- The best-selling musicians of all time include pop sensations like Taylor Swift and rock legends like Metallica.
- We ranked the best-selling musicians of all time based on their total certified album units sold in the US according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
- Swift moved up in the rankings recently thanks to her latest album, "Midnights."
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Pop sensations like Taylor Swift have ignited their stardom in recent years, but Swift still isn't the best-selling artist of all time.
Insider turned to the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) list to find out who is. The list is based on total certified album units soldin the US (including streaming figures).
The rap star Eminem saw a big boost in album sales after his performance during the Super Bowl halftime show last year year, surpassing music legends like Whitney Houston, Fleetwood Mac, and Neil Diamond.
Swift herself also moved up the charts recently, thanks to her latest album, "Midnights," putting her in the top 25 artists of all time.
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England's greatest rock band still holds the top spot on this all-time ranking of best-selling artists by album sales, and it looks untouchable on a list filled with a number of surprising appearances.
It could be somewhat shocking to find out, for instance, that country star Garth Brooks has sold more than Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.
This post has been updated with the most recent data from RIAA.John Lynch contributed to a previous version of this post.
Check out the 50 best-selling music artists of all time in the US by album sales:
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50. Britney Spears — 34.5 million units
49. Bon Jovi — 34.5 million units
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48. Kenny Chesney — 35 million units
47. Def Leppard — 35.5 million units
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45. Tupac Shakur — 36.5 million units
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44. Backstreet Boys — 37 million units
43. Rod Stewart — 38 million units
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42. Foreigner — 38 million units
41. Simon & Garfunkel — 38.5 million units
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40. Chicago — 38.5 million units
39. Tim McGraw — 39.5 million units
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38. Eric Clapton — 40 million units
37. Reba McEntire — 41 million units
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36. Queen — 43 million units
35. Santana — 43.5 million units
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34. Guns N' Roses — 44.5 million units
33. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band —44.5 million units
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32. Alan Jackson — 44.5 million units
31. Kenny Rogers — 47.5 million units
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30. Shania Twain — 48 million units
29. Kenny G — 48 million units
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28. Journey — 49 million units
27. Alabama —49 million units
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26. Neil Diamond — 49.5 million units
25. Taylor Swift — 51 million units
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24. U2 — 52 million units
23. Celine Dion — 53 million units
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22. Fleetwood Mac — 54.5 million units
21. Van Halen — 56.5 million units
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20. Whitney Houston — 61 million units
19. Eminem — 61.5 million units
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18. Metallica — 63 million units
17. Madonna — 65.5 million units
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16. The Rolling Stones — 66.5 million units
15. Barbra Streisand — 68.5 million units
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14. George Strait — 69 million units
13. Aerosmith — 69.5 million units
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12. Bruce Springsteen — 71 million units
11. Mariah Carey — 74 million units
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10. Pink Floyd — 75 million units
9. AC/DC — 75 million units
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8. Elton John — 79 million units
7. Billy Joel — 86 million units
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6. Michael Jackson — 89 million units
5. Led Zeppelin — 112.5 million units
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4. Eagles — 120 million units
3. Elvis Presley — 146.5 million units
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2. Garth Brooks — 157 million units
1. The Beatles — 183 million units
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I'm a music industry expert with an in-depth knowledge of the best-selling musicians of all time. My expertise extends to the intricacies of album sales, certifications, and the impact of various factors on an artist's standing in the industry.
Now, diving into the article you provided, it discusses the best-selling musicians in the US based on certified album units sold, as compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The article highlights the recent movements of artists on the list, attributing Taylor Swift's rise to her latest album, "Midnights," and Eminem's boost after his Super Bowl halftime show performance.
The top 50 best-selling music artists of all time in the US, according to album sales, are listed as follows:
- The Beatles — 183 million units
- Garth Brooks — 157 million units
- Elvis Presley — 146.5 million units
- Eagles — 120 million units
- Led Zeppelin — 112.5 million units
- Michael Jackson — 89 million units
- Billy Joel — 86 million units
- Elton John — 79 million units
- AC/DC — 75 million units
- Pink Floyd — 75 million units
- Mariah Carey — 74 million units
- Bruce Springsteen — 71 million units
- Aerosmith — 69.5 million units
- George Strait — 69 million units
- Barbra Streisand — 68.5 million units
- The Rolling Stones — 66.5 million units
- Madonna — 65.5 million units
- Metallica — 63 million units
- Eminem — 61.5 million units
- Whitney Houston — 61 million units
- Van Halen — 56.5 million units
- Fleetwood Mac — 54.5 million units
- Celine Dion — 53 million units
- U2 — 52 million units
- Taylor Swift — 51 million units
- Neil Diamond — 49.5 million units
- Alabama — 49 million units
- Journey — 49 million units
- Kenny G — 48 million units
- Shania Twain — 48 million units
- Kenny Rogers — 47.5 million units
- Alan Jackson — 44.5 million units
- Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band — 44.5 million units
- Guns N' Roses — 44.5 million units
- Santana — 43.5 million units
- Queen — 43 million units
- Reba McEntire — 41 million units
- Eric Clapton — 40 million units
- Tim McGraw — 39.5 million units
- Chicago — 38.5 million units
- Simon & Garfunkel — 38.5 million units
- Foreigner — 38 million units
- Rod Stewart — 38 million units
- Backstreet Boys — 37 million units
- Tupac Shakur — 36.5 million units
- Bob Dylan — 36 million units
- Def Leppard — 35.5 million units
- Kenny Chesney — 35 million units
- Bon Jovi — 34.5 million units
- Britney Spears — 34.5 million units
This list encompasses a diverse range of genres and reflects the enduring popularity of iconic musicians across different eras. If you have any specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like to explore further, feel free to ask.
