List of best-selling music artists in the United States

This is the list of the top 100 best-selling music artists in the United States, based on certifications of albums by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[1] (The list may contain more than 100, when the final slot is a tie.)

The RIAA does not deal in sales of albums, only certifications of shipped units. Therefore, this best-selling list is based on total accumulated certifications given per artist and may not reflect the true physical sales obtained by these artists.

The RIAA began its certifications in 1958. This list, therefore, excludes artists like Bing Crosby whose sales in the 1930s–1950s were not certified. The list also excludes certifications of albums recorded by artists in collaboration with others as part of a singular artist or group's total.

Table

No. Name Nationality Decades active Certification
in millions
1 The Beatles UK 1960s–70s 178
2 Garth Brooks US 1980s–2010s 136
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 & 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 & 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
65 John Mellencamp US 1970s–2010s 27.5
Brooks & Dunn US 1990s–2000s 27.5
Barry Manilow US 1970s–2010s 27.5
68 Ozzy Osbourne UK 1960s–2010s 27.25
69 Boyz II Men US 1990s–2000s 27
Frank Sinatra US 1930s–90s 27
Bee Gees UK 1960s–2000s 27
72 Enya Ire. 1980s–2010s 26.5
73 Janet Jackson US 1980s–2010s 26
Jay-Z US 1990s–2010s 26
Creedence Clearwater Revival US 1960s–70s 26
76 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
80 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
86 The Carpenters US 1960s–80s 24.5
Steve Miller Band US 1960s–2010s 24.5
88 Vince Gill US 1970s–2010s 24
Green Day US 1980s–2010s 24
90 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
96 Jimmy Buffett US 1960s–2010s 23
Jimi Hendrix US 1960s–70s 23
Red Hot Chili Peppers US 1980s–2010s 23
Beastie Boys US 1980s–2010s 23
100 Lionel Richie US 1960s–2010s 22.5
Usher US 1990s–2010s 22.5
The Beach Boys US 1960s–2010s 22.5
Heart US 1960s–2010s 22.5


References

See also

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