Def Leppard react to selling less albums than Taylor Swift
Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott recently spoke openly about how the band fits into today’s music scene, telling Virgin Radio UK that their strength now lies more in live shows than album sales.
Elliott explained that the music market has changed dramatically, with artists like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift dominating record sales and streaming. “Let’s be honest: Def Leppard is more known for selling tickets than albums,” he admitted. While the band still sells records, he acknowledged that the scale is different from their peak years. Elliott previously made a bold remark about Taylor Swift stating that Swift is bigger than The Beatles.
Still, Def Leppard continues to achieve notable milestones. Elliott pointed out that the group has placed albums in the Top 10 across five different decades, something he considers a remarkable achievement and a sign of their lasting creativity. “We still want to make records,” he said, emphasizing that new music remains an important part of the band’s identity.
The numbers back up their legendary status. Best Selling Albums reports that Def Leppard has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, including nearly 38 million in the United States. Landmark releases like Pyromania and the diamond-certified Hysteria remain classics of the 1980s rock era.
Even in the digital age, their music continues to reach new listeners. When the band released its full catalog on streaming platforms, it hit #3 on the US iTunes chart and #5 in the UK, proving their enduring global appeal.
From their beginnings in Sheffield’s New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene to their current run as stadium rock icons, Def Leppard has adapted to massive industry changes
Rock bands’ declining album sales
Rock veterans across the board have seen album sales fall sharply compared to their peak years, even while their live concerts remain strong draws. Aerosmith’s most recent studio album, Music from Another Dimension! (2012), sold around 63,000 copies in its first week in the U.S., a fraction of the multi-platinum numbers the band achieved in the 1980s and 90s. Bon Jovi’s 2020 release 2020 debuted at #19 on the Billboard 200, moving just over 30,000 units in its opening week, despite the band once dominating album charts worldwide.
Even Metallica, still one of the genre’s top sellers, saw 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct move roughly 291,000 copies in its first week—strong for today’s market, but well below the 800,000+ that St. Anger achieved in 2003. These shifts highlight how streaming and pop megastars like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran now dominate the industry, leaving rock bands to rely more heavily on touring revenue.
