List of best-selling music artists

Table columns:
Artist
Country / Market
Period active
Release-year of first charted record
Genre
Total certified units (from available markets)[b]
Claimed sales

Table rows:
cells: Lady Gaga
United States
2005–present[199]
2008[199]
Pop / Dance / Electronic[199]
Total available certified units: 99.3 million [show] US: 68.5 million[11] JPN: 5.4 million[12][52] UK: 10.985 million[13] GER: 2.9 million[14] FRA: 1.655 million[16] CAN: 2.4 million[17] AUS: 2.890 million[18] ITA: 840,000[b][20] BRA: 470,000[21] SWE: 680,000[22][57] SPA: 410,000[23] MEX: 390,000[42][98] SWI: 445,000[25] BEL: 270,000[27] DEN: 340,000[60][61][101] AUT: 182,500[32] POL: 130,000[33] IRE: 165,000[102] NZ: 277,500[34][35]
114 million[200]
cells: Metallica
United States
1981–present[201]
1983[201]
Heavy metal / Thrash metal[201]
Total available certified units: 94.3 million [show] US: 73.3 million[11] JPN: 900,000[b][12] UK: 3.335 million[13] GER: 3.525 million[14] FRA: 940,000[15][16] CAN: 3.805 million[17] AUS: 2.637 million[b][18][19][202] ITA: 180,000[b][20] BRA: 380,000[b][21] SWE: 675,000[b][22] SPA: 420,000[23][41][58] MEX: 430,000[b][42][98] SWI: 560,000[b][25] BEL: 335,000[b][26][27] DEN: 180,000[61][60] ARG: 874,000[28][29] AUT: 340,000[b][32] POL: 735,000[b][33] FIN: 530,676[47] NZ: 315,000[34][35]
110 million[203]
cells: Justin Bieber
Canada United States
2008–present[204]
2009[204]
Pop / Teen pop, Dance pop[204]
Total available certified units: 132.6 million [show] US: 87.5 million[11] JPN: 750,000 [12][52] UK: 17.285 million[13] GER: 3.3 million[14] FRA: 1.2[16] CAN: 5.620 million[17] AUS: 4.725 million[18] ITA: 1.795 million[20] BRA: 810,000[21] SWE: 2.020 million[22][57] SPA: 880,000[23] MEX: 2.910 million[42][43][98] BEL: 450,000[27] DEN: 2.230 million[61] POL: 370,000[33] AUT: 140,000[32] NZ: 615,000[34]
100 million[205]
cells: Katy Perry
United States
2001–present[206]
2008[206]
Pop[206]
Total available certified units: 129.5 million [show] US: 97.5 million[11] JPN: 300,000[12][52] UK: 12.750 million[13] GER: 2.750 million[14] FRA: 825,000[16] CAN: 6.160 million[17] AUS: 5.125 million[18] ITA: 780,000[b][20] BRA: 625,000[21] SWE: 520,000[22][57] SPA: 180,000[23] MEX: 900,000[42][98] SWI: 160,000[25] BEL: 135,000[27] DEN: 235,000[59][61] AUT: 247,500[32] NZ: 360,000[34][35]
100 million[207]
cells: Adele
United Kingdom
2006–present[208]
2008[208]
Pop, soul[208]
Total available certified units: 104.9 million [show] US: 61 million[11] JPN: 100,000[12] UK: 20.550 million[13] GER: 4.7 million[14] CAN: 6.120 million[17] AUS: 3.955 million[18] ITA: 1.570 million[b][20] BRA: 1.310 million[21] SWE: 240,000[22][57] SPA: 800,000[23] MEX: 1.490 million[42][43] SWI: 510,000[25] BEL: 795,000[27] DEN: 747,500[59][61] POL: 300,000[b][33] FIN: 151,639[47] NZ: 577,500[34]
100 million[209]
cells: Jay-Z
United States
1996–present[210]
1996[210]
Hip-hop[210]
Total available certified units: 98.1 million [show] US: 82.7 million[11] JPN: 1.050 million[52] UK: 9.320 million[13] GER: 1.550 million[14] FRA: 400,000[16] CAN: 1.6 million[17] AUS: 1.260[18] ITA: 180,000[b][20] SWE: 130,000[22][57]
100 million[211]
cells: B'z
Japan
1988–present[212]
1988[212]
Rock / Pop rock / Hard rock[212]
