Biggest Selling Singles In UK Ever

The UK's Official Charts Company has for the first time revealed the "Diamond Dozen" - the 12 most successful artists in the history of the official UK single chart.

The figures ranking British chart royalty have been released to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee, a unique celebration in Britain from the past weekend to June 5 to mark the Queen's 60 years of reign - almost exactly the the same time the UK singles chart has been running.

The Beatles have, unsurprisingly, sold more singles in the UK than any other act, with 21.9 million units sold. Elvis Presley follows, with Queen at no. 7, David Bowie at no. 9 and Paul McCartney at no. 11.

"The Diamond Dozen is truly the cream of music makers over the past six decades years," said Martin Talbot, managing director of the Official Charts Company. "Over the past 60 years, the Official Singles Chart has provided the musical soundtrack to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s reign - and these artists have been her entertainers."

Here's the full list with the number of singles each have sold:

01. The Beatles 21.9m
02. Elvis Presley 21.6m
03. Cliff Richard 21.5m
04. Madonna 17.6m
05. Michael Jackson 15.3m
06. Elton John 14.8m
07. Queen 12.6m
08. Abba 11.2m
09. David Bowie 10.6m
10. Rihanna 10.4m
11. Paul McCartney 10.2m
12. Kylie Minogue 10.1m

If you live in the UK, are you celebrating the Queen's Jubilee? Or are you ignoring the celebrations and listening to the Sex Pistols instead? Tell us about your four-day weekend in the comments.

Comments

[USCENDONE BENE]

I hate the Jubilee. I'm a university student so the two days off mean nothing to me.

[Mikethespud]

Rihanna doesn't fit in there at all

[Abzzz]

no zeppelin, or purple, or sabbath?

[Camron62\m/]

Anarchy.

[RobertStyx]

The jubilee pisses me off. People out celebrating facism, yay! It disgusts me. Worse since I'm in N. Ireland. We should really part of Ireland and not the ****ing UK.

[jonathanb2]

RobertStyx wrote:

The jubilee pisses me off. People out celebrating facism, yay! It disgusts me. Worse since I'm in N. Ireland. We should really part of Ireland and not the ****ing UK.

Do you honestly not know fascism when you see it? O.o

[iommi600]

Elton John...

Man, there's a vinyl of his "Bennie and the Jets" single here... Haven't listened to it for a long long time, now I'm doing it and having a blast again.

So, thanks UG.

[Maestro1600]

Abzzz wrote:

no zeppelin, or purple, or sabbath?

Zeppelin released one single in the uk, in the 90s. So funnily enough, no, they're not on this list.

[Johnny_Ibanez]

It'll be a sad day when Rihanna overtakes Bowie. Let's all go out and buy Bowie!

[Maestro1600]

RobertStyx wrote:

The jubilee pisses me off. People out celebrating facism, yay! It disgusts me. Worse since I'm in N. Ireland. We should really part of Ireland and not the ****ing UK.

Now, I'm no fan of the monarchy, but just because Lydon called them fascists, doesn't make it true. Go learn something. Anything.

[odstwarhead]

No Cream?

[shwilly]

Somebody take down Cliff Richard before he climbs any higher

Or actually don't, album sales tend to go through the roof right after you die...

[derek8520]

I don't care for someone who was fortunate enough to be born into a rich family. I don't care for the queen just like i don't care for Paris Hilton.

[INstaNt-RocK]

RobertStyx wrote:

The jubilee pisses me off. People out celebrating facism, yay! It disgusts me. Worse since I'm in N. Ireland. We should really part of Ireland and not the ****ing UK.

You clearly haven't a clue what fascism is. While I do believe the Queen stands in the way of true democracy, she does nothing except grant royal ascent, which she can't really deny because she'd be accused of being a despot. She doesn't really fill any particular purpose other than that except being quite a famous head of state. Other than that we live in a fair and democratic society.

And by the way I'm from NI too. When the majority in NI want an end to partition it will end. Your opinion is your opinion and not that of the majority, so quit the butt hurt routine.

