All time Selling Artist- U.S.-specific list

[Arty]

TOP SELLING ARTISTS

Artist Certified Units in Millions
BEATLES, THE 170
BROOKS, GARTH 128
PRESLEY, ELVIS 120
LED ZEPPELIN 111.5
EAGLES 100
JOEL, BILLY 79.5
PINK FLOYD 74.5
STREISAND, BARBRA 71
AC/DC 71
JOHN, ELTON 70
STRAIT, GEORGE 68.5
AEROSMITH 66.5
ROLLING STONES, THE 66
SPRINGSTEEN, BRUCE 64
MADONNA 63.5
CAREY, MARIAH 62.5
JACKSON, MICHAEL 61.5
METALLICA 58
VAN HALEN 56.5
HOUSTON, WHITNEY 54
ROGERS, KENNY 51
U2 50.5
DION, CELINE 50
FLEETWOOD MAC 48.5
DIAMOND, NEIL 48.5
KENNY G 48
TWAIN, SHANIA 48
JOURNEY 47
ALABAMA 46
GUNS 'N ROSES 43.5
SANTANA 43
CLAPTON, ERIC 42.5
JACKSON, ALAN 42.5
SEGER, BOB AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND 41
MC ENTIRE, REBA 40.5
PRINCE 39.5
SIMON & GARFUNKEL 38.5
CHICAGO 38
2 PAC 37.5
FOREIGNER 37.5
DYLAN, BOB 37
BACKSTREET BOYS 37
STEWART, ROD 37
NELSON, WILLIE 35
DEF LEPPARD 35
MC GRAW, TIM 35
BON JOVI 34
COLLINS, PHIL 33.5
TAYLOR, JAMES 33
KELLY, R. 33
QUEEN 32.5
DENVER, JOHN 32.5
DOORS, THE 32.5
MATTHEWS, DAVE BAND 32
SPEARS, BRITNEY 32
BOSTON 31
PEARL JAM 31
DIXIE CHICKS 30.5
RONSTADT, LINDA 30
PETTY, TOM 29
OSBOURNE, OZZY 28.75
PETTY, TOM & THE HEARTBREAKERS 28.5
'N SYNC 28
BOLTON, MICHAEL 28
LYNYRD SKYNYRD 28
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER 28
MELLENCAMP, JOHN 27.5
MANILOW, BARRY 27.5
BOYZ II MEN 27
EMINEM 27
SINATRA, FRANK 27
BROOKS & DUNN 26.5
ENYA 26.5
JAY-Z 26
JACKSON, JANET 26
BEE GEES 26
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL 26
HILL, FAITH 25.5
CREED 25
ZZ TOP 25
VANDROSS, LUTHER 25
NIRVANA 25
RUSH 25
CARPENTERS, THE 24.5
MILLER, STEVE BAND 24.5
GILL, VINCE 24
KEITH, TOBY 24
MOTLEY CRUE 23.5
EARTH, WIND & FIRE 23.5
CARS, THE 23.5
BUFFETT, JIMMY 23
SADE 22.5
HENDRIX, JIMI 22.5
GREEN DAY 22.5
POLICE, THE 22.5
CHESNEY, KENNY 22.5
OUTKAST 22
TLC 22
KID ROCK 22
BEASTIE BOYS 22
RICHIE, LIONEL 22
R.E.O. SPEEDWAGON 22
DOOBIE BROTHERS 22
HEART 21.5
GENESIS 21.5
USHER 21.5
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 21.5
BEACH BOYS, THE 21.5
WHO, THE 21
MEAT LOAF 21
NELLY 21
CASH, JOHNNY 21
MORISSETTE, ALANIS 20.5
HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH 20
R.E.M. 20
WILLIAMS, HANK, JR. 19.5
WONDER, STEVIE 19.5
BRAXTON, TONI 19.5
NICKELBACK 19
LINKIN PARK 19
KISS 19
SMASHING PUMPKINS 18.75
MC LACHLAN, SARAH 18.5
BROWNE, JACKSON 18.5
MATCHBOX TWENTY 18.5
JEWEL 18.5
TRAVIS, RANDY 18
BLIGE, MARY J. 18
STING 18
CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG 18
GROBAN, JOSH 17.5
YOUNG, NEIL 17.5
MONKEES, THE 17.5
GRATEFUL DEAD 17.5
DESTINY'S CHILD 17.5
STYX 17.5
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS 17.5
ADAMS, BRYAN 17
MATHIS, JOHNNY 17
NOTORIOUS B.I.G. 17
RAITT, BONNIE 17
RASCAL FLATTS 17
GRANT, AMY 17
KORN 16.5
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK 16.5
RIMES, LEANN 16.5
MARLEY, BOB & THE WAILERS 16.5
LIMP BIZKIT 16.5
JONES, NORAH 16
CROW, SHERYL 16
HAMMER 16
CONNICK, HARRY, JR. 16
KANSAS 15.5
ISLEY BROTHERS 15.5
STEVENS, CAT 15.5
JOPLIN, JANIS 15.5
BAD COMPANY 15.5
ESTEFAN, GLORIA 15.5
DIRE STRAITS 15.5
NO DOUBT 15
MC CARTNEY, PAUL 15
CLINE, PATSY 15
FOGELBERG, DAN 15
MICHAEL, GEORGE 15
BLACK SABBATH 15
INXS 15
MURRAY, ANNE 14.5
AGUILERA, CHRISTINA 14.5
OFFSPRING 14.5
POISON 14.5
KING, CAROLE 14.5
CRANBERRIES, THE 14.5
KEYS, ALICIA 14
MC BRIDE, MARTINA 14
MONTGOMERY, JOHN MICHAEL 14
NEWTON-JOHN, OLIVIA 14
NUGENT, TED 14
DMX 14
LENNON, JOHN 14
DANIELS, CHARLIE BAND 13.5
YES 13.5
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE/STARSHIP 13.5
COLE, NATALIE 13.5
TEMPTATIONS, THE 13.5
SIMON, PAUL 13.5
ETHERIDGE, MELISSA 13
CHAPMAN, TRACY 13
SWEAT, KEITH 13
HALL & OATES 13
WHITESNAKE 12.5
YEARWOOD, TRISHA 12.5
L.L. COOL J 12.5
BENATAR, PAT 12.5
CHER 12.5
BLACK, CLINT 12.5
BONE THUGS 'N HARMONY 12.5
SNOOP DOGG 12.5
BAKER, ANITA 12
COUNTING CROWS 12
ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA 12
TRITT, TRAVIS 12
LUDACRIS 12
DURAN DURAN 12
SMITH, WILL 12
BOCELLI, ANDREA 12
WEBBER, ANDREW LLOYD 12
LIVE 12
MIDLER, BETTE 12
3 DOORS DOWN 12
LEWIS, HUEY & THE NEWS 12
JENNINGS, WAYLON 11.5
HENLEY, DON 11.5
COLDPLAY 11.5
ALICE IN CHAINS 11.5
VAUGHAN, S.R. & DOUBLE TROUBLE 11.5
ABDUL, PAULA 11.5
WHITE, BARRY 11
JETHRO TULL 11
50 CENT 11
LOPEZ, JENNIFER 11
STEELY DAN 11
SPICE GIRLS 11
YANNI 11
LOVERBOY 11
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD 11
YOAKAM, DWIGHT 11
MARTIN, RICKY 10.5
JUDDS, THE 10.5
WILLIAMS, ANDY 10.5
DEPECHE MODE 10.5

