This list includes music artists with at least five million record sales in Germany, based on certifications by the BVMI (Bundesverband Musikindustrie). Artists are ranked in descending order.

Awards are only presented if and when a record company applies for certification, it is not done automatically. Only records that were declared to and registered by the BVMI receive awards. The BVMI began its certifications in 1975, therefore popular artists from earlier eras are generally not represented on this list. This excludes artists such as Heintje Simons, Peter Alexander, Freddy Quinn, Caterina Valente, or the Rolling Stones, and may explain the lower-than-expected sales figures for pre-1975 artists like The Beatles. Certifications are based on a record's release date.

Video albums have been included since 1991 and streaming since 2016. Until 5 April 2018, a unit was equal to 1000 streams for albums and 100 streams for singles. Those numbers were raised to 2000 streams for albums and 200 streams for singles on 6 April of that year.

Artists by certified units 13 million records or more

Name Certification period Certified units Herbert Grönemeyer 1984–2018 18,075,000 Michael Jackson 1983–2026 15,125,000 Peter Maffay 1979–2018 14,350,000 Phil Collins 1981–2011 14,300,000 Rolf Zuckowski 1989–2012 13,975,000 Die Toten Hosen 1989–2018 13,650,000 Ed Sheeran 2012–2022 13,350,000

11 to 12.9 million records

Name Certification period Certified units Queen 1978–2018 12,625,000 Madonna 1985–2012 12,550,000 Rihanna 2007–2023 12,275,000 Marius Müller-Westernhagen 1981–2017 12,075,000 Helene Fischer 2007–2018 11,150,000

9 to 10.9 million records

Name Certification period Certified units AC/DC 1980–2016 10,600,000 Robbie Williams 2000–2018 ABBA 1976–2008 10,550,000 Coldplay 2000–2026 10,250,000 Andrea Berg 2002–2017 9,600,000 Elton John 1982–2004 9,550,000 Pur 1993–2017 9,525,000 Lady Gaga 2008-2025 9,050,000

7 to 8.9 million records

Name Certification period Certified units Die Flippers 1987–2012 8,650,000 Britney Spears 1999–2023 8,200,000 Céline Dion 1996–2003 8,000,000 Die Ärzte 1988–2012 7,850,000 Wolfgang Petry 1983–2014 7,825,000 David Guetta 2010–2018 7,800,000 The Beatles 1993–2007 7,600,000 Pink Floyd 1977–2015 7,500,000

6 to 6.9 million records

Name Certification period Certified units Beyoncé 2003–2025 6,800,000 Bee Gees 1978–2005 6,675,000 Eminem 2000–2018 6,625,000 Shakira 2001 - 2017 6,525,000 Backstreet Boys 1996–2003 6,500,000 Dieter Bohlen 1985–2017 6,400,000 Whitney Houston 1985–2012 6,400,000 Tina Turner 1985–2009 6,300,000 Katy Perry 2008-2026 6,150,000 Roger Whittaker 1977–2011 6,100,000 The Kelly Family 1994–2017 6,075,000 Joe Cocker 1986–2014 6,050,000 Depeche Mode 1985–2017 Andrea Bocelli 1996–1999 6,000,000

5 to 5.9 million records

Name Certification period Certified units Eros Ramazzotti 1988–2013 5,950,000 BAP 1982–2013 5,900,000 Genesis 1978–2008 5,875,000 P!nk 2002–2017 Linkin Park 2001–2017 5,850,000 U2 1986–2018 5,700,000 Modern Talking 1985–2003 5,700,000 Xavier Naidoo 1998–2016 5,625,000 Roxette 1990–2012 Sting 1986–2012 5,600,000 Simply Red 1986–2013 5,350,000 James Last 1976–1999 5,250,000 Avicii 2012–2018 5,200,000 Timbaland 2000–2018 Unheilig 2010–2017 Bon Jovi 1987–2013 5,150,000

See also List of best-selling albums in Germany List of best-selling singles in Germany

References

External links BVMI website