According to Guinness World Records, the best-selling single of all time is Bing Crosby’s "White Christmas" (1942), with estimated global sales exceeding 50 million copies. The song's massive success was driven by its release during World War II, predating modern music charts.
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".
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. The song's success was before the existence of certification systems, hence the accuracy is often disputed.
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 Music Artists (1969–2025) | The Race of Music Legends
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.
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.
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.
The Minecraft community has crushed one trillion views on YouTube. Celebrate this huge milestone with a look back at some of the biggest moments in Minecraft history.
The richest YouTuber in the world is widely considered to be MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), with estimated net worths reaching into the hundreds of millions, even potentially over $1 billion, due to his massive audience, successful businesses like Feastables, MrBeast Burger, and large-scale content reinvestment. While figures vary, he consistently tops lists, followed by beauty mogul Jeffree Star, and family creators like Like Nastya and Ryan's World.
As of December 2025, six music artists have reached the billionaire status on Forbes reports: Jay-Z leading the list with $2.5 billion, Taylor Swift—the richest female musician—and then Rihanna, the first female artist to become a billionaire.
40 years ago today, Michael Jackson released 'Thriller.' It's the biggest-selling album of all-time, spent 37 weeks at #1 in the US and earned eight #GRAMMYs . The iconic record spawned 7 top 10 hits, including “Billie Jean” & “Beat It,” and is certified 34x Platinum by RIAA.
Jackson became a worldwide symbol through music videos and pop innovation, while Swift dominates fandom culture and fan engagement in the digital age. Ultimately, the show lands on a nuanced conclusion: both artists define their generations — just in completely different ways.
