The Top-Selling Artists Of 2008

NEW YORK — Coldplay was the hottest iTunes album download this year: Its "Viva la Vida" was crowned the best-selling album of 2008, while Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love" was named the top-selling single.

Coldplay's CD has sold more than 2 million copies since its release in June, and has sold more than 500,000 copies digitally _ most of which was through iTunes, according to the band's representative. ITunes does not release its sales figures, its spokesman said in releasing its list on Monday.

Jack Johnson's "Sleep Through the Static" was the No. 2 selling album, while the soundtrack to the film "Juno," Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" and Sara Bareilles' "Little Voice" rounded out the iTunes top 5. Two more film soundtracks were in the top ten _ "Once" and "Across the Universe" _ while Jason Mraz' "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things," OneRepublic's "Dreaming Out Loud" and Leona Lewis' "Spirit" rounded it out.

Lewis' "Bleeding Love" sold 3.2 million digitally, according to her label, J Records. According to iTunes, the title track of Coldplay's album was its No. 2 most downloaded track, followed by "Low" by Flo Rida (featuring T-Pain), Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" and Rihanna's "Disturbia."

Rihanna also made the top 10 singles with "Don't Stop the Music," while "Lollipop" by Lil Wayne and Static Major, "No Air" by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown, Sara Bareilles' "Love Song" and Natasha Bedingfield's "Pocketful of Sunshine" also made iTunes top 10 downloaded singles list.

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On the Net:

http://www.itunes.com

Comments

[LMPE]

Who?

For the record, can we ever mention songs that most people have probably heard but didn't know the title? "Merrily We Roll Along"? "Merry-Go-Round Broke Down"? "Powerhouse"? Google them if you don't know them (or think that you don't know them).

[kloche]

A friend convinced me to go to a Coldplay concert. So I forked out $90 and it was the biggest waste of money ever. I am a music fan and a concert fan but Coldplay is and has always been over hyped. There are much better artists out there, who consistently put out better albums and don't do a halfa$$ performance with an abysmal stage show and run off the stage without doing an encore.

It's time that better music started reaching the mainstream. Cold Play exemplifies how mediocrity often rises to the top in the music and entertainment industries.

[AmandaBC]

When will Americans understand that the best artists **AREN'T** those who make the most money?

[elimenez]

Yeah, while going over the list I'm wondering who any of these people are (with the exception of the gorgeous Rihanna whose music I've never heard). Coldplay is still the poor man's Radiohead to me.

[postman606]

The average age of the music buying public is probably a lot younger than the average age of anyone posting here, as it has always been. The music of any particular generation is normally reviled by most older adults. Get over it.

[RogerRantjet]

zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­z....whazz­at?!......­zzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzz­.....

[mapleaforever]

AC/DC's Black Ice would have been under consideration if not released so late in the cycle. Great return to for by the wee Scots. Yes, they're Scots.

[realityisbetter]

Sadly without Bon Scott....

[kingblind]

No they aren't they are aussie's.. Their 2nd singer Brian Johnson is from the UK..

[Monrocsol]

Sadly, America's taste is spinning in the toilet!

[bpowell1]

This music is crapt. That is why they can't sell it because it's garbage. When someone comes out with decent music it sells. This is just crapt.

[FromAcrossThePacific]

You make no sense. If crap music doesn't sell, and this music is all crap, then why are these the TOP-SELLING Artists of 2008?

[FromAcrossThePacific]

You don't make sense. If this music is garbage, and garbage music doesn't sell, then how come these are the TOP SELLING ARTISTS of 2008?

[AmandaBC]

Unfortunately, it sells **BECAUSE** it's cr@p...

[KatDawgATL]

Leona Lewis = Hot like fire.

[pkohan]

So basically this is an iTunes press release? No mention of other digital services in the mix? No Amazon? No Zune? No eMusic?

I'm just saying - I'd rather see overall figures, not just iTunes figures.

[NederlandseKlootzak]

why waste money on itunes when with Bittorrent you can find any tune or album ever created from 50-present FREE.

[butterworth]

Yeah, as long as you don't mind viruses along with your tunes.

[Mysticalman68]

Because everytime you download them for free you are stealing the composer's and the artist's money.

[AnthonyVolpe]

So you'd have no problem fixing Elton John's roof for free in exchange for downloading his stuff off BitTorrent?

[AnthonyVolpe]

At least Soulja Boy Tell 'em didn't make the list.

[citizensmite]

I wonder how Joe the plumber's country album will sell this year

[bluguy8]

wow--thats a whole lot of bad music.....­.what happened to the music industry anyway. all the talents ahev run away I guess

[mcyina]

The record industry is very laughable these days.
For God sakes, they gave Britney Spears a record deal.
Top selling artist does not mean most talented.
Whoever is willing to sell their soul to the devil will make it in that industry.
Most of these songs and people are going to be featured on feature VH1 programs of songs and artist that sucks.
Most of them can sing but being able to sing does not make you a musician. I wish the writers of these songs would get more credit.

[OSA23]

a couple of personal observations:

a) people need to really understand music
b) people need to really understand the music industry
c) people need to really understand music, the music industry, and expand their personal appreciation of what music can do AND will do

some of these comments are just people whining without any other reason to whine other than possessing very little understanding on the function of music as a creative force AND as a commodity to be sold to the masses.... and while people are always eager to trash a performer like kayne west, i do not see anyone here doing what he does.....n­ow do i..???

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Oh god, Leona Lewis' whiny voice really annoys me. I just dont get the "talent" there. She's all show and very little talent.