Following experiencing personal struggles through 2007,[6] Spears's fifth studio album, Blackout, was released in October of the same year. Unlike all of the singer's previous records, Blackout failed to be heavily promoted through magazine interviews, talk-show appearances, or televised performances—besides a performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards—and was not accompanied by a supporting tour either.[7] With the release of her sixth studio album Circus, Spears became the only act in the Nielsen SoundScan era—from 1991 to present,—to have four records debuting with 500,000 or more copies sold in the United States.[8] Supported by the releases of commercially successful international hits like "Womanizer" and "Circus", it managed to sale four million copies globally.[9] The singer's third compilation album, The Singles Collection, featured her third number-one single in America, "3". In 2011, she released the song "Hold It Against Me", which made Spears the second artist in the Billboard Hot 100's 52-year history to debut at number one with two or more songs, just behind American recording artist Mariah Carey.[10] The track was included on her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale, which debuted at number one in that country. Also her first album ever to yield three top ten hits in the US, including commercially successful singles like "Till the World Ends" and "I Wanna Go".[11] Spears's eighth studio album, Britney Jean, was released in 2013. It marks Spears's first major activity under RCA Records since the dissolution of her long-time record label, Jive Records, in 2011. Receiving mixed reviews from music critics, it experienced minor commercial success, and thus became the lowest-selling record of her career. Spears began working on her ninth studio album in 2014; she also renewed her record deal with RCA Records. Glory was released in 2016 and received positive reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number three on US Billboard 200 with 111,000 album-equivalent units, including 88,000 copies sold, and spawned the singles "Make Me" and "Slumber Party", which peaked at 17 and 86 on the Hot 100, and topped the Dance Club Songs in the United States.
Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide,[12] including 70 million records in United States (36.9 million digital singles and 33.6 million digital albums), making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.[13][14]Billboard ranked her the eighth overall Artist of the Decade, and also recognized her as the best-selling female album artist of the 21st century's first decade, as well as the fifth overall.[15][16] Additionally, the Recording Industry Association of America recognized Spears as the ninth best-selling female artist in the United States, with 38.5 million certified albums.[17] Spears serves as one of the few artists in history to have a number-one single and studio album in each of the three decades of their career—1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.[18] As of 2020, Spears has reportedly drawn 25.9 billion in cumulative radio airplay audience and 3.7 billion on-demand U.S. audio and video streams combined.[19]
^United States combined sales figures for ...Baby One More Time as of May 2020. The album has sold 10,700,000 in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan,[19] with an additional 1,600,000 sold at BMG Music Clubs.[30] Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[31]
^Canada sales figures for ...Baby One More Time as March 2003.[32]
^United Kingdom sales figures for ...Baby One More Time as of December 2018.[33]
^United States combined sales figures for Oops!...I Did It Again as of May 2020. The album has sold 9,200,000 in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan,[19] with an additional 1,210,000 sold at BMG Music Clubs.[30] Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[31]
^Canada sales figures for Oops!...I Did It Again as March 2003.[32]
^France sales figures for Oops!...I Did It Again as of December 2009.[44]
^Sweden sales figures for Oops!...I Did It Again as of December 2000.[45]
^United Kingdom sales figures for Oops!...I Did It Again as 2020.[46]
^United States combined sales figures for Britney as of May 2020. The album has sold 4,400,000 in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan,[19] with an additional 588,000 sold at BMG Music Clubs.[30] Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[31]
^Canada sales figures for Britney as March 2003.[32]
^France sales figures for Britney as of December 2009.[44]
^United Kingdom sales figures for Britney as 2020.[53]
^United States sales figures for In the Zone as of May 2020.[19]
^France sales figures for In the Zone as of December 2009.[44]
^United Kingdom sales figures for In the Zone as of November 2018.[59]
^United States sales figures for Blackout as of May 2020.[19]
^United Kingdom sales figures for Blackout as of October 2017.[65]
^United States sales figures for Circus as of May 2020.[19]
^Canada sales figures for Circus as of January 2009.[70]
^France sales figures for Circus as December 2018.[71]
^United States sales figures for Femme Fatale as of May 2020.[19]
^France sales figures for Femme Fatale as of December 2011.[75]
^United Kingdom sales figures for Femme Fatale as of December 2013.[76]
^United States sales figures for Britney Jean as of May 2020.[19]
^France sales figures for Britney Jean as May 2014.[82]
^United States sales figures for Glory as of May 2020.[19]
^France sales figures for Glory as December 2016.[83]
^United States sales figures for Greatest Hits: My Prerogative as of January 2019.[13]
^France sales figures for Greatest Hits: My Prerogative as of December 2005.[84][85]
