List of best-selling music artists

The following list of best-selling music artists includes those music acts from the 20th century to the present with claims of 75 million or more record sales worldwide. This information cannot be listed officially, as there is no organization that has recorded global music sales.

The tables are listed with each artist's claimed sales figure(s) and their total independently certified units and are ranked in descending order by claimed sales. If two or more artists have the same claimed sales, they are then ranked by certified units. The claimed sales figure and the total of certified units (for each country) within the provided sources include sales of albums, singles, compilation-albums, music videos as well as downloads of singles and full-length albums. Sales figures, such as those from SoundScan, which are sometimes published by Billboard magazine, have not been included in the certified units column.

Definitions

Gold/Platinum certifications issued after 2016, especially on singles, are in some cases more than 50% streaming generated. Some of the 20th century artists can also have significant amount of streaming based certifications. The certified units of the newer artists may sometimes be higher than their listed claimed figures. This is because Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and almost all other certifying bodies count streaming towards Gold and Platinum thresholds required for Digital Single Award certification.[1][2][3] For this reason, some singles and even albums get over certified by hundreds of thousands of units. The over certified figures, however, are often in millions of units for RIAA certifications, one such example is Rihanna's single "We Found Love", which is certified at nine times Platinum by the RIAA, yet during the time of the certification, it had sold 5.4 million downloads.[4][5]

The certified units for some artists/bands who have multi-disc albums can be higher than their listed claimed figures due to the RIAA counting each unit within set as one unit toward certification. The certified units also can be inflated by the redundancy of certifications, because each of tracks downloads and streams contributed to the certifications of both of the single and the respective album. The RIAA counts 10 downloads of individual track as well as 1,500 audio/video streams as an equivalent to one unit of album, including those from singles released prior to the album release.[6] Theoretically, if one song were streamed 1.5 billion times on YouTube, the single would receive Diamond and the whole album could be certified Platinum,[7] thus creating a combined total of 11 million certified units without any sales. Kanye West's album The Life of Pablo achieved Platinum without selling a single copy and was only available for streaming.[8]

Issued certifications for songs which have been recorded by multiple artists including featured artists are added to each artist's total amount of certified units, as all the artists would have played a significant part in a song. For example, "This Is What You Came For" and "Where Them Girls At" include Rihanna and Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj as featured artists respectively, so the certifications issued for these songs are added to the total amount of certified units for all involved artists. However, the certifications issued for songs that have been recorded by four or more artists are not included as the artists involved would have played minor roles, examples of such songs are Kanye West's "Monster" and/or "All Day".[a]

Standards

  • To ensure the highest level of fact checking and editorial control, this list sources sales figures to news organizations and highly regarded music industry related organizations such as Billboard.
  • The figures of total certified units within the tables below are based on certified units of albums, singles (including digital downloads) and videos.
  • Markets' order within the tables is based on Retail Value: each market generates respectively, the largest market at the top and smallest at the bottom.[9][10]
  • The column for certified sales includes markets, the databases of which contain certifications representing figures of 100,000 and more.

Artists by reputed sales

250 million or more records

ArtistCountryPeriod activeRelease-year of first charted recordGenreTotal certified units
(from available markets)[b]
Claimed sales
The BeatlesUnited Kingdom1960–1970[11]1962[11]Rock / pop[11]

294 million
600 million[43][44]
500 million[45][46]
Michael JacksonUnited States1964–2009[47]1971[47]Pop / rock / dance / soul / R&B[47]

288.7 million
500 million[45]
400 million[64]
Elvis PresleyUnited States1953–1977[65]1956[65]Rock and roll / pop / country[65]

234.3 million
500 million[71]
Elton JohnUnited Kingdom1962–present[72]1970[72]Pop / rock[72]

213.1 million
300 million[76][77]
250 million[78][79]
QueenUnited Kingdom1971–present[80]1973[80]Rock[80]

