List of highest-certified music artists in the United States

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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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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. As of January 15, 2021, The Beatles are the act with highest-certified albums, Drake is the act with the highest-certified digital singles, and Eminem and Michael Jackson are the only two acts in the top 30 of both lists.

Top 100 certified music artists (albums)[edit]

The Beatles
Garth Brooks
Elvis Presley
Eagles
Led Zeppelin
Billy Joel
Michael Jackson
Elton John
Pink Floyd
AC/DC
List of artists with the top 100 highest-certified albums as of January 15, 2021[3]
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 1970s–2000s
8 79 Elton John UK 1960s–2020s[7]
9 75 AC/DC Australia 1970s–2020s[8]
Pink Floyd UK 1960s–2010s
11 69 George Strait US 1980s–2020s[9]
12 68.5 Mariah Carey US 1990s–2020s[10]
Barbra Streisand US 1960s–2010s
13 66.5 Aerosmith US 1970s–2020s[11]
The Rolling Stones UK 1960s–2020s[12]
16 65.5 Bruce Springsteen US 1970s–2020s[13]
17 64.5 Madonna US 1980s–2020s[14]
18 63 Metallica US 1980s–2010s
19 60 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[15]
24 49.5 Neil Diamond US 1960s–2020s[16]
25 48 Journey US 1970s–2010s
Kenny G US 1980s–2020s[17]
Shania Twain Canada 1990s–2020s[18]
28 47.5 Kenny Rogers US 1950s–2000s
29 46.5 Alabama US 1970s–2010s
Eminem US 1990s–2020s[19]
31 46 Taylor Swift US 2000s–2020s[12]
32 44.5 Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band US 1960s–2010s
Guns N' Roses US 1980s–2020s[20]
34 43.5 Alan Jackson US 1980s–2020s[21]
Santana US 1960s–2010s
36 41 Reba McEntire US 1970s–2020s[22]
Queen UK 1970s–2020s[23]
38 40 Eric Clapton UK 1960s–2020s[24]
39 38.5 Chicago US 1960s–2010s
Simon & Garfunkel US 1960s–2010s
41 38 Foreigner US 1970s–2020s[25]
Rod Stewart UK 1960s–2010s
43 37.5 Tim McGraw US 1990s–2020s[17]
44 37 Backstreet Boys US 1990s–2020s[26]
45 36.5 Tupac Shakur US 1990s
46 36 Bob Dylan US 1960s–2020s[27]
47 35.5 Def Leppard UK 1970s–2010s
48 34.5 Bon Jovi US 1980s–2020s[28]
Dave Matthews Band US 1990s–2020s[17]
Britney Spears US 1990s–2010s
51 33.5 Phil Collins UK 1970s–2010s
John Denver US 1960s–1990s
53 33 The Chicks US 1980s–2020s[29][30]
The Doors US 1960s–1970s
James Taylor US 1960s–2020s[31]
56 32 R. Kelly US 1990s–2010s
57 31.5 Willie Nelson US 1950s–2020s[32]
Pearl Jam US 1990s–2020s[33]
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers US 1970s–2010s
60 31 Boston US 1970s–2010s
61 30.5 Kenny Chesney US 1990s–2020s[34]
62 30 Linda Ronstadt US 1960s–2010s[35]
63 29.25 Ozzy Osbourne UK 1960s–2010s
64 28.5 Linkin Park US 1990s–2010s
Lynyrd Skynyrd US 1960s–2020s[36]
66 28 Adele UK 2000s–2020s[37]
Bee Gees UK/Australia 1960s–2010s
Michael Bolton US 1980s–2020s[38]
Creedence Clearwater Revival US 1960s–1970s
Mannheim Steamroller US 1970s–2010s
Nirvana US 1980s–1990s
NSYNC US 1990s–2000s
73 27.5 Barry Manilow US 1970s–2020s[39]
Brooks & Dunn US 1990s–2010s
Jay-Z US 1990s–2010s
John Mellencamp US 1970s–2020s[40]
77 27 Boyz II Men US 1990s–2020s[41]
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[42]
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[43]
Nickelback Canada 1990s–2010s
Kanye West US 2000s–2020s[44]
98 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)[edit]

Drake
Taylor Swift
Rihanna
Eminem
Katy Perry
Justin Bieber
List of artists with the top 50 highest-certified digital singles as of January 15, 2021[45]
Rank Units
(millions) 		Name Nat. Active
1 163.5 Drake Canada 2000s–2020s[42]
2 134 Taylor Swift US 2000s–2020s[12]
3 131 Rihanna Barbados 2000s–2020s[46]
4 107.5 Eminem US 1990s–2020s[19]
5 107 Kanye West US 2000s–2020s[47]
6 105 Katy Perry US 2000s–2020s[48]
7 95.5 Justin Bieber Canada 2000s–2020s[49]
8 79.5 Bruno Mars US 2000s–2020s[50]
9 78.5 Lady Gaga US 2000s–2020s[12]
10 77 Maroon 5 US 2000s–2020s[51]
11 73 The Weeknd Canada 2010s–2020s[52]
12 70 Lil Wayne US 1990s–2020s[17]
13 69.5 Chris Brown US 2000s–2020s[53]
14 68 Ed Sheeran UK 2000s–2020s[54]
15 61 Luke Bryan US 2000s–2020s[17]
16 56 Post Malone US 2010s–2020s[55]
17 55 Future US 2000s–2020s[56]
18 52.5 Ariana Grande US 2010s–2020s[57]
19 51.5 Flo Rida US 2000s–2010s
20 49.5 J. Cole US 2000s–2020s[58]
21 49 Florida Georgia Line US 2010s–2020s[59]
XXXTentacion US 2010s
23 46.5 Carrie Underwood US 2000s–2020s[17]
24 44 Sam Smith UK 2000s–2020s[12]
Twenty One Pilots US 2010s–2020s[60]
26 41 Cardi B US 2010s–2020s[61]
Billie Eilish US 2010s–2020s[12]
Michael Jackson US 1970s–2000s
Kendrick Lamar US 2010s–2020s[62]
30 38 The Chainsmokers US 2010s–2020s[63]
31 37.5 Mariah Carey US 1990s–2020s[10]
32 35.5 Kesha US 2000s–2020s[64]
Khalid US 2010s–2020s[65]
Travis Scott US 2000s–2020s[17]
35 35 Jason Aldean US 2000s–2020s[66]
DJ Khaled US 2000s–2020s[11]
37 34.5 Big Sean US 2000s–2020s[67]
Wiz Khalifa US 2000s–2020s[68]
YoungBoy Never Broke Again US 2010s–2020s[69]
40 34 Blake Shelton US 2000s–2020s[70]
41 33.5 Jason Derulo US 2000s–2020s[17]
42 32.5 Halsey US 2010s–2020s[71]
43 32 Imagine Dragons US 2010s
44 31.5 Adele UK 2000s–2020s[37]
45 31 Lil Baby US 2010s–2020s[72]
Tim McGraw US 1990s–2020s[17]
47 30.5 Kenny Chesney US 1990s–2020s[73]
Lil Uzi Vert US 2010s–2020s[74]
Nicki Minaj TT 2000s–2020s[75]
Queen UK 1970s–2020s[23]
Keith Urban Australia 1990s–2020s[76]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_highest-certified_music_artists_in_the_United_States&oldid=1000697380"