Editor’s Notice: Within the time since Journey initially tied Put up Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower,” the RIAA issued a brand new certification in February that “Sunflower” has reached double diamond standing for over 20 million items.
The largest music in music historical past is now a rock music, and that honor belongs to none aside from Journey with their 1981 hit, “Do not Cease Believin’.”
Earlier this yr, the music took a significant leap ahead when the RIAA revisited the band’s gross sales historical past and famous that the monitor was now licensed for promoting greater than 18 million items. This consists of pure music gross sales in addition to consumed music streams.
In keeping with Forbes, this now strikes the music technically right into a tie with Put up Malone and Swae Lee’s “Sunflower” on the 18 million certification mark, which for now provides it the title of being the largest music in music historical past.
Journey, “Do not Cease Believin'”
Why the Huge Soar for Journey?
Merely put, Journey’s “Do not Cease Believin'” has remained constantly within the public eye (or ear) since its 1981 launch, and quite a few popular culture moments have helped proceed to drive curiosity.
The music was initially licensed Gold (for 500,000 items) in November 2005. That wasn’t precisely setting the world on fireplace by barely eclipsing the half-million mark some 24 years after the music was launched.
However popular culture acquired a maintain of it and it is utilization in The Sopranos sequence finale scene actually renewed curiosity within the music, which was licensed 5 instances platinum in 2005, the subsequent time the RIAA reviewed the certification.
The Sopranos Closing Scene
Since that point, the FOX sequence Glee sparked curiosity within the music in 2009. Sports activities has positively performed a task with Steve Perry main San Francisco Giants followers in a sing-along on the 2014 World Collection, Journey themselves enjoying the 2024 NFC Championship sport, the Detroit Crimson Wings retiring Joe Louis Enviornment with the favored stadium anthem in 2017 and extra.
Plus, it acquired vital TV time for its use in at 2020 business for the Toyota Hllux.
As of Jan. 26, 2024, the RIAA had tallied up the music’s leap to 18 instances licensed, pulling it right into a tie as greatest music of all-time.
READ MORE: How a Lethal College Fireplace Impressed Lyrics for Large Journey Hit
Journey’s Preliminary Radio Run for “Do not Cease Believin'”
It was really a reasonably modest begin for Journey after they launched “Do not Cease Believin'” again within the fall of 1981. It was really launched because the second single from the Escape album following “Who’s Crying Now.”
The music rose to No. 8 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and No. 9 on the Billboard Sizzling 100, making certain that it was a success. However off the identical album, the ballad “Open Arms” charted even larger on the time.
Journey, “Do not Cease Believin'” (1981, Dwell)
Journey Reply to “Do not Cease Believin'” Milestone
Founding guitarist Neal Schon commented on the information that “Do not Cease Believin'” was now the largest music in music historical past. “We now formally have the largest music on the earth ever within the historical past of music,” exclaimed the guitarist on social media. “Congratulations to all.”
The 60 Rock + Metallic Songs With Over One Billion Spotify Streams
Recapping the rock and metallic songs which have eclipsed one billion streams on Spotify.
NOT INCLUDED: The definition of rock is extremely broad right this moment and, on this listing, we have elected to not embrace pop/rock acts resembling Think about Dragons, Maroon 5, Twenty One Pilots, 5 Seconds of Summer season, Coldplay, Goo Goo Dolls, Gymnasium Class heroes and Prepare.
Gallery Credit score: Joe DiVita