• To ensure the highest level of fact checking and editorial control, this list sources sales figures to news organizations and highly regarded music industry related organizations such as MTV, VH1, and Billboard.
  • The figures of total certified units within the tables below are based on certified units of albums, singles (including digital downloads) and videos.
  • Markets' order within the tables is based on Retail Value: each market generates respectively, the largest market at the top and smallest at the bottom.[1][2]
Artist Country / Market Period active Release year of first charted record Genre Total certified units
(from available markets)[a]
Claimed sales
The Beatles United Kingdom 1960–1970[3] 1962[3] Rock / pop[3]

Total available certified units: 285.4 million
600 million[34][35]
500 million[36]
Elvis Presley United States 1954–1977[37] 1954[37] Rock and roll / pop / country[37]

Total available certified units: 229.1 million
500 million[46][47]
360 million (Estimated sales
as of 1997)
[48][49]
Michael Jackson United States 1964–2009[50] 1971[50] Pop / rock / dance / soul / R&B[50]

Total available certified units: 243.9 million
400 million[63][64]
350 million[65][66]
Elton John United Kingdom 1964–present[67] 1969[67] Pop / rock[67]

Total available certified units: 196.9 million
300 million[71][72]
250 million[73][74]
Madonna United States 1979–present[75] 1983[75] Pop / dance / electronica[75]

Total available certified units: 180.1 million
300 million[83][84]
275 million[85]
Led Zeppelin United Kingdom 1968–1980[86] 1969[86] Hard rock / blues rock / folk rock[86]

Total available certified units: 141.1 million
300 million[90][91]
200 million[92][93]
Rihanna Barbados
United States
2005–present[94] 2005[94] R&B / pop / dance / hip-hop[94]

Total available certified units: 303.2 million
250 million[98][99]
Pink Floyd United Kingdom 1965–1996, 2005, 2012–2014[100][101] 1967[100] Progressive rock / psychedelic rock[100]

Total available certified units: 121.7 million
250 million[105][106]
200 million[107]
  • The column for certified sales includes markets, the databases of which contain certifications representing figures of 100,000 and more.
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