The 20 Top Selling iTunes Songs of All-Time
You do not even to own an Apple computer to be familiar with iTunes. This is the music platforming that brought digital songs mainstream and into the portable music devices and computers of millions of people around the world. Just about every artist you have ever produced a song has a listing on iTunes. Why not? It is a simple way to gain new followers and get income based on the number of songs that are purchased. Recently, iTunes announced that it would stop the purchase of songs on their platform, focusing instead on its monthly streaming subscription. That does not keep the records from being published, however, as it is interesting to see who has done the best on this platform. You may very well have some of these songs yourself. Continue reading to discover the top twenty selling iTunes songs of all time, with the most sold being listed at number one.
20. Don’t Stop Believin’ – by Journey – 7 Million Copies Sold
Journey is a rock band from America. They originally produced this song on their seventh album back in 1981. It eventually rose to number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ironically, this is a song that would become even more popular with time. In 2009, for example, it became a top 40 hit in the United Kingdom. Critics have described this song as the perfect rock song, selling more than 7 million digital copies alone. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
19. Party in the U.S.A. – by Miley Cyrus – 7.5 Million Copies Sold
This is a song released by Miley Cyrus in 2009 and it became an almost instant hit. It was actually produced by Hollywood Records and was designed to be the lead single. Dr. Luke wrote and produced the song, with some additional lyrics being provided by Jessie J and Claude Kelly. Eventually, people would pass on the song until Miley Cyrus came across it and love it. She adjusted some of the lyrics, set it to music, and the rest is history. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
18. Right Round – by Flo Rida – 9.2 Million Copies Sold
Flo Rida is an American rapper who performed Right Round. It originated in 2009 on ROOTS, which was the second album. Released by Poe Boy Entertainment and Atlantic Records, it became a hit. Ironically, the critics gave it mostly negative reviews when it first came out. In its first week out on the charts, however, it got 636,000 downloads. That would be a record until Adele broke it a few years later. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
17. Hey There Delilah – by Plain White T’s – 10.5 million copies sold
Plain White T’s is a rock band from America that has earned quite a following. This particular song was the third single on the third album they ever produced. It would go on to become one of their biggest hits. The radios played this continually, allowing the song to catapult to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 back in July of 2007. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
16. Live Your Life (featuring Rihanna) – by T.I. – 11 million copies sold
If you haven’t heard of him, T.I. is an American rapper that is adored by millions of fans around the world. He has produced quite a few albums during his career. This particular song came out in 2008 and appeared as a single on his 7th studio album. It was successful around the world. Topping the Billboard Hot 100 at one point. The music video was also quite popular, prompting T.I. to even be asked to perform at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.
15. Stranger – by Kanye West – 11.7 million copies sold
This song by Kanye West was released in 2010 on what would become his fifth studio album. It was written with several other rappers who each had a part in the song. It would eventually rise to the number 18 position on the Billboard Hot 100 list, but the digital version of the song continued to sell very well. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
14. Hot N Cold – by Katy Perry – 11.9 million copies sold
Katy Perry sings Hot N Cold, a song that first came out in 2008 and appeared on the second album that she ever produced. This is a song that actually rose to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 lists and received quite a bit of airtime around the world. It was in the top five in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and a handful of other countries. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
13. Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) – by Beyonce – 12.7 million copies sold
This is a song with a message. Single ladies was produced by Beyonce in 2008 and put on her third studio album. It actually won three Grammy Awards back in 2010. Among these awards was Song of the Year. It was on the top of the charge for four different weeks and it a certified quadruple platinum song. This is designated by the Recording Industry Association of America. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
12. I Kissed a Girl – by Katy Perry – 12.9 million copies sold
Katy Perry is an American based singer who produced I Kissed a Girl back in 2008. It would be the centerpiece of her second album ever produced. She actually co-wrote this song with Cathy Dennis and Max Martin. It was produced by Dr. Luke and Benny Blanco. The song was revolutionary for its time because of its controversial LGBT overtones. It was a hit around the world. . That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
