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Business Insider


England’s greatest rock band holds the top spot on this all-time ranking of the bestselling artists in the US by album sales, and look untouchable on a bizarre list filled with a number of surprising appearances.
It’s somewhat shocking to find out, for instance, that smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G. has sold more albums than Eminem, and that Garth Brooks has sold more than Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.
Here are the 50 bestselling music artists in music history according to their total certified album units sold in the US (including streaming figures), as provided by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

50. Bon Jovi – 34.5 million units
49. Britney Spears – 34.5 million units
48. Dave Matthews Band – 34.5 million units
47. Queen – 34.5 million units
46. Def Leppard – 35.5 million units

45. Bob Dylan – 36 million units
44. Tupac Shakur – 36.5 million units
43. Backstreet Boys – 37 million units
42. Tim McGraw – 37.5 million units
41. Rod Stewart – 38 million units

40. Foreigner – 38 million units
39. Simon & Garfunkel – 38.5 million units
38. Chicago – 38.5 million units
37. Eric Clapton – 40 million units
36. Reba McEntire – 41 million units

35. Taylor Swift – 43 million units
34. Santana – 43.5 million units
33. Alan Jackson – 43.5 million units
32. Guns N’ Roses – 44.5 million units
31. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – 44.5 million units

30. Eminem – 46 million units
29. Alabama – 46.5 million units
28. Kenny Rogers – 47.5 million units
27. Shania Twain – 48 million units
26. Kenny G – 48 million units

25. Journey – 48 million units
24. Neil Diamond – 49.5 million units
23. Celine Dion – 50 million units
22. U2 – 52 million units
21. Fleetwood Mac – 54.5 million units

20. Van Halen – 56.5 million units
19. Whitney Houston – 58.5 million units
18. Metallica – 63 million units
17. Mariah Carey – 64 million units
16. Madonna – 64.5 million units

15. Bruce Springsteen – 65.5 million units
14. Aerosmith – 66.5 million units
13. The Rolling Stones – 66.5 million units
12. Barbra Streisand – 68.5 million units
11. George Strait – 69 million units
10. AC/DC – 72 million units
9. Pink Floyd – 75 million units
8. Elton John – 78.5 million units
7. Michael Jackson – 84 million units
6. Billy Joel – 84.5 million units

5. Led Zeppelin – 111.5 million units
4. Eagles – 120 million units
3. Elvis Presley – 146.5 million units
2. Garth Brooks – 148 million units

1. The Beatles – 183 million units


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Country music, pop and rock are well represented in this list based on album sales and streaming
Smooth jazz man Kenny G outsold Eminem and Kenny Rogers beat Guns N’ Roses


Country music, pop and rock are well represented in this list based on album sales and streaming. Smooth jazz man Kenny G outsold Eminem and Kenny Rogers beat Guns N’ Roses.


Fame and celebrity

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The US’ top 50 artists of all time: from Michael Jackson to Garth Brooks, but who is at No 1?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Country music, pop and rock are well represented in this list based on album sales and streaming Smooth jazz man Kenny G outsold Eminem and Kenny Rogers beat Guns N’ Roses

Country music, pop and rock are well represented in this list based on album sales and streaming

Smooth jazz man Kenny G outsold Eminem and Kenny Rogers beat Guns N’ Roses