Total available certified units: 85.7 million [show] JPN: 85.75 million[b][12][52][106]
100 million[213]
cells: Bon Jovi
United States
1983–present[214]
1983[214]
Hard rock / Glam metal[214]
Total available certified units: 84.1 million [show] US: 49.9 million[11] JPN: 4.400 million[b][12][52] UK: 9.490 million[13] GER: 5.650 million[14] FRA: 825,000[15][16][53] CAN: 4.735 million[17] AUS: 3.030 million[b][18][215][216] ITA: 135,000[b][20] BRA: 435,000[b][21] SWE: 365,000[b][22][57] SPA: 1.620 million[23][24][40][41][58] MEX: 250,000[b][42] SWI: 1.275 million[b][25] AUT: 725,000[b][32] BEL: 165,000[b][26][27] ARG: 358,000[28][29] POL: 110,000[b][33] FIN: 422,500[47] NZ: 210,000[34][35]
100 million[217]
cells: Linkin Park
United States
1996–present[218]
2000[218]
Alternative rock / Nu metal / Rap rock[218]
Total available certified units: 82.3 million [show] US: 61.6 million[11] JPN: 1.550 million[12][52] UK: 6.205 million[13] GER: 5.850 million[14] FRA: 1.025[16] CAN: 1.330 million[17] AUS: 1.485 million[18] ITA: 515,000[b][20] BRA: 595,000[21] SWE: 165,000[22][57] SPA: 175,000[23] MEX: 225,000[42] SWI: 435,000[25] BEL: 140,000[27] DEN: 175,000[59][61] AUT: 252,500[32] POL: 220,000[33] FIN: 120,469[47] NZ: 252,500[34][35]
100 million[219]
cells: Beyoncé
United States
1997–present[220]
2002[220][221]
R&B / Pop[220]
Total available certified units: 81 million [show] US: 56.150 million[11] JPN: 1.7 million [12][52] UK: 13.885 million[13] GER: 1.550 million[14] FRA: 560,000[16][83] CAN: 1.395 million[17] AUS: 2.975 million[18] ITA: 260,000[b][20] BRA: 390,000[21] SWE: 120,000[22][57] SPA: 1.030 million[b][23][222] MEX: 110,000[42] SWI: 165,000[25] BEL: 115,000[27] DEN: 312,500[60][61][69][101][223][224] POL: 100,000[33] NZ: 210,000[34][35]
100 million[225]
cells: Lil Wayne
United States
1996–present[226]
1999[226]
Hip-hop[226]
Total available certified units: 79.9 million [show] US: 77.7 million[11] UK: 1.460 million[13] CAN: 280,000[17] AUS: 525,000[18]
100 million[227]
cells: Britney Spears
United States
1998–present[228]
1998[228]
Pop / Dance / Dance-pop[228]
Total available certified units: 78.7 million [show] US: 44.2 million[11] JPN: 2.1 million[12][129] UK: 10.350 million[13] GER: 5.050 million[14] FRA: 3.732 million[15][16][53] CAN: 3.680 million[17] AUS: 3.130 million[18] ITA: 175,000[b][20] BRA: 380,000[21] SWE: 1.010 million[22][57] SPA: 990,000[23][41][58] MEX: 1.175 million[b][42] SWI: 485,000[25] AUT: 365,000[32] BEL: 935,000[26][27] ARG: 248,000[28][29] DEN: 187,500[b][59][60][229][230] POL: 210,000[33] FIN: 143,627[47] NZ: 240,000[34][35]
100 million[231]
cells: Rod Stewart
United Kingdom
1964–present[232]
1969[232]
Rock / Pop[232]
Total available certified units: 78.1 million [show] US: 43.650 million[11] JPN: 450,000[b][12] UK: 18.630 million[b][13] GER: 3.8 million[b][14] FRA: 1.8 million[b][15][16][53] CAN: 4.055 million[b][17] AUS: 2.610 million[b][18][19] BRA: 980,000[b][21] SWE: 440,000[b][22] SPA: 290,000[b][23][24][40] SWI: 100,000[b][25] ARG: 524,000[b][28][29] AUT: 100,000[b][32] POL: 220,000[b][33] IRE: 195,000[b][102] NZ: 280,000[b][34][35]
100 million[233]
cells: Fleetwood Mac
United Kingdom United States
1967–present[234]
