Sweden is among the least populous countries in Europe but has some of the best sceneries in the world. The culture, music, food, and art are also some of the highlights of the Swedish people. Music is a big part of Swedish culture, and some of the best-selling Swedish artists have taken the world by storm. But who is the best-selling Swedish music artist?
Many people have heard music from Sweden, even if they can't name the artist. Some of the world's biggest hits can trace their origin to Sweden. In addition, many Swedish hit songs are very popular in Europe, Africa, and the US. Some bestselling Swedish artists that have topped the global charts include ABBA, Roxette, Ace of Base, and Avicii.
What You Will Learn
- Discover the top best-selling Swedish music artists and their contributions to the music industry.
- Learn about the cultural impact of Swedish music on a global scale.
- Uncover the remarkable stories behind some of the most iconic Swedish artists.
- Understand the evolution of music genres in Sweden and their influence worldwide.
Top 10 Best-Selling Swedish Music Artists
Swedish musicians have made significant advances on the music charts in the United States and Europe. These Swedish artists have made a lot of money from their music. Get to know the successful Swedish artists from the list below. The list is mainly based on music record sales.
10. Vikingarna
Vikingarna is one of the names that come up when the best-selling Swedish music artist is mentioned. They are popular for the dansband type of music influenced by pop, rock, and country, often danced to in pairs.
The band was formed in 1958 in Karlstad and sold more than 11 million records worldwide. The group members included Jorgen Arnemar, Stefan Borsch, Borje Gunnarson, Tord Sjoman, Christer Linde, Per-Anders Carlsson, and Tony Eriksson.
9. Alcazar
Alcazar is among the best-selling Swedish music artists and most successful nu-disco groups ever. Nu-disco is a mix of disco, dance, and electronic music from the 1970s to the 1990s.
They have sold more than 12 million records globally since their first single in 1999. Their song Crying at the Discoteque was a hit topping the charts in the US, Europe, Australia, and Japan.
8. The Cardigans
The Cardigans is a rock music band created in Jonkoping, Sweden, in 1992. Its members are Peter Svensson, Lars-Olof Johansson, Magnus Sveningsson, Nina Persson, and Bengt Lagerberg.
Their debut album, Emmerdale, was released in 1994. Their follow-up studio album Life in 1995 took them to stardom in Sweden and abroad.
7. Dr Alban
Dr Alban, born Alban Uzoma Nwapa, is a Nigerian-Swedish recording artist and producer. He owns a recording studio called Dr Records and has sold over 16 million records.
He has a unique type of music which mixes Eurodance, hip-hop, reggae, and dancehall styles. His 1992 hit, It's My Life, from the collection One Love, was a hit and it shot him to the limelight.
6. The Spotnicks
The Spotnicks started their music career in 1961 and continued until 2019. They released 43 albums and sold more than 18 million records.
The band is known for wearing space suit costumes when performing on the stage. They also revolutionized guitar-playing by coming up with an authentic electronic guitar sound.
5. Europe
Europe is one of the top Swedish bands that was formed in 1979. It has sold over 23 million album copies globally. The band members are Peter Olsson, Joey Tempest, Tony Reno, and John Norum.
Their third album earned them international recognition, with more than 11 studio albums. In addition, two of their albums were in the top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart.
4. Avicii
Avicii, whose real name was Tim Bergling, is among the top Swedish artists. He was a DJ and music producer credited for bringing electronic music into the mainstream in the early 2010s.
At 16, he began posting his DJ remixes on various electronic music forums. He later rose to the top in the music industry to become a global pop music icon.
3. Ace of Base
Ace of Base is among the most popular Swedish music artists, selling over 50 million CD copies worldwide. The band members are Jonas, Linn, Jenny, and Ulf.
They rose to fame in 1992 when they released their debut album, which was certified nine times platinum in the US. This made it the single best-selling studio album in 1994.
2. Roxette
Roxette is a duo Swedish pop-rock band comprising Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle. They are the second best-selling Swedish musicians with over 75 million records sold.
The group was formed in 1986 and became popular internationally in the late 1980s. Roxette's song It Must Have Been Love was featured in Julia Roberts's 1990 film Pretty Woman.
1. ABBA
ABBA tops the list of the best-selling Swedish artists of all time. The group's name is taken from the initial letter of each member's name: Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
To date, ABBA has sold more than 375 million albums and songs worldwide. They topped the global charts from 1974 to 1982 and recently in 2021.
FAQs
- Who is the most famous Swedish singer? Agnetha Faltskog from ABBA is the most famous Swedish singer.
- Who is the number 1 best-selling music artist? The number 1 best-selling music artist in Sweden is ABBA.
- What music do Swedish people like? Sweden is known for schottische, polka, waltz, mazurka, and polska music.
- What is Sweden known for? Sweden is known for its green landscape, abundant forests, lakes, and brands such as IKEA, Spotify, and Volvo.
Swedish music has been popular around the globe for decades and is unquestionably enjoyed by many. The best-selling Swedish music artist is ABBA, whose music continues to inspire people worldwide.
