8 million

US: 72.150 million[11]
CAN: 705,000[17]

100 million[245]

Backstreet Boys
United States
1993–present[246]
1995[246]
Pop[246]
7001722000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 72.2 million

US: 41.5 million[11]
JPN: 5.4 million[12][53][247]
UK: 4.875 million[13]
GER: 7 million[14]
FRA: 325,000[15][16]
CAN: 3.430 million[17]
AUS: 1.4 million[c][18]
BRA: 1.625 million[21]
SWE: 655,000[22]
SPA: 1.850 million[43][59]
MEX: 1.475 million[c][44]
SWI: 415,000[25]
BEL: 450,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 740,000[28]
DEN: 165,000[c][248][249][32]
AUT: 325,000[33]
POL: 300,000[34]
FIN: 171,390[48]
NZ: 132,500[35]

100 million[250]

Neil Diamond
United States
1966–present[251]
1966[251]
Pop / Rock[251]
7001686009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 68.6 million

US: 55.9 million[11]
UK: 7.330 million[c][13]
GER: 1 million[c][14]
FRA: 400,000[c][15]
CAN: 1.725 million[c][17]
AUS: 2.085 million[c][18][252]
SPA: 100,000[c][42]
NZ: 127,500[c][35][36]

100 million[253]

Santana
United States
1966–present[254]
1969[254]
Rock[254]
7001645999999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.6 million

US: 50.295 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[c][12]
UK: 2.980 million[c][13]
GER: 2.4 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.510 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 1.660 million[c][17]
AUS: 855,000[c][18]
BRA: 375,000[c][21]
SWE: 125,000[c][22]
SPA: 450,000[c][43][59]
MEX: 405,000[c][44]
SWI: 375,000[c][25]
BEL: 190,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 158,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 145,000[c][33]
POL: 205,000[c][34]
NZ: 135,000[c][35][36]

100 million[255]

Prince
United States
1976–2016[256]
1978[256]
Funk / R&B / Pop / Soul / Rock[256]
7001642000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.2 million

US: 48.950 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12]
UK: 7.045 million[13]
GER: 2.4 million[14]
FRA: 2.110 million[15][16]
CAN: 1 million[17]
AUS: 1.120[c][18][19]
SWE: 100,000[22]
SPA: 700,000[c][24][42][43][59]
SWI: 250,000[c][25]
AUT: 125,000[c][33]
NZ: 177,500[c][35]

100 million[257]

Kenny Rogers
United States
1958–present[258]
1975[258]
Country / Pop[258]
7001601000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 61.4 million

US: 54.050 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][259]
UK: 2.520 million[13]
CAN: 4.6 million[17]
AUS: 100,000[c][260][261]
SPA: 100,000[c][42]

100 million[262]

Paul McCartney
United Kingdom
1960–present[263]
1970[263]
Rock[263]
7001606000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 60.6 million

US: 41.450 million[11]
JPN: 500,000[c][12]
UK: 12.425 million[c][13]
GER: 1.525 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.305 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 1.955 million[c][17]
AUS: 465,000[c][18][19]
SWE: 210,000[c][58][264]
SPA: 640,000[c][24][42]
DEN: 210,000[c][61][32]

100 million[265]

Simon & Garfunkel
United States
1956–present[266]
1964[266]
Folk rock[266]
7001589000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 58.9 million

US: 42.6 million[11]
JPN: 700,000[c][12]
UK: 6.620 million[c][13]
GER: 2.325 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.9 million[c][15]
CAN: 1.425 million[c][17]
AUS: 390,000[c][18][19]
ITA: 100,000[c][20]
SWE: 150,000[c][22]
SWI: 450,000[c][25]
AUT: 100,000[c][33]
FIN: 163,350[c][48]

100 million[267]

Janet Jackson
United States
1982–present[268]
1982[268]
R&B / Pop[268]
7001521000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 52.1 million

US: 39.750 million[11]
JPN: 1.6 million [c][12]
UK: 4.760 million[13]
GER: 1.4 million[14]
FRA: 1.475 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 1.460 million[17]
AUS: 1.155[c][18][19]
SWE: 105,000[c][22]
SPA: 150,000[43][59]
SWI: 170,000[c][25]
BEL: 125,000[c][26]

100 million[269]

Julio Iglesias
Spain
1968–present[270]
1968[270]
Latin[270]
7001510000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 51 million

US: 11 million[11]
JPN: 800,000[c][271]
UK: 1.620 million[c][13][271]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
FRA: 6.1 million[15][16][54][271]
CAN: 1.5 million[17]
AUS: 505,000[c][18][271]
ITA: 400,000[c][20][271]
NLD:950,000[c][271]
BRA: 12.475 million[c][21][271]
SWE: 290,000[c][22][271]
SPA: 8.7 million[c][23][24][42][43][59][271]
MEX: 2.975 million[c][44][271]
BEL: 125,000[c][271][27]
ARG: 3.220 million[c][28][271]
FIN: 131,636[c][48]

100 million[272]

Chicago
United States
1967–present[273]
1969[273]
Rock / Pop[273]
7001483000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 48.3 million

US: 44.150 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[c][12][274]
UK: 1.490 million[c][13]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
FRA: 100,000[c][15]
CAN: 1.865 million[17]
SPA: 100,000[c][24]

100 million[275]

Dire Straits
United Kingdom
1977–1995[276]
1978[276]
Rock [276]
7001456000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 45.6 million

US: 15.5 million[11]
UK: 11.8 million[13]
GER: 3.750 million[14]
FRA: 5.3 million[15][16]
CAN: 2.575 million[17]
AUS: 2.190 million[c][18][19]
ITA: 385,000[c][20]
BRA: 175,000[c][21]
SWE: 360,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.380 million[c][23][24][42][43]
SWI: 1 million[c][25]
BEL: 100,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 195,000[c][61][60][32]
AUT: 300,000[c][33]
FIN: 471,530[48]
NZ: 155,000[c][36]

100 million[277]

Bob Dylan
United States
1959–present[278]
1963[278]
Folk / Rock[278]
7001453000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 45.3 million

US: 35.6 million[11]
UK: 6.025 million[c][13]
GER: 625,000[c][14]
FRA: 800,000[c][15][16]
CAN: 1.5 million[c][17]
AUS: 480,000[c][18]
SWI: 175,000[c][25]
NZ: 105,000[c][35]

100 million[279]

Def Leppard
United Kingdom
1977–present[280]
1979[280]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[280]
7001418009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 41.8 million

