Madonna Beats Elvis' Record

Another chart conspiracy I suppose? C'mon let the theories begin. (and I really dislike Madonna and her music)

They must have counted wrongly! I demand a re-count!

Madonna rhymes with Puttana. Very fitting.

The output of later artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson has been so low, that it is not hard for them to have more #1 albums or higher sales on 1 particular album. Elvis released about 3 LP's per year already during his lifetime, which would be unthinkable these days when it is rather 1 LP per 3 years! EPE and SONY say these days formally that Elvis has sold in total over 1.1 billion records and think that says it all. I'm pretty sure if they keep on digging for sales figures they could easily surpass the 1.2 billion sales as well. This is extremely high compared with the about 500 million confirmed sales of Michael Jackson and 650 million confirmed sales from the Beatles.

I really could care less about Madonna vs Elvis or who sells more than who. But I do have a question. I am very curious as to why this site never mentioned the great tribute Springsteen gave to Elvis at the recent South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Tx. This was just last month. It is a great news article complete with video of Bruce's speech. I have been away but found that very Elvis newsworthy video on a couple other Elvis sites that I visit. I am so surprised it wasn't mentioned here. Sorry, I know I am off topic but really feel the Springsteen event is more important than Madonna to an Elvis site.

This is news? I couldn't care less.

Eruditely put freedom101... everything I've ever thought but couldn't put into words. As the rules have changed so much, any comparison with what has gone before is pointless. And besides even if Elvis did lose his mantle today, he still sounds just as brilliant as he did yesterday so who really cares?

The charts are meaningless today. Having said that, records are made to be broken. It happnes in sports, it happens here. Speaking of Bruce, he just tied Elvis as well, having the most #1 albums by a male solo artist in the USA with10. At least he deserves it. Ruthie is quite correct. His speech is quite a tribute to Elvis and has been posted on other sites. Also on YouTube. Check it out.

It should be remembered that Elvis has more No.1 singles (21) in the UK than either Madonna or The Beatles and more No.2's; he also has more weeks on the charts than any other artist or group. Up until the advent of Glee, Elvis also had more UK hit singles in the 21st Century than any other chart act with 25. He remains at No.2. One can never discount Elvis - it depends on the product, the amount of marketing spend and airplay. Sony (UK) maintain that he is a constant in their Top 10 back catalogue artists. He could easily get another No.1 in the near future.

I find Freedom101's analysis quite enlightening. It shows that it's all in the way one look at things. I don't think there is a conspiracy, but there is also not an honest way of looking at figures. It is sort of left to the reader, which will be ignorant about the way things are calculated. Moreover, the youth is now-a-days much more active on all these fields then I ever was. So these lists are meaningless to me anyway.

Intresting topic about the meaning of charts. Some fans believe that Elvis's achievements in the charts are not well presented by Billboard et all who favour more recent artists and they could be right. On the other hand there are stars of the past like Jimmie Rodgers (the 'Father' of country music) who died in 1933 before the charts. He missed his chance to top the charts. My prediction is that everything is bound to change. As less and less people buy music or even listen to the radio but instead listen to music online a new way of calculating the charts could replace the current system. How about how many times a song is played each week on mp3 players, smartphones etc? That would be fairer that's why it might never happen...

Hahaha a no talented lips sych fake signer beat's Elvis what a big news lol

all the records Elvis reached was cause millions of peoples & fans..bought Elvis' records..paying good money..I say MILLIONS all over the world!! Now records are meaningless..the new records are broken.. with only few copies sold Ridicoulos

Madonna was No.1 for just one week - in the second week she is already down to No.5.

What a flimsy way to have one more #1 hit ! Yet it counts. Time to refresh the definitions?

Music magazines all over have reported/printed the news. Now Graceland or Cilla should hurry the hell up to counteract this by publishing that it'll be a while before Madonna or Jackson will hit the "one billion records sold" mark...! May I invite that all EPFC presidents write immeadiately to all their national newspapers and magazines and make this statement, together with alerting them to watch out for Elvis' 35 yrs celebration all over the world, especially in Memphis, TN ! Hurry up Big Boss Men !

According to newspaper reports Madonna has been giving away free copies of her latest album MDNA (both hard copies and downloads) with each ticket sold for her upcoming tour. How sad that a top artist has to resort to such tactics in order to get a No.1 album. As far as I am concerned Elvis still holds the album record in the UK. At least he didn't give his albums away!! That has got to be chart manipulation of the worst kind.

This IS chart manipulation of the worst kind! Always El.

Never liked her, never will. This is typical of the kind of self-absorbed person she is. Cant stand her antics(and music).

freedom 101. I despise Madonna but I cannot make any sense of your comment. You said she made some iconic albums but some non iconic items. There's not one artist that makes all iconic items. Elvis made some iconic albums but made many which were not. So what exactly is your point?

oldscudder agreed - Most of Elvis' albums were not iconic, just the opposite. Very poor ratio of really good albums to the number he put out. And as Sony puts out more & more every year they become less & less meaningful. BTW, cant stand Madonna either.

There are just too many variables with this type of comparison. These days, you don't have to sell so many records to reach number 1. The only worthwhile comparison is possibly the total number of units sold by a particular artist, and even that is flawed now as their are more people now on the planet that buy records than when Elvis was alive. So I reckon that Elvis is still way ahead on all counts.

freedom She cannot retire. Most entertainers (incl sports) just go on long after they are revalent .

Well she has been going strong since 1981, when she kicked off her amazing career with a song called Borderline. I'm afraid I contributed a little towrards her new victory, cos I rushed out and bought this and later her Like a Virgin album back in '85. But most dizzy young men did the same back then. That is what she was good at - selling sex and music hand in hand! And I was a willing customer. Now it will be argued that Elvis did the same, only this time his admirers were mostly girls. The difference is that Madonna had the mega advantages of music video, satellite tv, MTV, internet, and 30 years of visibility. I mean these are real power tools. Poor Elvis had none of those. Not sure if my point adds up to anything, or if it makes any sense.

There is no conspiracy by Billboard or anyone else. Why would there be? Why would they be out to conspire against a guy who has not been around in 35 years and stopped being relevant long before that? It is just the way the music business has changed since 1977 (yes it really has! ) Charts, sales, everything is measured differently today. The world is totally different.

Well said tommyboo ! Steve : agreed ! Always el.