Some Interesting Names Are On IFPI's Top Global Recording Artist List

The IFPI recently released its yearly sales report and among the things it revealed was the top global artists for 2014 in terms of aggregate sales and streams. This includes all of the artists releases in every format from CD sales to YouTube video streams.

Although the usual hot music properties make the list (Taylor Swift is #1, followed by One Direction), what's interesting is the names in spots 4 through 7.

There you'll find some "classic" artists that you wouldn't expect, namely Coldplay, AC/DC, Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd.

Here's the list.

GLOBAL RECORDING ARTIST CHART 2014

1	Taylor Swift
2	One Direction
3	Ed Sheeran
4	Coldplay
5	AC/DC
6	Michael Jackson
7	Pink Floyd
8	Sam Smith
9	Katy Perry
10	Beyoncé

What this means is that many of the legacy artists still have a lot of sales life left in them, but it also makes a statement about some of the current music, which looks like it's not filling some obvious holes in the market. That is, progressive rock, hard rock, r&b and prog rock.

There are plenty of current acts that fit the bill, they're just not being discovered at the rate that they probably should be. Then again, these legacy artists are some of the best of all time and their music still endures.

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Look What's Selling

Below is a chart of the top 50 albums from 2 weeks ago in terms of sales. It's interesting to see what's selling at the moment. There are about 10 "legacy artists" like Brian Wilson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Cyndi Lauper and Sting, the Glee Cast has 4 albums in the top 25, and teen sensation Justin Bieber is bringing up the rear at #50.

The music is decidedly white-bread, middle-of-the-road and heavily leaning towards Pop, but it tells you a couple of things:

1) Although the charts have always had their share of legacy acts, there seems to be more of them than in the past. That confirms that the people that are buying are an older demographic.

2) If you're not on a major label or large indie, you're probably not on the chart.

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