US: 35.650 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12]
UK: 1.960 million[13]
FRA: 200,000[15]
CAN: 2.995 million[17]
AUS: 385,000[19][281]
SWE: 150,000[c][22]
MEX: 200,000[c][44]
SWI: 125,000[c][25]

100 million[282]

Cher
United States
1964–present[283]
1965[283]
Pop / Rock / Dance / Folk[283]
7001410000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 41 million

US: 21.9 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][12]
UK: 6.510 million[c][13]
GER: 4.175 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.525 million[c][16][54]
CAN: 1.340 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.530 million[c][18][284]
ITA: 300,000[c][285]
NLD: 375,000[c][286][287][288]
BRA: 125,000[c][21]
SWE: 850,000[c][22][58]
SPA: 600,000[c][43][59][285]
MEX: 200,000[c][44]
SWI: 295,000[c][25]
BEL: 275,000[c][26]
ARG: 106,000[c][28][271]
DEN: 370,000[c][285][32]
AUT: 250,000[c][33]
POL: 100,000[c][34]
NZ: 150,000[35][289]

100 million[290]

Genesis
United Kingdom
1967–1999
2006–present[291]
1969[291]
Progressive rock / Pop rock[291]
7001399000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 39.9 million

US: 21.650 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][12]
UK: 7.325 million[c][13]
GER: 5.875 million[c][14]
FRA: 3.460 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 805,000[c][17]
SWE: 100,000[c][22]
SPA: 250,000[c][23][24][42]
SWI: 400,000[c][25]

100 million[292]

Olivia Newton-John
Australia
1966–present[293]
1966[293]
Pop[293]
7001357000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 35.7 million

US: 27 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][12]
UK: 3.950 million[c][13]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
FRA: 1 million[54]
CAN: 3.025 million[c][17]
AUS: 450,000[c][18][19][294]

100 million[295]

James Taylor
United States
1968–present[296]
1970[296]
Rock / Pop[296]
7001355000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 35.5 million

US: 34.650 million[11]
UK: 655,000[c][13]
CAN: 100,000[c][17]
AUS: 100,000[c][18]

100 million[297]

Stevie Wonder
United States
1961–present[298]
1962[298]
Funk / R&B / Soul[298]
7001346000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 34.6 million

US: 21.650 million[11]
JPN: 1.050 million[c][12]
UK: 8.285 million[c][13]
GER: 500,000[c][14]
FRA: 1.4 million[c][15][54]
CAN: 1.550 million[17]
SPA: 250,000[c][42]

100 million[299]

David Bowie
United Kingdom
1962–2016[300]
1967[300]
Art rock / Glam rock / Pop[300]
7001339000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 33.9 million

US: 13.7 million[11]
JPN: 200,000[c][12]
UK: 13.495 million[c][13]
GER: 525,000[c][14]
FRA: 2.380 million[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 2.315 million[c][17]
AUS: 635,000[c][18][76]
ITA: 345,000[c][20]
SPA: 170,000[c][23][24][42]
NZ: 142,500[c][35]

100 million[301]

Tina Turner
United States
1955–present[302]
1975[302]
Rock / Pop[302]
7001328009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 32.8 million

US: 12.7 million[11]
UK: 8.145 million[13]
GER: 6.050 million[14]
FRA: 1.135 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 1.560 million[17]
AUS: 480,000[c][18][19]
SWE: 330,000[c][22]
SPA: 700,000[c][23][24][42][43]
SWI: 565,000[c][25]
BEL: 190,000[c][26][27]
AUT: 630,000[c][33]
POL: 120,000[c][34]
FIN: 241,954[48]

100 million[303]

Linda Ronstadt
United States
1967–present[304]
1968[304]
Rock / Folk / Country[304]
7001325000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 32.5 million

US: 31.5 million[11]
UK: 435,000[c][13]
FRA: 100,000[c][15]
CAN: 500,000[c][17]

100 million[305]

Donna Summer
United States
1968–2012[306]
1974[306]
Pop / Disco / R&B[306]
7001308000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 30.8 million

US: 24.5 million[11]
UK: 3.735 million[c][13]
FRA: 900,000[c][15][16]
CAN: 1.550 million[c][17]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SPA: 100,000[c][43]

100 million[307]

The Beach Boys
United States
1961–present[308]
1962[308]
Rock / Pop / Surf Rock[308]
7001307000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 30.7 million

US: 25.6 million[11]
UK: 3.610 million[c][13]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
FRA: 400,000[c][15][16][54]
CAN: 100,000[c][17]
AUS: 492,500[c][18][19]
SPA: 250,000[c][42][43]

100 million[309]

The Who
United Kingdom
1964–present[310]
1965[310]
Rock / Hard rock[310]
7001271000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 27.1 million

US: 22.150 million[11]
UK: 4.105 million[c][13]
FRA: 300,000[c][15]
CAN: 425,000[c][17]
ITA: 125,000[c][20]

100 million[311]

Barry White
United States
1972–2003[312]
1973[312]
R&B / Soul[312]
7001217000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 21.7 million

US: 16.5 million[11]
UK: 3.665 million[c][13]
FRA: 1.1 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 150,000[c][17]
SPA: 200,000[c][59]
BEL: 175,000[c][27]

100 million[313]

text: 80 million to 99 million records

text:
Chris Brown

Nicki Minaj

Shania Twain

Flo Rida

Pink

Justin Timberlake

Van Halen

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

Shania Twain
Canada
1993–present[314]
1993[314]
Country pop[314]
7001765000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 76.5 million

US: 54.5 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[12]
UK: 7.395 million[13]
GER: 1.750 million[14]
FRA: 975,000[16][54]
CAN: 6.880 million[17]
AUS: 2.360 million[c][18]
BRA: 475,000[21]
SWE: 330,000[22]
SPA: 100,000[59]
MEX: 100,000[c][44]
SWI: 310,000[25]
BEL: 250,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 120,000[28]
DEN: 210,000[c][60][32]
AUT: 115,000[33]
NZ: 402,500[35][36]

90 million[315]

Pink
United States
1995–present[316]
2000[316]
Pop, Pop rock, R&B[316]
7001687000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 68.7 million

US: 32.225 million[11]
JPN: 400,000[12]
UK: 13.575 million[13]
GER: 5.725 million[14]
FRA: 1.198 million[16][54]
CAN: 4.130 million[17]
AUS: 8.295 million[18]
ITA: 425,000[c][20]
SWE: 530,000[22]
MEX: 360,000[44]
SWI: 545,000[25]
BEL: 235,000[27]
DEN: 281,500[60][32]
AUT: 417,500[33]
NZ: 450,000[35][36]

90 million[317]

