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Who had the most number 1s?

A user asked who had the most number 1 entries in the charts. This is, naturally, a bit more complex than it first appears. First, and most obviously, we could be talking about number 1 songs, or albums, or both. But even if we decide we're going to focus on songs we could be asking "Which song was number 1 in most charts?", or "Which artist had most songs that were number 1 somewhere?" or "Which artist had most number 1 entries for songs". This means that we have 8 different charts:

 SongsAlbumsSongs + Albums
Number 1 in most charts? song chart album chart  
Number 1 somewhere? most songs most albums most items
Total number 1 entries? most song entries most album entries most item entries

For the purposes of these lists being awarded a Grammy, Oscar or similar prize counts as a number 1 (being nominated of course doesn't). Of course the larger number of recent charts will tend to mean that recent music is over represented.

Artists with the most number 1 albums and songs

Here are the artists with the highest count of albums and songs that reached number 1 in at least one chart.

# Artist Song #1s Album #1s Total #1s
1 The Beatles 66 37 103
2 Elvis Presley 53 22 75
3 The Rolling Stones 35 29 64
4 Madonna 37 15 52
5 Bing Crosby 51 0 51
6 BZ 32 18 50
7 U2 32 13 45
8 Elton John 29 15 44
9 Kiyoko Matsuda 21 17 38
10 Abba 23 14 37
10 Michael Jackson 29 8 37
12 Frank Sinatra 23 12 35
12 Rod Stewart 19 16 35
14 Cliff Richard 24 10 34
14 Depeche Mode 26 8 34
14 Hamazaki Walking 23 11 34
17 Akina Nakamori 20 13 33
18 Paul Whiteman 32 0 32
19 Queen 19 12 31
20 Guy Lombardo 30 0 30
20 Mr Children 22 8 30
22 Bon Jovi 17 12 29
22 Mariah Carey 20 9 29
24 Bee Gees 19 9 28
24 Celine Dion 11 17 28
26 Prince 15 12 27
27 David Bowie 16 10 26
28 Bob Dylan 8 17 25
28 Bruce Springsteen 13 12 25
28 Glay 17 8 25
28 Glenn Miller 25 0 25
32 Al Jolson 24 0 24
32 Westlife 16 8 24
34 Eros Ramazzotti 15 8 23
34 Kinki Kids 15 8 23
34 Phil Collins 15 8 23
37 A-Ha 14 8 22
37 Janet Jackson 19 3 22
37 Perry Como 20 2 22
37 Whitney Houston 16 6 22
41 Boney M 16 5 21
41 George Michael 14 7 21
41 Stevie Wonder 16 5 21
44 Britney Spears 13 7 20
44 Bryan Adams 12 8 20
44 Chage & Aska 8 12 20
44 Duke Ellington 17 3 20
44 Robbie Williams 10 10 20
44 Roxette 14 6 20
50 Creedence Clearwater Revival 13 6 19
50 Nat King Cole 16 3 19
50 Roy Orbison 15 4 19
50 Zard 11 8 19
54 Led Zeppelin 6 12 18
54 Oasis 11 7 18
54 The Beach Boys 13 5 18
57 Barbra Streisand 5 12 17
57 Duran Duran 14 3 17
57 Icebox Capital Mediating/helping 7 10 17
57 Kylie Minogue 11 6 17
57 Long Fuchi Hardness 6 11 17
57 Matutouya Reason Truth 3 14 17
57 REM 8 9 17
57 Simon & Garfunkel 7 10 17
57 Snap 17 0 17
57 Wings 12 5 17
67 Boyzone 12 4 16
67 Dire Straits 8 8 16
67 Henry Burr 16 0 16
67 Louis Armstrong 15 1 16
67 Modern Talking 9 7 16
67 Republica 16 0 16
67 Take That 10 6 16
67 Carpenters 10 6 16
75 Alejandro Sanz 15 0 15
75 Billy Murray 15 0 15
75 Cher 9 6 15
75 Fleetwood Mac 8 7 15
75 Hey 15 0 15
75 INXS 10 5 15
75 Johnny Hallyday 15 0 15
75 Lady Pank 15 0 15
75 Light Genji 10 5 15
75 Metallica 8 7 15
75 Peter Maffay 2 13 15
75 Pink Floyd 5 10 15
75 Sizuka Kudou 11 4 15
75 Slade 10 5 15
75 Sting 9 6 15
75 The Pet Shop Boys 14 1 15
75 The Shadows 8 7 15

Artists with the most number 1 total entries

This is a list of the artists that have had most number 1 chart entries for albums and songs round the world. In this list an album that is number 1 in two different countries counts as 2 entries.

# Artist Song #1s Album #1s Total #1s
1 The Beatles 302 118 420
2 Madonna 155 76 231
3 The Rolling Stones 101 70 171
4 Elvis Presley 136 32 168
4 Michael Jackson 111 57 168
6 U2 80 76 156
7 Abba 105 43 148
8 Elton John 85 46 131
9 Bee Gees 80 31 111
10 Celine Dion 44 62 106
11 Whitney Houston 64 38 102
12 Bon Jovi 44 52 96
13 Phil Collins 54 37 91
14 Queen 57 31 88
15 Bruce Springsteen 30 57 87
16 Boney M 70 15 85
17 Mariah Carey 57 27 84
18 Bing Crosby 83 0 83
19 Rod Stewart 48 32 80
20 Bryan Adams 49 29 78
21 Britney Spears 53 22 75
21 Eminem 43 32 75
21 George Michael 53 22 75
24 Pink Floyd 20 48 68
25 Roxette 47 18 65
26 Prince 35 28 63
27 Cliff Richard 51 11 62
28 REM 15 46 61
28 Stevie Wonder 51 10 61
30 Frank Sinatra 43 15 58
31 The Backstreet Boys 30 27 57
32 Depeche Mode 34 22 56
32 Robbie Williams 18 38 56
34 David Bowie 38 16 54
34 Wings 40 14 54
36 Metallica 12 41 53
37 Barbra Streisand 30 21 51
37 The Pet Shop Boys 46 5 51
39 BZ 32 18 50
40 Perry Como 46 2 48
41 Glenn Miller 47 0 47
41 John Lennon 29 18 47
41 Simon & Garfunkel 26 21 47
44 A-Ha 35 11 46
45 Cher 35 10 45
45 Janet Jackson 37 8 45
45 Spice Girls 32 13 45
48 Kylie Minogue 35 9 44
48 Led Zeppelin 16 28 44
50 Creedence Clearwater Revival 31 12 43
50 Dire Straits 13 30 43
52 Red Hot Chili Peppers 13 28 41
53 Westlife 30 10 40
54 Bob Dylan 13 26 39
54 Oasis 21 18 39
54 The Police 24 15 39
57 Kiyoko Matsuda 21 17 38
57 Lionel Richie 27 11 38
57 Nat King Cole 35 3 38
57 Roy Orbison 31 7 38
57 Take That 27 11 38
62 Blondie 35 2 37
62 Duran Duran 34 3 37
62 Falco 29 8 37
62 Carpenters 30 7 37
62 The Monkees 29 8 37
62 Wham! 30 7 37
68 Eagles 20 16 36
68 George Harrison 29 7 36
68 Modern Talking 23 13 36
68 The Beach Boys 30 6 36
68 The Black Eyed Peas 29 7 36
73 Ace of Base 27 8 35
73 Al Jolson 35 0 35
73 Alanis Morissette 10 25 35
73 Paul Whiteman 35 0 35
73 Santana 15 20 35
73 Tom Jones 29 6 35
79 Coldplay 10 24 34
79 Donna Summer 31 3 34
79 Eros Ramazzotti 17 17 34
79 Guy Lombardo 34 0 34
79 Hamazaki Walking 23 11 34
84 Aerosmith 26 7 33
84 Akina Nakamori 20 13 33
86 Billy Joel 18 14 32
86 Sinead O'Connor 22 10 32
86 The Sweet 32 0 32
89 Culture Club 27 4 31
89 Jennifer Lopez 23 8 31
89 Mr Children 23 8 31
89 Olivia Newton-John 28 3 31
89 Simply Red 13 18 31
89 Snap 31 0 31
89 The Supremes 28 3 31
89 Usher 21 10 31
97 Diana Ross 27 3 30
97 Louis Armstrong 28 2 30
97 Shakira 22 8 30
100 Fleetwood Mac 13 16 29
101 Aqua 23 5 28
101 Avril Lavigne 12 16 28
101 Eric Clapton 16 12 28
101 Jimmy Dorsey 28 0 28
101 Meat Loaf 16 12 28
101 Rick Astley 24 4 28
101 Ricky Martin 21 7 28
101 The Eurythmics 15 13 28
109 Anastacia 12 15 27
109 Beyonce 20 7 27
109 Christina Aguilera 19 8 27
109 Manfred Mann 23 4 27
109 Nena 21 6 27
109 Smokie 20 7 27
109 Sting 12 15 27
109 UB40 24 3 27
117 Chicago 17 9 26
117 Genesis 10 16 26
117 Gilbert O'Sullivan 23 3 26
117 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John 26 0 26
117 Norah Jones 4 22 26
117 Paul McCartney 10 16 26
117 Petula Clark 26 0 26
117 Rednex 25 1 26
117 Tina Turner 12 14 26
126 Boyzone 19 6 25
126 Glay 17 8 25
126 Guns n' Roses 14 11 25
126 John Denver 20 5 25
126 Nirvana 8 17 25
126 Slade 17 8 25

