The list is divided by claimed sales from diverse media reports and certified units from Pro-Música Brasil when their certification program started in 1990; and thereafter by domestic (over 1 million) and international artists (over half-million).
In 1996, Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos (ABPD and now Pro-Música Brasil) informed that Brazilian music represented 72% of record sales across the nation.
Numerous artists have multiplies entries led by Marcelo Rossi and Roberto Carlos with four albums reaching the million mark, while É o Tchan!, Só Pra Contrariar and Legião Urbana each have two.
Although precise sales figure is hard to obtain, De niña a mujer by Julio Iglesias is credited by some sources as the best-selling album in Brazil by an international artist.
According to publications like Época, True Blue by Madonna is credited as the best-selling album by an international female artist.