186.8 million
300 million[83][84]
250 million[85]
MadonnaUnited States1979–present[86]1983[86]Pop / dance / electronica[86]

185.8 million
300 million[93][94]
250 million[95]
Led ZeppelinUnited Kingdom1968–1980[96]1969[96]Hard rock / blues rock / folk rock[96]

142.9 million
300 million[100][101]
200 million[102][103]
RihannaBarbados2003–present[104]2005[104]R&B / pop / dance / hip-hop[104]

371.6 million
250 million[108][109]
230 million[110]
Pink FloydUnited Kingdom1965–1996, 2005, 2012–2014[111][112]1967[111]Progressive rock / psychedelic rock[111]

124.2 million
250 million[116][117]
200 million[118]

200 million to 249 million records

ArtistCountryPeriod activeRelease-year of first charted recordGenreTotal certified units
(from available markets)[b]
Claimed sales
EminemUnited States1996–present[119]1999[119]Hip-hop[119]

336.45 million
220 million[120]
Mariah CareyUnited States1988–present[121]1990[121]R&B / pop / soul / hip-hop[121]

222.72 million
220 million[125]
Whitney HoustonUnited States1977–2012[126]1984[126]R&B / soul / pop / gospel[126]

164.5 million
220 million[130]
Taylor SwiftUnited States2006–present[131]2006[131]Pop / country / rock / folk / alternative[132]

290.2 million
200 million[133]
170 million[134]
BeyoncéUnited States1997–present[135]2002[135][136]R&B / pop / hip-hop[135]

245.3 million
200 million[140]
160 million[141]
EaglesUnited States1971–1980, 1994–present[142]1972[142]Rock[142]

153.7 million
200 million[144]
Celine DionCanada1981–present[145]1981[145]Pop / rock[145]

144.28 million
200 million[150]
AC/DCAustralia1973–present[151]1975[151]Hard rock / blues rock / rock and roll[151]

131.7 million
200 million[153]
The Rolling StonesUnited Kingdom1962–present[154]1963[154]Rock / blues rock[154]

104 million
200 million[156][157]

120 million to 199 million records


ArtistCountryPeriod activeRelease-year of first charted recordGenreTotal certified units
(from available markets)[b]
Claimed sales
DrakeCanada2001–present[158]2009[158]Hip-hop / R&B / pop[158]

528.4 million
170 million[159]
Garth BrooksUnited States1989–present[160]1989[160]Country[160]

170.3 million
170 million[162]
Kanye WestUnited States1996–present[163]2003[163]Hip-hop / electronic / pop[163]

287.3 million
160 million[165]
Billy JoelUnited States1964–present[166]1971[166]Pop / rock[166]

135.6 million
160 million[168]
Justin BieberCanada2008–present[169]2009[169]Pop / teen pop / dance-pop[169]

295.2 million
150 million[170]
Ed SheeranUnited Kingdom2004–present[171]2011[171]Pop / folk pop[171]

271.4 million
150 million[172]
Bruno MarsUnited States2004–present[173]2010[173]Pop rock / R&B[173]

206.3 million
150 million[176]
Britney SpearsUnited States1998–present[177]1998[177]Pop / dance / dance-pop[177]

151.4 million
150 million[181]
Bruce SpringsteenUnited States1972–present[182]1973[182]Rock[182]

128.7 million
150 million[184]
U2Ireland1976–present[185]1980[185]Rock[185]

115.7 million
150 million[189]
AerosmithUnited States1970–present[190]1973[190]Hard rock[190]

105.4 million
150 million[192]
Phil CollinsUnited Kingdom1980–2011, 2015–present[193]1981[193]Rock / progressive rock / adult contemporary[193]

101.3 million
150 million[196]
Barbra StreisandUnited States1960–present[197]1963[197]Pop / adult contemporary[197]

98.6 million
150 million[198]
ABBASweden1972–1982, 2016–present[199]1972[199]Pop / disco[199]

