The following list of best-selling music artists includes musical artists from the 20th century to the present with claims of 75 million or more record sales worldwide. The tables list artists in descending order by claimed sales; artists with equal claimed sales are ranked by certified units.
The claimed-sales and certified-unit figures include sales of albums, singles, compilation albums, and music videos as well as downloads of singles and full-length albums. Sales figures, such as those from SoundScan, which are sometimes published by Billboard magazine, are not included in the certified-units column.
Definitions
From 2011 to 2021, the number of Platinum certifications for songs grew at an average annual rate of 18%. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and almost all other certifying bodies count streaming towards Gold and Platinum thresholds required for certification. The RIAA counts 10 downloads of individual tracks as well as 1,500 audio/video streams as an equivalent to one unit of album, including those from singles released before the album release. Theoretically, if one song were streamed 1.5 billion times on YouTube, the single would receive Diamond and its album could be certified Platinum; thus generating a combined total of 11 million certified units without any sales. Kanye West's album The Life of Pablo was certified platinum exclusively through streaming. Longer albums with more songs tend to generate more streams, which can lead to Gold and Platinum certifications. For example, Chris Brown's 45-song album Heartbreak on a Full Moon was certified gold in fewer than 10 days, although its singles did not perform well on sales charts.
Issued certifications for songs which have been recorded by multiple artists, including featured artists, are added to each artist's total amount of certified units, as all the artists would have played a significant part in a song. For example, "This Is What You Came For" include Rihanna and Calvin Harris, while "Where Them Girls At" include Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj, so the certifications issued for these songs are added to the total amount of certified units for all involved artists. However, the certifications issued for songs that have been recorded by four or more artists are not included, as the artists involved would have played minor roles; examples include Kanye West's "Monster" and "All Day".
Artists by reputed sales
250 million or more records
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File:The Beatles 1963 Dezo Hoffman Capitol Records press photo 2.jpg|The Beatles
File:Michael Jackson 1983 (3x4 cropped) (contrast).jpg|Michael Jackson
File:Elvis Presley promoting Jailhouse Rock.jpg|Elvis Presley
File:Popzanger Elton John in Nederland Elton John , kop, Bestanddeelnr 924-2765 (cropped) (b).jpg|Elton John
File:Queen A Night At The Opera (1975 Elektra publicity photo 02).jpg|Queen
File:Madonna in concert wearing fishnets 1987.jpg|Madonna
File:Led Zeppelin - promotional image (1971).jpg|Led Zeppelin
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{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:130px;"| Artist
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Country
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Period active
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Release-year of first charted record
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Genre
! scope="col" style="width:325px;"| Total certified units<br /><small>(from available markets)</small>
! scope="col" style="width:150px;"| Claimed sales
|-
! scope="row" | The Beatles
| United Kingdom
| 1960–1970
| 1962
- JPN: 4.95 million
- GER: 8 million
- FRA: 4.09 million
- CAN: 14.455 million
- AUS: 3.06 million
- BRA: 670,000
- NLD: 345,000
- SWE: 485,000
- SWI: 350,000
- ARG: 1.926 million
- BEL: 440,000
- AUT: 500,000
- NZ: 660,000
- POR: 135,000<br />500 million
|-
! scope="row" | Michael Jackson
| United States
| 1964–2009
| 1971
- GER: 15.125 million
- CAN: 10.35 million
- BRA: 460,000
- SWE: 1.45 million
| style="text-align:center;"|500 million
|-
! scope="row" | Elvis Presley
| United States
| 1953–1977
| 1956
- BRA: 125,000
- SWE: 380,000
- SWI: 185,000
- ARG: 110,000
|-
! scope="row" | Elton John
| United Kingdom
| 1962–present
| 1970
- BRA: 855,000<br />250 million
|-
! scope="row" | Queen
| United Kingdom
| 1971–present
| 1973
- GER: 12.525 million<br />250 million
