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Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Taylor Swift attend the
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Taylor Swift attend the "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" Concert Movie World Premiere at AMC The Grove 14 on October 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, California

John Shearer/Getty Images for TAS

  • The best-selling musicians of all time include Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, and Whitney Houston.
  • RIAA ranked the best-selling musicians of all time based on total album units sold in the US.
  • Swift, Drake, and Beyoncé are among the newest artists to make the cut.

You might feel like Taylor Swift is the biggest musician of all time thanks to the number of albums she's recorded, the tickets she's sold, and the headlines she's generated.

In fact, she hasn't cracked the top 20.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) lists the best-selling musicians of all time, based on total certified album units sold in the US. It also includes streaming figures.

Artists from multiple different genres — pop, country, instrumental jazz, rap, metal — have earned their spots on this list.

Keep scrolling to see the 50 best-selling music artists of all time in the US by album sales.

John Lynch, Travis Clark, and Will Gendron contributed to a previous version of this post. 

50. Bob Dylan — 36 million units
American folk-rock singer-songwriter Bob Dylan performing at BBC TV Centre, London, 1st June 1965.

Val Wilmer/Redferns/Getty Images

49. Tupac Shakur — 36.5 million
American rapper Tupac Shakur at the premiere of

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

47 (tie). Beyoncé — 37 million units
Beyoncé performs onstage during the
Beyoncé performs onstage during the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at PGE Narodowy on June 27, 2023 i

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood/Getty Images

47 (tie). Backstreet Boys — 37 million units
Portrait of American boy band Backstreet Boys, The Hague, Netherlands 2nd April 1998. Left to right Alexander James McLean, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell and Nick Carter.

Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images

45 (tie). Rod Stewart — 38 million units
Singer Rod Stewart performs on stage at the Acer Arena on February 26, 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

45 (tie). Foreigner — 38 million units
Kelly Hansen and Bruce Watson of Foreigner perform at Ryman Auditorium on August 18, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee

Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

43 (tie). Simon & Garfunkel — 38.5 million units
June 1972: American singers and musicians Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performing at 'Together with McGovern,' a fundraising concert for the presidential candidate George McGovern, Madison Square Garden, New York City. Both sing while Simon plays guitar.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

43 (tie). Britney Spears — 38.5 million
Britney Spears performs during Now! 99.7 Triple Ho Show 7.0 at SAP Center on December 3, 2016
Britney Spears performs during Now! 99.7 Triple Ho Show 7.0 at SAP Center on December 3, 2016

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

42. Chicago — 39 million units
27th August 1970: American rock band Chicago, in England to top the bill at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. From left to right; Pete Cetera (bass), James Pankow (trombone), Lee Loughnane (trumpet), Terry Kath (guitar), Walter Parazaider (saxophone) and Danny Seraphine

Ian Showell/Keystone/Getty Images

41. Eric Clapton — 40 million units
Eric Clapton performs on stage playing acoustic guitar at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 1998.

Phil Dent/Redferns/Getty Images

38 (tie). Tim McGraw — 41 million units
Tim McGraw performs during the Windy City Smokeout on August 5, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

38 (tie). Reba McEntire — 41 million units
Reba McEntire performs at Bridgestone Arena on October 21, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

38 (tie). Bon Jovi — 41 million units
Jon Bon Jovi of the band Bon Jovi performs on stage during Rock In Rio day 3 at Cidade do Rock on September 29, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Jon Bon Jovi of the band Bon Jovi performs on stage during Rock In Rio day 3 at Cidade do Rock on September 29, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images

37. Queen — 43 million units
Photo of Freddie MERCURY and QUEEN; Freddie Mercury performing live on stage,

Fin Costello/Redferns/Getty Images

36. Santana — 43.5 million units
Guitarist Carlos Santana performs at The Beacon Theater on October 18, 1996 in New York City
Guitarist Carlos Santana performs at The Beacon Theater on October 18, 1996 in New York City

Al Pereira/Getty Images

33 (tie). Guns N' Roses — 44.5 million units
Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses perform onstage during the Power Trip music festival at Empire Polo Club on October 06, 2023 in Indio, California.
Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses perform onstage during the Power Trip music festival at Empire Polo Club on October 06, 2023 in Indio, California.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Power Trip

33 (tie). Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band — 44.5 million units
Bob Seger of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet band performs in concert at The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 11, 2013

Scott Legato/WireImage/Getty Images

33 (tie). Alan Jackson — 44.5 million units
Singer/Songwriter Alan Jackson performs at The OMNI Coliseum in Atlanta Georgia February 19, 1991

Rick Diamond/Getty Images

31 (tie). Kenny Rogers — 47.5 million units
Kenny Rogers performing on stage, 1978.

