List of highest-certified music artists in the United States

The Beatles is the highest-certified album artist in the United States with a total of 183 million certified album-equivalent units.

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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Additionally, awards are presented only 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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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. Template:As of, the Beatles is the highest-certified music artist in the United States with a total of 183 million certified album-equivalent units. Garth Brooks is the highest-certified solo artist and Taylor Swift is the highest-certified female artist. Meanwhile, Drake remains the highest-certified digital singles artist, with 244 million certified units as a lead artist.

Top 100 certified music artists

Garth Brooks

Elvis Presley

Eagles

Led Zeppelin

Taylor Swift

Michael Jackson

Billy Joel

AC/DC

File:20240320SM2925 (Elton John 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song portrait crop).jpg

Elton John

File:MariahGMA.jpg

Mariah Carey

File:PinkFloyd1973 retouched.jpg

Pink Floyd

File:SpringsteenCardiff050524 (138 of 166) (53704146372) (cropped).jpg

Bruce Springsteen

The following is a list of 100 highest-certified artists in the United States based on album-equivalent units, which include physical album shipments, digital album downloads, as well as individual song downloads and streams. However, sales of physical singles are not counted for album-equivalent units, which do not favor artists with a large catalog of physical singles such as Elvis Presley and Madonna.<ref>Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2008, 12th Edition (Template:ISBN)</ref> Artists with album certifications prior to 2016 also do not get benefit of the inclusion of individual song downloads and streams. The highest-certified music artists do not necessarily mean the highest-selling music artists, due to the fact that certifications are not automatic and record companies have to apply. The RIAA's figures may also differ with Luminate and BillboardTemplate:'s ones due to different weighting ratios of streaming. The RIAA counts 1,500 streams as one album unit (regardless of free or paid streams, audio or video streams),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> while Billboard counts 1,250 premium audio streams, 3,750 ad-supported streams, or 3,750 video streams as one album unit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

