The map above shows the best selling singer, musical artist or band from each of England’s 48 ceremonial counties. The criteria seems to be where someone has grown up rather than necessarily where they were born.
And if you’re curious we’ve previously published previous maps about the Best Selling Singer Or Band From Each London Borough and Best Selling Singer, Music Artist or Band From Each US State.
jai emmett says
Joss Stone is from Devon. I’m guessing Kate Bush would be the biggest artist from Kent!
Chester says
Rolling Stones are surely biggest selling from Kent. They were from Dartford. Joss Stone was BORN in Dover but yeh grew up in Devon, whereas Muse were formed in Devon but not born there! Ed Sheeran is from Framlingham in Suffolk (but wasn’t born there).
It’s a great map and source for debate but the methodology is a bit off…
Chris adams says
Yep ..I reckon that pink floyd , from Cambridgeshire have easily outsold Olivia newton john tbh.
Bill Brewster says
Hi there. Jethro Tull we’re from Blackpool which according to your map has moved to a commutable distance to London. Pet Shop Boys also from Blackpool. Heatwave’s (and Michael Jackson collaborator) Rod Temperton was from Humberstone in North Lincs and surely outsold Nicola Bloody Roberts?
Angela P says
Only just found this website, thank you lockdown. I couldn’t let this comment pass. Chris Lowe may be from Blackpool but Neil Tennant is from North Shields. It won’t change North Tyneside’s biggest selling artist, I think Sting has still got that.
Saskia O'Hara says
This map is definitely not correct, in fact it’s bizarre. For example, where are The Rolling Stones?!
Bruce says
You’d think they should be in London, but they’re probably in the Cayman Islands.
David says
The Stones have been registered for decades at an Amsterdam canal house address. In the same way IKEA has been Dutch too.
Gadzooks says
I noticed too – Elton appears to have out-sold them. And he still has the nerve to call Keef “an old wallet that mumbles.” 😀
Chris says
LA mostly, surely, some are in heaven
Adam Leslie says
The Dorset one is incorrect – ELP were a London act. Only Greg was from Dorset, the other two were from Yorkshire and Birmingham. Supergroups by definitions surely don’t count – that’s like saying The Monkees were Manchester’s top-selling act. I think Dorset should actually be PJ Harvey.
Also, if the criteria is where someone grew up, Nicola Roberts is from Cheshire, she was only born in Lincolnshire. The Lincolnshire one should probably really be Matthews Southern Comfort.
Robert Smyth says
Great map but there are some surprising omissions. Where are Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones? Also Phil Collins, Ed Sheehan and the Bee Gees? Coldplay, Fleetwood Mac also don’t feature and Dire Straits were pretty big too
Gregg says
I don’t think you understand this map. They’re all from counties where another artist has sold more records than them.
In fact all but two acts you mentioned are from London! (Ed Sheeran was born in West Yorks but grew up in Suffolk, and the Bee Gees were born in the Isle of Man but grew up in Manchester.)
Vandenbussche says
And about Europe Rock artists ?
Lucos
Peter Hardy says
No one from Rutland? At all?
Gregg says
Pretty much the only musician to have spent time in Rutland is Jay Kay of Jamiroquai, who went to school there.
Joshua K. says
I think Eric Idle and Neil Innes would have something to say about that.
Joanne McQueen says
Can you buy this map? If so where and how much please?
Christian says
Yeah Oliva Newton John is an Aussie for a start and wheres Black Sabbath and the Rolling Stones?
Carl says
Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge and lived there until she was 6.
Geoff says
Pink Floyd for Cambridgeshire, Led Zeppelin for Warwickshire surely?
Lambad says
No one from Rutland? Ha ha what about The Rutles?
Rcee says
Humberside. What about the Housemartins. Beautiful South and Fatboy Slim.
MjH says
That’s the East Riding of Yorkshire, not Humberside. That was abolished in 1996.
Hugo Shellabear says
where the kinks!! ..but great effort ..love the map
david burnham says
Surely the Arctic Monkeys have outsold Shed Seven? Or have i got my geography wrong?
MJ says
Shed Seven are shown in North Yorkshire (they’re from York I think?) – Arctic Monkeys are from just outside Sheffield (South Yorkshire: shown as Def Leppard on the map)
RJB says
Arctic Monkeys anyone? Shed 7 sold about 7
Liam says
Shed 7 bigger than Whitesnake, Chris Rea and James Arthur?