The biggest musical superstar(s)

[foxfanazer]

Went to watch the Michael Jackson film last night with my girlfriend and afterwards we were discussing about musical superstars and essentially who's the biggest ever in terms of stardom.

 

Now I might be missing some obvious ones but I could only narrow it down to three but couldn't decide which order they'd be

 

So I had it as ... (In no particular order) 

 

Elvis Presley 

The Beatles 

Michael Jackson

 

Not based on preference or anything but just the fact that pretty much everyone alive has heard of them and the impact they had on their particular eras. Mostly wrote their own songs and were natural performers that you just don't see anymore.

 

It's kind of sad that this generation won't ever really get true icons of music to worship in the same way 

 

 

[davieG]

4 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

Went to watch the Michael Jackson film last night with my girlfriend and afterwards we were discussing about musical superstars and essentially who's the biggest ever in terms of stardom.

 

Now I might be missing some obvious ones but I could only narrow it down to three but couldn't decide which order they'd be

 

So I had it as ... (In no particular order) 

 

Elvis Presley 

The Beatles 

Michael Jackson

 

Not based on preference or anything but just the fact that pretty much everyone alive has heard of them and the impact they had on their particular eras. Mostly wrote their own songs and were natural performers that you just don't see anymore.

 

It's kind of sad that this generation won't ever really get true icons of music to worship in the same way 

 

 

That's obviously from an English perspective so could  be some foreign language greats maybe Pavarotti. Don't know how big he was in Europe and beyond

 

From an English perspective Frank Sinatra?

[jammie82uk]

5 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

Went to watch the Michael Jackson film last night with my girlfriend and afterwards we were discussing about musical superstars and essentially who's the biggest ever in terms of stardom.

 

Now I might be missing some obvious ones but I could only narrow it down to three but couldn't decide which order they'd be

 

So I had it as ... (In no particular order) 

 

Elvis Presley 

The Beatles 

Michael Jackson

 

Not based on preference or anything but just the fact that pretty much everyone alive has heard of them and the impact they had on their particular eras. Mostly wrote their own songs and were natural performers that you just don't see anymore.

 

It's kind of sad that this generation won't ever really get true icons of music to worship in the same way 

 

 

Each generation will have someone and each country will have one, 

I wasn’t alive when Beatlemania was at its height but I read stories and seen the videos, their popularity was apart of their downfall, apparently 300,000 people turned up and lined the streets around an hotel in Australia, they would get swamped at airports by thousands of fans 

 

Queen have got to be mentioned, massive influence in the 80’s, I’m sure everyone knows at least one of their songs, as you have said Michael Jackson I wonder how many people know more about him for his music as compared to his “controversial moments” 

 

in the 90’s you had Take That when they split up samaritans had a dedicated phone line for distressed fans

 

Present day would be Taylor Swift, like her or hate her, she is extremely popular, sells out stadiums and still has 50,000 people outside enjoying the show, her economic impact is immense 

 

 

 

 

 

[spacemunky]

Spice Girls

[Samilktray]

Prince for me 

[Foxdiamond]

10 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

Went to watch the Michael Jackson film last night with my girlfriend and afterwards we were discussing about musical superstars and essentially who's the biggest ever in terms of stardom.

 

Now I might be missing some obvious ones but I could only narrow it down to three but couldn't decide which order they'd be

 

So I had it as ... (In no particular order) 

 

Elvis Presley 

The Beatles 

Michael Jackson

 

Not based on preference or anything but just the fact that pretty much everyone alive has heard of them and the impact they had on their particular eras. Mostly wrote their own songs and were natural performers that you just don't see anymore.

 

It's kind of sad that this generation won't ever really get true icons of music to worship in the same way 

 

 

Don't think Elvis actually wrote his material 

[Wymsey]

Actually think Elton John.

[SkidsFox]

Back in the day, U2 Police and Dire Straits were huge, but yes maybe Michael eclipsed them.

[Foxdiamond]

Mozart, Beethoven, Handel etc. 

[EnderbyFox]

Sam Bailey for me 

[PAULCFC]

Frank Sinatra.......for me.

[PAULCFC]

5 hours ago, SkidsFox said:

Back in the day, U2 Police and Dire Straits were huge, but yes maybe Michael eclipsed them.

The Police are probably the most underated band in this country......Synchrocity part 2 is a great tune!

[Jon the Hat]

20 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

Went to watch the Michael Jackson film last night with my girlfriend and afterwards we were discussing about musical superstars and essentially who's the biggest ever in terms of stardom.

 

Now I might be missing some obvious ones but I could only narrow it down to three but couldn't decide which order they'd be

 

So I had it as ... (In no particular order) 

 

Elvis Presley 

The Beatles 

Michael Jackson

 

Not based on preference or anything but just the fact that pretty much everyone alive has heard of them and the impact they had on their particular eras. Mostly wrote their own songs and were natural performers that you just don't see anymore.