The Carpenters
United States
1969–1983[318]
1969[318]
Pop[318]
7001460000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 46 million

US: 34.6 million[11]
JPN: 2.9 million[c][12][121][319]
UK: 7.950 million[c][13]
GER: 250,000[c][14]
CAN: 275,000[c][17]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]

90 million[320]

Lionel Richie
United States
1968–present[321]
1981[321]
Pop / R&B[321]
7001404000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 40.4 million

US: 28.650 million[11]
UK: 6.355 million[c][13]
GER: 1.050 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.4 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 2.380 million[c][17]
AUS: 260,000[c][18][322]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SPA: 150,000[24][42]
SWI: 145,000[c][25]

90 million[323]

Earth, Wind & Fire
United States
1969–present[324]
1971[324]
Funk / R&B / Soul[324]
7001358009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 35.8 million

US: 31.8 million[11]
JPN: 500,000[c][12][325][326]
UK: 2.725 million[13]
FRA: 500,000[15][16]
CAN: 360,000[17]

90 million[327]

Johnny Cash
United States
1954–2003[328]
1956[328]
Country / Rock and roll / Gospel[328]
7001311000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 31.1 million

US: 25.7 million[11]
UK: 3.910 million[c][13]
GER: 550,000[c][14]
CAN: 490,000[c][17]
AUS: 522,500[c][18]

90 million[329]

Justin Timberlake
United States
1992–present[330]
2002[330]
Pop, R&B, Neo soul[330]
7001656009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 65.6 million

US: 43.2 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[12]
UK: 11.720 million[13]
GER: 3.050 million[14]
FRA: 578,000[16][54]
CAN: 2.480 million[17]
AUS: 2.310 million[18]
ITA: 295,000[c][20]
SWE: 210,000[22]
SPA: 120,000[59]
MEX: 330,000[44]
SWI: 230,000[25]
BEL: 300,000[27]
DEN: 430,000[60][32]
POL: 170,000[34]
NZ: 185,000[35]

88 million[331]

Chris Brown
United States
2005–present[332]
2005[332]
Pop / R&B, Hip-hop [332]
7002100000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 100 million

US: 84.050 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[53]
UK: 10.240 million[13]
GER: 450,000[14]
CAN: 770,000[17]
AUS: 2.590 million[18]
ITA: 140,000[20]
BRA: 570,000[21]
SWE: 310,000[58]
MEX: 150,000[44]
DEN: 197,500[32]
NZ: 245,000[35]

86 million[333]

Nicki Minaj
United States
2008–present[334]
2010[334]
Hip-hop, Pop[334]
7001840000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 84 million

US: 67 million[11]
JPN: 450,000[53]
UK: 8.9 million[13]
GER: 1.150 million[14]
FRA: 566,000[16]
CAN: 760,000[17]
AUS: 3.115 million[18]
ITA: 485,000[20]
BRA: 250,000[21]
SWE: 420,000[22][58]
SPA: 220,000[23]
MEX: 150,000[44][97]
SWI: 120,000[25]
DEN: 220,000[32]
NZ: 232,500[35]

85 million[335]

R.E.M.
United States
1980–2011[336]
1983[336]
Alternative rock[336]
7001427000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 42.7 million

US: 21.150 million[11]
UK: 8.765 million[13]
GER: 4.275 million[14]
FRA: 1.450 million[15][16]
CAN: 2.650 million[17]
AUS: 1.030[c][18][19]
ITA: 225,000[c][20]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SWE: 500,000[c][22]
SPA: 1.1 million[23][24][43][59]
SWI: 450,000[c][25]
BEL: 185,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 158,000[c][28][29]
DEN: 155,000[c][60][61]
AUT: 350,000[c][33]
IRE: 127,500[c][101]
NZ: 105,000[35]

85 million[337]

Flo Rida
United States
2007–present[338]
2007[338]
Hip-hop, Hip house, EDM[338]
7001708000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 70.8 million

US: 49 million[11]
JPN: 650,000[c][12][53]
UK: 7.960 million[13]
GER: 3.7 million[14]
FRA: 225,000[16]
CAN: 3.090 million[17]
AUS: 3.605 million[c][18]
ITA: 360,000[c][20]
SWE: 780,000[22]
SPA: 140,000[59]
MEX: 330,000[c][44]
SWI: 420,000[25]
DEN: 205,000[c][32]
AUT: 180,000[33]
NZ: 247,500[35][36]

80 million[339]

Ayumi Hamasaki
Japan
1998–present[340]
1998[340]
J-pop / Pop / dance / electronic[340]
7001643000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.3 million

JPN: 64.3 million[12][53][108]

80 million[341][342]

Van Halen
United States
1978–present[343]
1978[343]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[343]
7001643000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 64.3 million

US: 57.8 million[11]
JPN: 1.3 million[c][12][129]
UK: 740,000[13]
GER: 1.5 million[14]
FRA: 400,000[15]
CAN: 2.450 million[17]
BRA: 200,000[c][21]

80 million[344]

Red Hot Chili Peppers
United States
1983–present[345]
1987[345]
Funk rock / Alternative rock[345]
7001586000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 58.6 million

US: 32.250 million[11]
JPN: 2.6 million[c][12][53]
UK: 10.595 million[13]
GER: 2.650 million[14]
FRA: 1.420 million[16]
CAN: 2.020 million[17]
AUS: 2.625 million[c][18][19][346]
ITA: 570,000[c][20]
BRA: 515,000[c][21]
SWE: 390,000[c][22]
SPA: 640,000[23][43][59]
MEX: 150,000[c][44]
SWI: 405,000[c][25]
BEL: 195,000[c][27]
ARG: 406,000[28][29]
DEN: 227,000[c][60][61][69][32]
AUT: 247,500[c][33]
POL: 245,000[c][34]
FIN: 171,951[48]
NZ: 285,000[35][36]

80 million[347]

Foreigner
United States
United Kingdom
1976–present[348]
1977[348]
Rock / Hard Rock[348]
7001496000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 49.6 million

US: 45.1 million[11]
UK: 1.300 million[13]
GER: 1.5 million[14]
FRA: 400,000[15][16]
CAN: 700,000[17]
AUS: 105,000[c][18]
SWI: 125,000[c][25]

80 million[349]

The Doors
United States
1965–1973[350]
1967[350]
Psychedelic rock[350]
7001469000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 46.9 million

US: 36.6 million[11]
UK: 2.040 million[c][13]
GER: 1.750 million[c][14]
FRA: 1.9 million[c][15][16]
CAN: 2.780 million[c][17]
AUS: 1.022 million[c][18]
ITA: 130,000[c][20]
BRA: 100,000[21]
SPA: 300,000[c][42][59]
SWI: 125,000[c][25]
ARG: 150,000[c][28]
AUT: 100,000[c][33]

