Interesting issue from "Ask Billboard"

[Ronny83]

LEADING LADIES

 

Hello Keith,

 

I know that the best selling album by a female solo artist of the Nielsen SoundScan era (1991-present) is "Come On Over" by Shania Twain, followed by Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill." Could you please provide me a top 10 list of the best selling albums by female artists of the SoundScan era and the actual number of copies they sold?

 

John

 

Hello John,

 

To put your question in the proper perspective, we should look the Nielsen SoundScan era (1991-present) and the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) lists of all-time top sellers.

 

Nielsen SoundScan bases its tallies on actual sales to consumers, taken from a comprehensive national sample of U.S. retailers, mass merchants and Internet sites (such as amazon.com, etc.). Here is the company's list of top-selling female solo artists:

 

1. Shania Twain, "Come On Over" (15.3 million)

2. Alanis Morissette, "Jagged Little Pill" (14.4 million)

3. Soundtrack, "The Bodyguard," (11.8 million)

4. Celine Dion, "Falling Into You" (10.7 million)

5. Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time" (10.5 million)

6. Celine Dion, "Let's Talk About Love" (9.4 million)

7. Norah Jones, "Come Away With Me" (9.2 million)

8. Britney Spears, "Oops! ... I Did It Again" (9.2 million)

9. Christina Aguilera, "Christina Aguilera" (8.1 million)

10. Shania Twain, "The Woman in Me" (7.6 million)

 

The RIAA, on the other hand, has since 1958 based its figures on the number of units shipped to U.S. retailers, including mail order record clubs, and counts each disc of a multiple disc album towards a title's total (ie. 1 million copies shipped of a two-disc album would actually count as 2 million). Here is the RIAA's list of top selling albums by solo female artists:

 

1. Shania Twain, "Come on Over" (19 million)

2. Soundtrack, "The Bodyguard" (17 million)

3. Alanis Morissette, "Jagged Little Pill" (16 million)

4. Whitney Houston, "Whitney Houston" (13 million)

5. Britney Spears, "... Baby One More Time" (13 million)

6. Shania Twain, "The Woman In Me" (12 million)

7. Celine Dion, "Falling Into You" (11 million)

8. Jewel, "Pieces of You" (11 million)

9T. Shania Twain, "Up!" (double album, 10 million)

9T. Carole King, "Tapestry" (10 million)

9T. Madonna, "The Immaculate Collection" (10 million)

9T. Madonna, "Like A Virgin" (10 million)

9T. Celine Dion, "Let's Talk About Love" (10 million)

9T. Mariah Carey, "Music Box" (10 million)

9T. Mariah Carey, "Daydream" (10 million)

Source: http://www.billboard.com/bb/ask/index.jsp

[Bellamy]

and this is USA only. if it's worldwide, I believe Celine can get even better rank.

[ByuSmurf]

You want to know something funny! I own everyone of those CDs EXCEPT the ones by Shania Twain! ROFLMAO!!! Her music and voice SUCK! I would rather listen to nails screech down a chalk board!

But...to those of you who are fans of Shania...

 

 

CHEERS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...to the TONE DEAF!!!

[Ronny83]

You're free to express your opinions but, please, don't use large font to bash other singers. Thank you.

[Mozinha]

I had no idea Falling into you sold more than Let's talk about love.

[Koolan]

This is old news

[Ronny83]

This is old news 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is an answer to the "Ask Billboard" of the current week. I think they give up-to-date figures.

[ThePowerofherDream]

You want to know something funny!  I own everyone of those CDs EXCEPT the ones by Shania Twain!  ROFLMAO!!!  Her music and voice SUCK!  I would rather listen to nails screech down a chalk board!

But...to those of you who are fans of Shania...

 

 

CHEERS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...to the TONE DEAF!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You must be tone deaf, you listen to Mariah Carey....Oh wait you like listening to nails screech down on a chalk board!

[Koolan]

Woah, this is the worst comment about Shania I've ever heard

[dolores]

on those lists,i only give my ears to celine and alanis

[Fanny!]

According to me, Shania's voice/songs are way better than Mariah's... Oh well!

[Lawna]

Woah, this is the worst comment about Shania I've ever heard   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No Kiddin'. I own Shania's Greatest Hits CD and I think it rocks!! I became somewhat of a fan after I bought that CD in Nov. of 2004 and I have bought 2 DVDs of Shania's too...I think Shania is an amazing woman and performer

 

Of course, I am a loyal Celine fan, Celine has that amazing voice, personality, etc.

[Lawna]

    According to me, Shania's voice/songs are way better than Mariah's...    Oh well!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree. I like some of Mariah's songs, but I love Shania way better, because Shania has a more down to earth type of personality, as opposed to Mariah who seems somewhat stuck up.

[Nautanick]

I have pretty much all of the albums on both lists save for a few, and they're all pretty much deserving, except for Britney... A true travesty.

 

Glad to see that Celine's best is on there, FIY . LTAL...err I dunno

 

Byusmurf, how can you hate Shania?? Sure she doesn't have the best voice around and her lyrics are sometimes ridiculous, but you can't deny that it draws you in.

[sge]

I'm loving every moment with both Celine and Shania!