The Beatles (1970)

The Beatles' 1970 breakup remains the most devastating in music history due to the sheer scale of lost creative potential and acrimonious legal warfare. Paul McCartney sued his three bandmates to dissolve their partnership, triggering public blame against Yoko Ono and ending a partnership that had sold over 600 million records worldwide. This breakup outperforms #2 Oasis in terms of commercial impact, as no other band has matched The Beatles' cumulative sales or cultural influence since their split.