 

It's kind of sad that this generation won't ever really get true icons of music to worship in the same way 

I think that is nonsense actually, filtered through the depths of time.  It is essentially impossible to produce ongoing success as a musical act on the global stage without huge support in songwriting, production, performance and marketing, whether that was in 1950 or now.  Times change but that fact doesn't.

[Raj]

Wacko Jacko by a mile imho.

 

Took entertainment and music videos especially to another level.

[Fox92]

I've always though it to be Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Michael Jackson.

 

I don't think we've seen anyone at the level since Michael Jackson but Taylor Swift is massive and can easily sell out 50k gigs day after day.

[RoboFox]

It's the Beatles without question. People forget that they were only a band for SEVEN YEARS and basically revolutionised popular music and culture. In terms of sales, impact, and lasting legacy it's them. 

 

Shout out to OGs Beethoven, Mozart and Bach who are still going strong hundreds of years after their death. 

 

Elton John has to be in the conversation - not far off Elvis in terms of sales, and is still charting and relevant nearly sixty years after his debut. 

 

Edited 11 May by RoboFox

[Samilktray]

Just a quick mention for the highest selling female artist of all time Rihanna. Much better music than Taylor Swift (who is a ghoul) and hasn’t released an album for about 10 years now. 

[Raj]

Diljit Dosanjh if probably one of the biggest current supestars, huge in India obviously but will sell out massive areans  within minutes to anywhere with a Punjabi fanbase(uk, Canada etc)

[jammie82uk]

47 minutes ago, Samilktray said:

 

Just a quick mention for the highest selling female artist of all time Rihanna

 

Is she really?, I know she was popular but would have never have guessed that 

[Raj]

12 minutes ago, jammie82uk said:

Is she really?, I know she was popular but would have never have guessed that 

Madonna is the highest-selling female artist of all time, with an estimated 300–400 million records sold worldwide.

Rihanna – 250+ Million Records Sold

 

[Samilktray]

15 minutes ago, jammie82uk said:

Is she really?, I know she was popular but would have never have guessed that 

Yeah I just checked and I skipped past Madonna. Second highest selling still isn’t too bad I suppose 

[Foxdiamond]

1 hour ago, RoboFox said:

It's the Beatles without question. People forget that they were only a band for SEVEN YEARS and basically revolutionised popular music and culture. In terms of sales, impact, and lasting legacy it's them. 

 

Shout out to OGs Beethoven, Mozart and Bach who are still going strong hundreds of years after their death. 

 

Elton John has to be in the conversation - not far off Elvis in terms of sales, and is still charting and relevant nearly sixty years after his debut. 

 

I agree about The Beatles. Of course they were well promoted by Brian Epstein and reached cinema audiences with A Hard Days Night and Help but there was not the saturation coverage and platforms that are available now. Yet their impact was absolutely huge at the time and their legacy assured. 

[Foxdiamond]

Anyone that managed to stay alive long enough to maintain a career with sell out live shows at top venues as well as still recording new material after 50 years or so deserves respect. Especially as it transcends what was fashionable over a short period. 

[SpacedX]

8 hours ago, Fox92 said:

I've always though it to be Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Michael Jackson.

 

I don't think we've seen anyone at the level since Michael Jackson but Taylor Swift is massive and can easily sell out 50k gigs day after day.

As of now, Taylor Swift holds the record for the highest-grossing concert tour of all time with her Eras Tour, which concluded in December 2024 with over $2 billion in revenue. For overall career touring revenue, The Rolling Stones are the highest-grossing live band in history, collecting over $2.9 billion.

 

4 hours ago, Raj said:

Madonna is the highest-selling female artist of all time, with an estimated 300–400 million records sold worldwide.

Rihanna – 250+ Million Records Sold

 

Madonna's career sales are often cited between 300 and 400 million, placing her behind only The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson in total worldwide records sold. The Beatles are undisputed in total sales, with claims ranging from 600 to 1 billion units. 

 

Of course sales and superstardom isn't necessarily a sole measure of creative worth and merit but in the case of the Beatles, the latter is hard to dispute. 

[Raj]

11 minutes ago, SpacedX said:

As of now, Taylor Swift holds the record for the highest-grossing concert tour of all time with her Eras Tour, which concluded in December 2024 with over $2 billion in revenue. For overall career touring revenue, The Rolling Stones are the highest-grossing live band in history, collecting over $2.9 billion.

 

Madonna's career sales are often cited between 300 and 400 million, placing her behind only The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson in total worldwide records sold. The Beatles are undisputed in total sales, with claims ranging from 600 to 1 billion units. 

 

Of course sales and superstardom isn't necessarily a sole measure of creative worth and merit but in the case of the Beatles, the latter is hard to dispute. 

What about Sam Baileyyyyyyyy