Songs that were number 1 in the most charts

This is a list of the songs that reached number 1 in the highest number of charts.

# Artist Song Title Year Count
1 Celine Dion My Heart Will Go On 1998 22
2 Bryan Adams (Everything I Do) I Do it For You 1991 21
2 Sinead O'Connor Nothing Compares 2 U 1990 21
2 Stevie Wonder I Just Called to Say I Love You 1984 21
2 The Beatles Hey Jude 1968 21
6 USA For Africa We Are the World 1985 20
7 Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You 1992 19
8 Britney Spears Baby One More Time 1999 17
8 Elton John Candle in the Wind '97 1997 17
8 P Diddy & Faith Evans I'll Be Missing You 1997 17
11 Band Aid Do They Know It's Christmas? 1984 16
11 Irene Cara Flashdance... What a Feeling 1983 16
11 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John You're the One That I Want 1978 16
11 Pink Floyd Another Brick in the Wall (part 2) 1980 16
11 Terry Jacks Seasons in the Sun 1974 16
16 Aqua Barbie Girl 1997 15
16 Boney M Rivers of Babylon 1978 15
16 Cher Believe 1998 15
16 Coolio Gangsta's Paradise 1995 15
16 Hanson Mmmbop 1997 15
16 Kylie Minogue Can't Get You Out of My Head 2001 15
16 Lou Bega Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit of ...) 1999 15
16 No Doubt Don't Speak 1997 15
24 A-Ha Take On Me 1985 14
24 Abba Dancing Queen 1976 14
24 Barbra Streisand A Woman in Love 1980 14
24 Eiffel 65 Blue (Da Ba Dee) 1999 14
24 Eminem Lose Yourself 2002 14
24 George Harrison My Sweet Lord 1971 14
24 Madonna Like a Prayer 1989 14
24 Meat Loaf I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) 1993 14
24 Michael Jackson Black Or White 1991 14
24 Phil Collins Another Day in Paradise 1989 14
24 Roxette Joyride 1991 14
24 Spice Girls Wannabe 1996 14
24 Starsound Stars On 45 1981 14
24 The Village People YMCA 1978 14
38 Carl Douglas Kung Fu Fighting 1974 13
38 Culture Club Karma Chameleon 1983 13
38 David Bowie Let's Dance 1983 13
38 Las Ketchup The Ketchup Song (Asereje) 2002 13
38 Lipps Inc Funkytown 1980 13
38 Madonna Vogue 1990 13
38 Mariah Carey Without You 1994 13
38 Rednex Cotton Eye Joe 1994 13
38 Snow Informer 1993 13
38 The Beatles All You Need is Love 1967 13
38 The Beatles Get Back 1969 13
38 The Rolling Stones (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction 1965 13
38 Usher Yeah! 2004 13
38 Whitney Houston I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) 1987 13
52 Aerosmith I Don't Want to Miss a Thing 1998 12
52 Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting All For Love 1994 12
52 Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink Lady Marmalade (Voulez-Vous Coucher Aver Moi Ce Soir?) 2001 12
52 Culture Club Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? 1982 12
52 Eamon F**k it (I Don't Want You Back) 2004 12
52 Enigma Sadeness 1990 12
52 F R David Words 1982 12
52 Falco Rock Me Amadeus 1986 12
52 Four Non Blondes What's Up? 1993 12
52 Frank Sinatra Strangers in the Night 1966 12
52 Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes 1981 12
52 Madonna Hung Up 2005 12
52 Mr Big To Be With You 1992 12
52 Mungo Jerry In the Summertime 1970 12
52 Nancy Sinatra These Boots Are Made For Walking 1966 12
52 Paul Hardcastle 19 1985 12
52 Procol Harum A Whiter Shade of Pale 1967 12
52 Rick Astley Never Gonna Give You Up 1987 12
52 Shakira Whenever, Wherever 2002 12
52 The Beatles Yellow Submarine 1966 12
52 The Black Eyed Peas Where is the Love? 2003 12
52 The Fugees Killing Me Softly With His Song 1996 12
52 The Monkees I'm a Believer 1967 12
52 The Scorpions Wind of Change 1991 12
52 Tony Orlando & Dawn Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'round the Old Oak Tree 1973 12
52 Zager & Evans In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) 1969 12
78 Bomfunk MCs Freestyler 2000 11
78 Bruce Springsteen Streets of Philadelphia 1994 11
78 Eminem Without Me 2002 11
78 Europe The Final Countdown 1986 11
78 Foreigner I Want to Know What Love Is 1985 11
78 George McCrae Rock Your Baby 1974 11
78 Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers Swing the Mood 1989 11
78 Londonbeat I've Been Thinking About You 1990 11
78 Los Del Rio Macarena 1996 11
78 O-Zone Dragostea Din Tei 2004 11
78 The Beatles Let it Be 1970 11
78 The Beatles Paperback Writer 1966 11
78 The Black Eyed Peas Shut Up 2003 11
78 The Rolling Stones Angie 1973 11
78 UB40 I Can't Help Falling in Love With You 1993 11
78 Wham! Wake Me Up Before You Go Go 1984 11
78 Wings Mull of Kintyre 1977 11
95 Abba Fernando 1976 10
95 Ace of Base All That She Wants 1993 10
95 Archies Sugar Sugar 1969 10
95 Baccara Yes Sir, I Can Boogie 1977 10
95 Bill Haley & His Comets Rock Around the Clock 1955 10
95 Bing Crosby White Christmas 1942 10
95 Blondie Heart of Glass 1979 10
95 Boney M Ma Baker 1977 10
95 Boyz II Men End of the Road 1992 10
95 Chicago If You Leave Me Now 1976 10
95 Cliff Richard We Don't Talk Anymore 1979 10
95 Culture Beat Mr Vain 1993 10
95 Emilia Big Big World 1998 10
95 Haddaway What is Love? 1993 10
95 James Blunt You're Beautiful 2005 10
95 Kaoma Lambada 1989 10
95 Lionel Richie Hello 1984 10
95 Madonna Music 2000 10
95 Madonna Papa Don't Preach 1986 10
95 Michael Jackson Billie Jean 1983 10
95 Musical Youth Pass the Dutchie 1982 10
95 Nena 99 Luftballons 1983 10
95 Queen Bohemian Rhapsody 1976 10
95 Robin Beck First Time 1988 10
95 Shaggy Angel 2001 10
95 Shakira & Wyclef Jean Hips don't lie 2006 10
95 Smokie Living Next Door to Alice 1977 10
95 Snap Rhythm is a Dancer 1992 10
95 Survivor Eye of the Tiger 1982 10
95 t.A.T.u. All the Things She Said 2003 10
95 Take That Back For Good 1995 10
95 Tears For Fears Shout 1985 10
95 The Backstreet Boys I Want it That Way 1999 10
95 The Beatles Hello, Goodbye 1967 10
95 The Beatles Help! 1965 10
95 The Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand 1964 10

