10 Best-Selling Artists in the U.S. of All Time
There have been countless hit-makers in music history, but which artists are quite literally the best-selling artists in the United States of all time? Thanks to the Recording Industry Association…
There have been countless hit-makers in music history, but which artists are quite literally the best-selling artists in the United States of all time? Thanks to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), we can determine just that.
One of the most notable things the RIAA does is award albums and other title certifications based on sales. The RIAA has three certification levels:
-Gold: Awarded to titles that have sold a minimum of 500,000 units.
-Platinum: Awarded to titles that have sold a minimum of 1 million units.
-Diamond: Awarded to titles that have sold a minimum of 10 million units.
Title tallies are measured in "units." These units are determined in three ways:
-The sale of a physical or digital album counts as 1 unit.
-The individual sale of 10 digital tracks from an album counts as 1 unit.
-1,500 on-demand audio/video streams from an album count as 1 unit.
According to the RIAA's certification criteria, a title becomes eligible for certification 30 days after its release date for physical titles and the same day of release for digital titles. In order for a title to be certified, the RIAA states, "Applicants must submit specific sales and streaming figures at each level threshold, along with other criteria, to qualify for certification."
In other words: A lot of effort and statistical analysis goes into the RIAA's certification process. (If you care to read about every single little detail about the certification process, you can do so here.)
With all of this in mind, keep scrolling to find out who are the ten best-selling artists in the United States of all time. With every artist, you'll learn which of their titles have moved the most units. (Spoiler: Brace yourself for some mind-blowing numbers! Seriously, they're going to make your head spin.)
10. Pink Floyd - 75 million units sold.
MJ Kim/Getty ImagesLONDON - JULY 02: (L to R) David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright from the band Pink Floyd on stage at "Live 8 London" in Hyde Park on July 2, 2005 in London, England. The free concert is one of ten simultaneous international gigs including Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Barrie, Tokyo, Cornwall, Moscow and Johannesburg. The concerts precede the G8 summit (July 6-8) to raising awareness for MAKEpovertyHISTORY. (Photo by MJ Kim/Getty Images)
9. AC/DC - 75 million units sold.
Newsmakers/Hulton Archive/Getty Images378457 01: Members of the Australian rock band AC-DC pose for a photograph after the Rock Walk handprint ceremony September 15, 2000 at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, Ca. From left: Brian Johnson, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, Angus Young and Phil Rudd. (Photo / Newsmakers)
8. Elton John - 79 million units sold.
Erika Goldring/Getty ImagesNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 19: Elton John performs during the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour at Smoothie King Center on January 19, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)
7. Billy Joel - 86 million units sold.
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 26: Recording artist Billy Joel performs at Allegiant Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
6. Michael Jackson - 89 million units sold.
Phil Walter/Getty ImagesAUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 10: Michael Jackson performs on stage during is "HIStory" world tour concert at Ericsson Stadium November 10, 1996 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
5. Led Zeppelin - 112.5 million units sold.
Evening Standard/Getty ImagesJune 1973: British rock band Led Zeppelin. From left to right, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham (1947 - 1980), John Paul Jones. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)
4. Eagles - 120 million units sold.
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesNEW ORLEANS, LA - MAY 05: Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles backstage during the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - Day 6 at the Fair Grounds Race Course on May 5, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
3. Elvis Presley - 139 million units sold
Liaison/Getty Images044636 02: Singer Elvis Presley poses for a studio portrait. (Photo by Liaison)
2. Garth Brooks - 157 million units sold.
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - MAY 18: Music artist Garth Brooks performs during the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
1. The Beatles - 183 million units sold.
Fox Photos/Getty Images2nd July 1964: The Beatles, John Lennon, George Harrison (1943 - 2001), Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, pictured on their arrival in London following a tour of Australia. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
