AKB48 breaks record again with '上からマリコ' ('Ue kara Mariko')

AKB48's 24th Single, '上からマリコ' ('Ue kara Mariko'), sold a total of 1,199,000 copies in the first week, thus became the highest selling single for the week of 19th December and the 5th highest selling single in its first week till date. Furthermore, AKB48 became the first artists ever to sell four consecutive “First Week Million” singles. What's more, all five of their singles this year have sold one million copies.

From Oricon/tokyohive,

• AKB48 has surpassed Pink Lady, Amuro Namie, Hamasaki Ayumi, and Utada Hikaru to become the top female artists with the most million selling singles.
• The group is currently tied with Morning Musume for having the most number one singles for a female group; which is 11.
• AKB48 is currently tied with GLAY with 5 consecutive million selling singles. GLAY has held the record since February 22, 1999, with their single “Winter, again”; that’s 12 years and 10 months.

[Highest First Week Sales]

1. AKB48 “Flying Get” (August 24, 2011) – 1,354,000 copies

2. AKB48 “Everyday, Kachuusha” (May 25, 2011) – 1,334,000 copies

3. AKB48 “Kaze wa Fuiteiru” (October 26, 2011) – 1,300,000 copies

4. Mr. Children “Na mo Naki Uta” (February 5, 1996) – 1,208,000 copies

5. AKB48 “Ue Kara MARIKO” (December 7, 2011) – 1,199,000 copies


[Female Artists With A Million Singles Sold]

1. 6 singles – AKB48 “Ue Kara MARKO (December 19, 2011)

2. 5 singles – Pink Lady “Monster” (September 4, 1978)

2. 5 singles – Amuro Namie “CAN YOU CELEBRATE?” (March 10, 1997)

2. 5 singles – Utada Hikaru “Can You Keep A Secret?” (March 5, 2001)

2. 5 singles – Hamasaki Ayumi “H (independent, July 1st, HANABI)” (November 25, 2002)

Congratulations AKB48!! ☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