|-
! scope="row" | Madonna
| United States
| 1979–present
| 1982
- UK: 34.10 million
- BRA: 4.380 million
- SWI: 1.28 million
- BEL: 1.055 million<br />250 million
|-
! scope="row" | Led Zeppelin
| United Kingdom
| 1968–1980
| 1969
- CAN: 4.71 million
- BRA: 970,000<br />200 million
|-
! scope="row" | Rihanna
| Barbados
| 2003–present
| 2005
| style="text-align:center;"|250 million<br />230 million
|-
! scope="row" | Pink Floyd
| United Kingdom
| 1965–1996, 2005, 2012–2014
| 1967
- GER: 7.5 million
- NOR: 165,000
- ARG: 582,000<br />200 million
|}
200 million to 249 million records
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File:Eminem-02-mika (cropped 3x4).jpg|Eminem
File:Mariah Carey 1999 (bigger) (cropped) (b).jpg|Mariah Carey
File:Whitney Houston (cropped3).JPEG|Whitney Houston
File:Taylor Swift 2019 by Glenn Francis (cropped 3x4).jpg|Taylor Swift
File:Beyoncé Army.mil (cropped) (cropped).jpg|Beyoncé
File:Ed Sheeran-6886 (cropped).jpg|Ed Sheeran
File:ACDC Let There Be Rock (1977 Atco publicity photo).jpg|AC/DC
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{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:130px;"| Artist
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Country
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Period active
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Release-year of first charted record
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Genre
! scope="col" style="width:325px;"| Total certified units<br /><small>(from available markets)</small>
! scope="col" style="width:130px;"| Claimed sales
|-
! scope="row" | Eminem
| United States
| 1996–present
| 1999
|-
! scope="row" | Mariah Carey
|United States
|1988–present
|1990
- BRA: 2.155 million
- SWI: 515,000
|-
! scope="row" | Whitney Houston
| United States
| 1977–2012
| 1984
- GER: 7 million
- BRA: 1.065 million
- SWI: 915,000
|-
! scope="row" | Taylor Swift
| United States
| 2003–present
| 2006
|
| style="text-align:center;"|160 million
|-
! scope="row" | Billy Joel
| United States
| 1964–present
| 1971
- GER: 1.25 million
|-
! scope="row" | Katy Perry
| United States
| 2001–present
| 2008
- CAN: 12.96 million
|-
! scope="row" | Justin Bieber
| Canada
| 2008–present
| 2009
|-
! scope="row" | Bruno Mars
| United States
| 2004–present
| 2010
- SWI: 415,000
- POR: 115,000
|-
! scope="row" | Britney Spears
| United States
| 1998–present
| 1998
- SWI: 495,000
| style="text-align:center;"|150 million
|-
! scope="row" | Metallica
| United States
| 1981–present
| 1983
- ITA: 1 million
|-
! scope="row" | Bruce Springsteen
| United States
| 1972–present
| 1973
- SWI: 535,000
|-
! scope="row" | U2
| Ireland
| 1976–present
| 1980
- BRA: 2.8 million
- BEL: 770,000
| style="text-align:center;"|150 million
|-
! scope="row" | Aerosmith
| United States
| 1970–present
| 1973
- BRA: 600,000
|-
! scope="row" | Phil Collins
| United Kingdom
| 1980–2011, 2015–present
| 1981
- SWI: 973,000
| style="text-align:center;"|150 million
|-
! scope="row" | Barbra Streisand
| United States
| 1960–present
| 1963
|-
! scope="row" | ABBA
| Sweden
| 1972–1982, 2016–2022
| 1972
- GER: 11.35 million
- BRA: 305,000
- SWI: 600,000
| style="text-align:center;"|150 million
|-
! scope="row" | Julio Iglesias
| Spain
| 1968–present
| 1968
- GER: 250,000
| style="text-align:center;"|150 million
|-
! scope="row" | Frank Sinatra
| United States
| 1935–1971, 1973–1995
| 1940
- BRA: 350,000
|-
! scope="row" | Chris Brown
| United States
| 2005–present
| 2005
|-
! scope="row" | Jay-Z
| United States
| 1996–present
| 1996
|-
! scope="row" | Lady Gaga
| United States
| 2005–present
| 2008
|-
! scope="row" | Lil Wayne
| United States
| 1996–present
| 1999
|-
! scope="row" | Maroon 5
| United States
| 1994–present
| 2002
|-
! scope="row" | Adele
| United Kingdom
| 2006–present
| 2008
|-
! scope="row" | Red Hot Chili Peppers
| United States
| 1983–present
| 1987
- BRA: 1 million
|-
! scope="row" | Bon Jovi
| United States
| 1983–present
| 1983
- BRA: 435,000
|-
! scope="row" | Fleetwood Mac
| United Kingdom<br />United States
| 1967–present
| 1968
| style="text-align:center;"|120 million
|-
! scope="row" | Rod Stewart
| United Kingdom
| 1964–present
| 1969
- SWI: 100,000
|-
! scope="row" | Bee Gees
| United Kingdom <br />Australia
| 1963–2003<br />2009–2012
| 1963
- GER: 7.175 million
|-
! scope="row" | Roberto Carlos
| Brazil
| 1961–present
| 1963
| Latin / pop / rock
|