Artists with the most number 1 songs

Here are the artists with the highest count of songs that reached number 1 in at least one chart.

# Artist Count
1 The Beatles 66
2 Elvis Presley 53
3 Bing Crosby 51
4 Madonna 37
5 The Rolling Stones 35
6 BZ 32
6 Paul Whiteman 32
6 U2 32
9 Guy Lombardo 30
10 Elton John 29
10 Michael Jackson 29
12 Depeche Mode 26
13 Glenn Miller 25
14 Al Jolson 24
14 Cliff Richard 24
16 Abba 23
16 Frank Sinatra 23
16 Hamazaki Walking 23
19 Mr Children 22
20 Kiyoko Matsuda 21
21 Akina Nakamori 20
21 Mariah Carey 20
21 Perry Como 20
24 Bee Gees 19
24 Janet Jackson 19
24 Queen 19
24 Rod Stewart 19
28 Bon Jovi 17
28 Duke Ellington 17
28 Glay 17
28 Snap 17
32 Boney M 16
32 David Bowie 16
32 Henry Burr 16
32 Nat King Cole 16
32 Republica 16
32 Stevie Wonder 16
32 Westlife 16
32 Whitney Houston 16
40 Alejandro Sanz 15
40 Billy Murray 15
40 Eros Ramazzotti 15
40 Hey 15
40 Johnny Hallyday 15
40 Kinki Kids 15
40 Lady Pank 15
40 Louis Armstrong 15
40 Phil Collins 15
40 Prince 15
40 Roy Orbison 15

Artists with the most number 1 song entries

This is a list of the artists that have had most number 1 chart entries for songs round the world. In this list a song that is number 1 in two different countries counts as 2 entries.

# Artist Count
1 The Beatles 302
2 Madonna 155
3 Elvis Presley 136
4 Michael Jackson 111
5 Abba 105
6 The Rolling Stones 101
7 Elton John 85
8 Bing Crosby 83
9 Bee Gees 80
9 U2 80
11 Boney M 70
12 Whitney Houston 64
13 Mariah Carey 57
13 Queen 57
15 Phil Collins 54
16 Britney Spears 53
16 George Michael 53
18 Cliff Richard 51
18 Stevie Wonder 51
20 Bryan Adams 49
21 Rod Stewart 48
22 Glenn Miller 47
22 Roxette 47
24 Perry Como 46
24 The Pet Shop Boys 46
26 Bon Jovi 44
26 Celine Dion 44
28 Eminem 43
28 Frank Sinatra 43
30 Wings 40
31 David Bowie 38
32 Janet Jackson 37
33 A-Ha 35
33 Al Jolson 35
33 Blondie 35
33 Cher 35
33 Kylie Minogue 35
33 Nat King Cole 35
33 Paul Whiteman 35
33 Prince 35
41 Depeche Mode 34
41 Duran Duran 34
41 Guy Lombardo 34
44 BZ 32
44 Spice Girls 32
44 The Sweet 32
47 Creedence Clearwater Revival 31
47 Donna Summer 31
47 Roy Orbison 31
47 Snap 31
51 Barbra Streisand 30
51 Bruce Springsteen 30
51 The Backstreet Boys 30
51 The Beach Boys 30
51 Carpenters 30
51 Westlife 30
51 Wham! 30

Albums that were number 1 in the most charts

This is a list of the albums that reached number 1 in the highest number of charts.

# Artist Album Title Year Count
1 The Beatles Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 1967 16
1 Michael Jackson Thriller 1982 16
3 Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever 1978 15
3 Whitney Houston The Bodyguard 1993 15
5 Bruce Springsteen Born In The USA 1984 12
5 Santana Supernatural 1999 12
5 The Beatles 1 2000 12
8 Michael Jackson Bad 1987 11
8 Pink Floyd The Division Bell 1994 11
8 Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love 1997 11
8 Eminem The Eminem Show 2002 11
8 U2 How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb 2004 11
13 Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 10
13 Celine Dion All The Way... A Decade Of Songs 1999 10
13 Celine Dion Falling Into You 1996 10
13 Celine Dion & James Horner Titanic 1998 10
13 Coldplay X & Y 2005 10
13 Dire Straits Brothers In Arms 1985 10
13 Madonna Like A Prayer 1989 10
13 Metallica Load 1996 10
13 Phil Collins ... But Seriously 1989 10
13 Pink Floyd The Wall 1979 10
13 Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water 1970 10
13 Sinead O'Connor I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got 1990 10
13 The Prodigy The Fat Of The Land 1997 10
13 U2 Rattle & Hum 1988 10
13 U2 The Joshua Tree 1987 10
13 Whitney Houston Whitney 1987 10

Artists with the most number 1 albums

Here are the artists with the highest count of albums that reached number 1 in at least one chart.

