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

13 million records or more

• 
  Herbert Grönemeyer
• 
  Peter Maffay
• 
  Phil Collins
• 
  Rolf Zuckowski
• 
  Michael Jackson
• 
  Die Toten Hosen

Name	Nationality	Certification period	Certified units
Herbert Grönemeyer	German	1984–2018	18,075,000
Peter Maffay	German	1979–2018	14,350,000
Phil Collins	British	1981–2011	14,300,000
Michael Jackson	American	1983–2023	14,125,000
Rolf Zuckowski	German	1989–2012	13,975,000
Die Toten Hosen	German	1989–2018	13,650,000
Ed Sheeran	British	2012–2022	13,350,000

11 to 12.9 million records

• 
  Queen
• 
  Madonna
• 
  Rihanna
• 
  Marius Müller-Westernhagen
• 
  Helene Fischer

Name	Nationality	Certification period	Certified units
Queen	British	1978–2018	12,625,000
Madonna	American	1985–2012	12,550,000
Rihanna	Barbadian	2007–2023	12,275,000
Marius Müller-Westernhagen	German	1981–2017	12,075,000
Helene Fischer	German	2007–2018	11,150,000

9 to 10.9 million records

• 
  AC/DC
• 
  Robbie Williams
• 
  ABBA
• 
  Andrea Berg
• 
  Elton John
• 
  Pur

Name	Nationality	Certification period	Certified units
AC/DC	Australian	1980–2016	10,600,000
Robbie Williams	British	2000–2018
ABBA	Swedish	1976–2008	10,550,000
Andrea Berg	German	2002–2017	9,600,000
Elton John	British	1982–2004	9,550,000
Pur	German	1993–2017	9,525,000

7 to 8.9 million records

• 
  Coldplay
• 
  Céline Dion
• 
  Die Ärzte
• 
  David Guetta
• 
  Britney Spears
• 
  The Beatles
• 
  Pink Floyd

Name	Nationality	Certification period	Certified units
Die Flippers	German	1987–2012	8,650,000
Coldplay	British	2000–2024	8,550,000[5]
Céline Dion	Canada	1996–2003	8,000,000
Die Ärzte	German	1988–2012	7,850,000
Wolfgang Petry	German	1983–2014	7,825,000
David Guetta	French	2010–2018	7,800,000
Britney Spears	American	1999–2023	7,700,000
The Beatles	British	1993–2007	7,600,000
Pink Floyd	British	1977–2015	7,500,000

6 to 6.9 million records

• 
  Bee Gees
• 
  Eminem
• 
  Shakira
• 
  Backstreet Boys
• 
  Dieter Bohlen
• 
  Tina Turner

Name	Nationality	Certification period	Certified units
Bee Gees	British  Australian	1978–2005	6,675,000
Eminem	American	2000–2018	6,625,000
Shakira	Colombian	2002–2023	6,525,000
Backstreet Boys	American	1996–2003	6,500,000
Dieter Bohlen	German	1985–2017	6,400,000
Tina Turner	American   Swiss	1985–2009	6,300,000
Lady Gaga	American	1986-2023	6,200,000
Roger Whittaker	British	1977–2011	6,100,000
The Kelly Family	Irish  American	1994–2017	6,075,000
Joe Cocker	British	1986–2014	6,050,000
Depeche Mode	British	1985–2017
Andrea Bocelli	Italian	1996–1999	6,000,000

5 to 5.9 million records

• 
  Eros Ramazzotti
• 
  BAP
• 
  Genesis
• 
  P!nk
• 
  Linkin Park
• 
  U2

Name	Nationality	Certification period	Certified units
Eros Ramazzotti	Italian	1988–2013	5,950,000
BAP	German	1982–2013	5,900,000
Genesis	British	1978–2008	5,875,000
P!nk	American	2002–2017
Linkin Park	American	2001–2017	5,850,000
U2	Irish	1986–2018
Modern Talking	German	1985–2003	5,700,000
Xavier Naidoo	German	1998–2016	5,625,000
Roxette	Swedish	1990–2012
Sting	British	1986–2012	5,600,000
Whitney Houston	American	1986–2009	5,400,000
Simply Red	British	1986–2013	5,350,000
James Last	German	1976–1999	5,250,000
Avicii	Swedish	2012–2018	5,200,000
Timbaland	American	2000–2018
Unheilig	German	2010–2017
Bon Jovi	American	1987–2013	5,150,000

See also

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

External links

• BVMI website (in German)

References