80 million[351]

George Michael
United Kingdom
1981–2016[352]
1984[352]
Pop[352]
7001469000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 46.9 million

US: 20.8 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12]
UK: 12.850 million[13]
GER: 2.4 million[14]
FRA: 3.217 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 1.870 million[17]
AUS: 2.205 million[c][18][19]
BRA: 350,000[c][21]
SWE: 310,000[c][22]
SPA: 850,000[23][24][42][43][59]
SWI: 335,000[c][25]
BEL: 290,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 118,000[28][29]
DEN: 400,000[60][32][69][353]
AUT: 140,000[c][33]
POL: 340,000[c][34]
NZ: 140,000[35][36]

80 million[354]

Reba McEntire
United States
1975–present[355]
1987[355]
Country / Country Pop[355]
7001427000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 42.7 million

US: 41.9 million[11]
CAN: 850,000[17]

80 million[356]

Meat Loaf
United States
1968–present[357]
1977[357]
Rock / Hard rock[357]
7001418009999900000♠
show

Total available certified units: 41.8 million

US: 23.6 million[11]
UK: 9.665 million[13]
GER: 2.350 million[14]
CAN: 3.380 million[17]
AUS: 2.522 million[c][18][19]
SWE: 100,000[c][22]
SWI: 115,000[c][25]
AUT: 100,000[c][33]

80 million[358]

Tom Petty
United States
1976–2017[359]
1977[359]
Rock[359]
7001346000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 34.6 million

US: 31.250 million[11]
UK: 1 million[13]
GER: 500,000[14]
CAN: 1.7 million[17]
SWE: 200,000[c][22]

80 million[360]

Johnny Hallyday
France
1957–2017[361]
1960[361]
Rock / Pop[361]
7001251000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 25.1 million

FRA: 24.372 million[c][15][16][54][83][362]
SWI: 268,000[c][25]
BEL: 485,000[c][26][27]

80 million[363]

text: 75 million to 79 million records

text:
Maroon 5

Journey

Tim McGraw

The Black Eyed Peas

R. Kelly

Usher

Kenny G

text:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units
(from available markets)[c]
Claimed sales

The Black Eyed Peas
United States
1995–present[364]
1998[364]
Hip-hop / R&B / Dance[364]
7001586000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 58.6 million

US: 31.4 million[11]
JPN: 1.250 million[12][53]
UK: 10.8 million[13]
GER: 3.3 million[14]
FRA: 2.650 million[16]
CAN: 2.7 million[17]
AUS: 3.270 million[18]
ITA: 365,000[c][20]
BRA: 255,000[21]
SWE: 300,000[22][58]
SPA: 460,000[c][23]
MEX: 390,000[c][44]
SWI: 460,000[25]
BEL: 460,000[27]
DEN: 161,000[c][32][69][100][60]
IRE: 135,000[c][101]
NZ: 340,000[35][36]

76 million[365]

Maroon 5
United States
1994–present[366]
2002[366]
Pop rock / Funk rock / Dance-pop[366]
7001659000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 65.9 million

US: 37.2 million[11]
JPN: 2 million[12][53]
UK: 10.160 million[13]
GER: 2.550[14]
FRA: 792,000[16]
CAN: 3.925 million[17]
AUS: 2.975 million[18]
ITA: 760,000[c][20]
BRA: 380,000[21]
SWE: 770,000[22][58]
SPA: 230,000[c][23]
MEX: 3.365[44]
DEN: 517,500[c][32][61][60]
NZ: 300,000[35]

75 million[367]

Journey
United States
1973–present[368]
1975[368]
Rock / Soft rock[368]
7001621000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 62.1 million

US: 59.7 million[11]
JPN: 300,000[c][12][369]
UK: 1.4 million[13]
CAN: 725,000[17]

75 million[370]

Tim McGraw
United States
1990–present[371]
1994[371]
Country[371]
7001617000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 61.7 million

US: 60.150 million[11]
UK: 200,000[13]
CAN: 1.375 million[17]

75 million[372]

R. Kelly
United States
1989–present[373]
1991[373]
R&B / Soul / Hip-pop[373]
7001553000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 55.3 million

US: 46.9 million[11]
UK: 5.420 million[13]
GER: 1.4 million[14]
FRA: 825,000[16]
CAN: 300,000[17]
AUS: 105,000[18]
SWI: 100,000[25]
BEL: 250,000[26][27]

75 million[374]

Usher
United States
1991–present[375]
1994[375]
R&B / Pop[375]
7001552000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 55.2 million

US: 40.435 million[11]
JPN: 750,000 [12][53]
UK: 8.725 million[13]
GER: 1.150[14]
FRA: 210,000[16]
CAN: 1.330 million[17]
AUS: 2.112 million[18]
SWE: 105,000[22][58]
SWI: 170,000[25]
DEN: 137,500[c][32][61]
NZ: 150,000[35]

75 million[376]

Kenny G
United States
1982–present[377]
1984[377]
Smooth jazz[377]
7001521000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 52.1 million

US: 48.1 million[11]
JPN: 700,000[c][12]
UK: 360,000[13]
CAN: 950,000[17]
AUS: 245,000[c][18][178]
BRA: 1.350 million[c][21]
SPA: 450,000[24][43]

75 million[378]

Robbie Williams
United Kingdom
1990–present[379]
1996[379]
Pop rock[379]
7001516000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 51.6 million

US: 500,000[11]
UK: 27.550 million[13]
GER: 10.275 million[14]
FRA: 2.695 million[16][54]
CAN: 250,000[17]
AUS: 2.905 million[18]
ITA: 385,000[c][20]
SWE: 445,000[22][58]
SPA: 440,000[c][23][59]
MEX: 1.595 million[c][44]
SWI: 983,000[25]
BEL: 600,000[26][27]
ARG: 462,000[28][29]
DEN: 676,500[c][60][61][32][69][77]
AUT: 917,500[33]
POL: 140,000[34]
FIN: 235,743[48]
IRE: 135,000[c][101]
NZ: 445,000[35]

75 million[380]

Tupac Shakur
United States
1991–1996[381]
1991[381]
Hip-hop[381]
7001515000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 51.5 million

US: 46.2 million[11]
UK: 3.435 million[13]
GER: 650,000[14]
CAN: 820,000[17]
AUS: 430,000[18][382]

75 million[383]

