List of best-selling albums in Germany
Appearance
Germany is the third largest music market in the world, and the largest in Europe.[1] This is a list of the best-selling albums in Germany that have been certified by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI). Since January 1, 2003, BVMI certifies an album platinum for the shipment of 200,000 copies across Germany. [2] All albums in this list must have sold more than a million copies.
Certifications for albums released in Germany depend upon their release date.
Certification levels
[edit]Certification | till 24 September 1999 | till 31. December 2002 | till 31 December 2012 | since 1 January 2013 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gold | 250,000 | 150,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
Platinum | 500,000 | 300,000 | 200,000 | 200,000 |
3× Gold | 750,000 | 450,000 | 300,000 | 300,000 |
2× Platinum | 1,000,000 | 600,000 | 400,000 | 400,000 |
... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
Diamond | – | – | – | 750,000 |
Source:[3]
By units
[edit]Year | Title | Artist | Certification [4][5] | Shipments |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Dirty Dancing | O.S.T. - Various | 13× Gold‡ | 3.25 million |
2002 | Mensch | Herbert Grönemeyer | 21× Gold | 3.15 million |
1989 | ...But Seriously | Phil Collins | 6× Platinum | 3 million |
1994 | Over the Hump | The Kelly Family | 9× Gold | 3 million[6] |
1984 | 4630 Bochum | Herbert Grönemeyer | 11× Gold | 2.75
million |
2013 | Farbenspiel | Helene Fischer | 13× Platinum‡ | 2.6 million |
1991 | We Can't Dance | Genesis | 5× Platinum | 2.5 million |
1992 | Gold: Greatest Hits | ABBA | 5× Platinum | 2.5 million |
1995 | Rock Super Stars | Various artists | — | 2.5 million[7] |
2001 | Best Of | Andrea Berg | 8× Platinum | 2.4 million |
1988 | Tracy Chapman | Tracy Chapman | 9× Gold | 2.25 million |
1991 | Greatest Hits II | Queen | 9× Gold | 2.25 million |
1979 | The Wall | Pink Floyd | 4× Platinum | 2.1 million[8] |
1973 | 1962–1966 | The Beatles | 4× Platinum | 2 million |
1987 | Bad | Michael Jackson | 4× Platinum | 2 million |
1991 | Metallica | Metallica | 4× Platinum‡ | 2 million |
1991 | Dangerous | Michael Jackson | 4× Platinum | 2 million |
1995 | Abenteuerland | Pur | 4× Platinum | 2 million |
1995 | Bocelli | Andrea Bocelli | 4× Platinum | 2 million |
1996 | Alles | Wolfgang Petry | 4× Platinum | 2 million |
2010 | Best Of | Helene Fischer | 10× Platinum | 2 million |
2010 | Große Freiheit | Unheilig | 9× Platinum‡ | 1.8 million |
1978 | Grease | O.S.T. - Various | 5× Gold | 1.75 million[9] |
1978 | Saturday Night Fever | O.S.T. - Various | 3× Platinum | 1.75 million[9] |
1981 | Face Value | Phil Collins | 7× Gold | 1.75 million |
1981 | Greatest Hits | Queen | 7× Gold | 1.75 million |
1988 | Ö | Herbert Grönemeyer | 7× Gold | 1.75 million |
1991 | Joyride | Roxette | 7× Gold | 1.75 million |
1994 | Affentheater | Marius Müller-Westernhagen | 7× Gold | 1.75 million |
1992 | The Bodyguard | Whitney Houston | 3× Platinum | 1.7 million[10] |
2000 | 1 | The Beatles | 11× Gold | 1.65 million |
2011 | 21 | Adele | 8× Platinum | 1.6 million |
1972 | Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits | Simon & Garfunkel | 2× Platinum | 1.5 million[11] |
1973 | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pink Floyd | 3× Platinum‡ | 1.5 million |
1973 | 1967–1970 | The Beatles | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1975 | Wish You Were Here | Pink Floyd | Platinum | 1.5 million[12] |
1980 | Revanche | Peter Maffay | 2× Platinum | 1.5 million[13] |
1982 | Thriller | Michael Jackson | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1985 | Movin | Jennifer Rush | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1985 | No Jacket Required | Phil Collins | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1987 | Winterkinder | Rolf Zuckowski | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1990 | Serious Hits... Live! | Phil Collins | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1993 | Both Sides | Phil Collins | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1993 | Happy Nation | Ace of Base | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1993 | Seiltänzertraum | Pur | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1995 | The Lion King (Audio Book) | Diverse | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1995 | HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I | Michael Jackson | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1995 | Made in Heaven | Queen | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1996 | Dove c'è musica | Eros Ramazzotti | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million[14] |
