# 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 Therefore, the total certified units for a given artist may be incomplete or out of date.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. As of February 10, 2024, 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 Mariah Carey is the highest-certified female artist. Meanwhile, Drake remains the highest-certified digital singles artist, with 244 million certified units as a lead artist. Eminem is the only act in the top 20 of both lists.

## 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. 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'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), while Billboard counts 1,250 premium audio streams, 3,750 ad-supported streams, or 3,750 video streams as one album unit.
List of 100 artists with the highest-certified album-equivalent units as of July 23, 2024 :
| Rank | Units (millions) | Name | Nat. | Active |
| 1 | 183 | The Beatles | UK | 1960s–1970s |
| 2 | 162 | Garth Brooks | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 3 | 146.5 | Elvis Presley | US | 1950s–1970s |
| 4 | 120 | Eagles | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 5 | 112.5 | Led Zeppelin | UK | 1960s–1980s |
| 6 | 89 | Michael Jackson | US | 1970s–2000s |
| 7 | 86 | Billy Joel | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 8 | 83 | AC/DC | Australia | 1970s–2020s |
| 9 | 80 | Elton John | UK | 1960s–2020s |
| 10 | 75 | Mariah Carey | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 10 | 75 | Pink Floyd | UK | 1960s–2010s |
| 12 | 71 | Bruce Springsteen | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 13 | 69.5 | Aerosmith | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 13 | 69.5 | George Strait | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 15 | 68.5 | Barbra Streisand | US | 1960s–2010s |
| 16 | 66.5 | The Rolling Stones | UK | 1960s–2020s |
| 17 | 65.5 | Madonna | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 18 | 63 | Metallica | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 19 | 61.5 | Eminem | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 20 | 61 | Whitney Houston | US | 1980s–2010s |
| 21 | 56.5 | Van Halen | US | 1970s–2010s |
| 22 | 55.5 | Fleetwood Mac | UK | 1960s–2010s |
| 23 | 53 | Celine Dion | Canada | 1990s–2020s |
| 24 | 52.5 | Journey | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 25 | 52 | U2 | Ireland | 1970s–2010s |
| 26 | 52 | Taylor Swift | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 27 | 49.5 | Neil Diamond | US | 1960s–2020s |
| 28 | 49 | Alabama | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 29 | 48 | Kenny G | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 29 | 48 | Shania Twain | Canada | 1990s–2020s |
| 31 | 47.5 | Drake | Canada | 2000s–2020s |
| 31 | 47.5 | Kenny Rogers | US | 1950s–2000s |
| 33 | 44.5 | Alan Jackson | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 33 | 44.5 | Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band | US | 1960s–2020s |
| 33 | 44.5 | Guns N' Roses | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 36 | 43.5 | Santana | US | 1960s–2020s |
| 37 | 43 | Queen | UK | 1970s–2020s |
| 38 | 41 | Reba McEntire | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 38 | 41 | Bon Jovi | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 40 | 40 | Eric Clapton | UK | 1960s–2020s |
| 40 | 40 | Tim McGraw | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 42 | 39 | Chicago | US | 1960s–2020s |
| 43 | 38.5 | Britney Spears | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 43 | 38.5 | Simon & Garfunkel | US | 1960s–2010s |
| 45 | 38 | Foreigner | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 45 | 38 | Rod Stewart | UK | 1960s–2020s |
| 47 | 37 | Backstreet Boys | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 47 | 37 | Beyoncé | US | 2000s–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 |
| 54 | 34 | The Doors | US | 1960s–1970s |
| 55 | 33.5 | Jay-Z | US | 1990s–2010s |
| 55 | 33.5 | John Denver | US | 1960s–1990s |
| 55 | 33.5 | Phil Collins | UK | 1970s–2020s |
| 58 | 33 | James Taylor | US | 1960s–2020s |
| 58 | 33 | The Chicks | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 58 | 33 | Usher | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 61 | 32 | R. Kelly | US | 1990s–2010s |
| 62 | 31.5 | Pearl Jam | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 62 | 31.5 | Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | US | 1970s–2010s |
| 62 | 31.5 | Willie Nelson | US | 1950s–2020s |
| 65 | 31 | Boston | US | 1970s–2010s |
| 66 | 30.5 | Linkin Park | US | 1990s–2010s |
| 67 | 30 | Creedence Clearwater Revival | US | 1960s–1970s |
| 67 | 30 | Linda Ronstadt | US | 1960s–2010s |
| 69 | 29.75 | Ozzy Osbourne | UK | 1960s–2020s |
| 70 | 29.5 | Kanye West | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 71 | 29 | Rihanna | Barbados | 2000s–2020s |
| 72 | 28.5 | Lynyrd Skynyrd | US | 1960s–2020s |
| 73 | 28 | Adele | UK | 2000s–2020s |
| 73 | 28 | Bee Gees | UK/Australia | 1960s–2010s |
| 73 | 28 | Mannheim Steamroller | US | 1970s–2010s |