Enya
Ireland
1982–present[384]
1987[384]
New-age / Celtic[384]
7001501000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 50.1 million

US: 26.5 million[11]
JPN: 4.6 million[c][12]
UK: 5.250 million[13]
GER: 4.2 million[14]
FRA: 775,000[15][16]
CAN: 1.540 million[17]
AUS: 1.505[c][18][19]
BRA: 1.650 million[c][21]
SWE: 390,000[22]
SPA: 1.760 million[23][43]
MEX: 125,000[c][44]
SWI: 370,000[c][25]
BEL: 510,000[c][27]
ARG: 390,000[28]
DEN: 100,000[c][30][385][386][387]
AUT: 185,000[c][33]
POL: 120,000[c][34]
NZ: 135,000[35]

75 million[388]

Alabama
United States
1972–present[389]
1980[389]
Country / Pop rock[389]
7001480000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 48 million

US: 46.8 million[11]
CAN: 1.2 million[17]

75 million[390]

Nirvana
United States
1987–1994[391]
1989[391]
Grunge / Alternative rock[391]
7001467000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 46.7 million

US: 26.5 million[11]
JPN: 1.3 million[c][12]
UK: 5.970 million[13]
GER: 1.5 million[14]
FRA: 2.5 million[15][16]
CAN: 2.970 million[17]
AUS: 1.362[c][18][198][392][252][393]
ITA: 600,000[c][20]
BRA: 725,000[c][21]
SWE: 380,000[22]
SPA: 450,000[23][24][43]
MEX: 475,000[c][44]
SWI: 190,000[25]
BEL: 375,000[c][26][27]
ARG: 522,000[28][29]
DEN: 160,000[c][32]
AUT: 230,000[c][33]
POL: 335,000[c][34]
NZ: 215,000[35][36]

75 million[394]

Bryan Adams
Canada
1979–present[395]
1979[395]
Rock[395]
7001450000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 45 million

US: 21 million[11]
JPN: 600,000[c][12]
UK: 8.735 million[13]
GER: 4.1 million[14]
FRA: 650,000[15][16][54]
CAN: 5.120 million[17]
AUS: 2.010 million[c][18][396]
BRA: 100,000[c][21]
SWE: 440,000[c][22]
SPA: 450,000 [c][24][43][59]
SWI: 805,000[c][25]
BEL: 375,000[c][26][27]
DEN: 105,000[c][61][32]
AUT: 375,000[c][33]
FIN: 183,444[48]

75 million[397]

Bob Marley
Jamaica
1962–1981[398]
1975[398]
Reggae[398]
7001402000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 40.2 million

US: 21.850 million[11]
JPN: 200,000[c][12]
UK: 8.5 million[13]
GER: 1.750 million[14]
FRA: 4.735 million[16]
CAN: 600,000[17]
AUS: 350,000[399][400]
ITA: 275,000[c][20]
SWE: 120,000[c][22]
SPA: 450,000[c][24][42][43][59]
SWI: 303,000[c][25]
BEL: 225,000[27]
ARG: 376,000[c][28][29]
AUT: 125,000[c][33]
NZ: 427,500[c][35][36]

75 million[401]

The Police
United Kingdom
1977–1986
2007–2008[402]
1978[402]
Pop / Rock[402]
7001392000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 39.2 million

US: 23.150 million[11]
JPN: 100,000[c][12]
UK: 8.560 million[13]
GER: 1.775 million[14]
FRA: 3.340 million[15][16][54]
CAN: 875,000[17]
AUS: 407,500[c][18]
ITA: 100,000[c][20]
BRA: 140,000[c][21]
SPA: 300,000[c][24][42]
MEX: 100,000[c][44]
BEL: 115,000[c][27]
ARG: 228,000[c][28][29]

75 million[403]

Barry Manilow
United States
1973–present[404]
1973[404]
Pop / Soft rock[404]
7001365000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 36.5 million

US: 33.3 million[11]
UK: 2.825 million[13]
CAN: 400,000[c][17]

75 million[405]

Kiss
United States
1972–present[406]
1974[406]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[406]
7001278000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 27.8 million

US: 26 million[11]
CAN: 1.495 million[c][17]
UK: 100,000[13]
AUS: 130,000[c][18]
ARG: 112,000[c][28]

75 million[407]

Aretha Franklin
United States
1956–present[408]
1961[408]
Soul / Jazz / Blues / R&B[408]
7001247000000000000♠
show

Total available certified units: 24.7 million

US: 23.5 million[11]
UK: 840,000[c][13]
FRA: 275,000[c][15][16]
CAN: 150,000[c][17]

75 million[409]


document_title: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

question_text: who dies in the hunchback of notre dame

question_tokens: who dies in the hunchback of notre dame

root

text: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

text: Title[edit]

text: The novel's original French title, Notre-Dame de Paris, is a metaphor: it refers to Notre Dame Cathedral, on which the story is centered, and Esmeralda, the novel's main character who is "our lady of Paris" and the center of the human drama within the story. Frederic Shoberl's 1833 English translation was published as The Hunchback of Notre Dame (which became the generally used title in English), which refers to Quasimodo, the novel's other main character.

tag: p

text: Background[edit]

text: Victor Hugo began writing Notre-Dame de Paris in 1829, largely to make his contemporaries more aware of the value of the Gothic architecture, which was neglected and often destroyed to be replaced by new buildings or defaced by replacement of parts of buildings in a newer style. For instance, the medieval stained glass panels of Notre-Dame de Paris had been replaced by white glass to let more light into the church.[1] This explains the large descriptive sections of the book, which far exceed the requirements of the story. A few years earlier, Hugo had already published a paper entitled Guerre aux Démolisseurs (War to the Demolishers) specifically aimed at saving Paris' medieval architecture.[2] The agreement with his original publisher, Gosselin, was that the book would be finished that same year, but Hugo was constantly delayed due to the demands of other projects. In the summer of 1830, Gosselin demanded that Hugo complete the book by February 1831. Beginning in September 1830, Hugo worked nonstop on the project thereafter. The book was finished six months later.

text: Plot[edit]

text: The story is set in Paris in 1482 during the reign of Louis XI. The gypsy Esmeralda (born as Agnes) captures the hearts of many men, including those of Captain Phoebus and Pierre Gringoire, but especially Quasimodo and his guardian Archdeacon Claude Frollo. Frollo is torn between his obsessive lust for Esmeralda and the rules of the Notre Dame Cathedral. He orders Quasimodo to kidnap her, but the hunchback is captured by Phoebus and his guards, who save Esmeralda. Gringoire, who attempted to help Esmeralda but was knocked out by Quasimodo, is about to be hanged by beggars when Esmeralda saves him by agreeing to marry him for four years.