# Artist Count
1 The Beatles 37
2 The Rolling Stones 29
3 Elvis Presley 22
4 BZ 18
4 Celine Dion 17
6 Bob Dylan 17
7 Kiyoko Matsuda 17
7 Rod Stewart 16
7 Madonna 15
10 Elton John 15
11 Abba 14
12 Matutouya Reason Truth 14
12 U2 13
14 Original Cast 13
15 James Last 13
15 Peter Maffay 13
17 Akina Nakamori 13
17 Bruce Springsteen 12
19 Bon Jovi 12
20 Barbra Streisand 12
20 Queen 12
22 Prince 12
22 Led Zeppelin 12
24 Frank Sinatra 12
25 Chage & Aska 12
26 Hamazaki Walking 11
26 Long Fuchi Hardness 11
26 Pink Floyd 10
29 Simon & Garfunkel 10
29 Robbie Williams 10
31 David Bowie 10
31 Herbert Gronemeyer 10
33 Cliff Richard 10
33 The Smurfs 10
35 Bap 10
35 Icebox Capital Mediating/helping 10
35 Magnus Uggla 10
35 Matsuyama Chiharu 10
35 Nakajima You See & Keep 10
35 Ulf Lundell 10

Artists with the most number 1 album entries

This is a list of the artists that have had most number 1 chart entries for albums round the world. In this list an album that is number 1 in two different countries counts as 2 entries.

# Artist Count
1 The Beatles 118
2 Madonna 76
2 U2 76
4 The Rolling Stones 70
5 Celine Dion 62
6 Bruce Springsteen 57
6 Michael Jackson 57
8 Bon Jovi 52
9 Pink Floyd 48
10 Elton John 46
10 REM 46
12 Abba 43
13 Metallica 41
14 Robbie Williams 38
14 Whitney Houston 38
16 Phil Collins 37
17 Elvis Presley 32
17 Rod Stewart 32
17 Eminem 32
20 Queen 31
20 Bee Gees 31
22 Dire Straits 30
23 Bryan Adams 29
24 Led Zeppelin 28
24 Prince 28
24 Red Hot Chili Peppers 28
27 Mariah Carey 27
27 The Backstreet Boys 27
29 Bob Dylan 26
30 Alanis Morissette 25
31 Coldplay 24
32 Depeche Mode 22
32 Britney Spears 22
32 George Michael 22
32 Norah Jones 22
36 Barbra Streisand 21
36 Simon & Garfunkel 21
38 Original Cast 20
38 Santana 20
40 Deep Purple 19
41 BZ 18
41 Herbert Gronemeyer 18
41 Oasis 18
41 Roxette 18
41 Simply Red 18
41 John Lennon 18
47 Kiyoko Matsuda 17
47 Eros Ramazzotti 17
47 Nirvana 17
47 Pearl Jam 17
51 David Bowie 16
51 Genesis 16
51 Eagles 16
51 Fleetwood Mac 16
51 Paul McCartney 16
51 Radiohead 16
51 Avril Lavigne 16
58 Frank Sinatra 15
58 The Smurfs 15
58 AC/DC 15
58 Sting 15
58 Boney M 15
58 Paul Simon 15
58 The Police 15
58 Anastacia 15

The process of calculating these results is a bit complex, for that reason the data shown is not recalculated each time the site is regenerated. So the information may not exactly match the current version of the data. These results were calculated from the 1.8.0060 data.

Back to Introduction

The comments here are from the the MusicID impact site site. This version is not able to accept comments yet

14 Dec 2023

Madonna

Hung Up is the most successfull single worldwide charting number 1 on 41 countries.

Other opinions are available


5 Oct 2023

Bowie

Bowie in the UK has 11 number 1 albums, in addition, Heathen and Reality werenumber 1 in Denmark, when billboard began publishing the list of "Midline LPs" in 1982, which was about the best-selling old albums, Ziggy Stardust was number 1 for 35 weeks, I don't know if they count that,


16 Jul 2023

Like a Prayer

On list of the songs that reached number 1 in the highest number of charts, itranks Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” at 20-something. That song in fact was number one in more than 20 countries around the world.+

But we don't have reliable versions of those charts, so they don't count


19 Apr 2023

Most number one hits

How come George Strait doesn't appear on any of these lists supposedly he had60 number one hits

He didn't


15 Apr 2023

It's Madonna not George Strait

All those talking about George Strait having 60 #1 Country Songs in the US is a straight up lie, no pun intended. Madonna has 50 #1 Dance songs and holds the record for artist with the most #1's on any Billboard chart. Of coursefor these calculations Madonna's 50 #1 Dance songs don't count. However George Strait fans, calm your farm.


7 Nov 2022

Westlife

Yes, Westlife They had countless number 1's in the UK and other European countries, but are no where to be seen on any of these lists?

I believe they had 7 number 1's in a row in the UK alone. Is this an exercise to erase Ireland out of music history?

They had 13 number one songs, this list shows artists with 15 or more. They had 7 number one albums, this list shows artists with 10 or more.

Basically Westlife are below the cut for both lists.


17 Sep 2022

Great compendium of #1 hit artists!

1. Finally, a list that counts songs/hits and not "records" like Billboard does AND the list recognizes there are countries besides the USA. Billboard uses records to suppress numbers of artists like Elvis who had records with double sided hits.

2. The Hot 100 is described as an "all-genre" list, so, songs that make it to the Hot 100 are the best selling. Hence, use of the Hot 100 for data makes perfect sense.

3. George Strait, Twitty, and others did have many #1 country hits. Straitstill might not have the most #1's because Elvis also had #1 country hits, #1 R&B hits, #1 Adult Contemporary hits, etc. To count all of the sub-category lists would be a massive task...maybe something that could be done in the future.

Thank you for your kind words.

Our issue with "Country", "Adult Contemporary" and other specialist charts is a bit deeper. We don't see any way to compare a number 1 "Country" hit with a number 1 "Metal" hit. If "Country" music sells twice as much as "Metal" music then positions in that chart should be "worth" twice as much.

When we compare countries we can use the total market size. We know, for example, that the USA music market (in, lets say, 2003) was worth $11,848M, while the UK's was $3,567M. So the US chart counts 3.32 times the UK one (for 2003). But we only have reliable dollar estimates for countries, not for charts.

So I for one will never get round to counting all the sub-charts.


1 Mar 2022

you should +be shot+

I can't find your name anywhere but I will. I am sick and tired of theleftest lying as usual and leaving out half of america or more in regards to their trash music for our beautiful country and Mr. George Strait who has had the most number one hits of all time.

If Country music represented anywhere near half of the USA's music then George Strait would have had at least a one national number one. The fact he hasn't shows that you are in a minority (even in the USA).

I understand that there are Fascists in the USA that won't accept it when the majority outvotes them. I am thankful that I live in an actual democracy. Please take your stupid threats elsewhere


17 Feb 2021

Beatles

I don't know where you got your information from but you must have an unusualmethod of deciding what's a #1. I doubt that anyone would agree with your accounting. #1 on the charts is the way most people including recording industry people count #1 hits. The Beatles as a group had 20 #1 singles on the charts. Paul McCartney had 9 #1 singles on the charts, John, George and Ringo each had 2 #1 singles on the charts. They had collectively 35 #1 singles. And I would bet they probably had lots of albums on the charts as well. The most fantastic thing is 20 #1 singles in the less than 7 years they were together and had record contracts. Just imagine what would have happened if they had stayed together 10 or 15 or even 20 years. Once they had become famous, all the record companies that didn't sign them started releasing records from their audition tapes.

This site lists the sources of every chart listed here


29 Oct 2020

no country!

George strait had 60... Conway Twitty 55 (or 44 and 40 just counting billboard country music charts)

Country music charts STILL don't count. George Strait has zero number ones. Anything that is not a national chart doesn't count.


