Beyoncé, and it's not close. Beyoncé outsold and outgrossed Gaga in album sales and touring. Gaga's latest release hasn't even scanned platinum in the biggest music market (USA), and so far has only managed to sell 1.7M globally and already declining.
Meanwhile, 18yrs later, Beyoncé is selling 5M with her latest release(mind you her 5th album). Slaying the touring game with a 200M+ grossing tour (Mrs Carter) and a 100M+(OTR) all within year.
So Beyonce isn't global because she only sold '500k more outside the US' but somehow Gaga is more global even though she sold less. Please try and make sense.
As much as I hate to admit it, it's Gaga. She has mass appeal and her songs actually made it to the radio and charted consistently in other markets. Beyoncé, however, is highly respected but the masses don't know most of her songs. I speak from experience.
As much as Beyoncé wants to believe she's past the charts, it really does matter if you want to cement your legacy. Michael Jackson and Madonna didn't get there without hit singles.
The Fame, The Fame Monster, Born This Way were all more global than ANY Bey era ever. Once you get as global, you don't just go local again ARTPOP underperformed everywhere.. that doesn;t mean Gaga is local the album simply sold the same everywhere it's one underperfornimg era..
it's one underperfornimg era..