text: The following day, Quasimodo is sentenced to be flogged and turned on the pillory for one hour, followed by another hour's public exposure. He calls for water. Esmeralda, seeing his thirst, approaches the public stocks and offers him a drink of water. It saves him, and she captures his heart.

text: Later, Esmeralda is arrested and charged with the attempted murder of Phoebus, whom Frollo actually attempted to kill in jealousy after seeing him trying to seduce Esmeralda. She is sentenced to death by hanging. As she is being led to the gallows, Quasimodo swings down by the bell rope of Notre-Dame and carries her off to the cathedral under the law of sanctuary, temporarily protecting her from arrest.

text: Frollo later informs Gringoire that the Court of Parlement has voted to remove Esmeralda's right to the sanctuary so she can no longer seek shelter in the Cathedral and will be taken away to be killed. Clopin, the leader of the Gypsies, hears the news from Gringoire and rallies the citizens of Paris to charge the cathedral and rescue Esmeralda.

text: When Quasimodo sees the Gypsies, he assumes they are there to hurt Esmeralda, so he drives them off. Likewise, he thinks the King's men want to rescue her, and tries to help them find her. She is rescued by Frollo and Gringoire. But after yet another failed attempt to win her love, Frollo betrays Esmeralda by handing her to the troops and watches while she is being hanged. When Frollo laughs during Esmeralda's hanging, Quasimodo pushes him from the height of Notre Dame to his death. Quasimodo goes to the cemetery, hugs Esmeralda's body, and dies of starvation with her. Years later they are discovered and, while trying to separate them, Quasimodo's bones turn to dust.

text: Characters[edit]

text: Major[edit]

text:
Quasimodo is the male protagonist of the novel.  He is the bell-ringer of Notre Dame and a barely verbal and half-blind hunchback. Ringing the church bells has also made him deaf. Abandoned by his mother as a baby, he was adopted by Claude Frollo. Quasimodo's life within the confines of the cathedral and his only two outlets —ringing the bells and his love and devotion for Frollo—are described. He rarely ventures outside the Cathedral because the citizens of Paris despise and shun him for his appearance. The notable occasions when he does leave include taking part in the Festival of Fools—during which he is elected the Pope of Fools due to his perfect hideousness—and his subsequent attempt to kidnap Esmeralda, his rescue of Esmeralda from the gallows, his attempt to bring Phoebus to Esmeralda, and his final abandonment of the cathedral at the end of the novel. It is revealed in the story that the baby Quasimodo was left by the Gypsies in place of Esmeralda, whom they abducted.
Esmeralda (born Agnes) is a beautiful 16-year-old Gypsy street dancer who is naturally compassionate and kind. She is the novel's female protagonist. A popular focus of the citizens' attentions, she experiences their changeable attitudes, being first adored as an entertainer, then hated as a witch, before being lauded again by Quasimodo. She is loved by both Quasimodo and Claude Frollo, but, unfortunately she falls hopelessly in love with Captain Phoebus, a handsome soldier whom she believes will rightly protect her but who simply wants to seduce her. She is one of the few characters to show Quasimodo a moment of human kindness, as when she gives him water after the hunchback's flogging. She is eventually revealed to not actually be a gypsy, but to have been kidnapped by them and replaced by the deformed Quasimodo.
Claude Frollo, the novel's main antagonist, is the Archdeacon of Notre Dame. His dour attitude and his alchemical experiments have alienated him from the Parisians, who believe him a sorcerer. His parents having died of plague when he was a young man, he is without family save for Quasimodo, for whom he cares, and his dissolute younger brother Jehan, whom he unsuccessfully attempts to reform towards a better life. Frollo's numerous sins include lechery, failed alchemy and other listed vices. His mad attraction to Esmeralda sets off a chain of events, including her attempted abduction, leading to Quasimodo's sentence to be lashed in the square, and Frollo almost murdering Phoebus in a jealous rage, leading to Esmeralda's execution.
Pierre Gringoire is a struggling poet. He mistakenly finds his way into the "Court of Miracles", the domain of the Truands. In order to preserve the secrecy, Gringoire must either be killed by hanging, or marry a Gypsy. Although Esmeralda does not love him, and in fact believes him to be a coward rather than a true man, she takes pity on his plight and marries him. But, because she is already in love with Phoebus, much to his disappointment, she will not let him touch her.
Phoebus de Chateaupers is the Captain of the King's Archers, and a minor antagonist in the novel. After he saves Esmeralda from abduction, she becomes infatuated with him, and he is intrigued by her. Already betrothed to the beautiful but spiteful Fleur-de-Lys, he wants to lie with Esmeralda nonetheless but is prevented when Frollo stabs him. Phoebus survives, but Esmeralda is taken to be the attempted assassin by all, including Phoebus himself, who no longer wants her. He is condemned to a miserable married life with Fleur-de-Lys.
Clopin Trouillefou is the King of Truands. He sentences Gringoire to be hanged, and presides over his "wedding" to Esmeralda. He rallies the Court of Miracles to rescue Esmeralda from Notre Dame after the idea is suggested by Gringoire. He is eventually killed during the attack by the King's soldiers.

tag: ul

text: Minor[edit]

