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 of albums and digital singles (but not physical singles) 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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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. Michael Jackson is the only act in the Top 20 of both lists.
Top 100 certified music artists (albums)
Rank | Units (millions) |
Name | Nat. | Active |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 183 | The Beatles | UK | 1960s–1970s |
2 | 157 | Garth Brooks | US | 1980s–2020s[4] |
3 | 146.5 | Elvis Presley | US | 1950s–1970s |
4 | 120 | Eagles | US | 1970s–2020s[5] |
5 | 111.5 | Led Zeppelin | UK | 1960s–1980s |
6 | 84.5 | Billy Joel | US | 1970s–2020s[6] |
7 | 84 | Michael Jackson | US | 1960s–2000s |
8 | 79 | Elton John | UK | 1960s–2020s[7] |
9 | 75 | AC/DC | Australia | 1970s–2010s |
Pink Floyd | UK | 1960s–2010s | ||
11 | 69 | George Strait | US | 1980s–2020s[8] |
12 | 68.5 | Barbra Streisand | US | 1960s–2010s |
13 | 66.5 | Aerosmith | US | 1970s–2020s[9] |
Mariah Carey | US | 1990s–2020s | ||
The Rolling Stones | UK | 1960s–2020s[10] | ||
16 | 65.5 | Bruce Springsteen | US | 1970s–2020s[11] |
17 | 64.5 | Madonna | US | 1980s–2020s[12] |
18 | 63 | Metallica | US | 1980s–2010s |
19 | 59 | Whitney Houston | US | 1980s–2010s |
20 | 56.5 | Van Halen | US | 1970s–2010s |
21 | 54.5 | Fleetwood Mac | UK | 1960s–2010s |
22 | 52 | U2 | Ireland | 1970s–2010s |
23 | 50 | Celine Dion | Canada | 1980s–2020s[13] |
24 | 49.5 | Neil Diamond | US | 1960s–2020s[14] |
25 | 48 | Journey | US | 1970s–2010s |
Kenny G | US | 1980s–2020s[15] | ||
Shania Twain | Canada | 1990s–2020s[16] | ||
28 | 47.5 | Kenny Rogers | US | 1950s–2000s |
29 | 46.5 | Alabama | US | 1970s–2010s |
Eminem | US | 1990s–2020s[17] | ||
31 | 45 | Taylor Swift | US | 2000s–2020s[10] |
32 | 44.5 | Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band | US | 1960s–2010s |
Guns N' Roses | US | 1980s–2020s[18] | ||
34 | 43.5 | Alan Jackson | US | 1980s–2020s[19] |
Santana | US | 1960s–2010s | ||
36 | 41 | Reba McEntire | US | 1970s–2020s[20] |
37 | 40 | Eric Clapton | UK | 1960s–2020s[21] |
38 | 38.5 | Chicago | US | 1960s–2010s |
Simon & Garfunkel | US | 1960s–2010s | ||
40 | 38 | Foreigner | US | 1970s–2020s[22] |
Rod Stewart | UK | 1960s–2010s | ||
42 | 37.5 | Tim McGraw | US | 1990s–2020s[15] |
43 | 37 | Backstreet Boys | US | 1990s–2020s[23] |
44 | 36.5 | Tupac Shakur | US | 1990s |
45 | 36 | Bob Dylan | US | 1960s–2020s[24] |
46 | 35.5 | Def Leppard | UK | 1970s–2010s |
47 | 35 | Queen | UK | 1970s–2020s[25] |
48 | 34.5 | Bon Jovi | US | 1980s–2020s[26] |
Dave Matthews Band | US | 1990s–2020s[15] | ||
Britney Spears | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
51 | 33.5 | Phil Collins | UK | 1970s–2010s |
John Denver | US | 1960s–1990s | ||
53 | 33 | Dixie Chicks | US | 1980s–2020s[27][28] |
The Doors | US | 1960s–1970s | ||
James Taylor | US | 1960s–2020s[29] | ||
56 | 32 | R. Kelly | US | 1990s–2010s |
57 | 31.5 | Willie Nelson | US | 1950s–2020s[30] |
Pearl Jam | US | 1990s–2020s[31] | ||
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | US | 1970s–2010s | ||
60 | 31 | Boston | US | 1970s–2010s |
61 | 30.5 | Kenny Chesney | US | 1990s–2020s[32] |
62 | 30 | Linda Ronstadt | US | 1960s–2010s[33] |
63 | 29.25 | Ozzy Osbourne | UK | 1960s–2010s |
64 | 28.5 | Lynyrd Skynyrd | US | 1960s–2020s[34] |
65 | 28 | Adele | UK | 2000s–2010s |
Bee Gees | UK/Australia | 1960s–2010s | ||
Michael Bolton | US | 1980s–2020s[35] | ||
Creedence Clearwater Revival | US | 1960s–1970s | ||
Mannheim Steamroller | US | 1970s–2010s | ||
Nirvana | US | 1980s–1990s | ||
NSYNC | US | 1990s–2000s | ||