List of 100 artists with the highest-certified album-equivalent units Template:As of<ref name="RIAA-Albums">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web }} </ref>	Rank	Units (millions)	Name	Template:Abbr	Active
1	183	The Beatles	UK	d|[1]}}
2	162	Garth Brooks	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3	146.5	Elvis Presley	US	†|[2]}}
4	120	Eagles	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5	112.5	Led Zeppelin	UK	d|[3]}}
6	105	Taylor Swift	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="GC-20200419" />
7	90	Michael Jackson	US	†|[4]}}
8	89	Billy Joel	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
9	84	AC/DC	Australia	1970s–2020s<ref name="RS-20201006-Greene">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
10	81	Elton John	UK	1960s–2020s<ref name="BB-20200209-Elton">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
11	75	Mariah Carey	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Pink Floyd	UK	d|[5]}}
13	71	Bruce Springsteen	US	1970s–2020s<ref name="RS-20200119-Springsteen">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
		Metallica	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
15	69.5	Aerosmith	US	1970s–2020s<ref name="BB-20200127-Grammys">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
		George Strait	US	1980s–2020s<ref name="CN-20200207-Madonna" />
17	68.5	Barbra Streisand	US	1960s–2010s<ref name="Lynch-20160516">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
18	66.5	The Rolling Stones	UK	1960s–2020s<ref name="GC-20200419" />
19	65.5	Madonna	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
20	62	Whitney Houston	US	†|[6]}}
21	61.5	Eminem	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
22	57.5	Fleetwood Mac	UK	1960s–2010s<ref name="Caulfield">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
23	56.5	Van Halen	US	d|[7]}}
24	53	Celine Dion	Canada	1990s–2020s<ref name="RS-20200120-Dion">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
25	52.5	Journey	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
26	52	U2	Ireland	1970s–2010s<ref name="Frankenberg-20200117">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
27	49.5	Neil Diamond	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
28	49	Alabama	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
29	48	Kenny G	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Shania Twain	Canada	1990s–2020s<ref name="BB-20200206-Shania">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
31	47.5	Drake	Canada	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Kenny Rogers	US	†|[8]}}
33	44.5	Alan Jackson	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Guns N' Roses	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
36	43.5	Santana	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
37	43	Queen	UK	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
38	41	Reba McEntire	US	1970s–2020s<ref name="RS-20200330">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
		Bon Jovi	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
40	40	Eric Clapton	UK	1960s–2020s<ref name="RS-20200304-Clapton">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
		Tim McGraw	US	1990s–2020s<ref name="Vulture-20200501" />
42	39	Chicago	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
43	38.5	Britney Spears	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Simon & Garfunkel	US	d|[9]}}<ref name="Greene-20160603">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
45	38	Foreigner	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Rod Stewart	UK	1960s–2020s<ref name="Rapp-20230523">Template:Cite news</ref>
47	37	Backstreet Boys	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Beyoncé	US	2000s–2020s
49	36.5	Tupac Shakur	US	†|[10]}}
50	36	Bob Dylan	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
51	35.5	Def Leppard	UK	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
52	35	Kenny Chesney	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
53	34.5	Dave Matthews Band	US	1990s–2020s<ref name="Vulture-20200501" />
54	34	Green Day	US	1980s–2020s<ref name="YT-20200116-GreenDay">Template:Cite videoTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
		The Doors	US	d|[11]}}
55	33.5	Jay-Z	US	1990s–2010s
		Template:Sortname	US	†|[12]}}
		Phil Collins	UK	1970s–2020s<ref name="Greene-20220327">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
58	33	James Taylor	US	1960s–2020s<ref name="AP-20200131">Template:Cite news</ref>
		The Chicks	US	1980s–2020s<ref name="USAT-20161102-Dixie">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="RS-20200430-Dixie">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
		Usher	US	1990s–2020s
61	32	R. Kelly	US	1990s–2010s
62	31.5	Pearl Jam	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers	US	†|[13]}}
		Willie Nelson	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
65	31	Boston	US	1970s–2010s
66	30.5	Linkin Park	US	1990s–2020s
67	30	Creedence Clearwater Revival	US	d|[14]}}
		Linda Ronstadt	US	1960s–2010s<ref name="LAT-20100213-Ronstadt">Template:Cite news (Ronstadt was featured on The Chieftains' 2010 album San Patricio track "A la Orilla de un Palmar".)</ref>
69	29.75	Ozzy Osbourne	UK	†|[15]}}<ref name="MC-20210213">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
70	29.5	Kanye West	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="RS-20200630-Leight">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
71	29	Rihanna	Barbados	2000s–2020s<ref name="Spanos-20200327" />
72	28.5	Lynyrd Skynyrd	US	1960s–2020s<ref name="YT-20200307-LS">Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
73	28	Adele	UK	2000s–2020s<ref name="RS-Kreps-20201025">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
		Bee Gees	UK/Australia	d|[16]}}
		Mannheim Steamroller	US	1970s–2010s
		Michael Bolton	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		NSYNC	US	1990s–2020s
		Nirvana	US	d|[17]}}
79	27.5	Barry Manilow	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Brooks & Dunn	US	1990s–2010s
		John Mellencamp	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Red Hot Chili Peppers	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
83	27	Boyz II Men	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Frank Sinatra	US	†|[18]}}
		Luther Vandross	US	†|[19]}}
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	d|[20]}}
91	25.5	Faith Hill	US	1990s–2010s
92	25	Creed	US	1990s–2010s
		Lil Wayne	US	1990s–2020s<ref name="Vulture-20200501" />
		Mötley Crüe	US	1980s–2010s
		Toby Keith	US	†|[21]}}<ref name="Friskics-20240206">Template:Citation</ref>
		ZZ Top	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
97	24.5	REO Speedwagon	US	1970s–2010s
		The Carpenters	US	d|[22]}}
98	24	Justin Bieber	Canada	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Nickelback	Canada	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Vince Gill	US	1970s–2010s

Notes:

^†{{#if:| }} Deceased

^d{{#if:| }} Disbanded

Top 50 certified digital singles artists

File:Drake July 2016.jpg

Drake

File:RihannaLoudTour Hard cropped.JPG

Rihanna

File:Eminem live at D.C. 2014 (cropped).jpg

Eminem

File:Beyoncé Knowles GMA Run the World cropped.jpg

Beyoncé

The following is a list of 50 highest-certified digital singles artists in the United States, based on song downloads and streams. As album sales suffered in the 21st century, the RIAA introduced Digital Single Award in 2004 to better recognize "artists' commercial success in a transformative music marketplace".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Streams were added as part of singles certification in 2013,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with 150 audio/video streams being equal to one download. The RIAA does not count certified units of featured artists in their official ranking.