text:
Jehan Frollo "du Moulin" (alternately named Joannes Frollo "de Molendino") is Claude Frollo's 16-year-old dissolute younger brother. He is a troublemaker and a student at the university. He is dependent on his brother for money, which he then proceeds to squander on alcohol. After his brother stops giving him money, he becomes rogue. He briefly enters the cathedral by ascending one of the towers with a borrowed ladder, but Quasimodo sees him and throws him down to his death.
Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier is a beautiful and wealthy noblewoman engaged to Phoebus. Phoebus's attentions to Esmeralda make her insecure and jealous, and she and her friends respond by treating Esmeralda with contempt and spite. Fleur-de-Lys later neglects to inform Phoebus that Esmeralda has not been executed, which serves to deprive the pair of any further contact—though as Phoebus no longer loves Esmeralda by this time, this does not matter. The novel ends with their wedding.
Sister Gudule, also known as Sachette and formerly named Paquette Guybertaut "la Chantefleurie", is an anchoress, who lives in seclusion in an exposed cell in central Paris. She is tormented by the loss of her daughter Agnes, whom she believes to have been cannibalised by Gypsies as a baby, and devotes her life to mourning her. Her long-lost daughter turns out to be Esmeralda, a fact she discovers only moments before Esmeralda is hanged.  Gudule is accidentally killed by one of the King's soldiers while attempting to prevent them from taking her daughter.
Djali is Esmeralda's pet goat. In addition to dancing with Esmeralda, Djali can do tricks for money, such as tell time, spell Phoebus' name, and do impressions of public figures. Later during Esmeralda's trial when Esmeralda is falsely accused of the stabbing of Phoebus, Djali is falsely accused of being the devil in disguise. In the end of the novel, Djali is saved by Gringoire (who has become fond of the goat during his marriage to Esmeralda) after Esmeralda is captured and hanged.
Louis XI is the King of France. He appears as an old and sick man, but his personality is very sly and Machiavellian, as well as self-centred. He appears briefly when he is brought the news of the rioting at Notre Dame. He orders his guard to kill the rioters, and also the "witch" Esmeralda, because of being misinformed about the reason of rioting.
Tristan l'Hermite is a friend of King Louis XI. He leads the band that goes to capture Esmeralda.
Henriet Cousin is the city executioner, who hangs Esmeralda.
Florian Barbedienne is the judge who sentences Quasimodo to be tortured. He is also deaf.
Jacques Charmolue is Claude Frollo's friend in charge of torturing prisoners. He gets Esmeralda to falsely confess to killing Phoebus. He then has her imprisoned.
Jacques Coppenole is a man who appears in the beginning of the novel as one of the Flemish guests at the Feast of Fools. He convinces the Parisians to select the Pope of Fools.
Pierrat Torterue is the torturer who tortures Esmeralda after her interrogation. He hurts Esmeralda so badly she falsely confesses, sealing her own fate. He was also the official who administered the savage flogging administered to Quasimodo by Barbedienne.
Robin Poussepain is Jehan Frollo's companion who appears with him during the Feast of Fools and Quasimodo's flogging in the public square.
Olivier le Mauvais (literally "Olivier the Evil") is King Louis XI's close advisor.

text: Major themes[edit]

text: This section  possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (February 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

tag: table

text: The novel's original French title, Notre-Dame de Paris, indicates that the cathedral itself is the most significant aspect of the novel, both the main setting and the focus of the story's themes.[3] The building had fallen into disrepair at the time of writing, which was something Hugo felt strongly about. The book portrays the Romantic era as one of the extremes in architecture, passion, and religion.[citation needed] The theme of determinism (fate and destiny, as set up in the preface of the novel through the introduction of the word "ANANKE") is explored, as well as revolution and social strife.[4]

text: Architecture[edit]

text: Architecture is a major concern of Hugo's in Notre-Dame de Paris, not just as embodied in the cathedral itself, but as representing throughout Paris and the rest of Europe an artistic genre which, Hugo argued, was about to disappear with the arrival of the printing press. Claude Frollo's portentous phrase, ‘Ceci tuera cela’ ("This will kill that", as he looks from a printed book to the cathedral building), sums up this thesis, which is expounded on in Book V, chapter 2. Hugo writes that ‘quiconque naissait poète se faisait architecte’ ("whoever was born a poet became an architect"), arguing that while the written word was heavily censored and difficult to reproduce, architecture was extremely prominent and enjoyed considerable freedom.

text: Il existe à cette époque, pour la pensée écrite en pierre, un privilège tout-à-fait comparable à notre liberté actuelle de la presse. C'est la liberté de l'architecture.There exists in this era, for thoughts written in stone, a privilege absolutely comparable to our current freedom of the press. It is the freedom of architecture.

text: With the recent introduction of the printing press, it became possible to reproduce one's ideas much more easily on paper, and Hugo considered this period to represent the last flowering of architecture as a great artistic form. As with many of his books, Hugo was interested in a time which seemed to him to be on the cusp between two types of society.[5]

text: The major theme of the third book is that over time the cathedral has been repaired, but the repairs and additions have made the cathedral worse: "And who put the cold, white panes in the place of those windows" and "...who substituted for the ancient Gothic altar, splendidly encumbered with shrines and reliquaries, that heavy marble sarcophagus, with angels' heads and clouds" are a few examples of this. This chapter also discusses how, after repairs to the cathedral after the French Revolution, there was not a significant style in what was added. It seems as if the new architecture is actually now uglier and worse than it was before the repairing.

text: Literary significance and reception[edit]

text: Hugo introduced with this work the concept of the novel as Epic Theatre. A giant epic about the history of a whole people, incarnated in the figure of the great cathedral as witness and silent protagonist of that history. The whole idea of time and life as an ongoing, organic panorama centered on dozens of characters caught in the middle of that history. It is the first novel to have beggars as protagonists.

text: Notre Dame de Paris was the first work of fiction to encompass the whole of life, from the King of France to Paris sewer rats, in a manner later co-opted by Honoré de Balzac, Gustave Flaubert and many others, including Charles Dickens. The enormous popularity of the book in France spurred the nascent historical preservation movement in that country and strongly encouraged Gothic revival architecture. Ultimately it led to major renovations at Notre-Dame in the 19th century led by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. Much of the cathedral's present appearance is a result of this renovation.

text: Allusions and references[edit]

text: Allusions to actual history, geography and current science[edit]

text: In The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Victor Hugo makes frequent reference to the architecture of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. He also mentions the invention of the printing press, when the bookmaker near the beginning of the work speaks of "the German pest."

text: In 2010, British archivist Adrian Glew discovered references to a real-life hunchback who was a foreman of a government sculpting studio in Paris in the 1820s who worked on post-Revolution restorations to the Cathedral.[6]

text: Allusions in other works[edit]

text: The name Quasimodo has become synonymous with "a courageous heart beneath a grotesque exterior."[7]

text: Drama adaptations[edit]

text: To date, all of the film and TV adaptations have strayed somewhat from the original plot, some going as far as to give it a happy ending, as in the classic 1939 film starring Charles Laughton as Quasimodo and Maureen O'Hara as Esmeralda (although Quasimodo loses her to Gringoire in this version). The 1956 French film, starring Anthony Quinn and Gina Lollobrigida, is one of the few versions to end almost exactly like the novel, although it changes other sections of the story. Unlike most adaptations, the 1996 Disney version has an ending that is inspired by an opera created by Hugo himself.

text: Comics[edit]

text: Artists like Noel Gloesner [8], Andrew Dickson [9], Robin Recht [10], Tim Conrad [11], Gilbert Bloch [12], George Evans [13] Dick Briefer [14] have all created comic strip and book adaptations of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Paulo Borges [15],  Gustavo Machado [16] and Dan Spiegle [17] have drawn comic strip versions based on the 1996 Disney movie adaptation.

