http://kworb.net/uwc.html
Only counts weeks in the top 40 since week 2 of 2006, so feel free to reasonably round it considering
this does not account for weeks of sales where the album(s) was/were not charting in the top 40. Next to each female is the total amount of units sold and the # of releases counted in their total. It is up to date as of the posting of this thread. I will update the totals as Mediatraffic weekly sales are released since there are females on this list with currently charting albums.
Does NOT include female groups and/or bands (UNLESS the woman receives lead billing ie. Selena Gomez & The Scene, Florence & The Machine, Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett, Sadé etc). If you feel the need to question this and feel like it is taking away from other females who are part of a group and/or band, then you can add up their totals and I'll consider adding them to the list. I just made it solo for now since it's easier to compile.
And basically any solo female artist that has had one album on Mediatraffic Top 40 in the last 8 years is here. Literally should forfeit their career if they're not on this list... Disclaimer: I MAY have forgotten some since there are 4K+ albums here and, well, that takes a lot of time and is very prone to inaccuracies and/or missing artists since I don't know every artist on the list, but this is pretty concise, imo and will serve to help decipher the most prominent (or flop) female artists of the last 8 years.
From highest to lowest (divided into units to make it easier):
10 million to 30 million units:
Adele — 30.156.000 / 2 releases
Rihanna — 23.510.000 / 6 releases
Taylor Swift — 23.130.000 / 8 releases
Lady Gaga — 22.345.000 / 7 releases
P!nk — 17.945.000 / 4 releases
Beyoncé — 16.288.000 / 5 releases
Miley Cyrus (+ Hannah Montana) — 15.834.000 / 11 releases
Amy Winehouse — 14.288.000 / 3 releases
Susan Boyle — 12.839.000 / 6 releases
Madonna — 10.647.000 / 10 releases
Katy Perry — 10.414.000 / 3 releases
5 million to 10 million units:
Alicia Keys — 9.751.000 / 3 releases
Nelly Furtado — 7.453.000 / 3 releases
Kelly Clarkson — 7.814.000 / 6 releases
Carrie Underwood — 6.989.000 / 5 releases
Leona Lewis — 6.883.000 / 3 releases
Celiné Dion — 6.275.000 / 8 releases
Mary J. Blige — 6.132.000 / 7 releases
Britney Spears — 5.926.000 / 5 releases
Shakira — 5.734.000 / 4 releases
Duffy — 5.704.000 / 2 releases
Avril Lavigne — 5.567.000 / 3 releases
Norah Jones — 5.532.000 / 4 releases
Fergie — 5.349.000 / 1 release
Lana Del Rey — 5.228.000 / 4 releases
Ayumi Hamasaki — 5.012.000 / 16 releases
4 million to 1 million units:
Christina Aguilera — 4.346.000 / 5 releases
Kumi Koda — 4.090.000 / 11 releases
Namie Amuro — 3.811.000 / 7 releases
Enya — 3.703.000 / 3 releases
Mariah Carey — 3.586.000 / 6 releases
Whitney Houston — 3.550.000 / 9 releases
Florence & The Machine — 3.234.000 / 2 releases
Gwen Stefani — 2.916.000 / 1 release
Emeli Sandé — 2.759.000 / 1 release
Nicki Minaj — 2.690.000 / 2 releases
Lorde — 2.670.000 / 1 release
Katie Melua — 2.751.000 / 6 releases
Corinne Bailey Rae — 2.599.000 / 2 releases
Sadé — 2.380.000 / 2 releases
Alison Krauss — 2.258.000 / 3 releases
Barbra Streisand — 2.254.000 / 6 releases
Colbie Caillat — 2.224.000 / 3 releases
Kana Nishino — 2.213.000 / 7 releases
Jennifer Lopez — 2.106.000 / 5 releases
Hikaru Utada — 2.092.000 / 4 releases
Lily Allen — 1.960.000 / 3 releases
Ayaka — 1.949.000 / 6 releases
Diana Krall — 1.944.000 / 4 releases
Jackie Evancho — 1.927.000 / 5 releases
Ke$ha — 1.919.000 / 3 releases
Yui — 1.875.000 / 9 releases
Selena Gomez — 1.857.000 / 4 releases
Keyshia Cole — 1.608.000 / 6 releases
Amy MacDonald — 1.516.000 / 3 releases
Helene Fischer — 1.498.000 / 4 releases