27 Aug 2020

No Diana Ross,#19 including Her work with THE SURPEMES+


26 May 2020

This list is way incorrect+

The Beatles do not have anywhere near 60 number one hits your on crack.

The data doesn't lie, go count them


14 Apr 2020

All Entries

Where's Kennedy Rodgers? He had 24 number 1 hits.+

A number one hit in the Country Chart still doesn't count.

Kenny Rodgers has zero national number one hits.


9 Sep 2019

Number 1s

Where is Camilo Sesto? He has 51 number one hits.+

We don't have reliable charts for Spain in the 70s. He doesn't have many hits elsewhere


19 Aug 2019

Problem solved + by me. +Willie. !!!! Lol.💩💩💩💩

+ Would it not be a good idea to have a. All purpose list so to speak.. +covering all the catogories ??? +I'm sure it can be done!!!! BTW. +I THOUGHT. THE. US AND NATIONAL WAS THE SAME THING?? +PLEASE ANSWER THAT OR TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE. +THANKS+

It has been done, that is the first list.

The national chart in the USA is the US chart. Other nations have different national charts (there are nations other than the USA you know).


27 May 2019

Bias much

+Where's George Strait and Alabama. You say, different genre but you put theSMURF W/ BEATLES and Madonna. HELL! most bands on the list is different genre. BULLSHIT LIST MADE BY PPL DON'T KNOW WTF THEIR DOING

It's not that they are a different genre, we only look at non-genre charts. To take just one example, "The Smurf Song" was a national number 1 in Holland, Belgium, and Germany, number 2 in the UK and Austria, and number 3 in Switzerland. In contrast George Strait has only ever had hits in one country, and even there has never made the national top 20 songs chart.

We don't include the Polka charts, the Finnish Death metal charts, or the US Country Music charts. We don't include any minority interest charts at all.

If you want to get a listing of top Country Music artists this is not the site for you, here we list the most successful artists across the whole world.


19 May 2019

BS

I am another deranged country fan, and George Straight had 56 number 1 hits.+If you are going to do a list of number one songs, you should include the country genre. If not then clarify that you are only covering Pop music. Your remarks are immature at most and ignorant at best.

Genre charts still don't count. We won't include the Iclandic Heavy Metal chart or the US Country music chart.

You will also notice that we don't include any genre focused "Pop" charts either.

George Straight had no National number 1 records


17 Mar 2019

#1 songs

Where is George Strait. I know for a fact he's had 60+ number one songs.

George Strait has never had a national number 1 song. Genre charts don't count otherwise we'd be swamped by groups that were number one in the Finnish Death Metal charts.


23 Feb 2018

Music Group Alabama.

Alabama has had 41 #1 hit songs - Why aren't they on this list for? Only -The Beatles , +Elvis Presley , and Bing Crosby has had more #1 hit songs then Alabama according to your list. I feel that Alabama isn't getting the Credit they are owed.

Alabama had NO National number one hits, not a single one. They had 41 number ones in the US Country charts, that is clearly not the same thing. If it was they would have had some National number ones.

If we counted any genre charts we would have to include the New Zealand "Folk Parody Duo" charts, then where would we be?


26 Jun 2017

Do NOT, I say NOT, use this site as a source for any informaiton

The information provided on this site is extremely bias (see passed comments) and is missing a large amount of credible information. It is all based on the opinion of someone that did not do their research on music and is not including artists and music genres because they either do not like them or in their opinion, it is not music. +However, they have at no point provided creditable evidence to prove their point.


1 Apr 2017

Most of the country fans posting here...

... just don't seem that bright

To be fair to country music fans we suspect that most of the posts here about George Strait come from just one person (we also suspect someone whose mental facilities are frequently challenged)


14 Mar 2017

On the George Strait again....+

George Strait sings music doesn't he? That made a certain chart as #1? It's music, dipshit

We don't include the Latvian Polka Chart, the New York Rap Charts, the French Jazz Charts or the US Country Music Charts. We have explained why not already.

Now be a good little boy, take your insults elsewhere


11 Mar 2017

Celine Dion, A new day has come.

A new day has come album should also be on the album list cos I'm sure itcharted in more countries. Please check it out.


10 Jan 2017

More Elvis

How often is this updated? In the last year and a half,Elvis has had 2 numberone albums in the UK,1 number one album on the US Rock Chart,1 number one album on the US Classical Charts.Not bad for someone gone almost 40 years.


25 Dec 2016

Ok to the dumbass who made this set... <rant about George Strait removed>

...Billboard is so dumb it's like album sells are Bullshit to back in the day you bought a whole CD or a tape or something now if you just down load one song from someone album cost 99 cents they get the credit they sold a whole damn am I album which they didn't sold a song


1 Sep 2016

country music

Really the country music is only largely listened to in the US, so it onlyreally counts on one chart. I am from the UK and would like to know how 2 Canadians topped songs that were #1 on the most charts, weird, even beat the Beatles and Elvis which was a surprise. As you go down the charts and those two are on the top of every other chart.

As the text says "reached number 1 in the highest number of charts", the fact is that there were many more charts available for the 1990s than the 1960s. That is why the count of charts is not a good indicator of overall success.


19 Aug 2016

All Hail King George Strait!!!

Sorry all you haters of Country music but in the Republic of Texas, KingGeorge is the current #1 Artist in Billboard charts history and that's the only nation/country that counts! All other genres of music is just noise!

Other opinions are also available


4 Jun 2016

The King

George is content to be the King of country music, Honorary King of the Republic of Texas and filthy freaking rich! Bahahahahaaa


8 May 2016

Last week, country stalwart George Strait set a new milestone: 60 songs certified by Billboard as No. 1 hits...

No they didn't, they certified 60 Number One COUNTRY Hits. Which is something quite different

It doesn't matter how many times you repeat the same old refain a Number One COUNTRY Hit will never qualify as a real number one.


8 May 2016

this is a joke

You've already mentioned your opinion (on many occasions)


21 Apr 2016

Lol! Sorry guys, I got it WHY George Strait did not on the lists. I'm a fanand am not bother to complain, we knew what an artist achieved. It's his/her legacy, period. In Quora, it worst!


16 Nov 2015

charts

LETS FACE IT ELVIS IS THE NO 1 SOLO ARTIST ,THE BEATLES THE TOP BAND NO ONE ELSE COMES NEAR ,


7 Nov 2015

the script+

they had 125 #1 hits


30 Oct 2015

Just shut up.

Why is every one here soo dumb? George Strait may is only big for countrymusic, and country music is only big in some parts of the US. I'd never even heard if him before looking at these comments. We are looking at songs here that have achieved universal success across national charts, not country genre specific charts. No one cares if he had 59 number 1 hits in the US hot country singles.


7 Oct 2015

wrong

Sorry do break it to everbody..George Strait owns the record..Billboard does not recognize country..

He's the king


21 Sep 2015

About George

The reason George isn't extrmely huge pitside the U.S. Is because he does not tpur outside the U.S.

He also filled Cowboy's Stadium to capacity (Largest Arena in the world) The largest crowd for any artist in any genre ever. The only thing that beat it was the Academy Of Country Music Awards held in the same stadium, setting a world record......

Yep, Country Music sure is "Not that big" huh?