[mashizz]

Does the queen even do anything anymore?

[Section 5]

Mikethespud wrote:

Rihanna doesn't fit in there at all

Whereas Kylie Minogue is right at home...

[reignofrock]

The list all made sense until... Rihanna... WTF...

[spiff-corgi]

Quite a respectable list bar Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Madonna and Cliff Richard. But I can take 4 mediocre artists with 6 great ones there too. Sad to think that in ten years' time there'll probably be a majority of awful artists if Rihanna's already managed to creep in there.

[Bezza27]

Abzzz wrote:

no zeppelin, or purple, or sabbath?

It's a list of singles. Bands like that don't need to release singles

[TJ1991]

Not being funny, this isn't a list of singles. It's a list of artists.

[HAZ-121]

TJ1991 wrote:

Not being funny, this isn't a list of singles. It's a list of artists.

That would have been less shocking to you if you had read the first paragraph.

[stef123]

Zeppelin, Purple and Sabbath were about albums, not singles.

I thought the Rolling Stones would have sold enough.

Good to see Bowie up there!

[TJ1991]

HAZ-121 wrote:

TJ1991 wrote:

Not being funny, this isn't a list of singles. It's a list of artists.

That would have been less shocking to you if you had read the first paragraph.

Doesn't mean the headline isn't misleading, as usual.

[MetalMullet]

I'm pretty f'in sure that the record labels fake their "Top 10 Sold Singles etc"-list in order to promote certain "artists", since to my knowledge the only people still buying music are the rock/metal fans. Not a chance that people who like that mediocre Rihanna crap are buying her stuff. They are either listening to it on MTV or Spotify.

[spiff-corgi]

MetalMullet wrote:

I'm pretty f'in sure that the record labels fake their "Top 10 Sold Singles etc"-list in order to promote certain "artists", since to my knowledge the only people still buying music are the rock/metal fans. Not a chance that people who like that mediocre Rihanna crap are buying her stuff. They are either listening to it on MTV or Spotify.

I would point out that you've obviously been living under a rock and have no idea about iTunes but I'd actually welcome an existence without iTunes and commend you for avoiding it for this long.

[MetalRock4ever]

The Sex Pistols performed their own song 'God Save the Queen' outside Parliament, i think. If only they did that when they got all the boats out. You know, liven it up a bit...

[robo37]

The Beatles and David Bowie aside, I hate all of them.

[schirripar]

Abzzz wrote:

no zeppelin, or purple, or sabbath?

That's like asking where Pink Floyd is. Not singles bands, so they wouldn't be on this list.

mashizz wrote:
Does the queen even do anything anymore?

No but Elvis and The Beatles has been really active lately. I don't understand why that matters.

[rowdyryan2005]

RobertStyx wrote:

The jubilee pisses me off. People out celebrating facism, yay! It disgusts me. Worse since I'm in N. Ireland. We should really part of Ireland and not the ****ing UK.

I too live in Northern Ireland. I could not agree more with this. Why would we want to join with the Rep. of Ireland? It has a terrible economy! It's like our version of Mexico!

Anyway, back to the list. At least The Beatles made the top.

[rowdyryan2005]

rowdyryan2005 wrote:

RobertStyx wrote:

The jubilee pisses me off. People out celebrating facism, yay! It disgusts me. Worse since I'm in N. Ireland. We should really part of Ireland and not the ****ing UK.

I too live in Northern Ireland. I could not agree more with this. Why would we want to join with the Rep. of Ireland? It has a terrible economy! It's like our version of Mexico!

Anyway, back to the list. At least The Beatles made the top.

Whoops! Meant DISAGREE!

[jameshudson92]

I thought elton john would've sold more than that.

[webber243]

the only thing i see from this is that paul mccartney must be rich as sh*t!

[turath]

I can't really say that I like the music nowadays however I'm glad to see that the beatles are doing ok at the top.

[Suckerpunchme!]