11. So What – by Pink – 13 million copies sold
Pink makes an appearance on this list with the song So What. It was released on her fifth album back in 2008. Max Martin and Shellback co-wrote the song with Pink. It was in the top five worldwide and did reach number one in America at one point on the Billboard Hot 100. It was more than four million downloads of its single alone. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
10. Disturbia – by Rihanna – 13.2 million copies sold
Rihanna hails from Barbados and is a tremendously popular artist with several hits to her name. She has sold over 250 million records around the world and 14 of her singles have gone on to be number one hits. Disturbia is one of those. She has also received countless awards in the United Kingdom and in America. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
9. Bleeding Love – by Leona Lewis – 13.4 million copies sold
Leona Lewis is actually a British singer who has broken into this list with her hit song Bleeding Love. It was released in 2007 and was actually a hit from her debut album. It was written by Ryan Teder and Jesse McCartney. This song sold more than one million copies in the United Kingdom along, with four million digital downloads happening in America. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
8. Love Story – by Taylor Swift – 16.2 million copies sold
Hailing from America, Taylor Swift is a musician who should need no introduction. Her song Love Story was released back in September 2008 as the hit single from her second album. It is also considered to be the signature song for Swift. It is meant to convey the story of a love interest that Swift had who was not popular in her social circle. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
7. Low (featuring T Pain) – by Flo Rida – 17.5 million copies sold
Low was actually the debut single by Flo Rida, and it turned into an almost instant hit. It was also on the soundtrack for the motion picture fill Step Up 2: The Streets back in 2008. It reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The song also features T Pain in spots. It was actually the most downloaded single of the decade in the 2000s. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
6. Just Dance – by Lady Gaga and Colby O’Donis – 19 million copies sold
Fans of Lady Gaga will almost certainly remember Just Dance as her debut single. This would really get her to the top quickly. It was one of two songs that she on this list. Just Dance was actually written alongside Akon. Colby O’Donis also sings on this one. Believe it or not, Lady Gaga actually wrote this song in only ten minutes. It received numerous awards, in addition to being wildly popular around the globe. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
5. Viva la Vida – by Coldplay – 19.5 million copies sold
Coldplay is a British rock band and reached the pinnacle of success with the release of Viva la Vida back in 2008. This was the second single that was released on what would be their fourth studio album. It debuted to many positive reviews from the critics and would become the first number one hit that the band had in both England and the United States. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
4. I’m Yours – by Jason Mraz – 22 million copies sold
I’m Yours was the first single from his third studio album and it really brought him much fame. It spent 76 weeks on the hot billboard 100 list, which is quite impressive. In fact, this was a record. It has sold more 22 million downloads worldwide and more than six million in the United States alone. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
3. Boom Boom Pow – by The Black Eyed Peas – 27 million copies sold
This is one of two entries on this list by The Black Eyed Peas. This is a song with a catchy beat that became popular in clubs around the world. It would rise to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first time that the group would get there. The music video from this song alone has had over 300 million views on YouTube. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
2. Poker Face – by Lady Gaga – 28.5 million copies sold
Lady Gaga appears again on the list with Poker Face. This is a hit song from her first ever album that was released by in 2008. It was actually the second single from that album and it would become the song of the year on what would be the record of the year as well. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
1. I Gotta Feeling – by the Black Eyed Peas – 31 million copies sold
The number one sold song on iTunes in its history is from the Black Eyed Peas. I Gotta Feeling is from their fifth album and is actually the second single that was released from the album. By 2011, it has already sold more than 7 million digital copies. That makes it one of the 20 top selling iTunes songs of all time.
So, there you have it. These are the songs that have done the best on the Apple platform. Do any of them surprise you? Which are the ones that you were sure would have made the list, yet they are absent? You may own some of these, and now you may be inspired to rush out and buy a few that you do not have. Whatever the case might be, get out there and listen to some great music today.