text: Films[edit]

text:
Esmeralda, a 1905 French short silent film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1911 silent film
The Darling of Paris, a 1917 silent film
Esmeralda, a 1922 British silent film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1923 silent film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1939 sound film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1956 film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1986 Australian-American fantasy animated film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1996 animated film by Walt Disney Pictures
The Secret of the Hunchback
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a Golden Films film
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Jetlag Productions animated film
Quasimodo d'El Paris, a 1999 parody film

text: Television[edit]

text:
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1966 miniseries
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1977 miniseries
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a 1982 British-American film
The Magical Adventures of Quasimodo, a 1996 series
The Hunchback, a 1997 television film

text: Theatre[edit]

text:
In 1977, an adaptation by Ken Hill was commissioned and staged by the National Theatre in London.
In 2010, an adaptation by Pip Utton was staged at The Pleasance as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
In 2010, an original adaptation by Myriad Theatre & Film was staged in London and then toured South England.
In 2012, an adaptation by Belt Up Theatre was staged in Selby Abbey.
In 2013, an adaptation by James Villafuerte was staged in Tanghalang Pasigueño Villa Teatro.

text: Music[edit]

text:
In 1977, a lush orchestral disco 28 minute epic re-telling the tale of Quasimodo and Esmeralda, by Alec R. Costandinos and the Syncophonic Orchestra.
In 1996, a recording of music written by Styx singer Dennis DeYoung for his musical adaptation of the novel.
In 1996, the soundtrack to the Disney film, released by Walt Disney Records.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Studio Cast Recording), a 2016 musical album based on Victor Hugo's novel and songs from the Disney film version.[18]

text: Musical theatre[edit]

text:
La Esmeralda, opera by Louise Bertin (1836), libretto by Victor Hugo.
Esmeralda, opera by Alexander Dargomyzhsky (1847) based on the Victor Hugo novel.
Notre-Dame of Paris, opera by William Henry Fry (1864) with libretto by his brother Joseph Reese Fry based on the Victor Hugo novel. First performance: Academy of Music, Philadelphia, 4 May 1864, conducted by Theodore Thomas.
Esmeralda, opera by Arthur Goring Thomas (1883), also based on the same Victor Hugo novel.
Notre Dame, romantic Opera in two acts by Franz Schmidt, text after Victor Hugo by Schmidt and Leopold Wilk; composed: 1902–4, 1st perf.: Vienna 1914.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1993), an Off Broadway musical with music by Byron Janis, lyrics by Hal Hackady and book by Anthony Scully.[19]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1993), a dramatic sung-through musical with book and lyrics by Gary Sullivan and music by John Trent Wallace.[20] After a production at the Mermaid Theatre in London it was published by Samuel French Ltd in 1997 and has received several UK productions as well as productions in New Zealand and Australia. In 2010 it was re-written as a conventional musical, with the new title Notre Dame.[21]
El Jorobado de París (1993), an Argentinian sung-through musical with book and lyrics by Pepe Cibrián Campoy and music by Ángel Mahler. Revised versions opened in 1995, 2006 and 2013.
Notre-Dame de Paris is an operatic melodrama by Zigmars Liepiņš based on the novel.
In 1998, Notre-Dame de Paris opened in Paris and became an instant success. It is considered the most successful adaptation of any novel except for "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Misérables." It was also adapted for the stage by Nicholas DeBaubien.[22]
From 1999 to 2002, the Disney film was adapted into a darker, more Gothic musical production called Der Glöckner von Notre Dame (translated in English as The Bellringer of Notre Dame) in Berlin. A cast recording was also recorded in German.[23] The musical received an American remake in 2014.
A rock musical version was released in Seattle, Washington in 1998 titled "Hunchback" with music and script by C. Rainey Lewis.[24]
A musical version, scored by Dennis DeYoung, opened in Chicago at the Bailiwick Repertory in the summer of 2008.[25]
A re-adaptation of the piece entitled Our Lady of Paris, with music and lyrics by David Levinson and book by Stacey Weingarten, was produced in a reading format in Manhattan. It re-sets the action to 1954 at the beginning of the French Algerian conflict. After the first reading, the piece underwent revisions; a second reading was produced in January 2011 under the musical's new title, Les Enfants de Paris.

text: Ballet[edit]

text:
La Esmeralda (1844) - choreography by Jules Perrot, music by Cesare Pugni. First performed at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. The ballet has a long performance history in Russia via the revivals of the choreographer Marius Petipa in St. Petersburg throughout the late 19th century.
Gudule’s Daughter, or Esmiralda (1902) – choreography by Alexander Alexeyevich Gorsky, music by Antoine Simon
Notre-Dame de Paris (1965) – choreography by Roland Petit, first performed by the Paris Opera Ballet.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1998) – choreography and direction by Michael Pink and original music score by Philip Feeney; currently in the repertoire of Milwaukee Ballet, Boston Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and Colorado Ballet.
Ringaren i Notre Dame (The Bellringer of Notre Dame; 2009) – choreography by Pär Isberg and original music score by Stefan Nilsson, first performed on Friday, April 3, by the Royal Swedish Ballet.

text: Radio[edit]

text: The book was twice adapted and broadcast by BBC Radio 4 as its Classic Serial:

text:
in 5 parts from 6 January to 3 February 1989, with Jack Klaff as Quasimodo
in 2 parts on 30 November and 7 December 2008, with deaf actor David Bower playing Quasimodo.

text: Video games[edit]

text: Hunchback, a 1983 arcade video game developed by Century Electronics, starring Quasimodo and Esmeralda.

text: Translation history[edit]

text: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame has been translated into English many times. Translations are often reprinted in various imprints. Some translations have been revised over time.

text:
1833. Translated by Frederic Shoberl as The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Later revisions.
1833. Translated by William Hazlitt as Notre Dame: A Tale of the Ancien Régime. Later revisions.
1888. Translated by Isabel F. Hapgood as Notre-Dame de Paris.
1895. Translated by M.W. Artois et al., part of the 28-vol The Novels of Victor Hugo, re-printed in the 20th century under other titles.
1956. Translated by Lowell Bair, for Bantam Books and included in Bantam Classics
1964. Translated by Walter J. Cobb. In multiple editions, see for example Signet Classics ISBN 0-451-52788-7
1978. Translated by John Sturrock. In multiple editions, see for example Penguin Classics ISBN 0-14-044353-3
1993. Translated by Alban J. Krailsheimer as Notre-Dame de Paris. See Oxford World's Classics ISBN 978-0-19-955580-2
2002. Revised translation by Catherine Liu of an anonymous 19th century translation. See Modern Library Classics ISBN 0-679-64257-9