1968[234]
Rock / Pop[234]
Total available certified units: 76.3 million [show] US: 51.250 million[11] UK: 13.785 million[b][13] GER: 3.5 million[b][14] FRA: 800,000[b][15][16] AUS: 2.767 million[b][18][19] CAN: 2.950 million[b][17] SPA: 300,000[b][41][58] SWI: 100,000[b][25] BEL: 100,000[b][27] NZ: 572,500[b][35][235][236]
100 million[237]
cells: Guns N' Roses
United States
1985–present[238]
1987[238]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[238]
Total available certified units: 74.3 million [show] US: 48.5 million[11] JPN: 1.7 million[b][12] UK: 6.150 million[13] GER: 4.1 million[14] FRA: 1 million[16] CAN: 3.520 million[17] AUS: 2.410[b][18][19][164] ITA: 685,000[b][20] BRA: 1.9 million[b][21] SWE: 485,000[22] SPA: 450,000[23][24][40] MEX: 760,000[b][42] SWI: 365,000[b][25] BEL: 165,000[b][26][27] ARG: 1.248 million[b][28][29] AUT: 365,000[32] POL: 160,000[b][33] IRE: 105,000[b][102] NZ: 270,000[34][35]
100 million[239]
cells: George Strait
United States
1981–present[240]
1984[240]
Country[240]
Total available certified units: 72.8 million [show] US: 72.150 million[11] CAN: 705,000[17]
100 million[241]
cells: Backstreet Boys
United States
1993–present[242]
1995[242]
Pop[242]
Total available certified units: 72 million [show] US: 41.5 million[11] JPN: 5.4 million[12][52][243] UK: 4.875 million[13] GER: 7 million[14] FRA: 325,000[15][16] CAN: 3.430 million[17] AUS: 1.4 million[b][18] BRA: 1.625 million[21] SWE: 655,000[22] SPA: 1.850 million[41][58] MEX: 1.475 million[b][42] SWI: 415,000[25] BEL: 425,000[b][26][27] ARG: 740,000[28] AUT: 325,000[32] POL: 300,000[33] FIN: 171,390[47] NZ: 132,500[34]
100 million[244]
cells: Neil Diamond
United States
1966–present[245]
1966[245]
Pop / Rock[245]
Total available certified units: 68.3 million [show] US: 55.9 million[11] UK: 7.130 million[b][13] GER: 1 million[b][14] FRA: 400,000[b][15] CAN: 1.725 million[b][17] AUS: 1.945 million[b][18] SPA: 100,000[b][40] NZ: 127,500[b][34][35]
100 million[246]
cells: Prince
United States
1976–2016[247]
1978[247]
Funk / R&B / Pop / Soul / Rock[247]
Total available certified units: 64.2 million [show] US: 48.950 million[11] JPN: 300,000[b][12] UK: 7.045 million[13] GER: 2.4 million[14] FRA: 2.110 million[15][16] CAN: 1 million[17] AUS: 1.120[b][18][19] SWE: 100,000[22] SPA: 700,000[b][24][40][41][58] SWI: 250,000[b][25] AUT: 125,000[b][32] NZ: 177,500[b][34]
100 million[248]
cells: Kenny Rogers
United States
1958–present[249]
1975[249]
Country / Pop[249]
Total available certified units: 61.4 million [show] US: 54.050 million[11] JPN: 100,000[b][250] UK: 2.520 million[13] CAN: 4.6 million[17] AUS: 100,000[b][251][252] SPA: 100,000[b][40]
100 million[253]
cells: Paul McCartney
United Kingdom
1960–present[254]
1970[254]
Rock[254]
Total available certified units: 60.6 million [show] US: 41.450 million[11] JPN: 500,000[b][12] UK: 12.365 million[b][13] GER: 1.525 million[b][14] FRA: 1.305 million[b][15][16][53] CAN: 1.955 million[b][17] AUS: 465,000[b][18][19] SWE: 210,000[b][57][255] SPA: 640,000[b][24][40] DEN: 210,000[b][60][256]
100 million[257]
cells: Janet Jackson
United States
1982–present[258]
1982[258]
R&B / Pop[258]