The largest arena in the world is Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, it seats 40,000 more people. The largest arena in the USA is Michigan Stadium. Kyle Field is the largest arena in Texas (which is not the same thing)

The largest crowd for any artist ever was either Rod Stewart's Rio concert of 1994 or Jean Michel Jarre's Moscow concert of 1997 (both estimated at 3.5 million). The largest crowd for a concert at a sports stadium was probably the 147,241 people who saw Paul McCartney, U2 and Madonna at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1993.

We suspect that the 104,793 fans at the concert you mention is a record for Texas, but not for the World.

So Yep, Country Music is not that big (outside Texas)


12 Jul 2015

Number 1s+

Hello my name is Terry Moore. Thought up a good question for you guys. Howmany artists have had number 1 hits in multiple different genres? Who were they, and what were the genres that they held number 1s in?

We don't have a good definition of genres.


6 Jul 2015

hmm

According to wiki: A kind of magic was #1 in over 35 countries Radio ga ga was #1 in 19 countries The final Countdown was #1 in 25 countries

We can only list countries where a complete chart is available


30 May 2015

George Strait+

I'm looking back on these comments and I'm seeing you saying stuff like GeorgeStrait Has NO Number 1s dude get your facts right.This Chart and your opinion proves nothing just you being a slob and disregarding The KING GEORGE STRAIT...

Your use of capitals says all anyone needs to know


8 Apr 2015

Missing Artists

Where is George Strait? He has 60 #1 hits... so I guess the US Billboard Hot Country Singles doesn't count as a chart... You guys put no thought on that list

It doesn't matter how many times you make this same point, the "US Hot Country Singles" does not (and never will) count as a national chart (neither does the R&B, Death Metal nor Polka music charts). "Number one Country Song" in the US is not the same as number one song in the country.


15 Mar 2015

missing artist's

What no garth brooks, no george strait wierd?? Books has 19 ok overlooked no big deal But George Strait has 59 songs that reached # 1 and hes not on any of these lists. Im not a big country music fan but dam if you missed these two how many more did you miss? I see your dissclamer but George had 51 of his # 1's before 2000 anyway lost some credibility. P.S the only rapper on the list is eminem, I dont know the facts on it, J-Z, biggie or TUPAC doesnt make anyof these list? Hmmm suspicious or just lazy

51 number 1 hits in the Coutry music charts before 2000 counts as no number 1 hits in the National charts (still). George Strait's highest peak was 23 in 2002 with "She'll Leave You With A Smile", he has not had a top 20 hit, let alone a number 1.

Garth Brooks has at least had one top 10 hit ("Lost In You" reached number 5 in 1999) but has never had a number one.


25 Feb 2015

Newest No.1 Artist

Psy is the first Korean artist to have more than 20 European number ones incountries likw UK, France, Austria, Germany for one week and other countries too with his smashing hit, Gangnam Style. No.2 in the U.S. because he was scandalisedd by nearly performing topless in the American Music Awards so he was replaced by Maroon 5 as the No.1 in the U.S. for 9 weeks but in Canada and several European countries he charted at number 1. He's a very new artist in the Americas and Europe but a veteran artist in South Korea. All of the most number ones in several countries in this webpage should be replaced by Psy as with the most number ones in the world.

We think you have overestimated Psy's achievement. When all the charts are available we'll see how it compares


20 Jan 2015

elvis

If you count The few years Elvis recorded before the military And the couple years after the movie contract was up it doesnt add up to many years at all. He accomplished a lot in a short time his career spanned what about 22 years? A lot of that time he didnt, record im almost sure please, correct,me, if, im wrong thank you


30 Nov 2014

Your mother

George Strait has the most # 1 hits...

I bet your mother is ...<insults removed>... Shove it you Limey bastard!

Pull this info or we sue, is that clear?


6 Nov 2014

George Strait

he now has 60 number ones witch is more then anyone. plus he is the only artist to have a number one every year of his music career . you also leave out Garth Brooks who's album was number one only a few months ago.

George Strait has NO number ones, anywhere. In fact he has no top 20 hits, not a single one anywhere

Being number one in a genre chart doesn't count


28 Oct 2014

Queen - a kind of magic?

A kind of magic was number 1 in over 35 countries. Where is that?

The song was NOT number one in the UK, US, Germany, France or any of the other countries we actually have charts for.

The album was number 1 in the UK (and nowhere else) but this is a list of songs not albums.


19 Oct 2014

u missed many artists in country music like don williams, grorge strait etc both got more than 20 hits

Number 1 in the country music charts still doesn't count (and never will, it doesn't matter how many times you tell us they should)


17 Sep 2014

Artist without nber one hits

Cannot believe that Comway Twitty is not mentioned anywhere! He passed away with the most number one hits upon his death in 1993 with 55 even more than Elvis! And his music is as relavent today as it was back then!+


12 Jul 2014

Merle Haggard ++ "43 LEGENDARY HITS"

Let's say Merle Haggard didn't get the most number 1s, but all the Greats and everyone that is able to recognize the best , Termed Merle Haggards 43 +number 1s ! + LEGENDARY HITS , +I would Ike to take this opportunity help persons measure the difference between number 1s , and +LEGENDARY HITS , the differences ! + most number 1s get tired of listening to them after about 2 or 3 years , + a +LEGENDARY HIT +you don't get tired of hearing for 30 years . upon researching into what all MUSIC ROYALTY +them selves , states ! +that nobody can compete with Merle Haggard , his album released 13 or 14 years title ++ +Merle Haggard +FOR THE RECORD +"43" LEGENDARY HITS . says it all , if that's not convincing there's the TRIBUTE TO MERLE HAGGARD video , all the greats interveiwed one after another say that for vocals and who the greatest country singer is , is Merle Haggard .


8 Jul 2014

Where's the facts?

Where's George Strait? ...<rant about why everyone likes Country music and dislikes the Billboard 100 chart removed because of excessive obscenity>


8 May 2014

george strait

What about George straight? Just kidding I get it.


5 May 2014

Avicii - Wake Me Up

This chart may have been wrote a while ago but, according to Wikipedia, the song was number 1 in 22 countries. I'm just curious to if the song can be called the song which charted #1 in most charts

We only include charts where we can get hold of significant data sets. It could be number one in other countries whose data we can't obtain.


17 Apr 2014

Julio Iglesias and Camilo Sesto

Please read about these two singers. You will be surprised what you will find! Julio Iglesias 3 times Guinness World Records, over 300 million sold and 16 number 1. Camilo Sesto with 52 number 1 certainly makes your lists somewhere!

Unfortunately we don't have any good charts for Spain (or Latin America). Do you know where we can get some (covering the 1980s and earlier)?


16 Apr 2014

King George

Something you'll just have to deal with. No matter how you put it, #1 plain and simple, George Strait. All the pop people and hip hoppers are just going to have to swallow it down and realize they pale in comparison to George.

It doesn't matter how many times you repeat this. Country music number 1 will never count


12 Apr 2014

The Beatles with The Beatles (White Album) was nr.1 in over 34 countries?

If you look at the listing for the album it tells you which countries we have data for: UK, US, West Germany, Norway, Australia, France and Italy for example. It is almost certainly true that it was the number one album in more than 34 countries, but we lack data to show that. For example countries such as Poland, Russia and East Germany (that were behind the Iron Curtain at the time), it was illegal to have a copy so reliable charts are somewhat sparse.

