Best-Selling Music Artists (1969-2019)


Timeline history of most popular music artists from 1969 to 2019 ranked by yearly certified record sales. Numbers are worldwide and adjusted to twelve months trailing average.

Recent years data includes digital singles sales as reported by online music retailers and streaming services. This data aggregates multiple sources and can serve as popularity indicator across different medias such as album sales, radio broadcasting, digital copies sales and online streaming frequency.

Timeline of the Most Popular Music Artists (1969–2019) by Certified Record Sales
Explore five decades of music history through this detailed timeline ranking the world’s most popular artists based on yearly certified record sales. Covering classic legends to modern superstars, the data includes album sales, radio airplay, digital single sales, and streaming statistics—all adjusted to a 12-month trailing average for accuracy. This video offers a fascinating look at how artist popularity has evolved from vinyl to digital music in the streaming era, making it a must-watch for music lovers and industry analysts alike.

Fun Facts & Trivia:

The Beatles dominated global sales in the late 1960s and early 1970s, shaping modern music culture.

Michael Jackson’s influence peaked in the 1980s with record-breaking album sales worldwide.

Recent years highlight the rise of digital streaming, with artists like Taylor Swift and Drake topping the charts.

Keywords: most popular music artists, record sales timeline, certified music sales, music industry trends, streaming music data.

Source: Data Is Beautiful

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