1997 | Eros | Eros Ramazzotti | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1997 | Let's Talk About Love | Celine Dion | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1998 | Ray of Light | Madonna | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
1998 | Westernhagen - Live | Marius Müller-Westernhagen | 3× Platinum | 1.5 million |
2001 | Swing When You're Winning | Robbie Williams | 5× Platinum | 1.5 million |
2008 | Stadtaffe | Peter Fox | 15x gold | 1.5 million |
1993 | Music Box | Mariah Carey | 2× Platinum | 1.4 million[15] |
2013 | Die Eiskönigin - Völlig Unverfroren (Audio Book) | Various | 7× Platinum | 1.4 million |
2010 | Rapunzel: Neu verföhnt (Audio Book) | Various | 13× Gold | 1.3 million |
2012 | Bis ans Ende der Welt | Santiano | 13× Gold | 1.3 million |
1992 | 1492: Conquest of Paradise | Vangelis | 5× Gold | 1.3 million[16] |
1968 | Heintje | Heintje | 9× Gold, Platinum[17] | 1.25 million[18] |
1977 | Benjamin Blümchen als Wetterelefant (Audio Book) | Benjamin Blümchen | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1977 | Rumours | Fleetwood Mac | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1979 | Weihnachten mit Andrea Jürgens - Meine 20 schönsten Weihnachtslieder | Andrea Jürgens | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1979 | Benjamin Blümchen und die Schule (Audio Book) | Benjamin Blümchen | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1980 | Benjamin Blümchen hat Geburtstag (Audio Book) | Benjamin Blümchen | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1982 | Benjamin Blümchen als Weihnachtsmann (Audio Book) | Benjamin Blümchen | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1983 | Benjamin Blümchen als Feuerwehrmann (Audio Book) | Benjamin Blümchen | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1983 | Benjamin Blümchen auf dem Bauernhof (Audio Book) | Benjamin Blümchen | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1984 | Private Dancer | Tina Turner | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1997 | Titanic | James Horner | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1991 | Out of Time | R.E.M. | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1991 | Stars | Simply Red | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1991 | Use Your Illusion II | Guns N' Roses | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1992 | Automatic for the People | R.E.M. | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1992 | Unplugged | Eric Clapton | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1996 | Falling into You | Celine Dion | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1997 | Reload | Metallica | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1997 | Sehnsucht | Rammstein | 5× Gold‡ | 1.25 million |
1998 | Radio Maria | Marius Müller-Westernhagen | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1998 | Back for Good | Modern Talking | 5× Gold | 1.25 million |
1979 | Steppenwolf | Peter Maffay | Platinum | 1.2 million[13] |
1989 | Foreign Affair | Tina Turner | 2× Platinum | 1.2 million[19] |
2002 | Escapology | Robbie Williams | 4× Platinum | 1.2 million |
2006 | Back to Black | Amy Winehouse | 6× Platinum | 1.2 million |
2007 | Vom selben Stern | Ich + Ich | 6× Platinum | 1.2 million |
2013 | Mit den Gezeiten | Santiano | 6× Platinum | 1.2 million |
2015 | 25 | Adele | 6× Platinum | 1.2 million |
2015 | Weihnachten | Helene Fischer | 6× Platinum | 1.2 million |
2003 | United | Deutschland sucht den Superstar | 11× Gold | 1.1 million |
2005 | Intensive Care | Robbie Williams | 11× Gold | 1.1 million |
2006 | Das große Leben | Rosenstolz | 11× Gold | 1.1 million |
2011 | MTV Unplugged - Live aus dem Hotel Atlantik | Udo Lindenberg | 11× Gold | 1.1 million |
2015 | Muttersprache | Sarah Connor | 11× Gold | 1.1 million |
1999 | All the Way... A Decade of Song | Celine Dion | 7× Gold | 1.05 million |
2000 | So far ... - Best Of | Marius Müller-Westernhagen | 7× Gold | 1.05 million |
2001 | Das Dschungelbuch (audio book) | Various | 7× Gold | 1.05 million |
2001 | Elle'ments | No Angels | 7× Gold | 1.05 million |
- Tracy Chapman's eponymous debut album was certified 9× Gold in 2010.[20] Since this album was released prior to September 24, 1999, every Gold certification it receives denotes 250,000 copies shipped. Thus at 9× Gold, 2.25 million copies of the album have been shipped across Germany.