| style="text-align:center;"|100 million
|-
! scope="row" | Backstreet Boys
| United States
| 1993–present
| 1995
- GER: 7 million
|-
! scope="row" | Eric Clapton
| United Kingdom
| 1962–present
| 1970
|-
! scope="row" | Neil Diamond
| United States
| 1966–present
| 1966
- NLD: 250,000
|-
! scope="row" | Prince
| United States
| 1976–2016
| 1978
|-
! scope="row" | Paul McCartney
| United Kingdom
| 1960–present
| 1970
- DEN: 405,000
|-
! scope="row" | Janet Jackson
| United States
| 1982–present
| 1982
|-
! scope="row" | Kenny Rogers
| United States
| 1958–2020
| 1975
- UK: 3.92 million
|-
! scope="row" | The Doors
| United States
| 1965–1973
| 1967
|-
! scope="row" | Santana
| United States
| 1966–present
| 1969
|-
! scope="row" | Simon & Garfunkel
| United States
| 1956–2004
| 1964
|-
! scope="row" | The Beach Boys
| United States
| 1961–present
| 1962
|-
! scope="row" | Dire Straits
| United Kingdom
| 1977–1995
| 1978
|-
! scope="row" | George Michael
| United Kingdom
| 1981–2016
| 1984
- SWI: 335,000
|-
! scope="row" | Foreigner
| United States<br />United Kingdom
| 1976–present
| 1977
|-
! scope="row" | Bob Dylan
| United States
| 1959–present
| 1963
|-
! scope="row" | Chicago
| United States
| 1967–present
| 1969
- GER: 250,000
|-
|-
! scope="row" | Cher
| United States
| 1964–present
| 1965
- BRA: 125,000
- ITA: 325,000
| style="text-align:center;"|100 million
|-
! scope="row" | Meat Loaf
| United States
| 1968–2022
| 1977
|-
! scope="row" | The Carpenters
| United States
| 1969–1983
| 1969
- GER: 250,000
|-
! scope="row" | Earth, Wind & Fire
| United States
| 1969–present
| 1971
- UK: 4.585 million
|-
! scope="row" | David Bowie
| United Kingdom
| 1962–2016
| 1967
|-
! scope="row" | Def Leppard
| United Kingdom
| 1977–present
| 1979
- SWE: 150,000
|-
! scope="row" | Stevie Wonder
| United States
| 1961–present
| 1962
|-
! scope="row" | Genesis
| United Kingdom
| 1967–1999<br />2006–2007<br />2020–2022
| 1969
|-
! scope="row" | Tina Turner
| United States
| 1958–2009
| 1960
| R&B / rock / pop
|-
! scope="row" | James Taylor
| United States
| 1968–present
| 1970
|-
! scope="row" | Olivia Newton-John
| United Kingdom<br />Australia
| 1966–2022
| 1966
- NLD: 150,000
|-
! scope="row" | Linda Ronstadt
| United States
| 1967–2011
| 1968
|-
! scope="row" | Donna Summer
| United States
| 1968–2012
| 1974
|-
! scope="row" | Diana Ross
| United States
| 1959–present
| 1970
- BEL: 75,000
- CAN: 1.75 million
- FRA: 100,000
- ITA: 50,000
- NLD: 450,000
- NZ: 60,000
|-
! scope="row" | The Supremes
| United States
| 1959–1977
| 1962
- ITA: 50,000
- NZ: 97,500
| style="text-align:center;"|100 million
|}
80 million to 99 million records
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File:Antonio de la Rúa, Barack Obama, & Shakira (2009-02-02) (cropped).jpg|Shakira
File:Ariana Grande during The Honeymoon Tour in Jakarta 2015.jpg|Ariana Grande
File:Alicia Keys (2025).jpg|Alicia Keys
File:Tim McGraw with Gov. Hogan (cropped).jpg|Tim McGraw
File:Lionel Richie 1984.jpg|Lionel Richie
File:Johnny Cash 1977.jpg|Johnny Cash
File:Justin Timberlake by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|Justin Timberlake
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{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:130px;"| Artist
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Country
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Period active
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Release-year of first charted record
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Genre
! scope="col" style="width:325px;"| Total certified units<br /><small>(from available markets)</small>
! scope="col" style="width:130px;"| Claimed sales
|-
! scope="row" | Shakira
| Colombia
| 1988–present
| 1995
|-
! scope="row" | Ariana Grande
| United States
| 2008–present
| 2013
|-
! scope="row" | Alicia Keys
| United States
| 1996–present
| 2001
|-
! scope="row" | Tim McGraw
| United States
| 1990–present
| 1994
|-
! scope="row" | Lionel Richie
| United States
| 1968–present
| 1981
- BRA: 100,000
|-
! scope="row" | Gloria Estefan
| United States
| 1975–present
| 1984
- NLD: 625,000
|-
! scope="row" | Andrea Bocelli
| Italy
| 1982–present
| 1994
|-
! scope="row" | Johnny Cash
| United States
| 1954–2003
| 1956
|-
! scope="row" | Justin Timberlake
| United States
| 1992–present
| 2002
|-
! scope="row" | Pearl Jam
| United States
| 1990–present
| 1991
- ARG: 50,000
|-
! scope="row" | R.E.M.