71.21 million
150 million[208]
Julio IglesiasSpain1968–present[209]1968[209]Latin[209]

51.7 million
150 million[212]
Frank SinatraUnited States1935–1971, 1973-1995[213]1940[213]Pop / swing / easy listening[213]

41.8 million
150 million[215]
Katy PerryUnited States2001–present[216]2008[216]Pop[216]

179.1 million
143 million[217]
Chris BrownUnited States2005–present[218]2005[218]R&B / hip-hop / pop[218]

221.4 million
140 million[219]
Jay-ZUnited States1996–present[220]1996[220]Hip-hop[220]

167 million
125 million[221]
MetallicaUnited States1981–present[222]1983[222]Heavy metal / thrash metal[222]

107.2 million
125 million[224]
Lady GagaUnited States2005–present[225]2008[225]Pop / dance / electronic[225]

166.05 million
124 million[226]
Lil WayneUnited States1996–present[227]1999[227]Hip-hop[227]

200.1 million
120 million[228]
Maroon 5United States1994–present[229]2002[229]Pop rock / funk rock / dance-pop[229]

147 million
120 million[230]
AdeleUnited Kingdom2006–present[231]2008[231]Pop / soul[231]

145.1 million
120 million[232]
Red Hot Chili PeppersUnited States1983–present[233]1987[233]Funk rock / alternative rock[233]

100.8 million
120 million[235]
Fleetwood MacUnited Kingdom
United States
1967–present[236]1968[236]Rock / pop[236]

100.7 million
120 million[239]
Bon JoviUnited States1983–present[240]1983[240]Hard rock / glam metal[240]

90.7 million
120 million[243]
Rod StewartUnited Kingdom1964–present[244]1969[244]Rock / pop[244]

84.9 million
120 million[247]
Bee GeesUnited Kingdom
Australia[248][249]
1963–2003
2009–2012[250]
1963[250]Pop / disco[250]

75.3 million
120 million[253]

100 million to 119 million records

ArtistCountryPeriod activeRelease-year of first charted recordGenreTotal certified units
(from available markets)[b]
Claimed sales
Nicki MinajTrinidad and Tobago2008–present[254]2010[254]Hip-hop / pop[254]

174.9 million
100 million[255]
ColdplayUnited Kingdom1997–present[256]1999[256]Alternative rock / pop rock / pop[256]

151.6 million
100 million[261]
George StraitUnited States1981–present[262]1984[262]Country[262]

108.8 million
100 million[263]
Linkin ParkUnited States1996–present[264]2000[264]Alternative rock / nu metal / rap rock[264]

112.6 million
100 million[265]
PinkUnited States1995–present[266]2000[266]Pop / pop rock / R&B[266]

92.9 million
100 million[267]
Shania TwainCanada1993–present[268]1993[268]Country pop[268]

87.4 million
100 million[269]
B'zJapan1988–present[270]1988[270]Rock / pop rock / hard rock[270]

86.2 million
100 million[271]
Guns N' RosesUnited States1985–present[272]1987[272]Hard rock / heavy metal[272]

81.3 million
100 million[274]
Backstreet BoysUnited States1993–present[275]1995[275]Pop[275]

79.9 million
100 million[279]
Eric ClaptonUnited Kingdom1962–present[280]1970[280]Rock / blues[280]

71.6 million
100 million[282]
Neil DiamondUnited States1966–present[283]1966[283]Pop / rock[283]

71.3 million
100 million[285]
PrinceUnited States1976–2016[286]1978[286]Funk / R&B / pop / soul / rock[286]

67.6 million
100 million[287]
Paul McCartneyUnited Kingdom1960–present[288]1970[288]Rock[288]

67.3 million
100 million[290]
Janet JacksonUnited States1982–present[291]1982[291]R&B / pop[291]

65.3 million
100 million[292]
JourneyUnited States1973–present[293]1975[293]Rock / soft rock[293]

