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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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 February 10,2024 [update] , The Beatles have the highest total certified albums and Drake has the highest total certified digital singles. Michael Jackson, Eminem, Taylor Swift, and Mariah Carey are the only acts in the top 30 of both lists.
Rank | Units (millions) | Name | Nat. | Active |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 183 | The Beatles | UK | 1960s–1970s d |
2 | 162 | Garth Brooks | US | 1980s–2020s [4] |
3 | 146.5 | Elvis Presley | US | 1950s–1970s † |
4 | 120 | Eagles | US | 1970s–2020s [5] |
5 | 112.5 | Led Zeppelin | UK | 1960s–1980s d |
6 | 89 | Michael Jackson | US | 1970s–2000s † |
7 | 86 | Billy Joel | US | 1970s–2020s [6] |
8 | 80 | Elton John | UK | 1960s–2020s [7] |
9 | 75 | AC/DC | Australia | 1970s–2020s [8] |
Mariah Carey | US | 1990s–2020s [9] | ||
Pink Floyd | UK | 1960s–2010s d | ||
12 | 71 | Bruce Springsteen | US | 1970s–2020s [10] |
13 | 69.5 | Aerosmith | US | 1970s–2020s [11] |
George Strait | US | 1980s–2020s [12] | ||
15 | 68.5 | Barbra Streisand | US | 1960s–2010s [13] |
16 | 66.5 | The Rolling Stones | UK | 1960s–2020s [14] |
17 | 65.5 | Madonna | US | 1980s–2020s [12] |
18 | 63 | Metallica | US | 1980s–2020s [15] |
19 | 61.5 | Eminem | US | 1990s–2020s [16] |
20 | 61 | Whitney Houston | US | 1980s–2010s † |
21 | 56.5 | Van Halen | US | 1970s–2010s d |
22 | 55.5 | Fleetwood Mac | UK | 1960s–2010s [17] |
23 | 53 | Celine Dion | Canada | 1990s–2020s [18] |
24 | 52.5 | Journey | US | 1970s–2020s [19] |
25 | 52 | U2 | Ireland | 1970s–2010s [20] |
26 | 51 | Taylor Swift | US | 2000s–2020s [14] |
27 | 49.5 | Neil Diamond | US | 1960s–2020s [21] |
28 | 49 | Alabama | US | 1970s–2020s [22] |
29 | 48 | Kenny G | US | 1980s–2020s [23] |
Shania Twain | Canada | 1990s–2020s [24] | ||
31 | 47.5 | Drake | Canada | 2000s–2020s [25] |
Kenny Rogers | US | 1950s–2000s † | ||
33 | 44.5 | Alan Jackson | US | 1980s–2020s [26] |
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band | US | 1960s–2020s [27] | ||
Guns N' Roses | US | 1980s–2020s [28] | ||
36 | 43.5 | Santana | US | 1960s–2020s [29] |
37 | 43 | Queen | UK | 1970s–2020s [30] |
38 | 41 | Reba McEntire | US | 1970s–2020s [31] |
39 | 40 | Eric Clapton | UK | 1960s–2020s [32] |
Tim McGraw | US | 1990s–2020s [23] | ||
41 | 39 | Chicago | US | 1960s–2020s [33] |
42 | 38.5 | Britney Spears | US | 1990s–2020s [34] |
Simon & Garfunkel | US | 1960s–2010s d [35] | ||
44 | 38 | Foreigner | US | 1970s–2020s [36] |
Rod Stewart | UK | 1960s–2020s [37] | ||
46 | 37 | Backstreet Boys | US | 1990s–2020s [38] |
47 | 36.5 | Tupac Shakur | US | 1990s † |
48 | 36 | Bob Dylan | US | 1960s–2020s [39] |
49 | 35.5 | Def Leppard | UK | 1970s–2020s [40] |
50 | 35 | Kenny Chesney | US | 1990s–2020s [41] |
51 | 34.5 | Bon Jovi | US | 1980s–2020s [42] |
Dave Matthews Band | US | 1990s–2020s [23] | ||
53 | 34 | The Doors | US | 1960s–1970s d |
54 | 33.5 | Jay-Z | US | 1990s–2010s |
John Denver | US | 1960s–1990s † | ||
Phil Collins | UK | 1970s–2020s [43] | ||
57 | 33 | James Taylor | US | 1960s–2020s [44] |
The Chicks | US | 1980s–2020s [45] [46] | ||
Usher | US | 1990s–2020s | ||
60 | 32 | R. Kelly | US | 1990s–2010s |
61 | 31.5 | Pearl Jam | US | 1990s–2020s [47] |
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | US | 1970s–2010s † | ||
Willie Nelson | US | 1950s–2020s [48] | ||
64 | 31 | Boston | US | 1970s–2010s |
65 | 30.5 | Beyoncé | US | 2000s–2020s |
Linkin Park | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
67 | 30 | Creedence Clearwater Revival | US | 1960s–1970s d |
Linda Ronstadt | US | 1960s–2010s [49] | ||
69 | 29.75 | Ozzy Osbourne | UK | 1960s–2020s [50] |
70 | 29.5 | Kanye West | US | 2000s–2020s [51] |