David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

31 (tie). Drake — 47.5 million units
Rapper Drake performs onstage during

Prince Williams/Wireimage/Getty Images

29 (tie). Shania Twain — 48 million units
Shania Twain performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019
Shania Twain performs onstage during the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019

Kevin Mazur/AMA2019/Getty Images for dcp

29 (tie). Kenny G — 48 million units
kenny g

Getty

28. Alabama — 49 million units
Alabama (Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook), U.S. country music band, pose sitting on stools, circa 1980..

David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

27. Neil Diamond — 49.5 million units
Singer Neil Diamond performs onstage at Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Debra Lee at The Beverly Hilton on February 11, 2017
Singer Neil Diamond performs onstage at Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Debra Lee at The Beverly Hilton on February 11, 2017

Lester Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images

26. U2 — 52 million units
: Bono of U2 performs on stage at Mediolanum Forum on October 12, 2018 in Milan, Italy.

Sergione Infuso/Corbis/Getty Images

25. Journey — 52.5 million units
American rock group Journey, New York, June 1979. Left to right: guitarist Neal Schon, bassist Ross Valory, keyboard player Gregg Rolie, singer Steve Perry, and drummer Steve Smith.

Michael Putland/Getty Images

24. Celine Dion — 53 million units
Celine Dion speaks onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024

Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

23. Fleetwood Mac — 55.5 million units
Photo of Stevie NICKS and FLEETWOOD MAC; Stevie Nicks performing live onstage
Photo of Stevie NICKS and FLEETWOOD MAC; Stevie Nicks performing live onstage

Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images

22. Van Halen — 56.5 million units
At the backstage of Van Halen on their 1984 tour in support of their sixth studio abum 1984,

David Tan/Shinko Music/Getty Images

21. Taylor Swift — 57 million units
Taylor Swift onstage wearing a sparkly bodysuit, flexing her bicep.
Taylor Swift performs during her "Eras Tour."

AP Photo/George Walker IV

20. Whitney Houston — 61 million units
American singer and actress, Whitney Houston, performs at the Pine Knob Music Theater during her
American singer and actress, Whitney Houston, performs at the Pine Knob Music Theater during her "Moment of Truth" world tour, on July 31, 1987

Icon and Image/Getty Images

19. Eminem — 61.5 million units
eminem

Getty

18. Metallica — 63 million units
James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica perform on stage at Johan Cruijff Arena on April 29, 2023

Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images

17. Madonna — 65.5 million units
Madonna performs onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019
Madonna performs onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

16. The Rolling Stones — 66.5 million units
rolling stones

Getty

15. Barbra Streisand — 68.5 million units
Barbra Streisand performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on August 03, 2019 in New York City
Barbra Streisand performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on August 03, 2019 in New York City

Kevin Kane/Getty Images for BSB

13 (tie). George Strait — 69.5 million units
George Strait performs at the Coal Miner's Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music Of Loretta Lynn at the Grand Ole Opry on October 30, 2022

Jason Kempin/Getty Images

13 (tie). Aerosmith — 69.5 million units
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith performs live on stage at the Wells Fargo Center on September 02, 2023

Lisa Lake/Getty Images

12. Bruce Springsteen — 71 million units
Bruce Springsteen performs at the 7th annual

Jemal Countess/Getty Images

10 (tie). Pink Floyd — 75 million units
David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Rick Wright from the band Pink Floyd on stage at

MJ Kim/Getty Images

10 (tie). Mariah Carey — 75 million units
Mariah Carey performs onstage for
Mariah Carey performs onstage for "Merry Christmas One And All!" at Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel on November 15, 2023

Kevin Mazur/WireImage for MC/Getty Images

9. Elton John — 81 million units
Sir Elton John performs on stage during Day 5 of Glastonbury Festival 2023 on June 25, 2023

Leon Neal/Getty Images

8. AC/DC — 84 million units
Stevie Young, Brian Johnson, Angus Young, and Cliff Williams of AC/DC perform onstage during the Power Trip music festival at Empire Polo Club on October 07, 2023

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Power Trip

7. Billy Joel — 86 million units
Billy Joel performs at Madison Square Garden on December 19, 2023 in New York City

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

6. Michael Jackson — 89 million units
Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1986
Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1986

KMazur/WireImage/Getty Images

5. Led Zeppelin — 112.5 million units
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin

Jay Dickman/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images

4. Eagles — 120 million units
Members of the American soft-rock ensemble The Eagles sit on chairs as the perform on the television show 'Don Kirschner's Rock Concert,' 1979. Bandmembers are (left to right) Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Don Felder.

Fotos International/Getty Images

3. Elvis Presley — 146.5 million units
Rock and roll musician Elvis Presley performing on the Elvis comeback TV special on June 27, 1968.
Rock and roll musician Elvis Presley performing on the Elvis comeback TV special on June 27, 1968.

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

2. Garth Brooks — 162 million units
garth brooks

Getty

1. The Beatles — 183 million units
the Beatles

Getty

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The 50 best-selling music artists of all time