Top 10 Best-selling Music Artists
Updated September 17, 2018 |
Infoplease Staff
The World's Most Beloved Artists
Music is one of the most universal and valued artforms on Earth, cultivated in countless garages and school auditoriums. A select few aspiring musicians reach the big leagues and reach millions of listeners. Find out which musicians have made the biggest splash in the music industry.
(Note: Certified music sales are especially unreliable for older artists, as certification standards have changed over time. Artists active especially before and during the 1970's likely have higher total sales figures. Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd are bands that likely figure in the Top 10, but those sales weren't certified at the time. Infoplease has erred on the side of more conservative figures.)
Rank | Artist | Certified Units Sold1 |
---|---|---|
1 | The Beatles | 272 |
2 | Rihanna | 263.9 |
3 | Michael Jackson | 229.6 |
4 | Elvis Presley | 224.7 |
5 | Eminem | 218.2 |
6 | Taylor Swift | 199.9 |
7 | Elton John | 182.8 |
8 | Madonna | 172.9 |
9 | Garth Brooks | 156.1 |
10 | Justin Bieber | 152.4 |
Source: Certification-issuing agencies from 22 countries, including the U.S. (RIAA), U.K. (BPI), and Japan (RIAJ).
1. Figures given are in millions.
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