These worldwide sales figures are based on both press releases from credible sources and certifications in the top music markets in the world. Keep in mind, that world sales reported by labels and the media are based on certifications/shipment figures from around the world and not actual sales.



MARIAH'S ALBUM SALES DOCUMENTATION
Rockefeller Center Awards 1994
In 1994, Mariah was presented with an award for album and single sales of over 55 million and an award for album sales of over 20 million for 'Music Box'.

Source: Rockefeller Center Awards - 1994

Note: 45 million albums and 13.7 million singles = 58.7 million albums and singles worldwide.

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Columbia Blitz For Carey's 'Daydream' A Global Reality
The 25-year-old singer's 1993 release, "Music Box," has sold 23.5 million copies worldwide, according to the label. Carey also issued the seasonal "Merry Christmas" last year, which moved 8 million units worldwide. Those releases sold 6.3 million and 2 million units, respectively, in the US, according to SoundScan.

Source: Billboard - September 9, 1995

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Billboard Advertisements
--Mariah Carey is the biggest-selling female artist of the decade with over 70 million records sold around the globe in only five short years.
--"Daydream" in just three months, has sold over 12 million copies worldwide

--Mariah's Christmas album has already become a holiday classic now in its second season, over 10 million copies of "Merry Christmas" have been sold worldwide.

Source: Billboard - January 6, 1996

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Sony Music Japan announces the sales of Mariah's first 5 releases
Mariah Carey - 12 million worldwide
Emotions - 8 million worldwide
Unplugged - 7 million worldwide (6 million worldwide seems more accurate in comparison to her other albums listed)
Music Box - 24 million worldwide
Merry Christmas - 11 million worldwide

Source: Sony Music Japan - 1996

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'Daydream' sells 14 million copies worldwide in 5 months
Mariah Carey's worldwide success continued to build with 'Daydream' which sold more than 14 million units worldwide during the year under review, while her 1993 and 1994 'Music Box' and 'Merry Christmas' sold over a million additional units.

Source: Sony Music Annual Report - March 1996

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In 7 years, Mariah Carey became the biggest selling female artist of the 1990's.
Since her 1990 debut, Mariah Carey has sold 80 million albums worldwide, and is the biggest selling female artist of the 1990s.

Source: Sony Music Annual Report - March 1997

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'Butterfly' sells 8 million copies in 6 months
Mariah Carey's 'Butterfly' has sold over 8 million units worldwide.

Source: Sony Music Annual Report - March 1998

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Definitive Collection Features Mariah's 13 Chart-Toppers Plus Four
Mariah Carey's #1's brings together, for the first time, all 13 of her chart-topping megahits as well as four exciting brand-new recordings. Since her 1990 debut, Mariah Carey has sold 90 million albums worldwide and has earned an astounding 75 gold, platinum, and multi-platinum records. As the biggest-selling female artist of the 1990's, Mariah Carey has provided an ongoing soundtrack to the decade. With more No. 1 records than any solo female artist in the rock era, Mariah Carey continues to give voice to the emotions of our age.

Source: Business Wire - October 2, 1998

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#1's' sells over 12 million copies in 5 months
Albums by Mariah Carey ('#1's'), Celine Dion, and Lauryn Hill, and the Titanic soundtrack, each sold more than eight million units worldwide.

Source: Sony Music Annual Report - March 1999

Note: It says '#1's' sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, but Sony Music Germany reported world sales of 12 million with 3.5 million in Japan (from Sony Music Japan), 3 million in the US and over 1 million in Europe (IFPI). The album has went up about 3 million in the US and Europe on top of the 12 million copies sold as of 03/99, so world sales are definitely at 15 million worldwide, even with overlapping in consideration.

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Mariah Carey Joins New York City Kids For Park Events In Celebration of Big Help Week
Mariah Carey, the biggest-selling female recording artist of the 1990's, has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide since her 1990 debut, and is the recipient of numerous music industry awards and honors. Since 1994, Ms. Carey has been the spokesperson for the Fresh Air Fund, an organization dedicated to providing inner-city children with the opportunity to spend summers in the country camping and enjoying a wide variety of activities and learning opportunities. The organization named a camp in her honor, Camp Mariah.

