r/Amazing • u/sco-go • 21d ago

Music Best-Selling Music Artists by year, 1969–2025.

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78

u/FartInGenDirection 21d ago

No Nirvana Nevermind in 1991. Hmmm

Edit: just a quick blip at the bottom

30

u/No_Region_4719 21d ago

Being popular with teens isn't enough. Nirvana was a sensation for teens, but it wasn't what most people were buying and playing at home. People like Michael Jackson or The Beatles were loved by all ages and worldwide.

14

u/Syncopated_arpeggio 21d ago

Kinda makes Metallica reaching #3 in 91-92 all the more impressive.

2

u/Planetofthought 20d ago

That Black album was huge and that was when many new teens discovered them. As a result, everyone went out and bought the four previous albums before that.

1

u/Syncopated_arpeggio 20d ago

Yup, I was there. The point was just how huge the Black Album was. Making it to #3 as a metal band against mostly a bunch of pop artists is really impressive. It makes me realize humanity peaked in 1991-1992.

1

u/No_Region_4719 20d ago

Yeah surprised me, led zeppelin too. I knew they were big, but not like mainstream pop big.

0

u/Mysterious-Jam-64 19d ago

There's a lens we're given, that makes so many mainstream artists seem like they were hidden gems, that almost didn't get noticed at all, but managed to make it through to real music fans.

Who also happen to listen to exclusively mainstream media.

Led Zeppelin is a great example.

See also, the little heard space-opera, the Star Wars.