15 Years Later, Amazon U.K.'s Best-Sellers

Oct 15, 2013

Happy 15th Birthday, Amazon UK! The English media giant celebrated its name-day by sharing some sales statistics gathered over its lifetime. What follows are the site's best-sellers: the songs and albums that have made superstars of people like Lady Gaga, Adele, and Rage Against the Machine. Sound strange? See for yourself...

1.

Happy 15th Birthday, Amazon UK! The English media giant celebrated its name-day by sharing some sales statistics gathered over its lifetime. What follows are the site's best-sellers: the songs and albums that have made superstars of people like Lady Gaga, Adele, and Rage Against the Machine. Sound strange? See for yourself...

2. Best-Selling Artists (All Formats)

Unsurprisingly, the homegrown pop-rock Adele takes all the cake thanks to two huge albums that went universal: 2008's 19 and 2011's 21. Coldplay, the Beatles, and Lady Gaga all seem pretty normal, but check out the second half of the list. Snow Patrol and Muse sneak in there, seemingly out of nowhere. Could be a rare indication of British preference vs. the American industry...they have a tender side. Muse is a mystery. Check the top 10 below:

1. Adele

2. Coldplay

3. The Beatles

4. Lady Gaga

5. Rihanna

6. Michael Bublé

7. Kings of Leon

8. Snow Patrol

9. Muse

10. Michael Jackson

3. Best-Selling Singles (MP3)

There's a decidedly viral slant to Amazon UK's best-selling MP3's. In fact, it's virtually a roll call of internet memes. Almost as if they were going through the same digital revolution as the Yanks.

The one notable exception is Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name," that vicious denunciation of the corporate entity that brushed off the competition for the #1 spot...17 years after its original release.

For those who've forgotten: English DJ Jon Morter started a campaign in 2009 to get Rage's "Killing in the Name" to the #1 on the U.K. charts by Christmas. The winner of Simon Cowell's "X-Factor" had taken the spot hostage the five years previous.

More than 750,000 people ended up joining the cause. Dave Grohl and Paul McCartney gave it their blessing, and when the song finally got there, Rage was invited on to BBC 5 Live to perform the song—provided, of course, they censor the profane ending.

Of course Zack de la Rocha and Tom Morello would censor the song! They'd be happy to censor the profane ending! (Not really, watch below.)

The list of best-selling singles is below, then check out Rage's BBC performance:

1. Rage Against the Machine - "Killing in the Name"

2. Adele - "Skyfall"

3. Psy - "Gangam Style"

4. Adele - "Someone Like You"

5. Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling"

6. Robin Thicke - "Blurred Lines"

7. Carly Rae Jepson - "Call Me Maybe"

8. Gotye - "Somebody That I Used To Know"

9. Daft Punk - "Get Lucky"

10. James Arthur - "Impossible"

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5. Best Selling Albums (All Formats)

Amazon UK's best-selling albums across all formats makes for a bittersweet list. On one hand you have the majesty and grace of Amy Winehouse, on the other hand you have her antithesis: the NOW! franchise. And NOW! outnumbers Amy 3 to 1. It's a sobering indication of who buys music online, and what retailers are provoked to push out to the rest of the world. Tweens pay.

At least Adele is still gripping the throne, and she's a sight closer to Amy than the soulless beast of NOW!.

1. Adele - 21

2. Adele - 19

3. Take That - Progress

4. Susan Boyle - I Dreamed A Dream

5. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 83

6. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

7. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

8. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

9. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 80

10. Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 77

6. Best-Selling Artists (Physical Sales)

Amazon has lived through vinyl, the cassette, CDs, and the almighty MP3. They were kind enough to differentiate between the two camps (physical sales vs. digital sales), leaving a vague footprint of where certain artists have left their stamp. Rihanna lands at #3 in digital sales but is only #18 physically, while The Beatles are #2 in physical sales but don't crack the top 20 digitally. Here are the top-selling artists in physical sales. And yes, Adele is still killing everybody:

1. Adele

2. The Beatles

3. Coldplay

4. Michael Bublé

5. Snow Patrol

6. Pink Floyd

7. Kings of Leon

8. Amy Winehouse

9. Susan Boyle

10. Bob Dylan

11. U2

12. Queen

13. Muse

14. Robbie Williams

15. Elbow

16. Oasis

17. Michael Jackson

18. Rihanna

19. Foo Fighters

20. The Killers

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8. Best-Selling Artists (Digital Sales)

What's really worth noting in this category is who's not on this list. With all the discussion surrounding Spotify and music streaming royalties these days, this becomes a list of artists who are exempt from the rules the rest of the industry plays by. These fan bases and/or record deals have elevated their artist beyond the realm of royalties and into endorsement territory. There are more than a few familiar faces—literally, faces you recognize because these artists have made deals with Pepsi, network TV, and Pop Chips to ensure that anything they release online will go platinum. Four for you, Glenn Coco.

The one semi-exception on this list is Kings of Leon, who, after being branded corporate sellouts with 2008's Only By The Night, returned to their Southern-rock roots with Mechanical Bull, released last month to critical acclaim. So maybe you can come back. Can't hurt to hold out hope.

1. Lady Gaga

2. Rihanna

3. Glee Cast

4. Adele

5. Katy Perry

6. Black Eyed Peas

7. Take That

8. Coldplay

9. Florence + The Machine

10. Jessie J

11. Kings of Leon

12. Bruno Mars

13. Michael Jackson

14. Eminem

15. Pixie Lott

16. Rage Against The Machine

17. Michael Bublé

18. Beyoncé

19. Flo Rida

20. Maroon 5

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