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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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–1970sd |
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–1980sd |
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–2010sd | ||
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–2010sd |
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–2010sd[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–1970sd |
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–1970sd |
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–2010sd | ||
Mannheim Steamroller | US | 1970s–2010s | ||
Michael Bolton | US | 1980s–2020s[54] | ||
NSYNC | US | 1990s–2020s | ||
Nirvana | US | 1980s–1990sd | ||
78 | 27.5 | Barry Manilow | US | 1970s–2020s[55] |
Brooks & Dunn | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
John Mellencamp | US | 1970s–2020s[56] | ||
Red Hot Chili Peppers | US | 1980s–2020s[57] | ||
82 | 27 | Boyz II Men | US | 1990s–2020s[58] |
Frank Sinatra | US | 1930s–1990s† | ||
Luther Vandross | US | 1960s–2000s† | ||
85 | 26.5 | Enya | Ireland | 1980s–2010s |
Steve Miller Band | US | 1960s–2010s | ||
87 | 26 | Janet Jackson | US | 1980s–2010s |
Outkast | US | 1990s–2010s | ||
Rihanna | Barbados | 2000s–2020s[59] | ||
Rush | Canada | 1970s–2010sd | ||
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–1980sd | ||
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 | 167 | Eminem | US | 1990s–2020s[16] |
3 | 166.5 | Rihanna | Barbados | 2000s–2020s[59] |
4 | 160.5 | Kanye West | US | 2000s–2020s[51] |
5 | 137.5 | Taylor Swift | US | 2000s–2020s[14] |
6 | 134 | 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 | 103.5 | Imagine Dragons | US | 2000s–2020s[72] |
Morgan Wallen | US | 2010s–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 | 84 | Juice Wrld | US | 2010s†[80] |
21 | 82.5 | Lady Gaga | US | 2000s–2020s[14] |
Usher | US | 1990s–2020s | ||
23 | 82 | YoungBoy Never Broke Again | US | 2010s–2020s[81] |
24 | 81.5 | Luke Bryan | US | 2000s–2020s[23] |
25 | 77.5 | Ariana Grande | US | 2010s–2020s[82] |
26 | 77 | J. Cole | US | 2000s–2020s[83] |
27 | 76 | Lil Baby | US | 2010s–2020s[84] |
28 | 75.5 | XXXTentacion | US | 2010s†[85] |
29 | 65.5 | Michael Jackson | US | 1970s–2000s†[86] |
30 | 63 | Mariah Carey | US | 1990s-2020s[87] |
31 | 62 | SZA | US | 2010s-2020s[88] |
32 | 60 | Miley Cyrus | US | 2000s–2020s[23] |
33 | 58 | Britney Spears | US | 1990s–2020s[34] |
Cardi B | US | 2010s–2020s[89] | ||
35 | 57 | Fall Out Boy | US | 2000s–2020s[11] |
36 | 54.5 | Florida Georgia Line | US | 2010s–2020s[90] |
Panic! at the Disco | US | 2000s–2020sd[91] | ||
38 | 54 | Khalid | US | 2010s–2020s[92] |
39 | 53 | Chris Stapleton | US | 2000s–2020s[93] |
Twenty One Pilots | US | 2010s–2020s[94] | ||
41 | 52.5 | Flo Rida | US | 2000s–2020s[95] |
42 | 52 | A Boogie wit da Hoodie | US | 2010s–2020s[96] |
Blake Shelton | US | 2000s–2020s[97] | ||
Harry Styles | UK | 2010s–2020s[98] | ||
45 | 51 | Sam Smith | UK | 2000s–2020s[14] |
46 | 50 | Pitbull | US | 2000s–2020s[99] |
47 | 49.5 | DJ Khaled | US | 2000s–2020s[11] |
48 | 49 | Carrie Underwood | US | 2000s–2020s[23] |
49 | 48.5 | Journey | US | 1970s–2020s[19] |
Polo G | US | 2010s–2020s[100] |
Notes: