List of highest-certified music artists in the United States

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). 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). 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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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. , the Beatles is the highest-certified band 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 276 million certified units as a lead artist.

Top 100 certified music artists

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.Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2008, 12th Edition () 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 Billboard 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), while Billboard counts 1,250 premium audio streams, 3,750 ad-supported streams, or 3,750 video streams as one album unit. As of January 2, 2026, Billboard counts 2,500 ad-supported or 1,000 premium on-demand official audio and video streams as one album unit.

+List of 100 artists with the highest-certified album-equivalent units Rank Units(millions) Name Active 1 200 Garth Brooks US 1980s–2020s 2 183 The Beatles UK 1960s–1970s 3 146.5 Elvis Presley US 1950s–1970s 4 120 Eagles US 1970s–2020s 5 112.5 Led Zeppelin UK 1960s–1980s6110 Taylor Swift US 2000s–2020s7108 Queen UK 1970s–2020s 8 90 Michael Jackson US 1970s–2000s 9 89 Billy Joel US 1970s–2020s 10 84 AC/DC Australia 1970s–2020s 11 81 Elton John UK 1960s–2020s 12 76 Mariah Carey US 1990s–2020s1375 Pink Floyd UK 1960s–2010s 14 71 Bruce Springsteen US 1970s–2020s Metallica US 1980s–2020s 16 69.5 Aerosmith US 1970s–2020s George StraitUS1980s–2020s 17 68.5 Barbra Streisand US 1960s–2010s 18 66.5 The Rolling Stones UK 1960s–2020s 19 65.5 Madonna US 1980s–2020s 20 62 Whitney Houston US 1980s–2010s 21 61.5 Eminem US 1990s–2020s 22 57.5 Fleetwood Mac UK 1960s–2010s 23 56.5 Van Halen US 1970s–2020s 24 53 Celine Dion Canada 1990s–2020s 25 52.5 Journey US 1970s–2020s 26 52 U2 Ireland 1970s–2010s 27 49.5 Neil Diamond US 1960s–2020s 28 49 Alabama US 1970s–2020s 29 48 Kenny G US 1980s–2020s Shania Twain Canada 1990s–2020s 31 47.5 Drake Canada 2000s–2020s Kenny Rogers US 1950s–2000s 33 44.5 Alan Jackson US 1980s–2020s Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band US 1960s–2020s Guns N' Roses US 1980s–2020s 36 43.5 Santana US 1960s–2020s 38 41 Reba McEntire US 1970s–2020s Bon Jovi US 1980s–2020s 40 40 Eric Clapton UK 1960s–2020s Tim McGraw US 1990s–2020s 42 39 Chicago US 1960s–2020s 43 38.5 Britney Spears US 1990s–2020s Simon & Garfunkel US 1960s–2010s 45 38 Foreigner US 1970s–2020s Rod Stewart UK 1960s–2020s 47 37 Backstreet Boys US 1990s–2020sBeyoncéUS2000s–2020s 49 36.5 Tupac Shakur US 1990s 50 36 Bob Dylan US 1960s–2020s 51 35.5 Def Leppard UK 1970s–2020s 52 35 Kenny Chesney US 1990s–2020s 53 34.5 Dave Matthews Band US 1990s–2020s 54 34 Green Day US 1980s–2020s The Doors US 1960s–1970s 55 33.5 Jay-Z US 1990s–2010s US 1960s–1990s Phil Collins UK 1970s–2020s 58 33 James Taylor US 1960s–2020s The Chicks US 1980s–2020s Usher US 1990s–2020s 61 32 R. Kelly US 1990s–2010s 62 31.5 Pearl Jam US 1990s–2020s Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers US 1970s–2010s Willie Nelson US 1950s–2020s 65 31 Boston US 1970s–2010s6630.5 Linkin Park US 1990s–2020s 67 30 Creedence Clearwater Revival US 1960s–1970s Linda Ronstadt US 1960s–2010s (Ronstadt was featured on The Chieftains' 2010 album San Patricio track "A la Orilla de un Palmar".) 69 29.75 Ozzy Osbourne UK 1960s–2020s 70 29.5 Kanye West US 2000s–2020s7129RihannaBarbados2000s–2020s 72 28.5 Lynyrd Skynyrd US 1960s–2020s 73 28 Adele UK 2000s–2020s Bee Gees UK/Australia 1960s–2010s Mannheim Steamroller US 1970s–2010s Michael Bolton US 1980s–2020s NSYNC US 1990s–2020s Nirvana US 1980s–1990s 79 27.5 Barry Manilow US 1970s–2020s Brooks & Dunn US 1990s–2010s John Mellencamp US 1970s–2020s Red Hot Chili Peppers US 1980s–2020s 83 27 Boyz II Men US 1990s–2020s 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 91 25.5 Faith Hill US 1990s–2010s 92 25 Creed US 1990s–2010s Lil Wayne US 1990s–2020s Mötley Crüe US 1980s–2010s Toby Keith US 1990s–2020s ZZ Top US 1970s–2020s 97 24.5 REO Speedwagon US 1970s–2010s The Carpenters US 1960s–1980s 98 24 Justin Bieber Canada 2000s–2020s Nickelback Canada 1990s–2020s Vince Gill US 1970s–2010s Notes: Deceased Disbanded

Top 50 certified digital singles artists

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". Streams were added as part of singles certification in 2013, 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 Rank Units(millions) Name Active 1 277.5 Drake Canada 2000s–2020s 2 234 Kanye West US 2000s–2020s 3 216 Morgan Wallen US 2010s-2020s 4 200.5 Rihanna Barbados 2000s–2020s 5 167 Eminem US 1990s–2020s 6 161.5 Beyoncé US 2000s–2020s Future US 2000s–2020s 8 147.5 Luke Combs US 2010s–2020s 9 145 Post Malone US 2010s–2020s 10 141.5Chris Brown US2000s—2020s 11141 Ariana Grande US 2010s–2020s Travis Scott US2000s–2020s 13 137.5 Taylor Swift US 2000s–2020s 14 132 The Weeknd Canada 2010s–2020s 15 128.5 Justin Bieber Canada 2000s–2020s 16 121.5 Katy Perry US 2000s–2020s SZA US 2010s-2020s 18 120.5 Bruno Mars US 2000s–2020s 19 111.5 Imagine Dragons US 2000s–2020s 20 109 YoungBoy Never Broke Again US 2010s–2020s 21 105.5 Rod Wave US 2010s–2020s 22 103.5 Ed Sheeran UK 2000s–2020s 23 102 Luke Bryan US 2000s–2020s 24 96.5 J. Cole US2000s–2020s 25 95 Lil Wayne US 1990s–2020s 26 91 Lil Baby US 2010s–2020s 27 87.5 Maroon 5 US 2000s–2020s 28 85 Lil Uzi Vert US 2010s–2020s 29 84.5 Chris Stapleton US 2000s–2020s 30 84 Juice Wrld US 2010s

Notes: Deceased 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

References

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