IN a big win for Seattle over Sydney, Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind has overtaken AC/DC’s 1980 release Back in Black in total equivalent album sales, according to data compiled by Chartmasters.
The analysis combines physical sales, digital downloads, streaming figures and tracks appearing on compilations to calculate equivalent album sales units.
Nevermind now stands at approximately 66.832 million equivalent album sales, narrowly ahead of Back in Black at around 66.831 million.
This places the Nirvana album in sixth position on Chartmasters’ list of the best-selling albums of all time.
Back in Black continues to lead in pure physical album sales, with estimates of about 37 million copies compared with roughly 30 million for Nevermind.
Streaming and other equivalent metrics have been the decisive factor allowing Nevermind to edge ahead in the overall ranking.
The shift also sees Nevermind surpass Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon in the same equivalent-sales measure.
In the United States, the RIAA certifies Back in Black at 27 times platinum while Nevermind stands at 13 times platinum.
Chartmasters’ methodology differs from traditional certification systems by incorporating modern consumption patterns such as streaming.
Both albums remain among the highest-selling rock records ever released, reflecting enduring commercial demand more than three and four decades after their respective launches.
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