List of best-selling girl groups

A girl group is a popular music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production values and backing by top studio musicians. In later eras the girl group template would be applied to disco, R&B, and country-based formats as well as pop music.

The best selling girl-group of all time are the Spice Girls who have sold 75 million records worldwide.[1] With only three studio albums, a greatest hits album and twelve singles, they are the most successful British band since The Beatles.[1]

Contents

Best-selling girl groups

Girl Group Country Sold (only albums) Genre Studio Albums Members Years Active
1. Spice Girls  United Kingdom 75 million[2] Pop 3 5 → 4 → 5 1996–2001, 2007–2008 (8 years)
2. TLC  United States 50 million[3] R&B/Hip Hop 4 3 → 2 1991–2003, 2008–present (ongoing)
3. Destiny's Child  United States 45 million[4] R&B 4 4 → 3 1997–2005 (9 years)
4. Bananarama  United Kingdom 40 million[5] Pop 10 3 → 2 1981–present (ongoing)
5. Speed  Japan 20 million[6] Pop 4 4 1996–2001, 2003, 2008–present (ongoing)
6. The Supremes  United States 20 million[7] R&B 29 4 → 3 1959–1977 (19 years)
7. En Vogue  United States 20 million[8] R&B 6 4 → 3 → 4 1989–present (ongoing)
8. Morning Musume  Japan 16 million[9] Pop 12 Rotational 1997–present (ongoing)
9. Salt-N-Pepa  United States 15 million[10] Hip Hop 5 3 1986–1999, 2008–present (ongoing)
10. SWV  United States 15 million[11] R&B 3 3 1990–1998, 2005–present (ongoing)

Best-selling girl group albums

Worldwide

Released Album Artist Sales
1996 Spice Spice Girls 23 million[12][13]
1997 Spiceworld 20 million[14]
1994 CrazySexyCool TLC 15 million[15]
1999 The Writing's on the Wall Destiny's Child 12 million[16]
Fanmail TLC 11 million[17]
2001 Survivor Destiny's Child 10 million[18]
1990 Wilson Phillips Wilson Phillips 10 million[19]

Australia

Certifications according to the ARIA.[20]

Album Group Sales
(Based on
certifications)		 Certification Year
Spice Spice Girls 420,000 6 × Platinum 1996
Spiceworld 1997
The Secret Life of... The Veronicas 280,000 4 × Platinum 2005
The Writing's on the Wall Destiny's Child 210,000 3 × Platinum 1999
PCD Pussycat Dolls 2005
B*Witched B*Witched 140,000 2 × Platinum 1998
All Saints All Saints
Bardot Bardot 2000
Hook Me Up The Veronicas 2007
Survivor Destiny's Child 2001
Destiny Fulfilled 70,000 Platinum 2004
#1's 2005
Doll Domination 2.0 Pussycat Dolls 2008
Fanmail TLC 1999
Feels So Good Atomic Kitten 2002
Spice Girls: Greatest Hits Spice Girls 2007

Canada

Certifications according to the Canadian Recording Industry Association.[21]

Album Group Sales
(Based on
certifications)		 Certification Year
Spice Spice Girls 1,000,000 Diamond[22] 1996
Spiceworld 1997
CrazySexyCool TLC 800,000 8 × Platinum[21] 1994
The Writing's on the Wall Destiny's Child 500,000 5 × Platinum[21] 1999
Break Out Pointer Sisters 400,000 4 × Platinum[21] 1983
FanMail TLC 1999
Very Necessary Salt-n-Pepa 1993
Survivor Destiny's Child 2001
All Saints All Saints 300,000 3 × Platinum[21] 1997
PCD Pussycat Dolls 200,000 2 × Platinum[21] 2005
Forever Spice Girls 2000
Destiny's Child Destiny's Child 1998
Doll Domination Pussycat Dolls 100,000 Platinum[21] 2009
Girlicious Girlicious 2008
B*Witched B*Witched 1998

Europe

Certifications according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

Album Group Sales
(Based on
certifications)		 Certification Year
Spice Spice Girls 9,000,000 9 × Platinum[23] 1996
Spiceworld 5,000,000 5 × Platinum[24] 1997
All Saints All Saints 2,000,000 2 × Platinum[25]
PCD Pussycat Dolls 2005
The Writing's on the Wall Destiny's Child 1999
Survivor 2001
Destiny Fulfilled 1,000,000 Platinum[25]
CrazySexyCool TLC 1994
FanMail 1999
Feels So Good Atomic Kitten 2002
Elle'ments No Angels 2001
B*Witched B*Witched 1998
Angels With Dirty Faces Sugababes 2002
Taller In More Ways 2005
Three 2003
The Sound Of... Greatest Hits Girls Aloud 2006
Saints & Sinners All Saints 2000

Germany

Certifications according to the IFPI.[26]