We don't have the data for 34 country's album charts from the 1960s. We can tell you that "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was number one in 16 charts


27 Mar 2014

George strait

+(George Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis. He has sold nearly 69 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley) Oh because he insist relevant???+

Once again, number one in the Country Music charts is not the same as number one in the national charts. How many national number ones has he had in the US? The answer to that question is 0 (zero) that's fewer than 50cent, or The Bellamy Brothers, or Jim Croce, or Jimmy Soul, or David Soul. How many number ones has he had outside the US? Again the answer is 0 (zero)

Internationally George Strait is not in the 1,000 biggest song artists.


17 Dec 2013

Most Number 1 Songs

I would look to include country music as it takes its roots from the same place as rock and blues and can be argued as the foundation for both. You should be including artists like George Strait and Conway Twitty as both would have been at the top of this list.

We do include Country music, anytime it makes it to the top of the standard charts.

Being the "Number 1 Country Song" is very different from being the "Number 1 Song". If someone were to list the "Number 1 songs by a woman singing in French that mentions Leopards" we wouldn't include that chart either.

Including any genre specific charts would make the results just depend on our personal tastes


30 Nov 2013

#1 hits

I didn't see any country artist. Country was around longer than rock!

Johnny Cash, John Denver, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson

Of course artists have to have enough hits (across the world) to make the list, so there are few modern country artists


17 Oct 2013

denisse maldonado


6 Sep 2013

this list is totally inaccurate. B'z has over 70 albums at #1 on the OriconJapan chart alone which is the main chart for Japan. They have 46 consecutive #1 singles, which I don't think is matched by anyone in the world. In the list Oricon is not even sited...

...There are tons of Japanese artists missing from this list...

...(B'z) are the only Asian band with handprints in holleywood and no one in the states even knows who they are!

The Oricon number one albums is cited, as we say in the chart listing "The combination of an unofficial source and a not very good translation lowers the quality of the result"

If you tell us where we can get reliable Japanese charts we will include them.

Without good source data we have to rely on what we can get, with all the issues you point out.


22 Jul 2013

This is wrong

Ummm jay z has the most #1 albums for a solo artist and he isn't even on the chart

For a start we don't have much data for album charts after 2008, secondly this is not just about US charts.

In our list Jay Z has 9 number one albums in the US and none (not a single one) anywhere else, this compares with these other solo artists:

Elvis Presley - 25 number one albums. Bob Dylan - 18 number one albums. Bruce Springsteen - 17 number one albums. Seiko Matsuda - 17 number one albums. Elton John - 16 number one albums. Madonna - 16 number one albums. Peter Maffay - 16 number one albums. Rod Stewart - 16 number one albums. Celine Dion - 15 number one albums. Michael Jackson - 14 number one albums.

As it says on this page we only calculate this list occasionally (the counts above are for the 2.2.0022 version of the data. Even adding the latest chart data would only place Jay Z about 30th in the list of artists


27 Jun 2013

RIAA says Elvis sold the most

While I enjoy diversity and the talent the many artists have displayed over the years, I wanted to know which artist sold the most records. It wasn't as close as I thought.

According to the R.I.A.A., the governing body that certifies Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum Record Sales, (Recording Industry Association of America) the Leading all time Artist in Record Sales is ELVIS PRESLEY. Elvis is the leading sales artist for both Solo Artist or Group. Elvis has sold over 2.5 Billion Records Worldwide. ( A Billion is 1 Thousand Million). Elvis has been on the charts more times than any other artist or group. Elvis has the most hits in the Top 100, the Top 40, The Top 10, and has had 32 Number 1 Records. Elvis is the only artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and The Rythm and Blues Hall of Fame.

John Lennon said: "Before Elvis there was nothing". Bruce Springsteen said: "There are pretenders and contenders... but their is only one King". Elton John said: "There is no one greater as an artist on this earth, Elvis was my inspiration... he is the Man. Period."

Paul McCartney said: "I thought the Beatles had gold records, until I had a private tour of Graceland... the hall of Gold says it all... Elvis has the most Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum sales of all of us.... amazing man... simply amazing".

According to the R.I.A.A., with help from EMI, the Beatles place number 2 on the list of All Time Record Sellers with nearly 1.6 Billion Records sold worldwide. Hey Jude was their Biggest selling record followed by Yesterday.

Michael Jackson made the top 20, placing number 16 on the list of all time Record Sales. His Album Thriller is the Biggest Selling Album of all time with over 50 Million Copies Sold. Michael's personal sales as a Solo Artist, along with the Jackson 5, has sold a total of 185 Million Records worldwide. (His Album BAD sold 22 Million copies).

These certifications, current as of March 1, 2009. Every 3 months the R.I.A.A., with the help of BMI, and ASCAP... update record sales awards.

So, there ya go folks. Those are the true facts. And, I might add, Elvis, the Beatles, and Michael Jackson continue to sell records daily.

So, their record sales will continue to increase. But remember, in Elvis and the Beatles day, you had to sell 1 million copies for a single, and 500 thousand for an album to be certified gold. Now days, you only have to sell 500 thousand singles and 250,000 albums to be certified gold. That's what makes the sales records of Elvis and the Beatles even more impressive.

The Fans and Other Entertainers called Elvis, "The King of Rock and Roll". The term "King of Pop" was self imposed by Michael Jackson. It stuck from there, but Michael called himself that... that's what he wanted to be called.

The Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, D.C., named Elvis Presley, "The Greatest Entertainer of the 20th Century".

Source(s): The Recording Industry Association of America, ASCAP, BMI, Billboard Magazine, RCA Records/BMG Records.


4 May 2013

George Strait??

It's a disgrace that no country music artists are included in this chart! Garth Brooks has sold the 3rd most albums of all artists in the history of music!

Number one in genre specific charts still doesn't count (and never will).

Garth Brooks has the third highest album sales of all artists? That claim would require some evidence


3 May 2013

jay z

dont see hova?


12 Apr 2013

The Beatles did it all in only 8 years

When you look at the the top 20 artists in all of these lists, they are or were recording and releasing music for many years or even decades. +The Beatles top just about every list and did it all (with the exception of "1") +in 8 years. +They recorded from 1962 to 1970 releasing 13 albums that were all chart toppers. There are an additional 32 songs that weren't on any of these albums like +She loves you, I want to hold your hand and Hey Jude. +The style and change year after year with each release were leaps and bounds apart. Their recordings in 1964 don't even sound like the same band compared to 1967. When you look at their accomplishments, it's mind boggling that it was all done in such a short time frame.


10 Dec 2012

To omit country music is a disgrace to all music lovers!

Are you crazy? ... To dismiss country music or any other because you think people outside the USA do not listen is such a disgrace. ...

This site is about music that is popular across the world, we don't emphasise Bollywood songs, the hits of Johnny Halliday or Norwegian Death Metal.

As far as possible we ONLY include charts that don't care about music genre, any other approaches would be biased by our choice of charts. So no HipHop charts, no Latin Music charts and no Country Music charts. The best Country music songs have made it into the Billboard charts (for example Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" was a hit in the USA (Billboard & CashBox), Australia, UK, Canada, South Africa and Holland)

So George Strait's biggest hit reached number 27


18 Nov 2012

Celine vs Mariah

I can't really understand why Mariah Carey has the most number one hits than any other solo artists when in fact as I can see here, apparently not.

