Talk:List of best-selling singles

duplicate entry
Bruno Mars - Grenade is listed twice

Numerous figures seem completely inflated
The certifications for most of these songs in no way reflect what's claimed of them and seem completely inflated, such as Bing Crosby for example. Elton John's Candle in the Wind is certified up to 32 million and would actually be the best selling single. The list should be restructured based on certified sales Never17 (talk) 20:32, 25 March 2024 (UTC)


 * I agree, ideally it can be re-structured in the same way with best-selling music artists and albums. Singles were the dominant format before the existence of first music certifications bodies, including RIAA. This could explain why some like Crosby's seasonal tracks have such amount of uncertified+reported sales. --Apoxyomenus (talk) 20:44, 25 March 2024 (UTC)
 * There are also several cases where songs that have been certified enough to warrant a placement on the list, are under-reported like Billie Jean or Bohemian Rhapsody which released during the 80s and now have over 15 million certified
 * I think there should be a separate page for "List of best selling digital singles, while this page is related to songs released during the age of physical record sales. That would be probably easier for editors to manage. Never17 (talk) 03:06, 26 March 2024 (UTC)


 * I don't oppose to the idea to separate to a stand alone list of digital singles. But such split need to have a consensus. Regarding classic songs like Billie Jean or Bohemian Rhapsody, relies much how is getting more common to have a multi-platinum-diamond RIAA certifications due to the streaming era. Although a lot of those certifications weren't sales/copies "sold". A third party reference need to confirm sales of over 10 million ww, instead of a Wikipedia editor based on certifications. --Apoxyomenus (talk) 15:10, 26 March 2024 (UTC)
 * True, i think a claimed figure from a reliable source along with the Certifications Never17 (talk) 17:45, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Rihanna’s Work and Needed Me are inflated sales
She doesn’t have any single that sold over 30 million copies, there was only one article that inflated the copies, and those sales weren’t registered even by the ifpi top 10 selling singles that year world wide (only work entered on the list with  10 million, and there was not other article that certifies the amount of Needed Me) JoakopxD (talk) 02:19, 16 April 2024 (UTC)


 * Those are not copies sold, those are total units sold. Adjusted "sales". Massively streaming consumed converted figures. It's different with terminology when copies are mentioned with Candle in the wind (rightfully so) and then nowadays it's more units wording. Dhoffryn (talk) 03:12, 16 April 2024 (UTC)
 * Still not verified sales, they are based on a fan video that is mentioned on the article JoakopxD (talk) 05:22, 16 April 2024 (UTC)
 * It's mentioned in the article but if it's really based from that video that was posted and they have gotten it from there, I don't know. Maybe wait for some extra opinions from other editors. Dhoffryn (talk) 08:03, 16 April 2024 (UTC)

New section
Thinking about adding a section for the 20th century singles that ranks them by their certified singles, since they came out during the physical age and most of the artists haven't been streamed enough to distort the list we'd have a individual section of the highest certified singles from that period Never17 (talk) 18:38, 26 April 2024 (UTC)


 * Nice list there. Fantasy by Mariah Carey has 7.6 millions certified units and Always be my baby 6.7 millions both released 1995! 91.140.30.105 (talk) 23:39, 20 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Done, anything else? Never17 (talk) 01:30, 21 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Rocking around the Christmas tree by Brenda Lee 1958 has 7.3 millions certified units. 91.140.29.20 (talk) 23:47, 22 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Will add all of these Never17 (talk) 01:43, 23 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Gangsta's paradise from Coolio feat L.V. 1995 has 7.5 millions certified units. 91.140.29.20 (talk) 23:59, 22 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I'll be missing you by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans feat 112 released 1997 has 9.1 millions certified units. 91.140.29.20 (talk) 00:07, 23 May 2024 (UTC)
 * For the Highest Certified Singles section, a idea is that editors can use that as a reference on the individual pages for the Songs. So any song included there, can have the sales figure listed with "It's One of the Best Selling Songs of all time". For Example, Bohemian Rhapsody on it's page gets listed as "It's sold over 15 million copies worldwide and is one of the best selling singles of all time". Never17 (talk) 18:13, 10 July 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 7 June 2024
Bohemian Rhapsody is not there, i am just helping nothing else. AnmollovesMercury (talk) 10:39, 7 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: It is present in the "Highest-certified singles" section. Liu1126 (talk) 16:30, 7 June 2024 (UTC)