Released Album Artist Certification Sales
(Based on
certifications)
2001 Elle'ments No Angels 7 × Gold 1,050,000
1996 Spice Spice Girls 3 × Gold 750,000
2002 Now... Us! No Angels 2 × Platinum 600,000
1997 Spiceworld Spice Girls Platinum 500,000
2006 Temptation Monrose 2 × Platinum 400,000
2001 Survivor Destiny's Child Platinum 300,000
1999 The Writing's on the Wall Gold 250,000
2005 PCD Pussycat Dolls Platinum 200,000
2001 Right Now Atomic Kitten Gold 150,000
2002 Feels So Good
2000 Forever Spice Girls
2003 Pure No Angels 100,000
2008 Doll Domination Pussycat Dolls
2005 Taller In More Ways Sugababes
2003 Three
2008 Volume I Queensberry
2007 Strictly Physical Monrose
2003 Girls In The House Preluders

Netherlands

Certifications according to the NVPI.[27]

Released Album Artist Certification Sales
(Based on
certifications)
1996 Spice Spice Girls 3 x Platinum 300,000
1999 The Writing's on the Wall Destiny's Child 2 x Platinum 200,000
2009 MaMaSé! K3 4 x Platinum 200,000
2001 Survivor Destiny's Child 2 x Platinum 160,000
1978 With Luv' Luv' Platinum 100,000
1979 Lots Of Luv'
1978 Energy Pointer Sisters
1997 Spiceworld Spice Girls
1999 FanMail TLC
1979 True Luv' Luv' Gold 50,000
1983 Display Dolly Dots
1993 Always & Forever Eternal
1994 CrazySexyCool TLC
1997 All Saints All Saints
1997 Before the Rain Eternal
1997 Greatest Hits
2000 Forever Spice Girls
2002 Fells So Good Atomic Kitten 40,000
2005 PCD Pussycat Dolls 35,000
2007 Reünieconcert Ahoy 2007 Dolly Dots

Switzerland

Certifications according to the IFPI.[28]

Album Group Sales
(Based on
certifications)		 Certification Year
Spice Spice Girls 100,000 2 × Platinum 1996
Spiceworld 1997
Forever 50,000 Platinum 2000
All Saints All Saints 1997
Elle'ments No Angels 40,000 2001
Survivor Destiny's Child
Temptation Monrose 30,000 2006
The Writing's on the Wall Destiny's Child 25,000 Gold 1999
FanMail TLC
Now... Us! No Angels 20,000 2002
Right Now Atomic Kitten 2001
Feels So Good 2002
Angels with Dirty Faces Sugababes 2002
Three 2003
Taller in More Ways 15,000 2006

United Kingdom

Certifications according to the BPI.[29]

Released Album Artist Certification Sales
 Peak
1996 Spice Spice Girls 10× Platinum 2,928,739 1
1997 Spiceworld 5× Platinum 1,576,709 1
All Saints All Saints 1,330,000 2
1993 Always & Forever Eternal 4× Platinum 1,180,000 3
2005 PCD Pussycat Dolls 3× Platinum 1,250,874 1
1997 Greatest Hits Eternal 1,058,098 5
2006 The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits Girls Aloud 1,053,087 1
2001 Survivor Destiny's Child 1,020,000 1
1999 The Writing's on the Wall 970,000 7
2002 Angels With Dirty Faces Sugababes 918,935 2
1988 Greatest Hits Collection Bananarama 897,372 3
2005 Taller in More Ways Sugababes 2× Platinum 887,264 1
2002 Feels So Good Atomic Kitten 861,592 1
2003 Three Sugababes 856,000 3
1998 B*Witched B*Witched 730,000 3
2001 Right Now Atomic Kitten 632,379 1
2008 Out of Control Girls Aloud 732,085 1
2004 What Will the Neighbours Say? Girls Aloud 593,828 4
2000 Saints & Sinners All Saints 592,717 1
1995 Power of a Woman Eternal 442,224 9

United States

Sales according to Nielsen SoundScan and Platinum certifications according to the RIAA.

Album Group Sales Certification Year
CrazySexyCool TLC 11,200,000[30] 11 × Platinum[31] 1994
The Writing's on the Wall Destiny's Child 8,400,000[32] 8 × Platinum[31] 1999
Spice Spice Girls 7,400,000[33] 7 × Platinum[31] 1996
FanMail TLC 4,700,000[30] 6 × Platinum[31] 1999
Very Necessary Salt-n-Pepa 4,400,000 5 × Platinum[31] 1993
Spiceworld Spice Girls 4,400,000[33] 4 × Platinum[31] 1997
Survivor Destiny's Child 4,300,000[34] 2001
Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip TLC 4,300,000[30] 1992
Break Out Pointer Sisters 3,000,000 3 × Platinum[31] 1983
It's About Time SWV 3,000,000 1992
Funky Divas En Vogue 3,200,000[35]
Destiny Fulfilled Destiny's Child 3,000,000 2004
PCD Pussycat Dolls 2,900,000[36] Platinum[31] 2005

