What is the most selling single in the world?

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (1942) holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales exceeding 50 million copies, though its figures predate modern charting systems. For the modern era, Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" is recognized as the biggest-selling single since the 1950s, with around 33 million sales. More recently, Xiao Zhan's "Spotlight" was named the best-selling digital single ever (over 54 million downloads) by Guinness in 2023, while Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" is the highest-certified single by official metrics.

What's the highest selling single of all time?

According to Guinness World Records, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (1942) is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.

What is the #1 song of all time?

There's no single "number one song of all time" because it depends on the criteria (sales, streams, cultural impact, critical acclaim), but Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is often cited as the best-selling single ever by sales, while Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" holds records for streaming/digital certifications, and critics' lists (like Rolling Stone's list) favor songs like Aretha Franklin's "Respect" or Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone".

Who is the #1 selling artist of all time?

The number one selling artist of all time is generally considered to be The Beatles, with claimed sales over 600 million records, while Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley are the top solo artists, both selling over 500 million records, though figures vary significantly by source. The Beatles led the British Invasion and broke numerous records, while Michael Jackson is the most successful entertainer, and Elvis is the best-selling solo artist according to Guinness World Records, with massive claimed sales. 

Who sold 1 billion records?

While exact numbers vary and are often debated, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson are frequently cited as artists who have sold over 1 billion records, with Elvis often called the best-selling solo artist and Michael Jackson the best-selling artist overall when group sales are considered alongside solo work. The Beatles, as a group, also have figures approaching or exceeding 1 billion units in some estimates, making them top contenders.

Best Selling Single Of Every Decade | 2010s - 14,000BC

Who has the most No. 1 hits ever?

1 Songs on the Hot 100, From The Beatles to Rihanna & More. The Beatles have the most No. 1 hits among all acts in the chart's history, with 20.

What is the most played song ever?

There's even a dispute over the exact title. Yet “It's a Small World,” also known as “It's a Small, Small World” and “It's a Small World (After All),” is very likely the most played song in music history — nearly 50 million times.

Who is bigger, Coldplay or Taylor Swift?

It's complex, but Coldplay has surpassed Taylor Swift in most attended concert tours, with their ongoing Music of the Spheres tour becoming the all-time biggest by ticket sales, though Swift's Eras Tour remains the highest-grossing tour in revenue, with Coldplay close behind but still trailing in total earnings as of late 2025. Both artists are global titans, but their "bigness" depends on the metric: attendance vs. revenue.
 

Who wrote the most hit songs?

Hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts is the absolute "Olympic Gold Medal" measure for a songwriter. In the Billboard Charts' Hot 100's 57-year history, only Paul McCartney (32) and John Lennon (26) boast more leaders as writers.

What song was #1 the longest?

Don McLean, the singer of the nearly nine-minute-long hit "American Pie," has held the record for longest song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart since 1972. However, Swift unseated him with her ten- minute version of "All Too Well," which was released in November and hit No.

What's the catchiest song ever written?

Perhaps unsurprisingly — considering stadiums full of fans have been chanting the lyrics at sporting events for years — Queen's 1977 anthem "We Are the Champions" claimed the title of "catchiest song of all time" based on Pawley and Müllensiefen's analysis.

What single song has made the most money?

“White Christmas” – Bing Crosby (1942)

Written during World War II, “White Christmas” offered wartime audiences a dream of peace and nostalgia. To this day, it's the best-selling single of all time, with more than 50 million copies sold.

Who is the #1 most listened artist?

Since 2013, Spotify has published a yearly list of its most-streamed artists, which has been topped by Bad Bunny a record four times (2020–2022; 2025), being the only artist to do so in three consecutive years.

What is the most successful song of all time?

There's no single "most successful song" as success is measured differently (sales, streams, cultural impact), but Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" holds Guinness World Records for best-selling single ever (50+ million physical copies pre-digital), while Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" is the biggest-selling single since chart systems began, and Xiao Zhan's "Spotlight" is the top-selling digital single, showing different eras of success. For streaming, Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" and The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" are contenders for most-streamed. 

What is the best song ever made?

There's no single "best song ever," as it's subjective, but critically acclaimed contenders often include Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" (Rolling Stone's pick) and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," while science sometimes points to Toto's "Africa" for its perfect construction, and streaming charts favor hits like The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights"; ultimately, the greatest song depends on individual taste, with classics like "Imagine," "What's Going On," and "Stairway to Heaven" frequently cited.

Who has 9 Diamond albums?

Garth Brooks is the artist famous for having nine Diamond-certified albums, a record for albums, though Drake has since surpassed him in total Diamond certifications (albums and singles combined). Brooks' nine Diamond albums include his debut, No Fences, Ropin' the Wind, The Chase, In Pieces, Sevens, The Ultimate Hits, and Double Live, among others, all representing over 10 million copies sold each. 

Has any rapper gone diamond?

Here are the Rappers with certified Diamond albums in US💎 - #Eminem has most (3) - #Drake becomes the latest entry with 'Take Care' - #LaurynHill is the only female Rapper with Diamond album.