Total available certified units: 52.1 million [show] US: 39.750 million[11] JPN: 1.6 million [b][12] UK: 4.760 million[13] GER: 1.4 million[14] FRA: 1.475 million[15][16][53] CAN: 1.460 million[17] AUS: 1.155[b][18][19] SWE: 105,000[b][22] SPA: 150,000[41][58] SWI: 170,000[b][25] BEL: 125,000[b][26]
100 million[259]
cells: Julio Iglesias
Spain
1968–present[260]
1968[260]
Latin[260]
Total available certified units: 51 million [show] US: 11 million[11] JPN: 800,000[b][261] UK: 1.620 million[b][13][261] GER: 250,000[b][14] FRA: 6.1 million[15][16][53][261] CAN: 1.5 million[17] AUS: 540,000[b][18][261] ITA: 400,000[b][20][261] NLD:950,000[b][261] BRA: 12.475 million[b][21][261] SWE: 290,000[b][22][261] SPA: 8.7 million[b][23][24][40][41][58][261] MEX: 2.975 million[b][42][261] BEL: 125,000[b][261] ARG: 3.220 million[b][28][261] FIN: 131,636[b][47]
100 million[262]
cells: Chicago
United States
1967–present[263]
1969[263]
Rock / Pop[263]
Total available certified units: 48.3 million [show] US: 44.150 million[11] JPN: 400,000[b][12][264] UK: 1.490 million[b][13] GER: 250,000[b][14] FRA: 100,000[b][15] CAN: 1.865 million[17] SPA: 100,000[b][24]
100 million[265]
cells: Bob Dylan
United States
1959–present[266]
1963[266]
Folk / Rock[266]
Total available certified units: 45.3 million [show] US: 35.6 million[11] UK: 6.025 million[b][13] GER: 625,000[b][14] FRA: 800,000[b][15][16] CAN: 1.5 million[b][17] AUS: 480,000[b][18] SWI: 175,000[b][25] NZ: 105,000[b][34]
100 million[267]
cells: Dire Straits
United Kingdom
1977–1995[268]
1978[268]
Rock [268]
Total available certified units: 44.7 million [show] US: 15.5 million[11] UK: 11.1 million[13] GER: 3.750 million[14] FRA: 5.3 million[15][16] CAN: 2.575 million[17] AUS: 2.190 million[b][18][19] ITA: 385,000[b][20] BRA: 175,000[b][21] SWE: 360,000[b][22] SPA: 1.380 million[b][23][24][40][41] SWI: 1 million[b][25] BEL: 100,000[b][26][27] AUT: 300,000[b][32] FIN: 471,530[47] NZ: 155,000[b][35]
100 million[269]
cells: Def Leppard
United Kingdom
1977–present[270]
1979[270]
Hard rock / Heavy metal[270]
Total available certified units: 41.8 million [show] US: 35.650 million[11] JPN: 300,000[b][12] UK: 1.960 million[13] FRA: 200,000[15] CAN: 2.995 million[17] AUS: 385,000[19][271] SWE: 150,000[b][22] MEX: 200,000[b][42] SWI: 125,000[b][25]
100 million[272]
cells: Cher
United States
1964–present[273]
1965[273]
Pop / Rock / Dance / Folk[273]
Total available certified units: 40.6 million [show] US: 21.9 million[11] JPN: 100,000[b][12] UK: 6.450 million[b][13] GER: 4.175 million[b][14] FRA: 1.525 million[b][16][53] CAN: 1.340 million[b][17] AUS: 1.530 million[b][18][274] ITA: 300,000[b][275] NLD: 100,000[b][276][277] BRA: 125,000[b][21] SWE: 850,000[b][22][57] SPA: 600,000[b][41][58][275] MEX: 200,000[b][42] SWI: 295,000[b][25] BEL: 275,000[b][26] ARG: 106,000[b][28][261] DEN: 300,000[b][275][278] AUT: 250,000[b][32] POL: 100,000[b][33] NZ: 150,000[34][279]
100 million[280]
cells: Genesis
United Kingdom
1967–1999 2006–present[281]
1969[281]
Progressive rock / Pop rock[281]
Total available certified units: 39.9 million [show] US: 21.650 million[11] JPN: 100,000[b][12] UK: 7.325 million[b][13] GER: 5.875 million[b][14] FRA: 3.460 million[b][15][16] CAN: 805,000[b][17] SWE: 100,000[b][22] SPA: 250,000[b][23][24][40] SWI: 400,000[b][25]