Aiko — 1.445.000 / 7 releases
Kylie Minogue — 1.272.000 / 4 releases
Ariana Grande — 1.258.000 / 2 releases
Sarah McLachlan — 1.191.000 / 5 releases
Ciara — 1.163.000 / 3 releases
JuJu — 1.157.000 / 8 releases
Reba McEntire — 1.142.000 / 3 releases
Mariya Takeuchi — 1.126.000 / 3 releases
Miliyah Kato — 1.119.000 / 8 releases
Janet Jackson — 1.101.000 / 3 releases
Jessie J — 1.093.000 / 3 releases
Annie Lenox — 1.081.000 / 4 releases
Ai Otsuka — 1.069.000 / 4 releases
Kaela Kimura — 1.019.000 / 6 releases
Joss Stone — 1.011.000 / 3 releases
1 million to 500 thousand units:
Zard — 924.000 / 4 releases
Demi Lovato — 879.000 / 4 releases
Sheryl Crow — 873.000 / 3 releases
Myléne Farmer — 850.000 / 4 releases
Yuki — 850.000 / 6 releases
Mika Nakashima — 829.000 / 8 releases
Zaz — 824.000 / 3 releases
Dido — 822.000 / 2 releases
BOA — 807.000 / 5 releases
Jennifer Hudson — 806.000 / 3 releases
Miranda Lambert — 785.000 / 4 releases
Ellie Goulding — 770.000 / 2 releases
KT Tunstall — 746.000 / 2 releases
Yumi Matsutoya — 729.000 / 4 releases
Cher — 693.000 / 2 releases
Alanis Morissette — 581.000 / 2 releases
Cheryl Cole — 579.000 / 3 releases
Sarah Brightman — 563.000 / 3 releases
Bjork — 560.000 / 2 releases
Hilary Duff — 560.000 / 2 releases
Jill Scott — 545.000 / 3 releases
Kou Shibasaki — 523.000 / 4 releases
Monica — 520.000 / 3 releases
India.Arie — 518.000 / 3 releases
Sara Bareilles — 518.000 / 4 releases
Caro Emerald — 515.000 / 2 releases
Andrea Berg — 511.000 / 6 releases
Angela Aki — 508.000 / 5 releases
500 thousand to 100 thousand units:
Fantasia — 473.000 / 3 releases
Iggy Azalea — 467.000 / 1 release
Erykah Badu — 448.000 / 2 releases
Feist — 440.000 / 2 releases
Yuna Ito — 440.000 / 2 releases
Bonnie Pink — 437.000 / 2 releases
Martina McBride — 437.000 / 4 releases
Nana Mizuki — 423.000 / 5 releases
Carla Bruni — 398.000 / 3 releases
Carly Rae Jepsen — 398.000 / 1 release
Keri Hilson — 396.000 / 2 releases
Mai Kuraki — 376.000 / 6 releases
Carole King — 361.000 / 1 release
Tori Amos — 357.000 / 4 releases
Rebecca Ferguson — 353.000 / 1 release
Paris Hilton — 349.000 / 1 release
Laura Pausini — 347.000 / 3 releases
Kelly Rowland — 343.000 / 3 releases
Sia — 335.000 / 2 releases
LeToya — 320.000 / 2 releases
Bette Midler — 311.000 / 2 releases
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu — 311.000 / 3 releases
Crystal Kay — 309.000 / 3 releases
Rumer — 302.000 / 2 releases
Idina Menzel — 293.000 / 1 release
Ringo Shiina — 284.000 / 4 releases
Indila — 275.000 / 1 release
Jordin Sparks — 268.000 / 2 releases
Misia — 268.000 / 3 releases
Ai — 266.000 / 3 releases
Goldfrapp — 266.000 / 3 releases
Faith Hill — 265.000 / 2 releases
Thelma Aoyama — 263.000 / 2 releases
PJ Harvey — 257.000 / 3 releases
Jessica Simpson — 256.000 / 2 releases
Cat Power — 234.000 / 3 releases
Alexandra Burke — 227.000 / 1 release
Yo Hitoto — 226.000 / 1 release
Melody Gardot — 223.000 / 2 releases
Lucinda Williams — 219.000 / 4 releases
Toni Braxton — 217.000 / 2 releases
Lena — 208.000 / 3 releases
Anastacia — 196.000 / 3 releases
Vanessa Paradis — 194.000 / 2 releases
Paloma Faith — 193.000 / 2 releases
Jazmine Sullivan — 191.000 / 2 releases
Marsha Ambrosius — 190.000 / 1 release
May J. — 189.000 / 3 releases
Alain Souchon — 188.000 / 1 release
Birdy — 181.000 / 1 release
K. Michelle — 181.000 / 2 releases
Sara Evans — 171.000 / 3 releases
Nolwenn Leroy — 168.000 / 1 release
Christina Perri — 167.000 / 2 releases
Melissa Etheridge — 167.000 / 3 releases
Cocco — 161.000 / 4 releases
Minmi — 155.000 / 2 releases
Kellie Pickler — 151.000 / 3 releases
Miwa — 150.000 / 3 releases
M.I.A. — 146.000 / 2 releases
Kate Nash — 141.000 / 2 releases
Jhene Aiko — 134.000 / 2 releases