It is extremely ****ing sad that bitch Rihanna has outsold Paul McCartney. Geez Brits, what the **** is wrong with you?

[cypherdid]

no Oasis?

[Jon Ellison]

The Beatles, Queen, David Bowie, among the best. Bugger Oasis!

[guitarist41]

I don't give a **** about the jubilee; I'm Scottish.

[beau05]

Abzzz wrote:

no zeppelin, or purple, or sabbath?

These were/are album artists. They were reluctant to release popular songs as singles

[Air_Stryker]

List seems fairly good to me for a change, not a big fan of some of them, but it makes sense.

I know there's a fair number of people who were spitting bile at the idea of celebrating the anniversary of a figure-head monarch, but come on guys; what can you possibly have against a four day weekend? I see no harm there.

[24murraygnr]

Apologies for no doubt starting a flame war but if downloading is killing music then how has Rihanna sold 10.4 million singles in the Uk alone?

[Schibik1]

F*** Abba!!!!!

[TJ1991]

24murraygnr wrote:

Apologies for no doubt starting a flame war but if downloading is killing music then how has Rihanna sold 10.4 million singles in the Uk alone?

Rihanna's a mainstream 'artist' who's marketed to **** by her label and the media. It's a different story for up-and-coming, or even more established, ROCK bands.

[flatbattery]

In the UK and am definitely not a monarchist.

[NeedACoffee]

I like the Jubilee, as I get a day off school. As an Aussie though, I'm having trouble understanding why there are literally people celebrating in the streets. Are they going nuts in the UK as well?

[dennis.1960]

Remove madonna, michael jackson, rihanna, & kylie minogue...they're not "artists" just commodities sold like breakfast cereals...

[sugeci]

Abzzz wrote:

no zeppelin, or purple, or sabbath?

no, they're not on the list - can't you ****ing read?

[6-String_Madman]

Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Motorhead!

[tnekf94]

Phew! What a relief.. I thought the article was talking about how far they ran...

[samueltownson]

Either change the title or change the story, UG.

[samueltownson]

I'm surprised no one has said "No Maiden?". Which they SHOULD be on there! And, don't tell me they shouldn't, because they put out singles for EVERY album they've made.

[samueltownson]

Damn, 6-String_Madman. you just HAD to **** it up for me. -.- lol Just kidding.

[terrorize.plaza]

samueltownson wrote:

I'm surprised no one has said "No Maiden?". Which they SHOULD be on there! And, don't tell me they shouldn't, because they put out singles for EVERY album they've made.

They're not very radio-friendly.

[CaliforniaKid]

If you want to see some serious sales... check out RIAAs site for all time sales in the US. The Beatles are so far out in front its crazy.

[jrcsgtpeppers]

Abzzz wrote:

no zeppelin, or purple, or sabbath?

im pretty sure led zeppelin didnt release singles. correct me if im wrong
paul mccartney is a ****in g, thats 30 million singles total, if you think about it. now thats songwriting. that guy is amazingly talented, and good looking. these days, you only have one or the other.

[MrKnister]

cypherdid wrote:

no Oasis?

OASIS! OASIS! OASIS! I missed them, too!

[cptcomet]

samueltownson wrote:

I'm surprised no one has said "No Maiden?". Which they SHOULD be on there! And, don't tell me they shouldn't, because they put out singles for EVERY album they've made.

And not enough people have bought them. It's a list of the top single selling bands, not 'why isn't my favourite band on there?' Yes Maiden have put out singles, they aren't mainstream enough to have sold tonnes.

[robo37]

webber243 wrote:

the only thing i see from this is that paul mccartney must be rich as sh*t!

Suckerpunchme! wrote:

It is extremely ****ing sad that bitch Rihanna has outsold Paul McCartney. Geez Brits, what the **** is wrong with you?

The Beatles are a million times better than anything Paul McCartney has and can ever come up with. He is of course better than Rihanna, but then the same can be said for a countless number of other musicians i.e. any with actual talent.