List of highest-certified music artists in the United States
This is the list of the top 100 highest-certified music artists in the United States based on album 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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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.
Table
No. Name Nationality Decades active Certified units
in millions1 The Beatles UK 1960s–70s 178 2 Garth Brooks US 1980s–2010s 138 3 Elvis Presley US 1950s–70s 136 4 Led Zeppelin UK 1960s–80s 111.5 5 Eagles US 1970s–2010s 101 6 Billy Joel US 1970s–2000s 82.5 7 Michael Jackson US 1970s–2000s 79 8 Elton John UK 1960s–2010s 77 9 Pink Floyd UK 1960s–2010s 75 10 AC/DC UK/Aus. 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 62 19 Whitney Houston US 1980s–2010s 57 20 Van Halen US 1970s–2010s 56.5 21 U2 Ire. 1970s–2010s 52 22 Celine Dion Canada 1980s–2010s 50 23 Fleetwood Mac UK/US 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 31 Santana Mex./US 1960s–2010s 43.5 Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band US 1960s–2010s 43.5 Alan Jackson US 1980s–2010s 43.5 34 Reba McEntire US 1970s–2010s 41 35 Eric Clapton UK 1960s–2010s 40 36 Chicago US 1960s–2010s 38.5 Simon and Garfunkel US 1960s–70s 38.5 38 Rod Stewart UK 1960s–2010s 38 39 Tim McGraw US 1990s–2010s 37.5 Eminem US 1990s–2010s 37.5 41 Foreigner US/UK 1970s–2010s 37 Backstreet Boys US 1990s–2010s 37 43 Tupac Shakur US 1990s 36.5 44 Bob Dylan US 1960s–2010s 36 45 Def Leppard UK 1970s–2010s 35 46 Queen UK 1970s–2000s 34.5 Bon Jovi US 1980s–2010s 34.5 48 Britney Spears US 1990s–2010s 34 49 Phil Collins UK 1970s–2010s 33.5 Dave Matthews Band US 1990s–2010s 33.5 John Denver US 1960s–90s 33.5 52 James Taylor US 1960s–2010s 33 The Doors US 1960s–70s 33 54 R. Kelly US 1990s–2010s 32 55 Pearl Jam US 1990s–2010s 31.5 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers US 1960s–70s 31.5 Willie Nelson US 1950s–2010s 31.5 58 Boston US 1970s–2010s 31 59 Dixie Chicks US 1980s–2000s 30.5 60 Linda Ronstadt US 1960s–2000s 30 61 Lynyrd Skynyrd US 1960s–2000s 28.5 62 Mannheim Steamroller US 1970s–2010s 28 'N Sync US 1990s–2000s 28 Michael Bolton US 1980s–2010s 28 Creedence Clearwater Revival US 1960s–70s 28 66 John Mellencamp US 1970s–2010s 27.5 Brooks & Dunn US 1990s–2000s 27.5 Barry Manilow US 1970s–2010s 27.5 69 Ozzy Osbourne UK 1960s–2010s 27.25 70 Boyz II Men US 1990s–2000s 27 Frank Sinatra US 1930s–90s 27 Bee Gees UK 1960s–2000s 27 Adele UK 2000s-2010s 27 74 Enya Ire. 1980s–2010s 26.5 75 Janet Jackson US 1980s–2010s 26 Jay-Z US 1990s–2010s 26 77 Faith Hill US 1990s–2010s 25.5 Kenny Chesney US 1990s–2010s 25.5 Taylor Swift US 2000s-2010s 25.5 Luther Vandross US 1960s–2000s 25.5 81 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 88 The Carpenters US 1960s–80s 24.5 Steve Miller Band US 1960s–2010s 24.5 90 Vince Gill US 1970s–2010s 24 Green Day US 1980s–2010s 24 92 Earth, Wind & Fire US 1970s–2010s 23.5 The Cars US 1970s–2010s 23.5 Kid Rock US 1990s–2010s 23.5 Sade UK 1980s–2010s 23.5 Johnny Cash US 1970s–2000s 23.5 REO Speedwagon US 1970s–2010s 23.5 98 Jimmy Buffett US 1960s–2010s 23 Jimi Hendrix US 1960s–70s 23 Beastie Boys US 1980s–2010s 23
References
See also
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