Elvis Presley: Worldwide Sales Summary

[Mael]

Elvis Presley: Worldwide Sales Summary

** Reserved for sales info **

[phobos]

Nothing yet?

Got really excited there, haha.

[nealumphred]

MAEL

One thing should be agreed upon: the "Elvis-sold-2/3-of-his-sales-in-the-US-and-1/3-elsewhere" is set in stone That was an estimate made by RCA in 1973 when negotiating the purchase of Elvis' catalog. It is possible that Elvis' non-domestic sales outstripped his US sales back in the '70s.

NEAL

[memphis]

Hi Neal,

According to a statement by Ernst Jorgensen in 2006, Elvis' record sales are now divided into one-third U.S.A. and two-thirds Worldwide with the UK the second biggest market after the U.S.A.

Brian

[nealumphred]

MEMPHIS

Ernst's estimate sounds reasonable. As far back as 1960-62, it is more than likely that Elvis' 45s sold more outside the US than within: while those records sold 750,000 to 1,500,000 per disc on average in the States, they were also selling 500,000-750,000 per disc on average in the UK alone.

As Elvis' LP sales were strong for the time, they were not at a level that global sales could not surpass US sales (with exceptions for biggies like G.I. BLUES and BLUE HAWAII).

NEAL

[memphis]

I am just looking through a mid-sixties U.S.A. fan magazine called 'Elvis Echo' which was one of the most reliable magazines for information on Elvis. The following entries are of some interest:

1. In the past 26 months Elvis sold over 33 million records...1965. The King's biggest record sales year ever. 25,000 Elvis LP's were sold in 300 American Armed Forces P.X Units operating throughout the world (Billboard).

2. Nippon broadcasting System Producer Mitsunori Sasa visiting in America recently reported Elvis was still the No.1 record-seller across his country. Elvis' hit songs always held in Japanese Lists at No.1 upwards of ten weeks.

3. South Africa - Elvis No.1 across the country in records and films. G.I. Blues and Girl Happy top all-time favourites here.

Report on ElvisNews dated 30th November, 2001 states that the album '50 Greatest Hits had sold 50,000 copies thus earning it a GOLD record in Norway.

Further, an article in the Augusta Chronicle dated 29th April, 1997 states:

Presley's label, RCA, has always refused to disclose actual sales figures, bit its 1977 earnings were up 40% over the previous year's because of Presley catalog sales, which reportedly totaled 200 million copies worldwide in the four months after his death, Record plants worldwide were kept running around the clock to meet demand as RCA shipped 20 million Presley albums a week. Presley's first posthumous release, 'Elvis In Concert', sold more than 1 million copies in the first five days after his death.

A report on the Worldwide Elvis site dated January, 2001 quotes the following "Michael Omansky (RCA-USA) has just informed us that the first-ever all-music hour on QVC was a major success. Over $500,000 worth of product was sold. The gospel package 'Peace In The Valley' sold 5,000 sets and sold out very quickly, as did the 30-CD "The Collection" (325 sets)." Michael also states " We went on this summer with a three-CD set we put out, 'Artist Of The Century' which sold 11,000 sets on QVC alone". When I put out the 'Platinum' box set two years ago we sold about 120,000 sets of four CD's in the U.S, but I sold about 175,000 outside of the U.S. Right now on the current 'Artist Of The Century' box set we've sold about 60,000 in the U.S. and 120,000 outside the U.S.

A report in the 'Elvis Times' dated 27th April, 1970 states that " a Golden record has been presented to Elvis for the sales of 'A Portrait In Music'. That's the first Belgian Elvis golden record". In the same issue it states "A golden record for 'In The Ghetto' in New Zealand."

Brian

[memphis]

The following is an extract from the CKXE Annual Report for year ending 31st December, 2009:

" Elvis is the best-selling solo musical recording artist in U.S. history, having sold more than one billion albums and singles worldwide and having set records for the most albums and singles that have been certified Gold ® and Platinum ® by the Recording Industry Association of America. Over the past five years, more than fifteen million Elvis albums have been sold worldwide and more than 540,000 people visited Graceland in 2009."

Brian

[memphis]

Soundscan sales figures for the following albums in Canada up to 31st January, 2013:

"Holiday Collection" = 52,722 (already GOLD)

"White Christmas" = 92,463 (approaching PLATINUM)

"Christmas Duets" = 104,101(already PLATINUM)

"30 #1 Hits" = 641,927 (already 6 X PLATINUM)

These are good sales for Canada. A good approximation is to multiply them by ten and compare with the respective US sales.

Brian

[kriss]

30 #1 Hits is now 7 x Platinum in Australia (490,000 units).