http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=tblTopArt&action=

 

[Hess]

is this true??

Madonna sold more than MJ ?

 

[Arty]

is this true??

Madonna sold more than MJ ?

In the US. Yes

I find it strange that Prince sold only about 40 millions in the US. 20 millions less than MJ.

 

[Tom]

Why post this? It's only being negative.

 

[Arty]

Why post this? It's only being negative.

Negative?? Why??

MJ sold twice as much as Britney Spears in the US. This is great!!!!

 

[Rockin.]

I thought Celine Dion was supposed to be higher than that?

Is there a list you can see where it works out how well selling an artist is taking into account the number of albums they have released? Because some have probably released more albums than others and therefore will have sold more because of this?

what exactly is a 'unit'?

Where is ABBA on there? I thought they were one of the worlds biggest selling artists? - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists also this 'claimed sales' thing.. how can Elvis have a claimed sales of 1 billion or 300million.. theres a lot of difference.. I don't understand?

I've never heard of George Strait..maybe I should look him up.

 

[Arty]

I thought Prince was selling more I mean only 40 million??? Woww that is 20 million less than MJ.

 

[Arty]

Where is ABBA on there? I thought they were one of the worlds biggest selling artists?.

Go to the link and look at page 3 they sold 10,5 million albums in the US. They are not big in the US!

 

[Arty]

is this true??

Madonna sold more than MJ ?

