<P> Sales certifications for albums are awarded by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments, physical sales and downloads of albums, and, as of June 2015, streaming of album tracks . The BPI began awarding certifications soon after it was founded in April 1973 . Initially, certifications were based on the revenue received by the album manufacturers--records that generated revenue of GB £ 75,000 were awarded silver certification, £ 150,000 represented gold and £ 1 million was platinum . Over the following six years, the thresholds for silver and gold certifications both grew twice--the threshold for platinum certification remained at £ 1 million . In January 1979, this method of certifying sales was abolished, and certifications were instead based on unit sales to retail outlets: sales of 60,000 were awarded silver, gold for 100,000 and platinum for 300,000 . Multi-platinum awards were introduced in February 1987; digital downloads have been counted towards unit sales since 2004 . Certifications for albums released before April 1973 were retroactively awarded in August 2013 for sales from 1994 onwards, and then again in February 2016 for all previous sales . The highest - certified album is Greatest Hits, which has been awarded platinum certification 20 times, representing 6,000,000 units . </P> <P> Positions are as of July 2016; sales, where shown, are from the reference given, which may be at a different date, and cannot be used to infer changes in position . </P> <Table> Best - selling albums in the UK <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Album </Th> <Th> Artist </Th> <Th> Record label </Th> <Th> Released </Th> <Th> Chart peak </Th> <Th> Sales (as of date) </Th> <Th> No. of times Platinum </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Greatest Hits </Td> <Td> Queen </Td> <Td> Parlophone </Td> <Td> October 1981 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6,120,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 20 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Gold: Greatest Hits </Td> <Td> ABBA </Td> <Td> Polydor </Td> <Td> September 1992 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5,300,000 (Apr 2018) </Td> <Td> 17 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> Sgt . Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band </Td> <Td> The Beatles </Td> <Td> Parlophone </Td> <Td> June 1967 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5,200,000 (Jun 2017) </Td> <Td> 17 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Adele </Td> <Td> XL </Td> <Td> January 2011 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5,100,000 (August 2018) </Td> <Td> 17 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 5 </Th> <Td> (What's the Story) Morning Glory? </Td> <Td> Oasis </Td> <Td> Creation </Td> <Td> October 1995 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 4,700,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 14 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 6 </Th> <Td> Thriller </Td> <Td> Michael Jackson </Td> <Td> Epic </Td> <Td> November 1982 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 4,400,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 13 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 7 </Th> <Td> The Dark Side of the Moon </Td> <Td> Pink Floyd </Td> <Td> Harvest </Td> <Td> March 1973 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 4,300,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 14 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 8 </Th> <Td> Brothers in Arms </Td> <Td> Dire Straits </Td> <Td> Vertigo </Td> <Td> May 1985 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 4,300,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 14 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 9 </Th> <Td> Bad </Td> <Td> Michael Jackson </Td> <Td> Epic </Td> <Td> August 1987 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 4,000,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 13 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 10 </Th> <Td> Greatest Hits II </Td> <Td> Queen </Td> <Td> Parlophone </Td> <Td> October 1991 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,990,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 13 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 11 </Th> <Td> Rumours </Td> <Td> Fleetwood Mac </Td> <Td> Warner Bros . </Td> <Td> February 1977 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,800,000 (Feb 2017) </Td> <Td> 11 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 12 </Th> <Td> The Immaculate Collection </Td> <Td> Madonna </Td> <Td> Sire </Td> <Td> November 1990 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,700,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 12 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 13 </Th> <Td> Back to Black </Td> <Td> Amy Winehouse </Td> <Td> Island </Td> <Td> October 2006 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,780,000 (Jul 2017) </Td> <Td> 13 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 14 </Th> <Td> 25 </Td> <Td> Adele </Td> <Td> XL </Td> <Td> November 2015 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,441,100 (Jan 2017) </Td> <Td> 11 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 15 </Th> <Td> Stars </Td> <Td> Simply Red </Td> <Td> East West </Td> <Td> September 1991 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,410,000 (Oct 2015) </Td> <Td> 12 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 16 </Th> <Td> Come On Over </Td> <Td> Shania Twain </Td> <Td> Mercury </Td> <Td> March 1998 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,412,830 (Jul 2017) </Td> <Td> 11 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 17 </Th> <Td> Legend </Td> <Td> Bob Marley and the Wailers </Td> <Td> Island / Tuff Gong </Td> <Td> May 1984 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,380,000 (July 2016) </Td> <Td> 11 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 18 </Th> <Td> Back to Bedlam </Td> <Td> James Blunt </Td> <Td> Atlantic </Td> <Td> November 2004 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,338,000 (Jan 2017) </Td> <Td> 11 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 19 </Th> <Td> Urban Hymns </Td> <Td> The Verve </Td> <Td> Hut </Td> <Td> September 1997 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,315,950 (Sep 2017) </Td> <Td> 11 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 20 </Th> <Td> x </Td> <Td> Ed Sheeran </Td> <Td> Asylum </Td> <Td> June 2014 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,300,000 (Mar 2018) </Td> <Td> 11 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 21 </Th> <Td> Bat Out of Hell </Td> <Td> Meat Loaf </Td> <Td> Epic </Td> <Td> October 1977 </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 3,282,300 (Sep 2016) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 22 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> The Beatles </Td> <Td> Apple </Td> <Td> November 2000 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,230,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 11 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 23 </Th> <Td> Bridge over Troubled Water </Td> <Td> Simon & Garfunkel </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> January 1970 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,163,800 (Nov 2014) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 24 </Th> <Td> Dirty Dancing </Td> <Td> Original soundtrack </Td> <Td> RCA </Td> <Td> August 1987 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,150,000 (Oct 2015) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 25 </Th> <Td> Spirit </Td> <Td> Leona Lewis </Td> <Td> Syco </Td> <Td> November 2007 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,138,700 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 26 </Th> <Td> Crazy Love </Td> <Td> Michael Bublé </Td> <Td> Reprise </Td> <Td> October 2009 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,095,100 (Oct 2016) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 27 </Th> <Td> No Angel </Td> <Td> Dido </Td> <Td> Arista </Td> <Td> October 2000 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,088,700 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 28 </Th> <Td> White Ladder </Td> <Td> David Gray </Td> <Td> IHT / East West </Td> <Td> November 1998 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 3,017,000 (Nov 2016) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 29 </Th> <Td> Talk on Corners </Td> <Td> The Corrs </Td> <Td> Atlantic </Td> <Td> October 1997 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,960,000 (Jan 2017) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 30 </Th> <Td> Spice </Td> <Td> Spice Girls </Td> <Td> Virgin </Td> <Td> November 1996 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,940,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 31 </Th> <Td> The Fame </Td> <Td> Lady Gaga </Td> <Td> Interscope </Td> <Td> January 2009 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,940,000 (Feb 2017) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 32 </Th> <Td> Only by the Night </Td> <Td> Kings of Leon </Td> <Td> Hand Me Down </Td> <Td> September 2008 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,916,800 (Oct 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 33 </Th> <Td> A Rush of Blood to the Head </Td> <Td> Coldplay </Td> <Td> Parlophone </Td> <Td> August 2002 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,909,750 (Jun 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 34 </Th> <Td> ÷ </Td> <Td> Ed Sheeran </Td> <Td> Asylum </Td> <Td> March 2017 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,900,000 (Dec 2017) </Td> <Td> 9x </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 35 </Th> <Td> Life for Rent </Td> <Td> Dido </Td> <Td> Cheeky </Td> <Td> September 2003 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,885,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 36 </Th> <Td> Beautiful World </Td> <Td> Take That </Td> <Td> Polydor </Td> <Td> November 2006 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,850,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 37 </Th> <Td> Hopes and Fears </Td> <Td> Keane </Td> <Td> Island </Td> <Td> May 2004 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,833,750 (Oct 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 38 </Th> <Td> The Joshua Tree </Td> <Td> U2 </Td> <Td> Island </Td> <Td> March 1987 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,800,000 (June 