The battle of the duos (according to AI)

[Nickname]

Top 10 Duos by Estimated Worldwide Record Sales (Albums + Singles)

1- The Carpenters (Karen & Richard Carpenter, USA)
Over 100 million records (some estimates reach 100–120+ million, with strong singles sales in the 1970s — around 40 million physical singles cited in detailed analyses). Their soft-pop ballads and massive hits drove huge album + single volumes, especially in the US and internationally.

2 - Roxette (Marie Fredriksson & Per Gessle, Sweden)
75–80 million records (some sources up to 80–90 million). This includes strong album sales (~45 million in older EMI reports) plus millions in singles. Hits like “The Look,” “It Must Have Been Love,” and “Joyride” fueled global success in the late 1980s–1990s.

3 - Eurythmics (Annie Lennox & David A. Stewart, UK)
Approximately 75 million records worldwide. Album sales are around 20.7 million (similar to Pet Shop Boys in pure albums), but their total is boosted significantly by 1980s singles, compilations, and international hits like “Sweet Dreams (Are
Made of This).”

4 - Hall & Oates (Daryl Hall & John Oates, USA)
40–75 million records (often cited around 40 million albums, with an additional ~6 million certified singles in the US alone; some sources push the combined total higher due to 34 Billboard Hot 100 hits). They are frequently called one of the most successful duos in pop/rock history by volume of hits and radio play.

5 - Simon & Garfunkel (Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel, USA)
Strong combined sales driven by iconic albums (e.g., Bridge Over Troubled Water alone sold tens of millions) and major singles in the 1960s–1970s. Total estimates place them in the high tens of millions when including both formats.

6- Sonny & Cher (Sonny Bono & Cher, USA)
Around 40 million records across their joint career, boosted by massive 1960s singles like “I Got You Babe” and album sales.

7- The Everly Brothers (Don & Phil Everly, USA)
High historical sales in the late 1950s–1960s rock ‘n’ roll era, with millions in singles and albums. They rank among the pioneering best-selling duos of their time.

8 - Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant & Chris Lowe, UK)
50–100+ million records (most commonly cited as “in excess of 100 million” by Official Charts Company and historical Guinness references). This figure heavily includes singles, maxi-singles, remixes, and 12-inch formats from their 1980s–1990s peak, plus ~20.7 million albums. They lead in UK longevity and chart entries for a duo.

9 - Righteous Brothers (Bill Medley & Bobby Hatfield, USA)
Tens of millions driven by classic singles like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” and “Unchained Melody,” plus strong album performance in the 1960s.

10 - Ike & Tina Turner (Ike & Tina Turner, USA)
Significant combined sales from 1960s–1970s hits and albums, placing them in the higher end of classic duos when singles are factored in.

Key Notes Singles impact: For older acts like The Carpenters, Everly Brothers, Sonny & Cher, and Righteous Brothers, singles sales (physical 45s, cassettes, etc.) form a huge part of their totals — often equaling or exceeding album sales in the pre-album-dominant era. Pet Shop Boys also benefit greatly from 1980s–1990s dance/pop singles and remixes.
Data challenges: Exact global totals (especially singles) are estimates. Modern streaming equivalents add to legacy figures but are not the main driver here. Sources include label reports (e.g., Warner/EMI for Roxette), RIAA certifications, bestsellingalbums.org, Wikipedia discographies, and industry analyses.
Context for Pet Shop Boys: They rank highly in longevity (40+ years) and UK success (most successful British duo per Guinness/Official Charts), but globally they sit behind duos with explosive 1970s–1980s single-driven peaks.

[tottenhammattspurs]

But what about The Cheeky Girls and Jedward?

[y3potential]

What's IA..??

[Old Soak]

What's IA..??

AI that's yet to be diagnosed with dyslexia

[Old Soak]

And of course, there's the 10 records Erasure sold too.

[leesmapman]

What's IA..??

AI that's yet to be diagnosed with dyslexia

Dyslexai

[dylanww73]

What's IA..??

Imperial Army?
Internal Affairs?
Irritating A.........?

[Nickname]

What's IA..??

AI in English, IA in Spanish.

[Skybluearmy87]

What about wham ? They must of sold a fair few millions

[Nickname]

What about wham ? They must of sold a fair few millions

They appear on other lists, I thought they have been sold more than PSB but they didn't. PSB are considered the best selling UK's music duo but I think Eurythmics sold more.

[tottenhammattspurs]

I refuse to believe Eurythmics sold more. Apart from "Listen To Beethoven" and "Sweet Dreams" they were god-awful and had a fair few low charting stinkers.

[leesmapman]

I refuse to believe Eurythmics sold more. Apart from "Listen To Beethoven" and "Sweet Dreams" they were god-awful and had a fair few low charting stinkers.

Here Comes The Rain Again is a great track. Sexcrime (1984), Love is a Stranger, Who's That Girl?. All certified bangers. It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) too.

[Nickname]

I refuse to believe Eurythmics sold more. Apart from "Listen To Beethoven" and "Sweet Dreams" they were god-awful and had a fair few low charting stinkers.

Here Comes The Rain Again is a great track. Sexcrime (1984), Love is a Stranger, Who's That Girl?. All certified bangers. It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back) too.

I suppose they sold more records in USA but I don't know, maybe that's wrong just because AI usually makes mistakes.

By the way, I can't understand how you could forget such a beatiful song like There is Must be an Angel Playing with my Heart.

[Drico One]

I refuse to believe Eurythmics sold more. Apart from "Listen To Beethoven" and "Sweet Dreams" they were god-awful and had a fair few low charting stinkers.

Whether they did or not - they were big in the US - the explanation given by AI above makes no sense. It's claiming they sold a similar amount of albums to Neil and Chris but outsold them on 80s singles? Nah, can't see that. If Eurythmics outsold PSB, surely it was on albums - particularly in the US. Their Greatest Hits album was bizarrely huge - not because it wasn't good (I like a lot of their singles), but because they were pretty much washed up as a creative and commercial force by 1990.

That's a bug-bear of mine, actually: how Discography was massively outsold by hits albums by Eurythmics, Erasure, and...The Beautiful South around that time. Mind you, Simply Red had the biggest selling album - the same one - two years in a row at that time, so there is that...

Drico.

[y3potential]

I refuse to believe Eurythmics sold more. Apart from "Listen To Beethoven" and "Sweet Dreams" they were god-awful and had a fair few low charting stinkers.

Whether they did or not - they were big in the US - the explanation given by AI above makes no sense. It's claiming they sold a similar amount of albums to Neil and Chris but outsold them on 80s singles? Nah, can't see that. If Eurythmics outsold PSB, surely it was on albums - particularly in the US. Their Greatest Hits album was bizarrely huge - not because it wasn't good (I like a lot of their singles), but because they were pretty much washed up as a creative and commercial force by 1990.

That's a bug-bear of mine, actually: how Discography was massively outsold by hits albums by Eurythmics, Erasure, and...The Beautiful South around that time. Mind you, Simply Red had the biggest selling album - the same one - two years in a row at that time, so there is that...

Drico.

I will always stand by my theory regarding Discography that it was released far too soon after Behaviour and it's supporting singles (plus the Performance Tour), and thus it was just too much product in a certain time frame.. Had they left Discography until the following Autumn of '92 it may have given the casual consumer enough of a "breather". I'm biased of course, but I believe Discography should be up there with Queen Greatest Hits, Beatles 1 and ABBA Gold as beloved hits collections. The fact it isn't (or doesn't have those sales figures) will always rankle with me..