71 | 28.5 | Lynyrd Skynyrd | US | 1960s–2020s [52] |
72 | 28 | Adele | UK | 2000s–2020s [53] |
Bee Gees | UK/Australia | 1960s–2010s d | ||
Mannheim Steamroller | US | 1970s–2010s | ||
Michael Bolton | US | 1980s–2020s [54] | ||
NSYNC | US | 1990s–2020s | ||
Nirvana | US | 1980s–1990s d | ||
Rihanna | Barbados | 2000s–2020s [55] | ||
79 | 27.5 | Barry Manilow | US | 1970s–2020s [56] |
Brooks & Dunn | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
John Mellencamp | US | 1970s–2020s [57] | ||
Red Hot Chili Peppers | US | 1980s–2020s [58] | ||
83 | 27 | Boyz II Men | US | 1990s–2020s [59] |
Frank Sinatra | US | 1930s–1990s † | ||
Luther Vandross | US | 1960s–2000s † | ||
86 | 26.5 | Enya | Ireland | 1980s–2010s |
Steve Miller Band | US | 1960s–2010s | ||
88 | 26 | Janet Jackson | US | 1980s–2010s |
Outkast | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
Rush | Canada | 1970s–2010s d | ||
91 | 25.5 | Faith Hill | US | 1990s–2010s |
92 | 25 | Creed | US | 1990s–2010s |
Hootie & the Blowfish | US | 1980s–2020s [60] | ||
Lil Wayne | US | 1990s–2020s [23] | ||
Mötley Crüe | US | 1980s–2010s | ||
Toby Keith | US | 1990s–2020s † [61] | ||
ZZ Top | US | 1970s–2020s [62] | ||
98 | 24.5 | REO Speedwagon | US | 1970s–2010s |
The Carpenters | US | 1960s–1980s d | ||
100 | 24 | Green Day | US | 1980s–2020s [63] |
Justin Bieber | Canada | 2000s–2020s [64] | ||
Nickelback | Canada | 1990s–2020s [65] | ||
Vince Gill | US | 1970s–2010s |
Notes:
Rank | Units (millions) | Name | Nat. | Active |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 244 | Drake | Canada | 2000s–2020s [25] |
2 | 183 | Rihanna | Barbados | 2000s–2020s [55] |
3 | 167 | Eminem | US | 1990s–2020s [16] |
4 | 160.5 | Kanye West | US | 2000s–2020s [51] |
5 | 137.5 | Taylor Swift | US | 2000s–2020s [14] |
6 | 136 | Post Malone | US | 2010s–2020s [68] |
7 | 122.5 | Justin Bieber | Canada | 2000s–2020s [64] |
8 | 114.5 | Beyoncé | US | 2000s–2020s [69] |
9 | 113 | The Weeknd | Canada | 2010s–2020s [70] |
10 | 112 | Katy Perry | US | 2000s–2020s [71] |
11 | 106.5 | Morgan Wallen | US | 2010s–2020s [72] |
12 | 103.5 | Imagine Dragons | US | 2000s–2020s [73] |
13 | 95 | Ed Sheeran | UK | 2000s–2020s [74] |
Future | US | 2000s–2020s [75] | ||
15 | 94.5 | Chris Brown | US | 2000s–2020s [76] |
16 | 92 | Lil Wayne | US | 1990s–2020s [23] |
17 | 91.5 | Bruno Mars | US | 2000s–2020s [77] |
18 | 90.5 | Luke Combs | US | 2010s–2020s [78] |
19 | 87.5 | Maroon 5 | US | 2000s–2020s [79] |
20 | 86.5 | Ariana Grande | US | 2010s–2020s [80] |
21 | 84 | Juice Wrld | US | 2010s † [81] |
22 | 82.5 | Lady Gaga | US | 2000s–2020s [14] |
Luke Bryan | US | 2000s–2020s [23] | ||
Usher | US | 1990s–2020s | ||
25 | 82 | YoungBoy Never Broke Again | US | 2010s–2020s [82] |
26 | 77 | J. Cole | US | 2000s–2020s [83] |
27 | 76 | Lil Baby | US | 2010s–2020s [84] |
XXXTentacion | US | 2010s † [85] | ||
29 | 70 | Twenty One Pilots | US | 2010s–2020s [86] |
30 | 65.5 | Michael Jackson | US | 1970s–2000s † [87] |
31 | 63 | Mariah Carey | US | 1990s-2020s [88] |
32 | 62 | SZA | US | 2010s-2020s [89] |
33 | 60 | Miley Cyrus | US | 2000s–2020s [23] |
34 | 58 | Britney Spears | US | 1990s–2020s [34] |
Cardi B | US | 2010s–2020s [90] | ||
Khalid | US | 2010s–2020s [91] | ||
37 | 57 | Fall Out Boy | US | 2000s–2020s [11] |
Polo G | US | 2010s–2020s [92] | ||
39 | 56 | Chris Stapleton | US | 2000s–2020s [93] |
40 | 54.5 | Florida Georgia Line | US | 2010s–2020s [94] |
Panic! at the Disco | US | 2000s–2020s d [95] | ||
42 | 54 | Flo Rida | US | 2000s–2020s [96] |
43 | 53 | A Boogie wit da Hoodie | US | 2010s–2020s [97] |
44 | 52 | Blake Shelton | US | 2000s–2020s [98] |
Harry Styles | UK | 2010s–2020s [99] | ||
46 | 51 | Sam Smith | UK | 2000s–2020s [14] |
47 | 50 | Pitbull | US | 2000s–2020s [100] |
48 | 49.5 | DJ Khaled | US | 2000s–2020s [11] |
Nicki Minaj | TT | 2000s–2020s [101] | ||
