List of highest - certified music artists in the United States - wikipedia List of highest - certified music artists in the United States This is the list of the top 100 highest - certified music artists in the United States based on album certifications 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 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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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. Contents 1 Top 100 certified music artists 2 External links 3 See also 4 References Top 100 certified music artists No. Name Nationality Decades active Certified units in millions The Beatles UK 1960s -- 70s 178 Garth Brooks US 1980s -- 2010s 148 Elvis Presley US 1950s -- 70s 146.5 Led Zeppelin UK 1960s -- 80s 111.5 Eagles US 1970s -- 2010s 101 6 Billy Joel US 1970s - 2010s 82.5 7 Michael Jackson US 1970s -- 2000s 81 8 Elton John UK 1960s -- 2010s 78 9 Pink Floyd UK 1960s -- 2010s 75 10 AC / DC Australia 1970s -- 2010s 72 11 George Strait US 1980s -- 2010s 69 12 Barbra Streisand US 1960s -- 2010s 68.5 13 Aerosmith US 1970s -- 2010s 66.5 The Rolling Stones UK 1960s -- 2010s 66.5 15 Bruce Springsteen US 1970s -- 2010s 65.5 16 Madonna US 1980s -- 2010s 64.5 17 Mariah Carey US 1990s -- 2010s 64 18 Metallica US 1980s -- 2010s 63 19 Whitney Houston US 1980s -- 2010s 58.5 20 Van Halen US 1970s -- 2010s 56.5 21 U2 Ireland 1970s -- 2010s 52 22 Celine Dion Canada 1980s -- 2010s 50 23 Fleetwood Mac UK 1960s -- 2010s 49.5 Neil Diamond US 1960s -- 2010s 49.5 25 Shania Twain Canada 1990s -- 2010s 48 Kenny G US 1980s -- 2010s 48 Journey US 1970s -- 2010s 48 28 Kenny Rogers US 1950s -- 2000s 47.5 29 Alabama US 1970s -- 2010s 46.5 30 Guns N ' Roses US 1980s -- 2010s 44.5 Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band US 1960s -- 2010s 44.5 Eminem US 1990s -- 2010s 44.5 33 Santana US 1960s -- 2010s 43.5 Alan Jackson US 1980s -- 2010s 43.5 35 Taylor Swift US 2000s - 2010s 41.5 36 Reba McEntire US 1970s -- 2010s 41 37 Eric Clapton UK 1960s -- 2010s 40 38 Chicago US 1960s -- 2010s 38.5 Simon and Garfunkel US 1960s -- 70s 38.5 40 Rod Stewart UK 1960s -- 2010s 38 41 Tim McGraw US 1990s -- 2010s 37.5 Foreigner US 1970s -- 2010s 37.5 43 Backstreet Boys US 1990s -- 2010s 37 44 Tupac Shakur US 1990s 36.5 45 Bob Dylan US 1960s -- 2010s 36 46 Willie Nelson US 1950s - 2010s 35.5 47 Def Leppard UK 1970s -- 2010s 35 48 Queen UK 1970s -- 2000s 34.5 Bon Jovi US 1980s -- 2010s 34.5 Britney Spears US 1990s -- 2010s 34.5 51 Phil Collins UK 1970s -- 2010s 33.5 Dave Matthews Band US 1990s -- 2010s 33.5 John Denver US 1960s -- 90s 33.5 54 James Taylor US 1960s -- 2010s 33 The Doors US 1960s -- 70s 33 56 R. Kelly US 1990s -- 2010s 32 57 Pearl Jam US 1990s -- 2010s 31.5 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers US 1970s - 2017 31.5 59 Boston US 1970s -- 2010s 31 60 Dixie Chicks US 1980s -- 2000s 30.5 61 Linda Ronstadt US 1960s -- 2000s 30 62 Lynyrd Skynyrd US 1960s -- 2000s 28.5 63 Mannheim Steamroller US 1970s -- 2010s 28 ' N Sync US 1990s -- 2000s 28 Michael Bolton US 1980s -- 2010s 28 Adele UK 2000s - 2010s 28 Creedence Clearwater Revival US 1960s -- 70s 28 68 Jay Z US 1990s -- 2010s 27.5 John Mellencamp US 1970s -- 2010s 27.5 Brooks & Dunn US 1990s -- 2000s 27.5 Barry Manilow US 1970s -- 2010s 27.5 Kenny Chesney US 1990s -- 2010s 27.5 73 Ozzy Osbourne UK 1960s -- 2010s 27.25 74 Boyz II Men US 1990s -- 2000s 27 Frank Sinatra US 1930s -- 90s 27 Bee Gees Australia 1960s -- 2000s 27 77 Enya Ireland 1980s -- 2010s 26.5 78 Linkin Park US 1990s -- 2010s 26 Janet Jackson US 1980s -- 2010s 26 80 Faith Hill US 1990s -- 2010s 25.5 Luther Vandross US 1960s -- 2000s 25.5 Steve Miller Band US 1960s -- 2010s 25.5 83 Rush Canada 1970s -- 2010s 25 Mötley Crüe US 1980s -- 2010s 25 Nirvana US 1980s -- 90s 25 ZZ Top US 1970s -- 2010s 25 Creed US 1990s -- 2000s 25 Toby Keith US 1990s -- 2010s 25 Red Hot Chili Peppers US 1980s -- 2010s 25 90 The Carpenters US 1960s -- 80s 24.5 REO Speedwagon US 1970s -- 2010s 24.5 92 Vince Gill US 1970s -- 2010s 24 Green Day US 1980s -- 2010s 24 Nickelback Canada 1990s -- 2010s 24 95 Johnny Cash US 1970s -- 2000s 23.5 Sade UK 1980s -- 2010s 23.5 Kid Rock US 1990s -- 2010s 23.5 Earth, Wind & Fire US 1970s -- 2010s 23.5 The Cars US 1970s -- 2010s 23.5 100 Jimmy Buffett US 1960s -- 2010s 23 Jimi Hendrix US 1960s -- 70s 23 Beastie Boys US 1980s -- 2010s 23 External links RIAA Website Detailed List of Artists with Most Album Certification Units Search RIAA Gold and Platinum Database See also List of best - selling music artists List of best - charting U.S. music artists List of best selling digital artists in the United States References Jump up ^ `` ' Top Artists ' By Certifications ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 15, 2017. Jump up ^ http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6859551/riaa-streaming-gold-platinum-certification-methodology Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_highest-certified_music_artists_in_the_United_States&oldid=842899891 '' Categories : American music - related lists Recording Industry Association of America American music industry Talk Contents About Wikipedia فارسی Français 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Slovenčina Türkçe 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 25 May 2018, at 12 : 48. About Wikipedia

Question: who is the highest certified music artist in the us
Answer: The Beatles