Stevie Nicks — 129.000 / 2 releases
Beni — 126.000 / 4 releases
Cher Lloyd — 113.000 / 2 releases
Eva Cassidy — 111.000 / 2 releases
Mayaa Sakamoto — 110.000 / 3 releases
Ashley Tisdale — 101.000 / 2 releases
Belle & Sebastian — 100.000 / 2 releases
Laura Marling — 100.000 / 3 releases
100 thousand (or less) units:
Gabriella Cilmi — 97.000 / 1 release
Regina Spector — 97.000 / 1 release
Sam Bailey — 97.000 / 1 release
Heather Headley — 95.000 / 1 release
Tegan & Sara — 95.000 / 2 releases
Brandy — 93.000 / 1 release
Julianne Hough — 93.000 / 1 release
Yuko Hara — 91.000 / 1 release
Janelle Monáe — 90.000 / 1 release
Gloria Estefan — 88.000 / 1 release
Miyuki Nakajima — 88.000 / 3 releases
Paulina Rubio — 83.000 / 1 release
LeAnn Rimes — 82.000 / 1 release
Dolores O'Riordan — 82.000 / 1 release
Che'Nelle — 80.000 / 1 release
Ingrid Michaelson — 80.000 / 2 releases
Karise Eden — 80.000 / 1 release
Ella Henderson — 79.000 / 1 release
Trina — 79.000 / 2 releases
Jennifer Nettles — 77.000 / 1 release
Gretchen Wilson — 75.000 / 1 release
Kacey Musgraves — 73.000 / 1 release
Julia Stone — 73.000 / 1 release
Yui Aragaki — 73.000 / 1 release
Lauren Alaina — 70.000 / 1 release
Faryl — 69.000 / 1 release
Patti Smith — 69.000 / 2 releases
Eliza Doolittle — 68.000 / 1 release
Katy B — 68.000 / 2 releases
Katherine Jenkins — 66.000 / 2 releases
Rita Ora — 65.000 / 1 release
Ledisi — 63.000 / 2 releases
St. Vincent — 62.000 / 2 releases
Christina Milian — 61.000 / 1 release
Sharleen Spiteri — 61.000 / 1 release
Vitaa — 61.000 / 1 release
Agnes Obel — 60.000 / 1 release
Joni Mitchell — 60.000 / 1 release
Meghan Trainor — 60.000 / 1 release
Sandra Van Nieuwland — 60.000 / 1 release
Kelis — 59.000 / 1 release
Ashlee Simpson — 57.000 / 1 release
Gillian Welch — 57.000 / 1 release
Imogen Heap — 57.000 / 1 release
Marina & The Diamonds — 51.000 / 2 releases
Elisa — 50.000 / 1 release
Yukari Tamura — 48.000 / 2 releases
Charice — 47.000 / 1 release
BANKS — 46.000 / 1 release
Solange — 46.000 / 1 release
Angie Stone — 45.000 / 1 release
Cassadee Pope — 45.000 / 1 release
Miho Fukuhara — 45.000 / 1 release
Salyu — 44.000 / 1 release
Akina Nakamori — 43.000 / 1 release
Danielle Bradbery — 42.000 / 1 release
Kate Voegele — 41.000 / 1 release
Lecca — 41.000 / 1 release
Aly & AJ — 40.000 / 1 release
Tracy Chapman — 38.000 / 1 release
Diana Vickers — 37.000 / 1 release
Mary Byrne — 37.000 / 1 release
Miranda Cosgrove — 37.000 / 1 release
Yael Naim — 36.000 / 1 release
Gabrielle Aplin — 35.000 / 1 release
Isabelle Boulay — 35.000 / 1 release
Melanie Fiona — 35.000 / 1 release
Missy Higgins — 35.000 / 1 release
Heidi Newfield — 34.000 / 1 release
Aretha Franklin — 33.000 / 1 release
Elle Varner — 33.000 / 1 release
Natalia Imbruglia — 33.000 / 1 release
Beatrice Egli — 32.000 / 1 release
Julieta Venegas — 32.000 / 1 release
Esperanza Spalding — 31.000 / 1 release
Robyn — 31.000 / 1 release
Ginette Reno — 30.000 / 1 release
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings — 28.000 / 1 release
Olivia Ruiz — 28.000 / 1 release
Ashanti — 28.000 / 1 release
Brandi Carlile — 28.000 / 1 release
Jenifer — 28.000 / 1 release
Amanda Palmer — 27.000 / 1 release
Gianna Nannini — 27.000 / 1 release
Tove Lo — 27.000 / 1 release
Amy Grant — 26.000 / 1 release
Kimbra — 26.000 / 1 release
Kyo — 26.000 / 1 release
Jasmine — 25.000 / 1 release
Kari Jobe — 25.000 / 1 release
Lykke Li — 25.000 / 1 release
Santigold — 25.000 / 1 release
Skylar Grey — 25.000 / 1 release
Nagi Yanagi — 21.000 / 1 release
Ilse DeLange — 20.000 / 1 release
Lucy Hale — 20.000 / 1 release
Candice Glover — 19.000 / 1 release
Doris Day — 18.000 / 1 release
Lisa — 17.000 / 1 release
Marie-Mai — 16.000 / 1 release
Imelda May — 15.000 / 1 release
Enjoy!
