Metallica's 'St Anger' sold a not too shabby two million units in America this year but the real revenue earner for the band was their back catalogue.
Upgrades to their older albums in 2003 bounced Metallica album sales by a further six million units making them one of the years biggest selling acts overall.
Their US label Elektra released re-mastered versions of their classic albums in June, 2003. The upgrade moved the self titled album (better known as the Black album) past the 14 million mark, '…And Justice For All' hit eight times platinum and 'Master of Puppets' has now sold more than six million.
Metallica also reached the five million milestone with 'S&M', 'Load' and 'Ride The Lightning'. In total, their catalogue has done better than 57 million units in America alone.
In addition, Metallica also hold the record for highest certified music video in history for 1993's 'Binge and Purge'. It passed 15 times platinum this year. The video / DVD version of 'S&M' recorded with the San Francisco Symphony was also certified six times platinum this year.
Below is the sales numbers that has been updated in 2003. The forms show Title, certification date, Award Description (G=Gold, P=Platinum and M=Multiplatinum), and Format
| MASTER OF PUPPETS | 06/09/03 | M (6) | ALBUM |
| LOAD | 06/09/03 | M (5) | ALBUM |
| S&M | 06/09/03 | M (6) | VIDEO |
| S&M | 06/09/03 | M (5) | ALBUM |
| RIDE THE LIGHTNING | 06/09/03 | M (5) | ALBUM |
| BINGE & PURGE (CD & VIDEO PACKAGE) | 12/17/03 | M (15) | VIDEO |
| AND JUSTICE FOR ALL | 06/09/03 | M (8) | ALBUM |
| ST. ANGER | 07/08/03 | M (2) | ALBUM |
| METALLICA | 12/17/03 | M (14) | ALBUM |
Source: undercover.com.au and RIAA.com
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