List of highest-certified music artists in Germany

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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[edit]

### 13 million records or more[edit]

* Herbert Grönemeyer

* Peter Maffay

* Phil Collins

* Rolf Zuckowski

* Michael Jackson

* Die Toten Hosen

Name | Certification period | Certified units

|
|

Herbert Grönemeyer | 1984–2018 | 18,075,000
Peter Maffay | 1979–2018 | 14,350,000
Phil Collins | 1981–2011 | 14,300,000
Michael Jackson | 1983–2023 | 14,125,000
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[edit]

* Queen

* Madonna

* Rihanna

* Marius Müller-Westernhagen

* Helene Fischer

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[edit]

* AC/DC

* Robbie Williams

* ABBA

* Andrea Berg

* Elton John

* Pur

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

### 7 to 8.9 million records[edit]

* Coldplay

* Céline Dion

* Die Ärzte

* David Guetta

* Britney Spears

* The Beatles

* Pink Floyd

Name | Certification period | Certified units

|
|

Die Flippers | 1987–2012 | 8,650,000
Coldplay | 2000–2024 | 8,550,000[5]
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[edit]

* Bee Gees

* Eminem

* Backstreet Boys

* Dieter Bohlen

* Tina Turner

Name | Certification period | Certified units

|
|

Bee Gees | 1978–2005 | 6,675,000
Eminem | 2000–2018 | 6,625,000
Shakira | 2002–2023 | 6,525,000
Backstreet Boys | 1996–2003 | 6,500,000
Dieter Bohlen | 1985–2017 | 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[edit]

* Eros Ramazzotti

* BAP

* Genesis

* P!nk

* Linkin Park

* U2

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
Whitney Houston | 1986–2009 | 5,400,000
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
Beyoncé | 2003–2024 | 5,060,300

## See also[edit]

* List of best-selling albums in Germany
* List of best-selling singles in Germany

## External links[edit]

* BVMI website (in German)

## References[edit]

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 13 April 2024.