From shellac to streaming
Fortunately, Mahalia Jackson's music is still widely available today and enjoys great popularity, whether you are a lover of classic recordings or a fan of modern streaming services. Mahalia's music and her profound messages continue to find their way into the hearts of listeners.
Variety for audiophiles – vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and even shellac
For anyone who appreciates warm sound and the tactile experience, vinyl recordings by Mahalia Jackson are a wonderful option. Many of her records are still available second-hand, and the resurgent trend for vinyl listening has led to a steady stream of new pressings and compilations of her recordings coming onto the market.
There is also a wealth of offerings for CD lovers. Particularly noteworthy is the complete edition from the French label "INTEGRALE." This impressive collection comprises 18 CDs and contains almost all of the recordings Mahalia Jackson made during her career. Informative booklets and first-class recording technology make this edition an unreserved recommendation for every fan.
Preserved cassettes from that era are a real insider tip for vintage enthusiasts. It is always amazing how perfectly these tapes, some of which are over 50 years old, still work – something that is not always the case with old CDs. And those looking for the most authentic listening experience can even fall back on shellac records. With the corresponding pickups now available again, these predecessors of vinyl records offer a unique sound experience that has stood the test of time.
Visual insights and digital accessibility
In addition to the pure audio experience, DVDs produced in the 1980s and 90s offer unique opportunities to experience Mahalia Jackson. They include concerts, interviews, and documentaries that provide deep insight into her life and performances.
With the advent of new media, Mahalia's music is of course always available on the go. Many CD purchases nowadays often include a streaming service, so that you can enjoy the music while traveling or on vacation, although the sound quality may naturally be limited. In addition, numerous audio and video recordings of Mahalia Jackson are now freely available, for example on platforms such as YouTube.
Whether you prefer the warm sound of a vinyl record, the comprehensive collection of a CD box set, or the instant availability of digital streams, Mahalia Jackson's incomparable voice and timeless messages are more accessible today than ever before.
Mahalia Jackson's sales figures of 22 million records are impressive even by today's standards, especially when you consider the context of her career.
Back then
Back then (Mahalia Jackson's era), most sales came from physical recordings (records). Radio and live performances were crucial for promotion. The infrastructure for record sales was different, and the global market was less connected than it is today. Mahalia and her pianist, Mildred Falls, often carried records in their suitcases to their concerts to sell them.
Today
The music industry is heavily dominated by streaming. Millions of "streams" on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc. are the primary measure of success. Physical sales (CDs, vinyl) now account for only a fraction of total revenue, although vinyl has made a comeback in recent years. It is difficult to convert streams directly into "units sold" because a stream is only a fraction of the value of a purchased album or single. An artist who achieves 22 million "album equivalent units" (which includes streams, downloads, and physical sales) today is an absolute superstar.
Times are changing
There were fewer artists and fewer media channels. Successful artists could reach a very wide audience. The music landscape is extremely fragmented. There are countless artists, genres, and releases every day. It is much more difficult to attract and retain the attention of a wide audience.
Genre
Mahalia Jackson was a gospel singer. Although gospel had a large following, it was not a mainstream pop genre in her day that necessarily generated the highest sales figures. Achieving such figures in a niche genre is even more impressive. The fact that eight of her records sold over a million copies each is a testament to her enormous popularity and the influence she had on her audience. Singles selling millions are still a sign of a big hit today, but they are much rarer than they were in the era of "single sales."
Comparison with current figures
Artists such as Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Adele, and Beyoncé achieve hundreds of millions to over a billion "units" (including streams) throughout their careers. But these figures reflect a completely different industry landscape. For an artist who was primarily active in the era of physical recordings, selling 22 million records is an extraordinary achievement that ranks them among the best-selling artists of all time, regardless of era.
This demonstrates their immense influence and enduring relevance.