^United Kingdom sales figures for Greatest Hits: My Prerogative as of August 2016.[86]
^United States sales figures for B in the Mix: The Remixes as of January 2019.[13]
^United States sales figures for The Singles Collection as of May 2020.[19]
^United States sales figures for B in the Mix: The Remixes Vol. 2 as of January 2019.[13]
^United States sales figures for Playlist: The Very Best of Britney Spears as of May 2020.[19]
^United States sales figures for The Essential Britney Spears as of May 2020.[19]
^United States sales figures for "...Baby One More Time" as of June 2012.[106]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "...Baby One More Time" as of August 2016.[86]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Sometimes" as of August 2016.[86]
^France sales figures for "(You Drive Me) Crazy" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "(You Drive Me) Crazy" as of December 2013.[115]
^France sales figures for "Born to Make You Happy" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Born to Make You Happy" as of December 2013.[115]
^United States sales figures for "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart" as of June 2012.[106]
^United States sales figures for "Oops!... I Did It Again" as of January 2011.[118]
^France sales figures for "Oops!... I Did It Again" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Oops!... I Did It Again" as of August 2016.[86]
^France sales figures for "Lucky" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Lucky" as of October 2010.[123]
^United States sales figures for "Stronger" as of June 2012.[106]
^France sales figures for "Stronger" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Stronger" as of October 2010.[123]
^France sales figures for "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know" as of December 2009.[114]
^United States sales figures for "I'm a Slave 4 U" as of January 2011.[118]
^France sales figures for "I'm a Slave 4 U" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "I'm a Slave 4 U" as of August 2017.[127]
^France sales figures for "Overprotected" as of December 2009.[114]
^France sales figures for "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" as of October 2010.[123]
^France sales figures for "Boys" as of December 2009.[114]
^France sales figures for "Anticipating" as of December 2009.[114]
^United States sales figures for "Me Against the Music" as of June 2012.[106]
^France sales figures for "Me Against the Music" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Me Against the Music" as of October 2010.[135]
^United States sales figures for "Toxic" as July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "Toxic" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Toxic" as of August 2016.[86]
^France sales figures for "Everytime" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Everytime" as of December 2013.[115]
^United States sales figures for "My Prerogative" as of January 2011.[118]
^France sales figures for "My Prerogative" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "My Prerogative" as of October 2015.[142]
^United States sales figures for "Do Somethin'" as of August 2010.[143]
^United States sales figures for "Someday (I Will Understand)" as of August 2010.[143]
^United States sales figures for "Gimme More" as of July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "Gimme More" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Gimme More" as of October 2010.[123]
^United States sales figures for "Piece of Me" as of July 2016.[137]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Piece of Me" as of December 2013.[115]
^United States sales figures for "Break the Ice'" as of July 2010.[148]
^United States sales figures for "Womanizer" as of July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "Womanizer" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Womanizer" as of August 2016.[86]
^United States sales figures for "Circus" as of July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "Circus" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Circus" as of August 2016.[86]
^United States sales figures for "If U Seek Amy" as of July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "If U Seek Amy" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "If U Seek Amy" as of October 2010.[123]
^United States sales figures for "Radar'" as of July 2010.[148]
^United States sales figures for "3" as of July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "3" as of December 2009.[114]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "3" as of October 2010.[123]
^United States sales figures for "Hold It Against Me" as of July 2016.[137]
^United States sales figures for "Till the World Ends" as of July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "Till the World Ends" as of December 2011.[154]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Till the World Ends" as of August 2016.[86]
^United States sales figures for "I Wanna Go" as of July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "I Wanna Go" as of December 2011.[154]
^United States sales figures for "Criminal" as of June 2012.[106]
^United States sales figures for "Scream & Shout" as of July 2016.[159]
^France sales figures for "Scream and Shout" as of December 2013.[160][161]
^United Kingdom sales figures for "Scream & Shout" as of August 2016.[86]
^United States sales figures for "Work Bitch" as of July 2016.[137]
^France sales figures for "Work Bitch" as of December 2013.[161]
^United States first week sales figures for "Pretty Girls".[171]
^United States first week sales figures for "Make Me".[174]
^United States first week sales figures for "Mood Ring".[178]
^United States sales figures for "Hold Me Closer" as of May 2023.[182]