100 million[282]
cells: James Taylor
United States
1968–present[283]
1970[283]
Rock / Pop[283]
Total available certified units: 35.5 million [show] US: 34.650 million[11] UK: 655,000[b][13] CAN: 100,000[b][17] AUS: 100,000[b][18]
100 million[284]
cells: Olivia Newton-John
Australia
1966–present[285]
1966[285]
Pop[285]
Total available certified units: 34.7 million [show] US: 27 million[11] JPN: 100,000[b][12] UK: 3.950 million[b][13] GER: 250,000[b][14] CAN: 3.025 million[b][17] AUS: 380,000[b][18][19]
100 million[286]
cells: Stevie Wonder
United States
1961–present[287]
1962[287]
Funk / R&B / Soul[287]
Total available certified units: 34.6 million [show] US: 21.650 million[11] JPN: 1.050 million[b][12] UK: 8.285 million[b][13] GER: 500,000[b][14] FRA: 1.4 million[b][15][53] CAN: 1.550 million[17] SPA: 250,000[b][40]
100 million[288]
cells: Tina Turner
United States
1955–present[289]
1975[289]
Rock / Pop[289]
Total available certified units: 32.8 million [show] US: 12.7 million[11] UK: 8.145 million[13] GER: 6.050 million[14] FRA: 1.135 million[15][16][53] CAN: 1.560 million[17] AUS: 480,000[b][18][19] SWE: 330,000[b][22] SPA: 700,000[b][23][24][40][41] SWI: 565,000[b][25] BEL: 190,000[b][26][27] AUT: 630,000[b][32] POL: 120,000[b][33] FIN: 241,954[47]
100 million[290]
cells: Linda Ronstadt
United States
1967–present[291]
1968[291]
Rock / Folk / Country[291]
Total available certified units: 32.5 million [show] US: 31.5 million[11] UK: 435,000[b][13] FRA: 100,000[b][15] CAN: 500,000[b][17]
100 million[292]
cells: Donna Summer
United States
1968–2012[293]
1974[293]
Pop / Disco / R&B[293]
Total available certified units: 30.8 million [show] US: 24.5 million[11] UK: 3.735 million[b][13] FRA: 900,000[b][15][16] CAN: 1.550 million[b][17] BRA: 100,000[b][21] SPA: 100,000[b][41]
100 million[294]
cells: The Beach Boys
United States
1961–present[295]
1962[295]
Rock / Pop / Surf Rock[295]
Total available certified units: 30.5 million [show] US: 25.6 million[11] UK: 3.410 million[b][13] GER: 250,000[b][14] FRA: 400,000[b][15][16][53] CAN: 100,000[b][17] AUS: 492,500[b][18][19] SPA: 250,000[b][40][41]
100 million[296]
cells: David Bowie
United Kingdom
1962–2016[297]
1967[297]
Art rock / Glam rock / Pop[297]
Total available certified units: 30.1 million [show] US: 11.7 million[11] JPN: 200,000[b][12] UK: 11.945 million[b][13] GER: 525,000[b][14] FRA: 2.380 million[b][15][16][53] CAN: 2.215 million[b][17] AUS: 565,000[b][18] ITA: 345,000[b][20] SPA: 170,000[b][23][24][40] NZ: 142,500[b][34]
100 million[298]
cells: The Who
United Kingdom
1964–present[299]
1965[299]
Rock / Hard rock[299]
Total available certified units: 26.9 million [show] US: 22.150 million[11] UK: 3.905 million[b][13] FRA: 300,000[b][15] CAN: 425,000[b][17] ITA: 125,000[b][20]
100 million[300]
cells: Barry White
United States
1972–2003[301]
1973[301]
R&B / Soul[301]
Total available certified units: 21.7 million [show] US: 16.5 million[11] UK: 3.665 million[b][13] FRA: 1.1 million[b][15][16] CAN: 150,000[b][17] SPA: 200,000[b][58] BEL: 150,000[b][27]
100 million[302]

Questions about this table:
originalText: who is the highest selling rap artist of all time
answer: answerTexts: Linkin Park