How many albums did Madonna release and how many Michael? Madonna has much more albums out in the US.

Of course if an artist has released many albums he will sell well.

MJ is selling big numbers with only a couple of albums released. While Elvis has released over 100 albums!

So this list shows clearly MJ is the MAN!!

 

[MJsPYT90]

Whether this list is legit or not, it doesn't even matter because Michael Jackson is the biggest selling artist of all time WORLD WIDE.

Exactly what I was going to say. I read in a magazine that Thriller now stands at 150 million copies world wide, that's with ONE album, that's more than most these artists sold with every record they've ever released.

 

[daphnieas]

Insulting other members is not allowed under any circumstances so don't go there please.

 

[Nivea]

Exactly what I was going to say. I read in a magazine that Thriller now stands at 150 million copies world wide, that's with ONE album, that's more than most these artists sold with every record they've ever released.

I heard that too, and that second place belonged to AC/DC's back in black album with 50mill copies sold.... I could be wrong though!

 

[A. Sizzle]

I think a worldwide list is more important than a US list

 

[82Thriller84]

Negative?? Why??

MJ sold twice as much as Britney Spears in the US. This is great!!!!

yeah but to be fair Michael is about 99 million times better than Britney, not twice as good, so you know

 

[Arty]

By the way who is STRAIT, GEORGE???

He sold 68. 5 million!! Never heard his name.

And Frank Sinatra only sold 27 million?? What the f.. people really have bad taste I mean the great Sinatra with 27 million and crap music like Kenny G with 48 million.

 

[Nivea]

yeah but to be fair Michael is about 99 million times better than Britney, not twice as good, so you know

yeah but Britney became famous because corporate media shoved her down our throats and did everything to promote her music, MJ achieved that status despite the medias attempts to tear him down and ruin his career, because people recognized his talent and wanted his music

By the way who is STRAIT, GEORGE???

He sold 68. 5 million!! Never heard his name.

And Frank Sinatra only sold 27 million?? What the f.. people really have bad taste I mean the great Sinatra with 27 million and crap music like Kenny G with 48 million

Strait george is a country music artist I'd say he is mostly famous in the u.s.
And you gotta look at publicity, kenny g is getting way more than frank I'd say.

 

[smooth_criminal05]

These are old numbers. They haven't been updated since last year. Remember MJ has sold over 5 million albums in the US this year with another 1 million+ on the way before the years end. That would take Jackson to 68-69 million.

 

[tbron]

these are old numbers. just so you guys no those sales don't include j5/jackson albums or his kid albums.

 

[Arty]

these are old numbers. just so you guys no those sales don't include j5/jackson albums or his kid albums.

They don´t include his solo albums as a kid?? why??

 

[smooth_criminal05]

By the end of this year you can add 6-7 million to that number. That will bump Michael up like 5 or 6 positions. I believe in 5 years time, MJ will be in the top 7 biggest selling acts in US history.

 

[HemlockDevi]

These are old numbers. They haven't been updated since last year. Remember MJ has sold over 5 million albums in the US this year with another 1 million+ on the way before the years end. That would take Jackson to 68-69 million.

They don´t include his solo albums as a kid?? why??

Because the US albums charts are rigged. They purposely never certified MJ's numbers this was most likely SONY's startegy to make MJ "cash poor". Now after his murder he has sold more like 10 million more in the states this year but they will not recertify them. This way they make all the money.

The RIAA (in bed with the record industry-worked against MJ 24/7)
Radio Play("Black Radio" and "Main stream")
Sales nos.(rigged) The sales numbers below tell the tale of how certain groups and or artist magically out sell MJ.


......................................................................................................................................................................
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
"Thriller" sales soar close to Eagles' "Hits"
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
Sun Jul 19, 2009

NEW YORK (Billboard) - For nearly a decade, the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" has been the recording industry's ultimate evergreen release, certified by the RIAA as the all-time best-selling album in the United States. But thanks to continued robust demand for Michael Jackson's catalog since his June 25 death, "Thriller" appears on the verge of matching "Their Greatest Hits," at least in the eyes of the industry trade group.http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
In March, the Recording Industry Association of America certified "Thriller" as 28 times platinum, meaning that at least 28 million copies of the album have been shipped since its 1982 release. That's just a notch behind the Eagles' hits compilation, which was released in 1976 and was certified 29 times platinum in 2006.

