Elvis Rules UK No.1 Single Sales

[Brian Quinn]

During March, 2007, music TV Channel VH1, in collaboration with the Official UK Charts Company, unveiled the 50 best selling male acts in chart history on their show 'The Nation's Favourite #1 Men'. Those eligible had to be male (solo or group) with more than one #1 single to their credit. Only single sales for artists #1 records were eligible. The King reigns, outselling all other artists to claim the coveted title of the UK's favourite having accumulated 21 #1's and selling 10,311,196 singles.

Even if women were eligible then the top 3 would have remained the same. Further, whilst some of these positions may have changed, again the top 3 have not.

Here is the full top 10.

1 Elvis Presley

2 The Beatles

3 Cliff Richard

4 Westlife

5 Shadows

6 Take That

7 Rolling Stones

8 Oasis

9 Elton John

10 Michael Jackson.


Brian

[Albert]

Amazing!

But the marketing strategy of music companies that embrace iTunes might make a big mark on lists like these over the years.

Before the mid-60s singles were all that counted. The youth bought more singles than they bought albums. This changed in the mid-60s and only a few singles were released per album. The album wasn't the compilation of singles, b-sides and leftouts anymore, but the singles were released to plug an album.

Right now with the digital distribution of songs through iTunes and Amazon, people are buying less and less whole albums, but prefer to pick out the few songs on it that they actually like. Several record companies acknowledge this change. They know what the strong songs on the album are and release them as 'digital' singles. They don't bother to distribute them in a physical format to the shops. They only announce that 'this' is a new single, make a cover for it and plug it to the radiostations.

For $0.99 you buy an hitsingle on iTunes. This results in an amazing flow of number ones for the Glee cast (a TV series in the US).

Comparing these iTunes number ones, with the number ones sold in real shops is like comparing apples with pears. Yes, they both fruits, but that's it.

[Brian Quinn]

Amazing!

But the marketing strategy of music companies that embrace iTunes might make a big mark on lists like these over the years.

Before the mid-60s singles were all that counted. The youth bought more singles than they bought albums. This changed in the mid-60s and only a few singles were released per album. The album wasn't the compilation of singles, b-sides and leftouts anymore, but the singles were released to plug an album.

Right now with the digital distribution of songs through iTunes and Amazon, people are buying less and less whole albums, but prefer to pick out the few songs on it that they actually like. Several record companies acknowledge this change. They know what the strong songs on the album are and release them as 'digital' singles. They don't bother to distribute them in a physical format to the shops. They only announce that 'this' is a new single, make a cover for it and plug it to the radiostations.

For $0.99 you buy an hitsingle on iTunes. This results in an amazing flow of number ones for the Glee cast (a TV series in the US).

Comparing these iTunes number ones, with the number ones sold in real shops is like comparing apples with pears. Yes, they both fruits, but that's it.

Albert,

Agreed. The music world has changed beyond all recognition. At least we are Elvis fans and we know he isn't going to fade away like some of today's 'Superstars'.

Brian

[Jimmy1966]

We Always Knew Who Would Be Number 1...Its great

[kathy parkinson]

We knew it,but it's nice to see it in print. WTG Elvis.

[Jorge]

That why He is the King not only of Rock but of Music. Many like Garth Brooks try to say they have sold more Albums than Elvis only to be proven false with time.
Long live the King, indeed.

[Joe Car]

That why He is the King not only of Rock but of Music. Many like Garth Brooks try to say they have sold more Albums than Elvis only to be proven false with time.
Long live the King, indeed.

Thanks again Brian. Garth himself has said that even though he was listed (at the time anyway) as the top selling male artist for albums sales, everybody knew it was Elvis who held that distinction! I wouldn't say it was Garth himself saying he was the leader of the pack neccessarily, but management.