Can you please tell me who really has more number ones: Celine or Mariah?

Your comment makes no sense, on this page Elvis Presley has 75 number ones, Madonna has 52 and Mariah Carey has 29. Why do you think "Mariah Carey has the most number one hits than any other solo artist"?

Depending on what you mean by "more number ones" the answer could be either one, that is why there are 8 different lists on this page. In these lists Mariah Carey is above Celine Dion three times and below her three times.


5 Sep 2012

Prince

Can someone tell me what Prince's international #1's actually are? from what I understand from this page he has 15 worldwide #1s so what are they?

All Prince's song positions are listed on his song page, for example "Beautiful, Loved & Blessed" - 1994 - (Japan (Tokyo) 1 - Mar 2006 (11 weeks), RYM 58 of 1994) was number one in Japan (and not a hit elsewhere).

However note that the count of number 1s was calculated from version 1.8 of the data (we are now on 2.1) it could be that there is a difference where previously distinct songs have been renamed to make them consistent.


9 Aug 2012

George Strait

Why doesnt any of these number 1 sites every list George Strait. Are they saying Country music doesn't count. He has had to date, 59 number ones. Strait is third only to Elvis Presley and The Beatles with the most gold and platinum albums in the history of music and currently is two away from passing them. He is also the seventh best selling artist in American music history, and has recorded the most number one songs and top five songs in the history of music of any kind. Strait is the only artist in the history of music to have a top ten hit every year for thirty years. Why is it that every site I have been to on the subject never mentions him at all. Country music is the longest running genre of all music genres still around today and to be completely negated as if it does not exist, is a slap in the face.

George Strait is listed on this site (as an album artist). The number of national number ones he has had in the Billboard charts is zero. We ignore all genre specific charts, being number one on the country music chart has almost no impact outside the USA.

We put little emphasis on certification, because it is mainly based on the record company's willingness to pay and hence is not a good indicator of actual success. Our listing shows Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Disney and The Rolling Stones as all having more US gold albums than George Strait. The number of George Strait's albums that have awards outside the US is two, one gold and one platinum, both in Canada.

We feel that his lack of a song page and position in the albums chart is a good reflection of the success he has had in the mainstream charts across the world.


6 Jul 2012

Elvis not mediocre

I can not understand someone who consistently is mentioned in lists of top achievements in recordings and sales being described as "mediocre" Elvis did not write his songs, had few concept albums as did Beatles but he had a voice that has been described by voice experts as being both a bass and tenor all in one package. Elvis had well over 2 and 1/2 octaves in full voice and 3 and 1/2 with falsetto included-he sang virtually all styles and genres and did them well. His voice was his instrument according to Bob Dylan. Elvis sold rock to the world and instead of appreciating how hard that was in 1955 he is downplayed and called "mediocre" by young people who have no inking of what the world was in 1955. The culture of the world changed in the 50s and Elvis Presley was a driving force for that change. To call Elvis mediocre is both shortsighted and with little knowledge of greatness and charisma.

As we mentioned in our reply we also disagree with that anonymous comment


23 Apr 2012

In the Albums that were number 1 in the most charts the Beatles "1" album shows Count of 12. The Guiness Book of Records say that this album was number 1 in 35 countries. I also assume it would have charted in other countries where it did not get to number 1 yet it does not appear in the section Album with the largest number of chart entries. Is there a particular reason for these differences?

Regards

We "only" have complete charts available for 29 countries and "only" 19 countries have album charts. Obviously it is easier to find chart information for a single album than tracking complete charts. It seems to us that it is quite possible for it to have been number 1 in 12 of our charts but also in 35 countries.


26 Sep 2011

Celine Dion

Don't you think that Mrs Celine Dion is a bit OVERrated in your site?? Cause from where i see she is above Michael Jackson, Phil Collins and Queen even in some Entries...

In the best list, that is the "All Time Music Act" list we have: Celine Dion 49th, Michael Jackson 19th, Phil Collins 44th, Queen 17th. In the Song Artists lists we have Celine Dion 47th, Michael Jackson 5th, Phil Collins 28th, Queen 13th. In the Album Artists lists we have Celine Dion 14th, Michael Jackson 10th, Phil Collins 29th, Queen 12th.

So in the main lists she's below all the acts you mention except that she is noted as having more overall album success than Phil Collins.

The only main listing where she's above those acts is in the "Success in the 1990s" chart. Which, given the number and success of her albums and songs in that period, looks like a valid measure to us.

On the "Number 1s" page her song "My Heart Will Go On" is listed as being number 1 in more charts than any other song. But that just reflects the fact that we have more charts for 1998 than we do for say 1982 or 1976.

So no, we don't think that her position is inflated.


27 Jul 2010

WHO HAD THE MOST NUMBER ONES?

It must be remembered that alot of Elvis' sales were lost through the years and probably lost forever. Also, Elvis' label failed to get much of Elvis' releases certified by paying the fee to do so. Also, by the time the Beatles and the British Invasion arrived many countries had more accurate sales charts. The Beatles obviously were the ones that benefitted the most from that. The facts are this, you don't see millions visiting John Lennon's or Paul McCartney's home every year.

Your main point is exactly right. The count of number 1s obviously depends on the number of charts that were active at the time (and place). When Elvis was at his peak there were fewer charts, so less chance to be number 1.

However the number of charts was increasing all the way up to the year 1970 so if that were the only factor then one would expect a group from the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s to lead the count. In addition Elvis was releasing music up to 1977, in our listing he was the second biggest act of the 1960s (after The Beatles) so he should have also benefited from the greater number of charts as well.

We have tried a number of approaches to allow acts from different decades to be compared, none of which is completely satisfactory. In terms of song success we feel that it is possible to argue for either Elvis or The Beatles to have been the most successful act of all time (or at a stretch Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby or possibly even Madonna). Whichever reasonable metric is used these acts consistently come out ahead of the rest of the pack (of course vocal fans of various other acts claim that they were "bigger than Elvis/The Beatles" but this is usually based on an astounding ignorance of history combined with a belief that making the same ridiculous claims enough times makes them true).

Finally we suspect that the number of visitors to Graceland (600k/year) as compared with say either 20 Forthlin Road or 251 Menlove Avenue (which are both run by the UK National Trust) probably has more to do with the sizes of the properties and the number of tourists in Liverpool. But even so the "number of visitors" metric doesn't seem like a good one to us, for example Dollywood gets at least four times as many visitors as Graceland, I don't think very many people would conclude that Dolly Parton was a bigger star than Elvis!


7 Jul 2010

Not impressive!

People often forget to see the quality when numbers speak. They have number ones but the content they released is not mentioned.

The content should be mentioned. That is when acts like Michael Jackson and The Beatles will prove extremely superior. Elvis will remain mediocre, as he always was.

This site lists chart hits, as you say even being a major worldwide hit doesn't guarantee that everyone will like a particular song, after all each of us has our own favourite eras and genres.

These lists help suggest songs that a lot of other people feel have quality, or rather felt had quality once upon a time.

Your personal lack of appreciation for Elvis is of course legitimate, its not a view that we share but it would be a boring world if we were all the same.