72 | 27.5 | Brooks & Dunn | US | 1990s–2010s |
Jay-Z | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
Linkin Park | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
Barry Manilow | US | 1970s–2020s[36] | ||
John Mellencamp | US | 1970s–2020s[37] | ||
77 | 27 | Boyz II Men | US | 1990s–2020s[38] |
Frank Sinatra | US | 1930s–1990s | ||
79 | 26.5 | Enya | Ireland | 1980s–2010s |
80 | 26 | Janet Jackson | US | 1980s–2010s |
81 | 25.5 | Drake | Canada | 2000s–2020s[39] |
Faith Hill | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
Steve Miller Band | US | 1960s–2010s | ||
Luther Vandross | US | 1960s–2000s | ||
85 | 25 | Creed | US | 1990s–2010s |
Hootie & the Blowfish | US | 1980s–2010s | ||
Toby Keith | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
Mötley Crüe | US | 1980s–2010s | ||
Red Hot Chili Peppers | US | 1980s–2020s | ||
Rush | Canada | 1970s–2010s | ||
ZZ Top | US | 1970s–2010s | ||
92 | 24.5 | The Carpenters | US | 1960s–1980s |
REO Speedwagon | US | 1970s–2010s | ||
94 | 24 | Vince Gill | US | 1970s–2010s |
Green Day | US | 1980s–2020s[40] | ||
Nickelback | Canada | 1990s–2010s | ||
97 | 23.5 | The Cars | US | 1970s–2010s |
Johnny Cash | US | 1970s–2000s | ||
Earth, Wind & Fire | US | 1970s–2010s | ||
Kid Rock | US | 1980s–2010s | ||
Sade | UK | 1980s–2010s |
Top 50 certified music artists (digital singles)
Rank | Units (millions) |
Name | Nat. | Active |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 163.5 | Drake | Canada | 2000s–2020s[39] |
2 | 128 | Rihanna | Barbados | 2000s–2020s |
3 | 126.5 | Taylor Swift | US | 2000s–2020s[10] |
4 | 107.5 | Eminem | US | 1990s–2020s[17] |
5 | 103 | Katy Perry | US | 2000s–2020s |
6 | 86 | Justin Bieber | Canada | 2000s–2020s |
7 | 77 | Lady Gaga | US | 2000s–2020s[10] |
Kanye West | US | 2000s–2020s[42] | ||
9 | 76 | Maroon 5 | US | 2000s–2020s[43] |
10 | 73 | The Weeknd | Canada | 2010s–2020s |
11 | 69.5 | Chris Brown | US | 2000s–2020s |
Bruno Mars | US | 2000s–2020s | ||
13 | 68 | Ed Sheeran | UK | 2000s–2010s |
14 | 61 | Luke Bryan | US | 2000s–2020s[15] |
15 | 52.5 | Ariana Grande | US | 2010s–2020s[44] |
16 | 52 | Post Malone | US | 2010s–2020s[45] |
17 | 51.5 | Flo Rida | US | 2000s–2010s |
18 | 50 | Future | US | 2000s–2020s |
19 | 44.5 | Carrie Underwood | US | 2000s–2020s[15] |
20 | 44 | Florida Georgia Line | US | 2010s |
21 | 43 | Twenty One Pilots | US | 2010s |
22 | 42 | Michael Jackson | US | 1960s–2000s |
23 | 41 | Kendrick Lamar | US | 2010s |
24 | 40 | Billie Eilish | US | 2010s–2020s[10] |
25 | 37 | Cardi B | US | 2010s–2020s |
The Chainsmokers | US | 2010s | ||
Sam Smith | UK | 2000s–2020s[10] | ||
28 | 35.5 | Kesha | US | 2000s–2020s[46] |
Khalid | US | 2010s | ||
30 | 34.5 | Wiz Khalifa | US | 2000s–2010s |
31 | 34 | Blake Shelton | US | 2000s–2020s[47] |
XXXTentacion | US | 2010s | ||
33 | 33.5 | Jason Derulo | US | 2000s–2020s[15] |
34 | 33 | Mariah Carey | US | 1990s–2020s |
Lil Wayne | US | 1990s–2020s[15] | ||
36 | 32.5 | DJ Khaled | US | 2000s–2020s[9] |
Halsey | US | 2010s–2020s[48] | ||
38 | 32 | Imagine Dragons | US | 2010s |
39 | 31.5 | Adele | UK | 2000s–2010s |
40 | 30.5 | Lil Uzi Vert | US | 2010s–2020s[49] |
Nicki Minaj | TT | 2000s–2020s | ||
Keith Urban | Australia | 1990s–2020s[50] | ||
43 | 30 | Kenny Chesney | US | 1990s–2010s |
Linkin Park | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
45 | 29.5 | Jason Aldean | US | 2000s–2020s[51] |
Panic! at the Disco | US | 2000s–2010s | ||
Travis Scott | US | 2000s–2020s[15] | ||
48 | 29 | J. Cole | US | 2000s–2020s[52] |
Tim McGraw | US | 1990s–2020s[15] | ||
Queen | UK | 1970s–2020s[25] |
See also
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