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List of highest-certified music artists in Germany

This list includes music artists with at least five million record sales in Germany, based on certifications by the BVMI (Bundesverband Musikindustrie).[1] Artists are ranked in descending order.

Awards are only presented if and when a record company applies for certification, it is not done automatically. Only records that were declared to and registered by the BVMI receive awards. The BVMI began its certifications in 1975, therefore popular artists from earlier eras are generally not represented on this list. This excludes artists such as Heintje Simons, Peter Alexander, Freddy Quinn, Caterina Valente, or the Rolling Stones, and may explain the lower-than-expected sales figures for pre-1975 artists like The Beatles. Certifications are based on a record's release date.[2]

Video albums have been included since 1991 and streaming since 2016.[3] Until 5 April 2018, a unit was equal to 1000 streams for albums and 100 streams for singles. Those numbers were raised to 2000 streams for albums and 200 streams for singles on 6 April of that year.[4]

Artists by certified units

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13 million records or more

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Name Certification period Certified units
Herbert Grönemeyer 1984–2018 18,075,000
Michael Jackson 1983–2024 14,525,000
Peter Maffay 1979–2018 14,350,000
Phil Collins 1981–2011 14,300,000
Rolf Zuckowski 1989–2012 13,975,000
Die Toten Hosen 1989–2018 13,650,000
Ed Sheeran 2012–2022 13,350,000

11 to 12.9 million records

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Name Certification period Certified units
Queen 1978–2018 12,625,000
Madonna 1985–2012 12,550,000
Rihanna 2007–2023 12,275,000
Marius Müller-Westernhagen 1981–2017 12,075,000
Helene Fischer 2007–2018 11,150,000

9 to 10.9 million records

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Name Certification period Certified units
AC/DC 1980–2016 10,600,000
Robbie Williams 2000–2018
ABBA 1976–2008 10,550,000
Andrea Berg 2002–2017 9,600,000
Elton John 1982–2004 9,550,000
Pur 1993–2017 9,525,000
Coldplay 2000–2024 9,350,000[5]

7 to 8.9 million records

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Name Certification period Certified units
Die Flippers 1987–2012 8,650,000
Céline Dion 1996–2003 8,000,000
Die Ärzte 1988–2012 7,850,000
Wolfgang Petry 1983–2014 7,825,000
David Guetta 2010–2018 7,800,000
Britney Spears 1999–2023 7,700,000
The Beatles 1993–2007 7,600,000
Pink Floyd 1977–2015 7,500,000

6 to 6.9 million records

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Name Certification period Certified units
Bee Gees 1978–2005 6,675,000
Eminem 2000–2018 6,625,000
Shakira 2001 - 2017 6,525,000
Backstreet Boys 1996–2003 6,500,000
Dieter Bohlen 1985–2017 6,400,000
Whitney Houston 1985–2012 6,400,000
Tina Turner 1985–2009 6,300,000
Lady Gaga 1986-2023 6,200,000
Roger Whittaker 1977–2011 6,100,000
The Kelly Family 1994–2017 6,075,000
Joe Cocker 1986–2014 6,050,000
Depeche Mode 1985–2017
Andrea Bocelli 1996–1999 6,000,000

5 to 5.9 million records

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Name Certification period Certified units
Eros Ramazzotti 1988–2013 5,950,000
BAP 1982–2013 5,900,000
Genesis 1978–2008 5,875,000
P!nk 2002–2017
Linkin Park 2001–2017 5,850,000
U2 1986–2018
Modern Talking 1985–2003 5,700,000
Xavier Naidoo 1998–2016 5,625,000
Roxette 1990–2012
Sting 1986–2012 5,600,000
Beyoncé 2003–2024 5,510,000
Simply Red 1986–2013 5,350,000
James Last 1976–1999 5,250,000
Avicii 2012–2018 5,200,000
Timbaland 2000–2018
Unheilig 2010–2017
Bon Jovi 1987–2013 5,150,000

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BVMI data bank". musikindustrie.de. Retrieved 22 May 2018. (in German)
  2. ^ "BVMI limits". musikindustrie.de. Retrieved 22 May 2018. (in German)
  3. ^ "Meilenstein der Chartgeschichte: Streaming wird in offizielle deutsche Album-Charts integriert (English: Chart history milestone: streaming gets integrated in the official German album charts)". musikindustrie.de. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2018. (in German)
  4. ^ "BVMI rules". musikindustrie.de. Retrieved 22 May 2018. (in German)
  5. ^ "BVMI: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 17 December 2024.