2017) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 39 </Th> <Td> The War of the Worlds </Td> <Td> Jeff Wayne </Td> <Td> Columbia </Td> <Td> June 1978 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 2,742,800 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 40 </Th> <Td> Scissor Sisters </Td> <Td> Scissor Sisters </Td> <Td> Polydor </Td> <Td> February 2004 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,742,800 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 41 </Th> <Td>... But Seriously </Td> <Td> Phil Collins </Td> <Td> Virgin </Td> <Td> November 1989 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,742,800 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 42 </Th> <Td> X&Y </Td> <Td> Coldplay </Td> <Td> Parlophone </Td> <Td> June 2005 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,742,800 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 43 </Th> <Td> Jagged Little Pill </Td> <Td> Alanis Morissette </Td> <Td> Maverick </Td> <Td> June 1995 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,742,800 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 44 </Th> <Td> Parachutes </Td> <Td> Coldplay </Td> <Td> Parlophone </Td> <Td> July 2000 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,700,000 (Jan 2018) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 45 </Th> <Td> Tubular Bells </Td> <Td> Mike Oldfield </Td> <Td> Virgin </Td> <Td> May 1973 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,687,500 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 46 </Th> <Td> The Man Who </Td> <Td> Travis </Td> <Td> Independiente </Td> <Td> May 1999 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,687,500 (May 2016) </Td> <Td> 9 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 47 </Th> <Td> Tracy Chapman </Td> <Td> Tracy Chapman </Td> <Td> Elektra </Td> <Td> April 1988 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,670,000 (Jan 2016) </Td> <Td> 7 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 48 </Th> <Td> Greatest Hits </Td> <Td> ABBA </Td> <Td> Epic </Td> <Td> November 1975 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,606,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 49 </Th> <Td> Grease </Td> <Td> Original soundtrack </Td> <Td> RSO </Td> <Td> April 1978 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,586,500 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 50 </Th> <Td> I've Been Expecting You </Td> <Td> Robbie Williams </Td> <Td> Chrysalis </Td> <Td> October 1998 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,586,500 (May 2016) </Td> <Td> 10 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 51 </Th> <Td> Come Away with Me </Td> <Td> Norah Jones </Td> <Td> Parlophone </Td> <Td> June 2002 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,556,650 (Oct 2016) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 52 </Th> <Td> Graceland </Td> <Td> Paul Simon </Td> <Td> Warner Bros . </Td> <Td> August 1986 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,500,000 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 7 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 53 </Th> <Td> The Sound of Music </Td> <Td> Original soundtrack </Td> <Td> RCA Victor </Td> <Td> May 1965 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,500,000 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 54 </Th> <Td> Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of </Td> <Td> George Michael </Td> <Td> Epic </Td> <Td> November 1998 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,500,000 (Jan 2016) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 55 </Th> <Td> Tango in the Night </Td> <Td> Fleetwood Mac </Td> <Td> Warner Bros . </Td> <Td> April 1987 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,500,000 (Apr 2017) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 56 </Th> <Td> The Marshall Mathers LP </Td> <Td> Eminem </Td> <Td> Interscope </Td> <Td> June 2000 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,450,000 (Jul 2017) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 57 </Th> <Td> Swing When You're Winning </Td> <Td> Robbie Williams </Td> <Td> Chrysalis </Td> <Td> November 2001 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,385,700 (May 2016) </Td> <Td> 7 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 58 </Th> <Td> Progress </Td> <Td> Take That </Td> <Td> Polydor </Td> <Td> November 2010 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,360,000 + (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 59 </Th> <Td> Eyes Open </Td> <Td> Snow Patrol </Td> <Td> Fiction </Td> <Td> May 2006 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,400,000 (Mar 2018) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 60 </Th> <Td> Never Forget--The Ultimate Collection </Td> <Td> Take That </Td> <Td> RCA </Td> <Td> November 2005 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 2,360,000 (Jul 2016) </Td> <Td> 8 × </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> No . </Th> <Th> Album </Th> <Th> Artist </Th> <Th> Record label </Th> <Th> Released </Th> <Th> Chart peak </Th> <Th> Sales (as of date) </Th> <Th> No. of times Platinum </Th> </Tr>

10 acts with the biggest selling albums in the uk
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