65.2 million
100 million[295]
Kenny RogersUnited States1958–2020[296]1975[296]Country / pop[296]

64.7 million
100 million[298]
SantanaUnited States1966–present[299]1969[299]Rock[299]

62.8 million
100 million[300]
Simon & GarfunkelUnited States1956–2004[301]1964[301]Folk rock[301]

62.1 million
100 million[302]
George MichaelUnited Kingdom1981–2016[303]1984[303]Pop[303]

54.5 million
100 million[305]
Dire StraitsUnited Kingdom1977–1995[306]1978[306]Rock[306]

53.6 million
100 million[307]
The DoorsUnited States1965–1973[308]1967[308]Psychedelic rock[308]

50.7 million
100 million[309]
ForeignerUnited States
United Kingdom
1976–present[310]1977[310]Rock / hard rock[310]

50.4 million
100 million[311]
ChicagoUnited States1967–present[312]1969[312]Rock / pop[312]

48.5 million
100 million[314]
Bob DylanUnited States1959–present[315]1963[315]Folk / rock[315]

48.6 million
100 million[316]
The CarpentersUnited States1969–1983[317]1969[317]Pop[317]

46.7 million
100 million[319]
Meat LoafUnited States1968–2022[320]1977[320]Rock / hard rock[320]

46.6 million
100 million[321]
Earth, Wind & FireUnited States1969–present[322]1971[322]Funk / R&B / soul[322]

44.7 million
100 million[325]
CherUnited States1964–present[326]1965[326]Pop / rock / dance / folk[326]

44.2 million
100 million[332]
David BowieUnited Kingdom1962–2016[333]1967[333]Art rock / glam rock / pop[333]

43.6 million
100 million[334]
Def LeppardUnited Kingdom1977–present[335]1979[335]Hard rock / heavy metal[335]

42.6 million
100 million[337]
Stevie WonderUnited States1961–present[338]1962[338]Funk / R&B / soul[338]

40.8 million
100 million[339]
GenesisUnited Kingdom1967–1999
2006–present[340]
1969[340]Progressive rock / pop rock[340]

40.3 million
100 million[341]
Gloria EstefanUnited States1975–present[342]1984[342]Latin pop / dance pop[342]

38.1 million
100 million[344]
Tina TurnerUnited States1958–2009[345]1960[346]Rock / pop[346]

37.7 million
100 million[347]
James TaylorUnited States1968–present[348]1970[348]Rock / pop[348]

36.5 million
100 million[349]
Olivia Newton-JohnAustralia1966–2022[350]1966[350]Pop[350]

36.1 million
100 million[352]
Linda RonstadtUnited States1967–2011[353]1968[353]Rock / folk / country[353]

33.2 million
100 million[354]
The Beach BoysUnited States1961–present[355]1962[355]Rock / pop / surf rock[355]

32.7 million
100 million[356]
Donna SummerUnited States1968–2012[357]1974[357]Pop / disco / R&B[357]

31.7 million
100 million[358]

80 million to 99 million records

ArtistCountryPeriod activeRelease-year of first charted recordGenreTotal certified units
(from available markets)[b]
Claimed sales
ShakiraColombia1988–present[359]1995[359]Latin pop / pop / pop rock[359]

92.7 million
95 million[360]
Alicia KeysUnited States1996–present[361]2001[361]Hip-hop / R&B / pop[361]

97.1 million
90 million[362]
Christina AguileraUnited States1993–present[363]1998[363]R&B / pop / rock[363]

79.1 million
90 million[364]
Tim McGrawUnited States1990–present[365]1994[365]Country[365]

82.3 million
90 million[366]
Lionel RichieUnited States1968–present[367]1981[367]Pop / R&B[367]

43.8 million
90 million[369]
Johnny CashUnited States1954–2003[370]1956[370]Country / rock and roll / gospel[370]