| 73 | 28 | Michael Bolton | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 73 | 28 | NSYNC | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 73 | 28 | Nirvana | US | 1980s–1990s |
| 79 | 27.5 | Barry Manilow | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 79 | 27.5 | Brooks & Dunn | US | 1990s–2010s |
| 79 | 27.5 | John Mellencamp | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 79 | 27.5 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | US | 1980s–2020s |
| 83 | 27 | Boyz II Men | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 83 | 27 | Frank Sinatra | US | 1930s–1990s |
| 83 | 27 | Luther Vandross | US | 1960s–2000s |
| 86 | 26.5 | Enya | Ireland | 1980s–2010s |
| 86 | 26.5 | Steve Miller Band | US | 1960s–2010s |
| 88 | 26 | Janet Jackson | US | 1980s–2010s |
| 88 | 26 | Outkast | US | 1990s–2010s |
| 88 | 26 | Rush | Canada | 1970s–2010s |
| 91 | 25.5 | Faith Hill | US | 1990s–2010s |
| 92 | 25 | Creed | US | 1990s–2010s |
| 92 | 25 | Lil Wayne | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 92 | 25 | Mötley Crüe | US | 1980s–2010s |
| 92 | 25 | Toby Keith | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 92 | 25 | ZZ Top | US | 1970s–2020s |
| 97 | 24.5 | REO Speedwagon | US | 1970s–2010s |
| 97 | 24.5 | The Carpenters | US | 1960s–1980s |
| 98 | 24 | Justin Bieber | Canada | 2000s–2020s |
| 98 | 24 | Nickelback | Canada | 1990s–2020s |
| 98 | 24 | Vince Gill | US | 1970s–2010s |
Notes:
    ^† Deceased
    ^d 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 as of March 5, 2025 :
| Rank | Units (millions) | Name | Nat. | Active |
| 1 | 244 | Drake | Canada | 2000s–2020s |
| 2 | 184 | Rihanna | Barbados | 2000s–2020s |
| 3 | 167 | Eminem | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 4 | 161.5 | Beyoncé | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 5 | 160.5 | Kanye West | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 6 | 142 | Post Malone | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 7 | 137.5 | Taylor Swift | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 8 | 132 | The Weeknd | Canada | 2010s–2020s |
| 9 | 127 | Travis Scott | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 10 | 122.5 | Justin Bieber | Canada | 2000s–2020s |
| 11 | 121.5 | Katy Perry | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 12 | 115 | Chris Brown | US | 2000s—2020s |
| 13 | 106.5 | Morgan Wallen | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 14 | 103.5 | Imagine Dragons | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 15 | 103 | Ed Sheeran | UK | 2000s–2020s |
| 16 | 96.5 | Ariana Grande | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 17 | 95.5 | Luke Combs | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 17 | 95.5 | J. Cole | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 19 | 95 | Future | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 19 | 95 | Lil Wayne | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 20 | 91.5 | Bruno Mars | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 21 | 87.5 | Maroon 5 | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 22 | 85.5 | Luke Bryan | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 23 | 84 | Juice Wrld | US | 2010s |
| 24 | 82.5 | Lady Gaga | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 24 | 82.5 | Usher | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 26 | 82 | YoungBoy Never Broke Again | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 27 | 78 | J. Cole | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 28 | 76 | Lil Baby | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 28 | 76 | XXXTentacion | US | 2010s |
| 30 | 70 | Twenty One Pilots | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 31 | 68 | Mariah Carey | US | 1990s-2020s |
| 32 | 65.5 | Michael Jackson | US | 1970s–2000s |
| 33 | 65 | Rod Wave | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 34 | 62 | SZA | US | 2010s-2020s |
| 35 | 61.5 | Miley Cyrus | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 36 | 60.5 | Chris Stapleton | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 37 | 59 | Britney Spears | US | 1990s–2020s |
| 38 | 58 | Cardi B | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 38 | 58 | Khalid | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 38 | 58 | Polo G | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 41 | 57 | Fall Out Boy | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 44 | 54.5 | Florida Georgia Line | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 44 | 54.5 | Nicki Minaj | TT | 2000s–2020s |
| 44 | 54.5 | Panic! at the Disco | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 46 | 54 | A Boogie wit da Hoodie | US | 2010s–2020s |
| 46 | 54 | Flo Rida | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 49 | 52 | Blake Shelton | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 49 | 52 | Harry Styles | UK | 2010s–2020s |
| 49 | 52 | Pitbull | US | 2000s–2020s |
| 50 | 51 | Sam Smith | UK | 2000s–2020s |
Notes:
    ^† Deceased
    ^d Disbanded