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Hoyle, Ben (2010-01-22). "Viva Forever Mamma Mia creator creates Spice Girls musical". The Times (London). http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/article6997164.ece. Retrieved 2010-05-08. 
  2. ^ Hoyle, Ben (2010-01-22). "Viva Forever: Mamma Mia creator creates Spice Girls musical". The Times. http://www.timesplus.co.uk/tto/news/?login=false&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%2Ftto%2Farts%2Fstage%2Farticle1692574.ece. Retrieved 2010-05-08. 
  3. ^ "TLC'S Chilli Partners With Dasani Water To Reveal Beauty Secrets". 2009-04-19. http://www.1888pressrelease.com/tlc-s-chilli-partners-with-dasani-water-to-reveal-beauty-sec-pr-111947.html. Retrieved 2011-10-08. 
  4. ^ "R&B stars Destiny's Child split". BBC News. 2005-06-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4087228.stm. Retrieved 2011-10-08. 
  5. ^ "Return of the top Bananas". Daily Mail. 2007-08-02. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-471508/Return-Bananas.html. Retrieved 2011-10-08. 
  6. ^ Herskovitz, Jon (1999-10-10). "Top Japanese girl group Speed coming to a halt". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117756500?refCatId=16. Retrieved 2008-11-15. 
  7. ^ "Record sales figure for Diana Ross & The Supremes". The Times. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/article3917984.ece. 
  8. ^ "En Vogue 20 million worldwide". http://www.soulfullvibes.com/Old-Skool-RB/en-vogue-hold-on.html. 
  9. ^ "高清：早安少女组献艺世博 港台粉丝专程助阵_世博_腾讯网 [HD: Morning Musume performing at Hong Kong Expo, and Taiwanese fans came to help out]" (in Chinese). qq.com. 2010-06-23. http://2010.qq.com/a/20100623/000028.htm#p=1. Retrieved 2011-10-08. 
  10. ^ "Salt N Pepa 15 million worldwide". http://www.tv4.co.nz/OnC4/OurShows/LineUp/SaltnPepa/tabid/209/Default.aspx?showid=16781&listingID=1017498. 
  11. ^ Jones, Butterfli (2009-04-26). "Unsung - SWV". DJ Butterfly. http://www.djbutterfli.com/2009/04/unsung-swv.html. Retrieved 2011-10-08. 
  12. ^ Rollings Stone Magazine. Spice selling some 23 million copies worldwide. Biography Spice Girls.
  13. ^ BBC Home. Timeline: Spice Girls, Spice 23 million copies worldwide. 28 June 2007.
  14. ^ The Times. Sinclair, David.The Prefab Five are back. Are you ready?. quote: "Their first two albums, Spice and Spiceworld, each sold more than 20 million copies." June 28, 2007.
  15. ^ Gulfnews. Just who is Dallas Austin?. quote, 15 million selling follow up, CrazySexyCool.
  16. ^ Beyonce Tickets Information. quote, It sold around 12 million copies worldwide.
  17. ^ TLC: 11.5 million, worldwide sales for Fanmail
  18. ^ Destiny's Child: 10 million, worldwide sales for Survivor
  19. ^ "Wilson Phillips Reunite To Release Christmas Album, Tour". http://themusic.fm/2010.05.05/wilson-phillips-reunite-to-release-christmas-album-tour. Retrieved 2010-09-12. 
  20. ^ [1] Australian certifications database
  21. ^ a b c d e f g "CRIA - Certified Awards Search". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php. Retrieved 2009-08-21. 
  22. ^ CRIA. Gold & Platinum Certifications: "Spice Girls". Canadian Recording Industry Association.
  23. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards > 1997 Albums". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat1997.html. Retrieved 04-09-2009. 
  24. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards > 1998 Albums". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat1998.html. Retrieved 04-09-2009. 
  25. ^ a b "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/ifpi_awards.html. Retrieved 04-09-2009. 
  26. ^ AT LEAST ONE OF artist or title MUST BE PROVIDED for GERMAN CERTIFICATION.
  27. ^ "Dutch certifications". 2011. http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=60461. Retrieved 2011-03-02. 
  28. ^ "swiss certifications". http://hitparade.ch/awards.asp?year=2000. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
  29. ^ "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. Retrieved 2009-08-27. 
  30. ^ a b c Ask Billboard. According to Nielsen SoundScan, "Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip" (1992; 2.5 miilion), "CrazySexyCool" (1994; 7.2 million), "FanMail" (1999; 4.7 million).
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h "RIAA > Gold & Platinum Search". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. Retrieved 04-09-2009. 
  32. ^ "Phase 3: Réajustement - Ventes De Tous Les Artistes à Plus De 30m... - Charts in France - Page 24". Charts in France. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/communaute/index.php?/topic/6523-phase-3-reajustement-ventes-de-tous-les-artistes-a-plus-de-30m/page__st__345. Retrieved 2010-04-11. 
  33. ^ a b Billboard.com Ask Billboard July 2007. "Spice" has sold 7.4 million and "Spiceworld" 4.1 million according to Nielsen SoundScan".
  34. ^ Billboard.com Destiny's '#1's' Bows At The Top. quote: "Survivor has sold 4.3 million to date.". Retrieved on 13 January 2009.
  35. ^ Billboard.com Billboard Bits: En Vogue. quote: "Funky Divas" the latter debuted has sold 3.2 million copies in the U.S. to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan".
  36. ^ All Dolled Up. "PCD" has sold 2.9 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
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