Billboard estimates that the posthumous surge in Jackson's sales and Sony Music Entertainment's efforts to push Jackson CDs into the distribution pipeline have likely propelled shipments of Jackson product, if not yet sales, beyond the 29 million-unit mark in the United States.http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
Amid the recent explosion in Jackson sales, "Thriller" has enjoyed the second-biggest sales bump in his catalog, just behind the hits collection "Number Ones." During the three weeks that ended July 12, "Thriller" sold 552,000 U.S. copies, for year-to-date sales of 608,000, according to Nielsen Sound Scan.

http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
STRONG SALES TO CONTINUEhttp://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
Most industry executives believe that the most recent Sound scan week -- which included the widely watched memorial service for Jackson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles -- will mark a posthumous weekly peak for Jackson sales. They also expect sales to wind down slowly in the next few months, which means sales will remain strong. In the week ended July 12, Jackson's album catalog sold a combined 1.1 million copies, up from nearly 800,000 in the preceding week and 422,000 in the week he died.
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
"Thriller" and "Their Greatest Hits" were instant hits. The RIAA first certified "Thriller" platinum in January 1983, just two months after its release, while "Their Greatest Hits" was certified platinum in February 1976, mere days after it arrived.
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
Propelled by groundbreaking videos for the singles "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the title track, "Thriller" reached the 20 million certification milestone in October 1984, becoming the RIAA's top-selling album of all time. The album's next RIAA certification, at 21 times platinum, came in May 1990. The RIAA's certification of "Thriller" as 28 times platinum in March came 13 months after Sony's release of a deluxe 25th-anniversary edition of the album.
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
The RIAA's second certification of shipments of the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits" didn't occur until August 1990, when it certified the release as 12 times platinum. The RIAA couldn't immediately explain why the album wasn't certified at earlier platinum milestones, or why it was next certified at 14 times platinum in December 1993, and for 22 times in June 1995, despite U.S. sales of only 919,000 during that period. When the RIAA certified "Their Greatest Hits" as 26 times platinum in November 1999, it unseated "Thriller" at the top of the RIAA's all-time ranking.

http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
Since being certified as 29 times platinum in January 2006, "Their Greatest Hits" has sold 404,000 copies, including 33,000 this year and 115,000 in 2008.http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
Representatives at Sony and Warner Music Group, which distributes "Their Greatest Hits," declined to comment.http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
Quote:http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
"Thriller" reached the 20 million certification milestone in October 1984, becoming the RIAA's top-selling album of all time. The album's next RIAA certification, at 21 time’s platinum, came in May 1990. http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
This says it all, only 1 million (21xUS) Thriller sales from 1984-1990???http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
(166,667+ copies sold per year)http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
1991- (March)2009-17.3yrs.7,000,000 million(28xUS) more sales (404624 + units per year)http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719

Quote:http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
The RIAA's second certification of shipments of the Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits" didn't occur until August 1990, when it certified the release as 12 time’s platinum. The RIAA couldn't immediately explain why the album wasn't certified at earlier platinum milestones, or why it was next certified at 14 times platinum in December 1993, and for 22 times in June 1995 http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
1976http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
(1,000,000 (1xUS) albums sold)http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
1976- 1990http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
11 million (12xUS) sales!!!???http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
(785,715+ US albums per year)http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
1990-1993 (14xUS) 3,000,000 more sales!!!???http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
(1,000,000+ copies per year)http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
1994- 1995 (22xUS) 8,000,000 more sales!!!??http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
(4,000,000+ copies per year more) sales???!!!!!http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
1996-2007 (29xUS) 7,000,000 more sales!!!??? (636,000+ copies per year more) sales???!!!
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
This is a fraud it all done to dethrone Thriller. We have discussed this issue for years now all can see these insane numbers. This is unbelievable!http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719
http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719

..............................................................................................................................................................................................

http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE56I2B820090719


The RIAA certifications were and are rigged The Beatles nor Elvis has sold that many records. Look this up; back in 1990-91 the RIAA "awarded" Elvis with more than 100 gold and platinum awards. The Beatles got the same treatment early and get re-certified instantly just as Madonna. This is a scam to keep certain people on top and to countinue to keep certain people at the bottom.

Michael Jackson is the true number one sales artist in the US and the World.

This is the bogust industry MJ was fighting and partly why he was eventially murdered.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OBUgE6EDFo

Remember the REAL Michael Jackson and what he said and stood for!

 

[michaelsson]

hes under-certified,sonys not gonna pay to have it recertified

 

[AGB]

Michael's solo album sales in the US are at 70 million, maybe a bit more. If you add Michael's solo album and single sales together in the US, he has sold well over 100 million there.