32.2 million
90 million[371]
Justin TimberlakeUnited States1992–present[372]2002[372]Pop / R&B / neo soul[372]

89.11 million
88 million[373]
Ariana GrandeUnited States2008–present[374]2013[374]Pop / R&B[374]

171.8 million
85 million[375]
R.E.M.United States1980–2011[376]1983[376]Alternative rock[376]

45.3 million
85 million[377]
Post MaloneUnited States2013–present[378]2015[378]Pop / R&B / hip-hop[378]

225.7 million
80 million[379]
Flo RidaUnited States2007–present[380]2007[380]Hip-hop / hip house /EDM[380]

89.8 million
80 million[381]
UsherUnited States1991–present[382]1994[382]R&B / pop[382]

157.4 million
80 million[383]
The Black Eyed PeasUnited States1995–present[384]1998[384]Hip-hop / R&B / dance[384]

71.1 million
80 million[385]
Van HalenUnited States1978–2020[386]1978[386]Hard rock / heavy metal[386]

65.2 million
80 million[387]
Ayumi HamasakiJapan1998–present[388]1998[388]J-pop / pop / dance / electronic[388]

64.5 million
80 million[389][390]
Tom PettyUnited States1976–2017[391]1977[391]Rock[391]

36 million
80 million[392]
Johnny HallydayFrance1957–2017[393]1960[393]Rock / pop[393]

28.9 million
80 million[395]

75 million to 79 million records

ArtistCountryPeriod activeRelease-year of first charted recordGenreTotal certified units
(from available markets)[b]
Claimed sales
The WeekndCanada2010–present[396]2013[396]Pop / R&B[396]

234.3 million
75 million[397]
Imagine DragonsUnited States2008–present[398]2012[398]Pop rock / electropop / pop[398]

153.4 million
75 million[399]
Luke BryanUnited States2001–present[400]2007[382]Country / country pop[382]

94.5 million
  • US: 92.5 million[12]
  • CAN: 2.040 million[18]
75 million[401]
Tupac ShakurUnited States1991–1996[402]1991[402]Hip-hop[402]

64.1 million
75 million[404]
Green DayUnited States1987–present[405]1994[384]Punk rock / pop punk / alternative rock[405]

59.2 million
75 million[407]
AlabamaUnited States1972–present[408]1980[408]Country/pop rock[408]

58 million
  • US: 56.8 million[12]
  • CAN: 1.2 million[18]
75 million[409]
NirvanaUnited States1987–1994[410]1990[410]Grunge / alternative rock[410]

57.6 million
75 million[413]
R. KellyUnited States1989–2019[414]1991[415]R&B / soul / hip-hop[415]

57 million
75 million[416]
Robbie WilliamsUnited Kingdom1990–present[417]1996[417]Pop rock[417]

56.4 million
75 million[418]
Bob SegerUnited States1961–present[419]1967[419]Rock / Hard rock/ Pop rock[419]

55.3 million
75 million[420]
Kenny GUnited States1982–present[421]1984[421]Smooth jazz[421]

53.9 million
75 million[422]
EnyaIreland1982–present[423]1987[423]New-age / Celtic[423]

51.9 million
75 million[426]
Bryan AdamsCanada1979–present[427]1979[427]Rock[427]

50.7 million
75 million[429]
Bob MarleyJamaica1962–1981[430]1975[430]Reggae[430]

47.3 million
75 million[433]
The PoliceUnited Kingdom1977–1986
2007–2008[434]
1978[434]Pop / rock[434]

42.2 million
75 million[437]
Barry ManilowUnited States1973–present[438]1973[438]Pop / soft rock[438]

36.7 million
75 million[439]
KissUnited States1972–present[440]1974[440]Hard rock / heavy metal[440]

28.7 million
75 million[441]
Aretha FranklinUnited States1956–2018[442]1961[442]Soul / jazz / blues / R&B[442]

27 million
75 million[443]

See also

Notes

References