List of highest-certified music artists in the United States

This is the list of the highest-certified music artists in the United States based on certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[1] RIAA certifications are based on wholesale shipments rather than retail sales. Since 2016, the RIAA album certification has also included on-demand audio/video streams (1,500 streams = 1 album unit) and track sale equivalent (10 track sales = 1 album unit).[2] Additionally, awards are only presented if and when a record company applies for certification. Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.

The RIAA began its certifications in 1958, therefore, popular artists from earlier eras are generally not represented on this list. The Beatles are the act with highest-certified albums, while Drake is the act with the highest-certified digital singles. Taylor Swift is the American act with the highest-certified digital singles.

Top 100 certified music artists (albums)

The Beatles
Garth Brooks
Elvis Presley
Led Zeppelin
Eagles
List of artists with the highest-certified albums[3]
No. Name Nationality Decades active Certified units
in millions
1 The Beatles UK 1960s – 70s 178
2 Garth Brooks US 1980s – 2010s 148
3 Elvis Presley US 1950s – 70s 146.5
4 Eagles US 1970s – 2010s 120
5 Led Zeppelin UK 1960s – 80s 111.5
6 Michael Jackson US 1960s – 2000s 84
7 Billy Joel US 1970s – 2010s 82.5
8 Elton John UK 1960s – 2010s 78
9 Pink Floyd UK 1960s – 2010s 75
10 AC/DC Australia 1970s – 2010s 72
11 George Strait US 1980s – 2010s 69
12 Barbra Streisand US 1960s – 2010s 68.5
13 Aerosmith US 1970s – 2010s 66.5
The Rolling Stones UK 1960s – 2010s 66.5
15 Bruce Springsteen US 1970s – 2010s 65.5
16 Madonna US 1980s – 2010s 64.5
17 Mariah Carey US 1990s – 2010s 64
18 Metallica US 1980s – 2010s 63
19 Whitney Houston US 1980s – 2010s 58.5
20 Van Halen US 1970s – 2010s 56.5
21 U2 Ireland 1970s – 2010s 52
22 Celine Dion Canada 1980s – 2010s 50
23 Fleetwood Mac UK 1960s – 2010s 49.5
Neil Diamond US 1960s – 2010s 49.5
25 Shania Twain Canada 1990s – 2010s 48
Kenny G US 1980s – 2010s 48
Journey US 1970s – 2010s 48
28 Kenny Rogers US 1950s – 2000s 47.5
29 Alabama US 1970s – 2010s 46.5
30 Guns N' Roses US 1980s – 2010s 44.5
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band US 1960s – 2010s 44.5
Eminem US 1990s – 2010s 44.5
33 Santana US 1960s – 2010s 43.5
Alan Jackson US 1980s – 2010s 43.5
35 Taylor Swift US 2000s – 2010s 43
36 Reba McEntire US 1970s – 2010s 41
37 Eric Clapton UK 1960s – 2010s 40
38 Chicago US 1960s – 2010s 38.5
Simon and Garfunkel US 1960s – 70s 38.5
40 Rod Stewart UK 1960s – 2010s 38
41 Tim McGraw US 1990s – 2010s 37.5
Foreigner US 1970s – 2010s 37.5
43 Backstreet Boys US 1990s – 2010s 37
44 Tupac Shakur US 1990s 36.5
45 Bob Dylan US 1960s – 2010s 36
46 Def Leppard UK 1970s – 2010s 35.5
47 Queen UK 1970s – 2000s 34.5
Bon Jovi US 1980s – 2010s 34.5
Britney Spears US 1990s – 2010s 34.5
Dave Matthews Band US 1990s – 2010s 34.5
51 Phil Collins UK 1970s – 2010s 33.5
John Denver US 1960s – 90s 33.5
53 James Taylor US 1960s – 2010s 33
The Doors US 1960s –70s 33
55 R. Kelly US 1990s – 2010s 32
56 Willie Nelson US 1950s – 2010s 31.5
Pearl Jam US 1990s – 2010s 31.5
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers US 1970s – 2017 31.5
59 Boston US 1970s – 2010s 31
60 Dixie Chicks US 1980s – 2000s 30.5
61 Linda Ronstadt US 1960s – 2000s 30
62 Lynyrd Skynyrd US 1960s – 2000s 28.5
Kenny Chesney US 1990s – 2010s 28.5
64 Mannheim Steamroller US 1970s – 2010s 28
'N Sync US 1990s – 2000s 28
Michael Bolton US 1980s – 2010s 28
Bee Gees UK 1960s – 2000s 28
Adele UK 2000s – 2010s 28
Creedence Clearwater Revival US 1960s – 70s 28
70 Jay Z US 1990s – 2010s 27.5
John Mellencamp US 1970s – 2010s 27.5
Brooks & Dunn US 1990s – 2000s 27.5
Barry Manilow US 1970s – 2010s 27.5
74 Ozzy Osbourne UK 1960s – 2010s 27.25
75 Boyz II Men US 1990s – 2000s 27
Frank Sinatra US 1930s – 90s 27
Linkin Park US 1990s – 2010s 27
78 Enya Ireland 1980s – 2010s 26.5
79 Janet Jackson US 1980s – 2010s 26
80 Faith Hill US 1990s – 2010s 25.5
Luther Vandross US 1960s – 2000s 25.5
Steve Miller Band US 1960s – 2010s 25.5
83 Rush Canada 1970s – 2010s 25
Mötley Crüe US 1980s – 2010s 25
Nirvana US 1980s – 90s 25
ZZ Top US 1970s – 2010s 25
Creed US 1990s – 2000s 25
Toby Keith US 1990s – 2010s 25
Red Hot Chili Peppers US 1980s – 2010s 25
Hootie & The Blowfish US 1980s – 2010s 25
91 The Carpenters US 1960s – 80s 24.5
REO Speedwagon US 1970s – 2010s 24.5
93 Vince Gill US 1970s – 2010s 24
Green Day US 1980s – 2010s 24
Nickelback Canada 1990s – 2010s 24
96 Johnny Cash US 1970s – 2000s 23.5
Sade UK 1980s – 2010s 23.5
Kid Rock US 1990s – 2010s 23.5
Earth, Wind & Fire US 1970s – 2010s 23.5
The Cars US 1970s – 2010s 23.5