List of 50 artists with the highest-certified digital singles Template:Nowrap<ref name="RIAA-Singles">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

CitationClass=web }} </ref><ref name="AllDigitalSingles">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Rank	Units (millions)	Name	Template:Abbr	Active
1	251	Drake	Canada	2000s–2020s<ref name="LVRJ-20200109-Drake" />
2	188	Rihanna	Barbados	2000s–2020s<ref name="Spanos-20200327">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
3	167	Eminem	US	1990s–2020s<ref name="LVRJ-20200117-Eminem" />
4	163	Kanye West	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="RS-20200630-Leight" />
5	161.5	Beyoncé	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
6	147.5	Luke Combs	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
7	142	Post Malone	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
8	141	Travis Scott	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="Vulture-20200501" />
9	137.5	Taylor Swift	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="GC-20200419" />
10	134	Chris Brown	US	2000s—2020s<ref name="BB-Brown-20200511">Template:Cite tweet</ref>
11	132	The Weeknd	Canada	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
12	122.5	Justin Bieber	Canada	2000s–2020s<ref name="Halperin-20200124"/>
13	121.5	Katy Perry	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="Aniftos-20200305">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
14	120.5	Bruno Mars	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="RS-Blistein-20200117">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
15	119	Ariana Grande	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
16	111.5	Imagine Dragons	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
17	106.5	Morgan Wallen	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
18	103.5	Ed Sheeran	UK	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
19	96.5	J. Cole	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="RS-Legaspi-20200616">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
20	95	Future	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Lil Wayne	US	1990s–2020s<ref name="Vulture-20200501" />
21	93.5	Luke Bryan	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="Vulture-20200501" />
22	92.5	SZA	US	2010s-2020s<ref name="Smith-Danyel-20230208">Template:Cite news</ref>
23	87.5	Maroon 5	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
24	85	YoungBoy Never Broke Again	US	2010s–2020s<ref name="RS-Charts-20200921">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
25	84	Juice Wrld	US	†|[23]}}<ref name="White-20191208">Template:Cite news</ref>
		Lil Uzi Vert	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
26	82.5	Lady Gaga	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Usher	US	1990s–2020s
27	82	XXXTentacion	US	†|[24]}}<ref name="Zidel-20190618">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
28	81.5	Zach Bryan	US	2010s-2020s
29	76	Lil Baby	US	2010s–2020s<ref name="BB-Caulfield-20200308">Template:Cite news</ref>
30	74.5	Template:Sortname	US	2010s–2020s<ref name="GC-20200419" />
33	72.5	Miley Cyrus	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="Vulture-20200501" />
34	71	Chris Stapleton	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Twenty One Pilots	US	2010s–2020s<ref name="RS-Blistein-20200622">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
35	69.5	Mariah Carey	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
36	69	Cardi B	US	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
37	68	DJ Khaled	US	1990s-2020s
38	66.5	Pitbull	US	2000s–2020s<ref name="Lopez-20201120">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
39	66.5	Bryson Tiller	US	2010s-2020s
40	65.5	Michael Jackson	US	†|[25]}}<ref name="Rodriguez-20090625">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notes:

^†{{#if:| }} Deceased

^d{{#if:| }} Disbanded

See also

• List of best-selling music artists
• List of best-selling albums in the United States
• List of best-selling singles in the United States

External links

• RIAA Website
• Detailed List of Artists with Most Album Certification Units
• Search RIAA Gold and Platinum Database