List of best-selling singles
This is a list of best-selling singles in the world. The Guinness World Records named the holiday single "White Christmas" (1942) by Bing Crosby as the best-selling single worldwide. According to Guinness, "White Christmas" sold over 50 million copies. The single is known as the "best-selling single of all time". It was released before music charts were created. The song "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) by Elton John, is "the biggest-selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s". The recording was a tribute to Princess Diana. It sold 33 million copies, making it the third best-selling single of all time.
Best-selling physical singles
15 million physical copies or more
Artist | Single | Released | Sales (in millions) |
Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bing Crosby | "White Christmas" | 1942 | 50 | |
Elton John | "Candle in the Wind 1997" | 1997 | 33 | |
Mungo Jerry | "In the Summertime" | 1970 | 30[disputed ] | [1][2][3] |
Bill Haley & His Comets | "Rock Around the Clock" | 1954 | 25 | [4] |
Whitney Houston | "I Will Always Love You" | 1992 | 20 | [5] |
Elvis Presley | "It's Now or Never" | 1960 | 20 | [6][7] |
USA for Africa | "We Are the World" | 1985 | 20 | [8] |
The Ink Spots | "If I Didn't Care" | 1939 | 19[disputed ] | [9] |
Baccara | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" | 1977 | 18[disputed ] | [10] |
Celine Dion | "My Heart Will Go On" | 1997 | 18 | [11] |
Mariah Carey | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | 1994 | 16 | [12] |
Bryan Adams | "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" | 1991 | 15 | [13] |
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | "You're the One That I Want" | 1978 | 15 | [14] |
Scorpions | "Wind of Change" | 1991 | 15[disputed ] | [15] |
10–14.9 million copies
Best-selling digital singles
15 million digital copies or more
10–14.99 million copies
List Of Best-selling Singles Media
1997 7-inch 45 rpm release of "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight", double A-side single by Elton John
Notes
References
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- ↑ Nightingale, Laura (7 October 2015). Mungo Jerry celebrates 45 years of In the Summertime at Camberley Theatre. https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/mungo-jerry-celebrates-45-years-10201428. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
- ↑ Barnett, David C. (1 July 2000). "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock". NPR. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
Since its release more than 40 years ago, "Rock Around the Clock" has sold over 25 million copies in over 30 languages.
- ↑ Geller, Wendy (21 February 2014). It Was 40 Years Ago: Dolly Parton Bids Adieu to Porter Wagoner, Writes 'I Will Always Love You'. Yahoo! Music. http://ramcountry.yahoo.com/post/102051679676/it-was-40-years-ago-dolly-parton-bids-adieu-to. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
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- ↑ Waters, Lowenna (10 October 2017). 10 of the best Mariah Carey songs. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-mariah-carey-songs/want-christmas-you_mariah-carey/. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
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- ↑ Bienstock, Richard (2 September 2015). "Scorpions' "Wind of Change": The Oral History of 1990's Epic Power Ballad". Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/scorpions-wind-of-change-the-oral-history-of-1990s-epic-power-ballad-63069/. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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...while Autry's version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" sold more than 12.5 million copies
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More than 4 million copies of the single were sold in the US alone, and more than 10 million were sold around the globe.
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- ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 "Global Top 10 Digital Singles of 2017", IFPI Global Music Report 2018 (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, p. 9, archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2018, retrieved 24 April 2018
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 45.6 45.7 "Havana by Camila Cabello (featuring Young Thug) named best-selling single of 2018". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
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- ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 Kaufman, Gil (January 29, 2021). "Rihanna Wishes Herself a 'Happy #ANTIversary' with Throwback Pics". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9518130/rihanna-happy-antiversary-pics-video/. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ↑ "The Weeknd wins 2020's IFPI Global Digital Single Award for Blinding Lights". IFPI. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 49.5 49.6 "Global Top 10 Digital Singles 2015", IFPI Global Music Report 2016: State of the Industry (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, p. 7, archived (PDF) from the original on 30 July 2016, retrieved 13 April 2018
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.5 50.6 50.7 "Global Top 10 Digital Singles of 2016", IFPI Global Music Report 2017: Annual State of the Industry (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, p. 9, archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2017, retrieved 13 April 2018
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- ↑ Coscarelli, Joe (31 July 2015). Carly Rae Jepsen, With a New Album, Is Definitely Changing Her Number. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/arts/music/carly-rae-jepsen-with-a-new-album-is-definitely-changing-her-number.html. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ↑ "Adele: Someone like you". Bitesize. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
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- ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 "Global Top Digital Singles of 2014", IFPI Digital Music Report 2015 (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 14 April 2015, p. 12, archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2017, retrieved 13 April 2018
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- ↑ Cantor-Navas, Judy (1 October 2012). "Pitbull Vs. Shakira: Whose World Cup Song Is Better? (Poll)". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin-notas/6106280/pitbull-shakira-poll-world-cup-song-vote. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
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