Top 50 certified music artists (digital singles)

Drake
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Eminem
Katy Perry
List of artists with the highest-certified digital singles[4]
No. Name Nationality Years active Certified units
in millions
1 Drake Canada 2000s – 142
2 Rihanna Barbados 2000s – 124
3 Taylor Swift US 2000s – 120
4 Eminem US 1990s – 107.5
5 Katy Perry US 2000s – 98
6 Justin Bieber Canada 2010s – 68.5
7 Kanye West US 2000s – 63
8 Lady Gaga US 2000s – 61
9 Bruno Mars US 2000s – 54.5
10 Chris Brown US 2000s – 50
11 Ed Sheeran UK 2010s – 45.5
12 Luke Bryan US 2000s – 43.5
13 Flo Rida US 2000s – 43
14 Michael Jackson US 1970s – 2009 42
15 Selena Gomez United States 2010s – 42
16 Kendrick Lamar US 2010s – 41
17 Florida Georgia Line US 2010s – 34
Post Malone US 2010s – 34
19 Lil Wayne US 1990s – 32
20 Adele UK 2000s – 31.5
Twenty One Pilots US 2010s – 31.5
22 Ariana Grande US 2010s – 30.5
Carrie Underwood US 2000s – 30.5
24 Linkin Park US 2000s – 2010s 29.5
Nicki Minaj US 2000s – 29.5
26 Wiz Khalifa US 2010s – 29
27 Jason Aldean US 2000s – 28.5
28 Jason Derulo US 2010s – 27
29 Meghan Trainor US 2010s – 26.5
30 Beyoncé US 1990s – 26
Blake Shelton US 2000s – 25.5
32 Maroon 5 US 2000s – 25.5
Sam Smith UK 2010s – 18.5
34 Miley Cyrus US 2000s – 25
Imagine Dragons US 2010s – 25
36 Fall Out Boy US 2000s – 24.5
37 The Black Eyed Peas US 2000s – 24
38 Jay-Z US 1990s – 23
DJ Khaled US 2000s – 23
40 Future US 2010s – 22.5
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis US 2010s – 22.5
42 Zac Brown Band US 2000s – 22
43 Queen UK 1970s – 1990s 21.5
Big Sean US 2010s – 21.5
45 Tim McGraw US 1990s – 21
LMFAO US 2010s – 21
47 Demi Lovato US 2000s – 19.5
48 The Chainsmokers US 2010s – 19
49 Fetty Wap US 2010s – 18.5
50 Sam Hunt US 2000s – 18

See also

References

  1. ↑ "'Top Artists' By Certifications". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  2. ↑ "RIAA Accepts Streams for Gold and Platinum Certifications". billboard.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". riaa.com. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  4. ↑ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". riaa.com. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
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