50 | 49 | Carrie Underwood | US | 2000s–2020s [23] |
Notes:
The English rock group The Rolling Stones have released 31 studio albums, 13 live albums, 28 compilation albums, 3 extended plays, 122 singles, 31 box sets, 51 video albums, 2 video box sets and 77 music videos. Throughout their career, they have sold over 200 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Billboard ranked them as the 2nd Greatest artist of all time. The Rolling Stones have scored 38 top-10 albums on the Billboard 200 and 8 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, they have sold 66.5 million albums in the US, making them the 16th best-selling group in history.
American rock band Evanescence has released five studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, two demo albums, three extended plays, eighteen singles, nine promotional singles, two video albums, and eighteen music videos. Evanescence was founded in 1994 by Amy Lee and Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas. The band's lineup comprises Lee, guitarist Troy McLawhorn, guitarist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, and bassist Emma Anzai. As of 2022, the band has sold over 31.9 million albums.
Ariana Grande-Butera is an American singer and actress. Regarded as a pop icon and an influential figure in popular music, she is noted for her four-octave vocal range and her signature use of the whistle register. Grande's various awards include two Grammy Awards, one Brit Award, two Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, nine MTV Video Music Awards, and 36 Guinness World Records. Rolling Stone named her one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
American singer Kesha has released five studio albums, one compilation album, three extended plays, 32 singles, 11 promotional singles, and has made seven other guest appearances. As of 2017, she has sold over 41 million tracks and streams in the United States alone, and over 87 million tracks and streams worldwide. As of 2019, she has also accumulated approximately 7 billion on-demand streams and has sold over 14 million album equivalents worldwide bringing her record sales to stand at over 100 million equivalents worldwide. She is also among the highest-certified female artists in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America, with 35.5 million certified singles and 5 million albums, bringing her total certified record sales to 40.5 million as a lead act in the United States alone. She is also certified for a further 21.5 million digital singles as a featured artist, further bringing her total record certifications to 62 million overall in the country.
"Tennessee Whiskey" is a country song written by Dean Dillon and Linda Hargrove. It was originally recorded by country artist David Allan Coe for his album of the same name, peaking at number 77 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1981. George Jones' 1983 version of the song was included on his album Shine On, and reached number two on the Hot Country Singles chart.
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known professionally as the Weeknd, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. He is known for his unconventional music production, artistic reinventions, and signature use of the falsetto register.
Malcolm James McCormick, known professionally as Mac Miller, was an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Miller began his career in Pittsburgh's local hip hop scene in 2007, at the age of 15. In 2010, he signed a record deal with independent label Rostrum Records and released his breakthrough mixtapes K.I.D.S. (2010) and Best Day Ever (2011). Miller's debut studio album, Blue Slide Park (2011), became the first independently distributed debut album to top the US Billboard 200 since 1995.
