Everybody interested in Prince's sales figures please take a look at my thread, "PRINCE: the ALBUM SALES analysis", in the UKMIX forum, in the link bellow:

http://www.ukmix.org/foru...hp?t=34161

In there you can understand how i calculated the estimated sales displayed bellow, using Billboard and Minneapolis Star Tribune articles and Soundscan figures.
In my thread you can also find Prince's singles Soundscan sales in USA (courtesy of Hanboo) and my estimations for Prince's worldwide singles sales (around 30 million).

You can see this estimations as minimum sales for his albums.

Prince Career Album Sales

Legend

Year - Album - Worldwide estimated sales = USA estimated sales + International (outside US) estimated sales

The 70's + 80's

1978 For You 930,000 = 550,000 + 380,000
1979 Prince 1,950,000 = 1,500,000 + 450,000
1980 Dirty Mind 2,015,000 = 1,085,000 + 930,000
1981 Controversy 2,650,000 = 1,550,000 + 1,100,000
1982 1999 6,075,000 = 4,320,000 + 1,755,000
1984 Purple Rain 19,880,000 = 14,480,000 + 5,400,000
1985 Around The World In A Day 4,585,000 = 2,845,000 + 1,740,000
1986 Parade 4,155,000 = 2,105,000 + 2,050,000
1987 Sign Of The Times 4,025,000 = 1,840,000 + 2,185,000
1988 Lovesexy 2,825,000 = 960,000 + 1,865,000
1989 Batman (Soundtrack) 4,790,000 = 2,500,000 + 2,290,000

Total 70's + 80's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
53,880,000 = 33,735,000 + 20,145,000

The 90's

1990 Graffiti Bridge 2,305,000 = 980,000 + 1,325,000
1991 Diamonds & Pearls 6,450,000 = 2,780,000 + 3,670,000
1992 Symbol 2,700,000 = 1,100,000 + 1,600,000
1993 The Hits/The B-Sides 1,000,000 = 650,000 + 350,000
1993 The Hits 1 2,750,000 = 2,000,000 + 750,000
1993 The Hits 2 2,250,000 = 1,750,000 + 500,000
1994 Come 1,000,000 = 500,000 + 500,000
1994 The Black Album 575,000 = 275,000 + 300,000
1995 The Gold Experience 900,000 = 550,000 + 350,000
1996 Chaos & Disorder 350,000 = 150,000 + 200,000
1996 Emancipation 1,200,000 = 700,000 + 500,000
1998 Crystal Ball 275,000 = 125,000 + 150,000
1998 Newpower Soul 425,000 = 225,000 + 200,000
1999 The Vault 250,000 = 125,000 + 125,000
1999 Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic 750,000 = 500,000 + 250,000

Total 90's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
23,180,000 = 12,410,000 + 10,770,000

The 00's

2001 The Very Best Of Prince 2,000,000 = 1,300,000 + 700,000
2001 The Rainbow Children 300,000 = 175,000 + 125,000
2004 Musicology 1,500,000 = 1,000,000 + 500,000 (concert sales NOT included)

Total 00's estimated worldwide all-time sales:
3,800,000 = 2,475,000 + 1,325,000

Total (Estimated) Career All-Time Album Sales Worldwide:

80,860,000 = 48,620,000 + 32,240,000
[Edited 5/18/06 17:40pm]

TRC

This is fascinating! Thanks for posting!

how accurate are those estimated sales ?

I think you've been a little overly generous to some of the older albums. "For You" hasn't gone gold in the US; I would say it's closer to 300,000 than 550,000. Purple Rain is more like 12 or 13 million (it's certified 13x platinum). And I don't think Parade is over 2 million (probably more like 1.5). Also I think Lovesexy is a little further away from Platinum than that.

But good job on all your efforts! Your research is appreciated by those of us who find interest in Prince's stats (and before anyone says it, no, of course selling well doesn't make an album good or bad. Knowing Prince's sales/chart stats is like baseball fans following a favorite player's statistics. Lighten up!).
[Edited 5/19/06 3:58am]

renfield said:

Lets not forget NEWS! That will push the old mans sales through the roof.

Imago said:

Oh no, not the Shenaynay!!!!!

I thought Platinum in the states was 1,500,000 copies not 1,000,000. If this is so then the album sold between 19.5m and 21 m which seems right. Your figures sound very accurate, my guess originally was 75 million albums world wwide. Kudos to you. I was especially pleased when u gave accurate numbers for his next two biggest albums 1999 and Diamonds and Pearls which honestly sold a bomb.