Source: Entertainment Wire - April 1999

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Carey's Toronto concert tickets
Carey is doing a nine-date North American tour -- her first roadtrip in seven years -- in support of her latest album, 'Rainbow'. Released last fall, it has sold seven-million copies worldwide and 300,000 copies in Canada.

Source: Canoe (Canada's equivalent to Billboard) - March 2000.

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Mariah Carey's official site biography during the promotion of 'Glitter'
After closing out the 90's as the undisputed biggest-selling female recording artist of the decade - in excess of 150 million albums and singles have been sold worldwide - singer / songwriter / producer Mariah Carey unleashes Glitter, her eagerly awaited Virgin Records debut and first musical offering of the new millennium.

Source: Mariah Carey's Official Site - 2001

Note: 117.5 million albums and 37.8 million singles = 150+ million albums and singles worldwide.

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Sony Music China's press release for the release of Greatest Hits
Mariah's splendid singing career which includes album and single sales of more than 150 million worldwide.

'Music Box' is Mariah's biggest selling album to date, with over 25 million in sales (worldwide).

Source: Sony Music China - July 2002

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Mariah Carey Biography
In the United States it ('Music Box') became a Diamond album (10 million in sales) and sold over 25 million copies worldwide, 1 million sold from our country (South Korea).

Source: Universal Music Korea - 2002

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'Charmbracelet' re-release press release
Moins d'un an après sa signature sur le label Island Def Jam, Mariah Carey nous livre en avril 2003, une nouvelle édition exceptionnelle de son Charmbracelet, quasiment double Disque d'Or en France (plus de 3 millions d'albums vendus dans le monde !). Cette édition comprend le tube de Busta Rhymes "I Know What You Want", ainsi que "Boy"le nouveau single de la grande Mariah.

Translation: 'Charmbracelet' is close to Double Gold status in France (200,000 copies) plus it sold over 3 million copies around the world.

Source: Universal Music France - 2003

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'The Remixes' press release
...
With worldwide album and singles sales totaling well over 150 million records, Mariah is arguably the best-selling female artist in pop music history.
...

Source: Sony Music - 2004 & PR News Wire - 2004

Note: Notice how Sony Music started saying Mariah sold 'well over' 150 million records. I think that means Mariah's sales with Sony Music were around 160 million, which makes sense. '#1's' was upped a million in the US and Europe and 'Merry Christmas' was upped 1 million in the US before the release of 'The Remixes'. Plus, 'Greatest Hits' had sold around 3 million worldwide, taking her total (Sony) album sales to 122 million + 38 million singles = 160 million records (albums and singles). Her record sales including the sales of her post Sony Music albums and singles were easily over 165 million.

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Greatest Hits
With shattering vocals, Mariah Carey has sold in excess of 120 million albums worldwide since her chart debut in 1990. The best-selling female performer of the 1990s, she rose to superstardom on the strength of her stunning five-octave voice, and has moved easily from glossy ballads to hip-hop-inspired dance-pop.

Source: Sony Music Australia - 2005

Note: Sony Music would only list figures for albums released under their label, so 'Glitter', 'Charmbracelet' and 'The Emancipation of Mimi' are excluded. Sony album sales: 122.5 million, which includes another 1 million of 'Greatest Hits' (because of it's successful re-release in the UK, France and US catalogue sales) as well as 0.5 million worldwide for 'The Remixes'. Her total record sales including the sales of her post-Sony recordings were at approximately 170 million.

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'The Emancipation of Mimi' sells 9 million copies worldwide
NEW YORK - Mariah Carey will hit the road for the first time in more than three years this summer on the "Adventures of Mimi: The Voice, The Hits, The Tour" arena outing. Dates get underway Aug. 5 in Miami and are on tap through Oct. 10 in Phoenix. Sean Paul will open the majority of the tour's first portion, with other openers to be announced.

Tickets begin going on sale June 2. The tour comes in support of Carey's smash hit album "The Emancipation of Mimi," which has sold nine million copies worldwide, according to Island Def Jam. Carey promises to also perform several tunes from her back catalog live for the first time.

Source: Billboard - May 22, 2006

Note: 'The Emancipation of Mimi', the singles and 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' pushed her over 180 million in albums and single sales.


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