Rebbeca Marie Gomez, known professionally as Becky G, is an American singer and actress. Gomez first gained recognition in 2011 for her cover versions of popular songs, many of which she uploaded to YouTube. One of her videos caught the attention of record producer Dr. Luke, who signed her to a recording contract with his label Kemosabe Records, an imprint of RCA Records. While working on her debut effort, Gomez collaborated with artists will.i.am, Cody Simpson and Cher Lloyd.
Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao is an American singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence as a member of the pop girl group Fifth Harmony, which became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. While in the group, Cabello began to establish herself as a solo artist with the release of her collaborative singles "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Bad Things" —the latter peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. She left Fifth Harmony in late 2016.
Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, known professionally as Halsey, is an American singer and songwriter. Noted for her distinctive singing voice, she has received several awards including three Billboard Music Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, an American Music Award and nominations for three Grammy Awards. She was included on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.
American singer and songwriter Thomas Rhett has released six studio albums, two extended plays and 28 singles, including five as a featured artist. USA Today dubbed him the "Prince of Country Music" for attaining 18 No. 1 hits in just 9 years. Billboard ranked him as the 12th Top Country Artist of the 2010s decade and the 95th Top Artist of the Decade overall. Rhett has scored 2 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Rhett has sold 40 million singles and 4.5 million certified albums in the United States.
California Sunrise is the second studio album by American country music singer Jon Pardi. It was released on June 17, 2016, through Capitol Nashville. Following the success of his debut studio album, Write You a Song (2014), Pardi reteamed with co-producer Bart Butler to work on new material for his next country album, wanting to incorporate more traditional aspects of the genre while adhering to the modern country music template. The album received positive reviews from music critics, who often praised the production and lyrical content.
"Dirt on My Boots" is a song recorded by American country music artist Jon Pardi. It was released to radio on September 19, 2016, as the second single to his second studio album California Sunrise. The song was written by Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure and Ashley Gorley.
Khalid Donnel Robinson is an American singer-songwriter from El Paso, Texas. He signed with Courtney Stewart's Right Hand Music Group, an imprint of RCA Records to release his 2016 debut single, "Location" and its 2017 follow-up, "Young Dumb & Broke." Both songs peaked within the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, received diamond certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and preceded the release of his debut studio album, American Teen (2017). Met with critical and commercial success, it received quadruple platinum certification by the RIAA and was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
American rapper Cardi B has released one studio album, three mixtapes, 38 singles, and 17 music videos. According to the RIAA, she has sold 100 million equivalent units in the United States across albums, singles, and mixtapes, making her the 6th best-selling female digital artist in the country. Her debut album Invasion of Privacy was the best selling female rap album of the 2010s according to The Recording Academy. It also became the most streamed female rap album on Spotify history. According to IFPI, "Girls Like You" was the 5th best-selling single of 2018 worldwide, selling 11.9 million units that year alone.
Summer Marjani Walker is an American R&B singer. She signed with the Atlanta-based record label Love Renaissance, an imprint of Interscope Records in late 2017. The following year, she released her debut commercial mixtape Last Day of Summer (2018), supported by its lead single, "Girls Need Love." The song became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned a remix featuring Canadian rapper Drake. Her debut studio album, Over It (2019) was met with critical and commercial success, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200 chart—briefly breaking the record for the biggest debut streaming week for a female R&B artist—and receiving double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Heartless" is a song by American producer Diplo featuring American country music singer Morgan Wallen. It was released through Mad Decent and Columbia Records on August 16, 2019. The music video was directed by Brandon Dermer and premiered on September 5, 2019.
Michael Ross Pollack is an American songwriter and record producer. He has written songs for artists such as Miley Cyrus, Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Jonas Brothers, Beyoncé, Lizzo, Kelly Clarkson and many others. He achieved his first US Top 40 radio #1 in February 2020 with Maroon 5's "Memories", his second in February 2022 with Justin Bieber’s "Ghost", and his third in February 2023 with Miley Cyrus' "Flowers". He achieved his first Billboard Hot 100 #1 in January 2023 with Miley Cyrus' "Flowers".
Tamia Monique Carter, known professionally as Flo Milli, is an American rapper. She rose to prominence after her 2018 single "Beef FloMix" and its 2019 follow up, "In the Party" both reached virality on TikTok; the latter received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In late 2019, she signed a recording contract with Justin Goldman's '94 Sounds, an imprint of RCA Records.
Release date: Feb 21, 2020