- 1 by The Beatles was certified 11× Gold in 2007.[21] Since this album was released prior to January 1, 2003, every Gold certification it receives denotes 150,000 copies shipped. Thus at 11× Gold, 1.65 million copies of the album have been shipped across Germany.
† Usually the BVMI does not give a 6× Gold certification, but a 3× Platinum instead.[22] The reason for this singular certification is unclear.
Notes
[edit]- ‡Certification include on-demand audio and video streams and track sale equivalent
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Deutschland drittgrößter Musikmarkt weltweit". Musikindustrie.de. 2011-04-13. Archived from the original on 2011-12-31. Retrieved 2012-02-28.
- ^ "Richtlinien für die Verleihung von Gold/Platin Schallplatten und Awards (Guidelines for Gold and Platinum awards)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindstie. Archived from the original on 2010-03-28. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ "Richtlinien für die Verleihung von Gold/Platin Auszeichnungen" (PDF) (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". musikindustrie.de.
- ^ "Highest Gold Platinum certifications as of 2008" (PDF). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- ^ "The Kelly Family". Gorey Guardian. 23 July 1997. p. 68. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
Their debut album, 'Over The Hump' sold over 4 million copies in Europe, 3 million of them in Germany alone.
- ^ Spahr, Wolfgang (20 January 1996). "Burgers And CDs: Record Companies Use McDonald's , Burger King To Sell Releases". Billboard. p. 41. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ "Phil Collins Seriously Breaks The Records" (PDF). Music & Media. 15 September 1990. p. 1. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ a b "West Germany - The Year in Review - Bellaphon". Billboard. 8 December 1979. p. G-10. Retrieved 26 October 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ Wolfgang Spahr (13 May 2000). Grammy's Two Way Street. Billboard. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "West Germany - Domestic Product Makes Chart Inroads". Billboard. Vol. 94, no. 2. 6 January 1982. p. 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 26 October 2022 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Long Chart Life For Floyd, Styx". Billboard. 25 October 1980. p. 76. Retrieved 26 October 2022 – via World Radio History.
- ^ a b Spahr, Wolfgang (8 July 1981). "Peter Maffay Discks Defy Slack Mart, Sales Boom". Billboard. p. 64. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ Mark Dezanni (25 October 1997). "New BMG set finds Eros recycling history" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 43. p. 10. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ Marlowe, Chris (October 14, 1995). "Carey's 'Daydream' Follows 'Fantasy' To The Top" (PDF). Music & Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2022 – via AmericanRadioHistory.com.
- ^ Spahr, Wolfgang (20 January 1996). "Sporting Events And Personalities Giving A Big Boost TO Record Sales For Labels". Billboard. p. 41. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ Günter Ehnert (1994), Taurus Press (ed.), Hit Bilanz – Deutsche Chart LP's 1962–1986 (in German) (1 ed.), Hamburg: Verlag populärer Musik-Literatur, p. 291, ISBN 9783922542292
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1985). Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory. Arco Pub. p. 263. ISBN 0668064595.
- ^ Mooij, Thessa (April 6, 1996). "Soul Empress Keeps Rejuvenating" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 11. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('Tracy Chapman')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Beatles; '1')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold/Platin". musikindustrie.de. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2011.