| United States
| 1980–2011
| 1983
|-
! scope="row" | Kelly Clarkson <!-- As Clarkson first charted in 2002, she needs a 54.5% requirement (see talk page), current available certification units are at 50 million. -->
| United States
| 2002–present
| 2002
|-
! scope="row" | Post Malone
| United States
| 2013–present
| 2015
|-
! scope="row" | Flo Rida
| United States
| 2007–present
| 2007
|-
! scope="row" | Usher
| United States
| 1991–present
| 1994
|-
! scope="row" | The Black Eyed Peas
| United States
| 1995–present
| 1998
|-
! scope="row" | Van Halen
| United States
| 1978–2020
| 1978
|-
! scope="row" | Ayumi Hamasaki
| Japan
| 1998–present
| 1998
|-
! scope="row" | Tom Petty
| United States
| 1976–2017
| 1977
|-
! scope="row" | Johnny Hallyday
| France
| 1957–2017
| 1960
- SWI: 268,000
|}
75 million to 79 million records
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DO NOT ADD ANY MORE IMAGES OR REPLACE THE ARTISTS. WE ARE TO HAVE SEVEN IMAGES ONLY.
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File:FEQ July 2018 The Weeknd (44778856382) (cropped).jpg|The Weeknd
File:Imagine Dragons, Roundhouse, London (35390234536).jpg|Imagine Dragons
File:LukeBryanApr10.jpg|Luke Bryan
File:Greenday2010.jpg|Green Day
File:Alabama at Bayfest 2014.jpg|Alabama
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<!--When adding to this page, please ensure that your claims are sourced. This means that you must provide the location of the claim. All sources must be published by third party reliable sources. It cannot be pages in Wikipedia or forums on web pages nor can they be Artists' official sites. Unsourced additions will be removed immediately-->
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:130px;"| Artist
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Country
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Period active
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Release-year of first charted record
! scope="col" style="width:122px;"| Genre
! scope="col" style="width:325px;"| Total certified units<br /><small>(from available markets)</small>
! scope="col" style="width:130px;"| Claimed sales
|-
! scope="row" | The Weeknd
| Canada
| 2010–present
| 2013
|-
! scope="row" | Imagine Dragons
| United States
| 2008–present
| 2012
|-
! scope="row" | Luke Bryan
| United States
| 2001–present
| 2007
|-
! scope="row" | Tupac Shakur
| United States
| 1991–1996
| 1991
- ITA: 300,000
|-
! scope="row" | Nirvana
| United States
| 1987–1994
| 1990
- BRA: 935,000
|-
! scope="row" | Green Day
| United States
| 1987–present
| 1994
- BEL: 115,000
|-
! scope="row" | Alabama
| United States
| 1972–present
| 1980
|-
! scope="row" | Oasis
| United Kingdom
| 1991–2009<br>2024–present
| 1994
| Rock
- ITA: 755,000
|-
! scope="row" | R. Kelly
| United States
| 1989–2019
| 1991
| R&B / hip-hop / pop
|-
! scope="row" | Robbie Williams
| United Kingdom
| 1990–present
| 1996
|-
! scope="row" | Bob Seger
| United States
| 1961–present
| 1967
|-
! scope="row" | Kenny G
| United States
| 1982–present
| 1984
|-
! scope="row" | Enya
| Ireland
| 1982–present
| 1987
|-
! scope="row" | Bryan Adams
| Canada
| 1979–present
| 1979
- BRA: 100,000
|-
! scope="row" | Bob Marley
| Jamaica
| 1962–1981
| 1975
- NLD: 420,000
|-
! scope="row" | The Police
| United Kingdom
| 1977–1986<br />2007–2008
| 1978
- BRA: 170,000
|-
! scope="row" | Barry Manilow
| United States
| 1973–present
| 1973
|-
! scope="row" | Kiss
| United States
| 1972–2023
| 1974
|-
! scope="row" | Aretha Franklin
| United States
| 1956–2018
| 1961
|}
See also
- List of best-selling albums
- List of best-selling albums by country
- List of best-selling singles
- List of best-selling singles by country
- Best-selling artists by nationality
- List of best-selling Belgian music artists
- List of biggest-selling British music artists
- List of estimated best-selling Italian music artists
- List of best-selling Swedish music artists
- Best-selling artists by territory
- List of best-selling music artists in Brazil
- List of best-selling music artists in Finland
- List of highest-certified music artists in Germany
- List of best-selling music artists in Japan
- List of best-selling female music artists in the United Kingdom
- List of highest-certified music artists in the United States
- Best-selling artists by genre
- List of best-selling Latin music artists
- List of best-selling boy groups
- List of best-selling girl groups
- List of best-selling female rappers
- List of best-selling gospel music artists
- IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year