^United Kingdom first week sales figures for "Hold Me Closer".[183]
^United States first week sales figures for "Mind Your Business".[189]
^South Korea first week sales figures for "Tik Tik Boom".[202]
^South Korea sales figures for "My Only Wish (This Year)" as of December 2011.[204]
^South Korea sales figures for "Inside Out" as of 2011.[215]
^South Korea sales figures for "How I Roll" as of 2011.[215]
^South Korea sales figures for "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" as of 2011.[218]
^South Korea sales figures for "Seal It with a Kiss" as of 2011.[218]
^South Korea sales figures for "Big Fat Bass" as of 2011.[215]
^South Korea sales figures for "Trouble for Me" as of 2011.[218]
^South Korea sales figures for "Trip to Your Heart" as of 2011.[218]
^South Korea sales figures for "Gasoline" as of 2011.[215]
^South Korea sales figures for "Up n' Down" as of 2011.[220]
^United States first week sales figures for "Selfish".[222]
^South Korea sales figures for "Scary" as of 2011.[220]
^South Korea first week sales figures for "Alien".[202]
^South Korea first week sales figures for "Body Ache".[202]
^South Korea first week sales figures for "Passenger".[202]
^South Korea first week sales figures for "Chillin' with You".[202]
^South Korea first week sales figures for "Don't Cry".[202]
Notes for peak chart positions
^"I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[133]
^"Boys" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 22 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[133]
^"My Prerogative" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[133]
^"Make Me" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number three on the NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart.[172]
^"Make Me" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number five on the Swedish Heatseekers Singles Chart.[173]
^"Slumber Party" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 73 on the UK Singles Sales chart.[175]
^"Mood Ring" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 23 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[133]
^"Mood Ring" did not enter the Canadian Hot 100, but peaked at number 32 on the Canada Digital Song Sales chart.[176]
^"Mood Ring" did not enter the Official German Singles Chart, but peaked at number 60 on the Germany Digital Singles Sales chart.[177]
^"Mood Ring" only appears on the Japanese deluxe version and on both 2020 reissues of the standard and deluxe versions of Glory; "Swimming in the Stars" and "Matches" only appears on the 2020 reissue of the deluxe version of the album.
^"Swimming in the Stars" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 18 on the Digital Song Sales chart.[179]
^"Swimming in the Stars" did not enter the Canadian Hot 100, but peaked at number 25 on the Canada Digital Song Sales chart.[176]
^"Swimming in the Stars" did not enter the Official German Singles Chart, but peaked at number 28 on the Germany Digital Singles Sales chart.[177]
^"Swimming in the Stars" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 37 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[180]
^"Swimming in the Stars" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 36 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.
^"Matches" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 11 on the Digital Song Sales chart.[179]
^"Matches" did not enter the Canadian Hot 100, but peaked at number seven on the Canada Digital Song Sales chart.[176]
^"Matches" did not enter the Official German Singles Chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Germany Digital Singles Sales chart.[177]
^"Matches" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 40 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[181]
^"Matches" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 48 on the UK Singles Downloads chart.
^"Hold Me Closer" only appears on the reissue of John's The Lockdown Sessions.
^"Mind Your Business" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 12 on the Digital Song Sales chart.[179]
^"Mind Your Business" did not enter the Canadian Hot 100, but peaked at number 16 on the Canada Digital Song Sales chart.[176]
^"Mind Your Business" did not enter the Official German Singles Chart, but peaked at number eight on the Germany Digital Singles Sales chart.[177]
^"Mind Your Business" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 27 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[187]
^"Mind Your Business" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Sales chart.[188]
^"Toy Soldier" did not enter the Billboard's Canadian Hot 100, but peaked at 59 on the Canadian Digital Song Sales chart.[213]
^"Out from Under" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[133]
^"Kill the Lights" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 11 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.[133]
^"Inside Out" did not enter the Circle Cumulative Digital Chart, but peaked at number 59 on the Circle Foreign Digital Chart.[214]
^"How I Roll" did not enter the Circle Cumulative Digital Chart, but peaked at number 32 on the Circle Foreign Digital Chart.[214]
^ abcdefPeak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom:
All except "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart" and "I Wanna Go": "Britney Spears"(select "singles" tab). The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
^"Sverigetopplistan: Britney Spears - Work Bitch" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Grammofonleverantörernas förening. Archived from the original(To access certification, one must search (Sök) for "Work Bitch" or "Work Bitch Britney Spears" and click the "Visa" button.) on May 21, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2014.