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All-Time Best Selling Musical Acts in the U.S.

Name the bands and solo artists with the highest all-time album sales in the United States.
Genres loosely defined
No one buys albums any more so these are mostly older acts
Source: Wikipedia
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Featured Quiz
Last updated: June 3, 2025
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First submittedJuly 30, 2012
Times taken54,283
Average score40.0%
Rating4.16
Quiz and answer stats >>
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Sales
Genre
Musical Act
183 mil
Rock
The Beatles
162 mil
Country
Garth Brooks
146.5 mil
Rock
Elvis Presley
120 mil
Rock
Eagles
112.5 mil
Rock
Led Zeppelin
89 mil
Pop
Michael Jackson
86 mil
Pop
Billy Joel
83 mil
Rock
AC/DC
80 mil
Pop
Elton John
75 mil
Pop
Mariah Carey
75 mil
Rock
Pink Floyd
71 mil
Rock
Bruce Springsteen
69.5 mil
Rock
Aerosmith
69.5 mil
Country
George Strait
68.5 mil
Broadway
Barbra Streisand
66.5 mil
Rock
The Rolling Stones
65.5 mil
Pop
Madonna
63 mil
Rock
Metallica
61.5 mil
Rap
Eminem
61 mil
Pop
Whitney Houston
56.5 mil
Rock
Van Halen
55.5 mil
Rock
Fleetwood Mac
53 mil
Pop
Celine Dion
52.5 mil
Rock
Journey
52 mil
Rock
U2
Sales
Genre
Musical Act
52 mil
Country/Pop
Taylor Swift
49.5 mil
Pop
Neil Diamond
49 mil
Rock
Alabama
48 mil
Smooth Jazz
Kenny G
48 mil
Country
Shania Twain
47.5 mil
Rap
Drake
47.5 mil
Country
Kenny Rogers
44.5 mil
Country
Alan Jackson
44.5 mil
Rock
Bob Seger
44.5 mil
Rock
Guns N' Roses
43.5 mil
Rock
Santana
43 mil
Rock
Queen
41 mil
Country
Reba McEntire
41 mil
Rock
Bon Jovi
40 mil
Rock
Eric Clapton
40 mil
Country
Tim McGraw
39 mil
Rock
Chicago
38.5 mil
Pop
Britney Spears
38.5 mil
Pop
Simon and Garfunkel
38 mil
Rock
Foreigner
38 mil
Rock
Rod Stewart
37 mil
Pop
Backstreet Boys
37 mil
Pop
Beyoncé
36.5 mil
Rap
Tupac Shakur
36 mil
Folk
Bob Dylan
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64 Comments
MrBrendan47
+1
Level 23
Aug 23, 2012
Whoooo 100 percent on my first go, I love music :) x
Malbaby
+7
Level 70
Nov 11, 2016
Go outdoors and smell the roses.
TheBlueWhale
+5
Level 20
Mar 12, 2025
You could literally say that to anyone on this site. Why don't do that, instead making snarky comments?
Tomtrific
+4
Level 82
Jul 6, 2022
Impressive. I love music, too, but I'm nowhere near 100%.
Sifhraven
+1
Level 73
Jun 5, 2025
Woohoo 42% I love music :)

Loving music does necessarily mean you know a lot about it. And there are lots of difference genres to love. Some so niche that they might not even have names.

As for "go outdoors and smell the roses" it is perfectly possible to appreciate music outdoors, live or otherwise. (and with things like spotify quite easy to learn new bands). Roses might not be part of the experience though but still quite possible ;)

AngusBeefBender
+1
Level 46
Jun 18, 2025
Why is everyone on this chain a complete jerk.. him saying he got 100% and saying he loves music are very well not related subjects hop off bro

edit: he also said that 13 whole years ago lock in

kalbahamut
+3
Level 81
Jan 10, 2013
I think this is the first time that I scored both below the average but above 50th percentile.
giuliano78
+3
Level 60
Jun 24, 2014
Whaaaat ?!?!? No Menudo ?
buck1017
+3
Level 78
Sep 18, 2014
Please accept "Reba." In the world of country music she is as much a one-name celebrity as Madonna
IsleAuHaulte
+3
Level 91
Dec 14, 2018
Seeing as everyone knows Reba McEntire's last name but Madonna's is virtually unknown.
kenpo17
+2
Level 66
Nov 6, 2014
I'm calling BS on these sales figures. The Beatles have sold at least twice what triple what's listed, likewise with Elvis. Doubtless it's true a bunch of others on the list too.
joeythelemur
+13
Level 82
Nov 25, 2014
"Based on US album sales".
kenpo17
+3
Level 66
Jan 5, 2015
I am talking about US album sales. Unless an authoritative source is posted for the figures used, I dispute the accuracy of this quiz.
Quizmaster
+10
Level ∞
Mar 23, 2015
https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists
joeythelemur
+8
Level 82
Mar 15, 2017
Authoritative enough for you?
zimbabwe12
+2
Level 52
Feb 19, 2015
This needs an update I think
Quizmaster
+4
Level ∞
Mar 23, 2015
I updated it just now. Only one new artist entered the list (Dave Matthews Band). No one buys albums anymore.
GlassMonkeyCode
+2
Level 69
Jul 15, 2022
I do, for so many reasons. Mostly second hand though, or art music from different cultures.
sg1rob
+2
Level 80
May 22, 2015
A couple of more minutes would be very helpful.
ander217
+6
Level 75
May 22, 2015
Alabama is a country band, although they have elements of southern rock, bluegrass, and gospel. Their original name was Young Country and then Wildcountry. They were awarded vocal group of the year by both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. They also won Grammies for best country performance by a vocal group, and Billboard named them Country Artist of the '80s. Randy Owen said, "We're country first, and crossover second." Sorry, they just aren't a rock band, no matter how loosely you define the genres.
HectorVortac
+4
Level 47
Mar 26, 2017
Although the disclaimer says 'genres loosely based', I agree that Alabama is listed entirely incorrectly.
walterwhite
+1
Level 48
May 22, 2015
Beach Boys? Beyoncé? Aguilera? The Who? Taylor Swift? Shocked these aren't on here
walterwhite
+2
Level 48
May 22, 2015
https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists

Quizmaster: Beyoncé or Christina aren't even on this list anywhere, which is just ludicrous. Tom Petty is listed 3 separate times. I realize you're just using the data from this website, but it's clearly flawed

joeythelemur
+5
Level 82
Mar 15, 2017
^^^ This. People just don't buy albums anymore.

They download the songs they like and stream, etc. It's not like it was prior to 2000 where there were a few "must have" albums every year.

Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Jun 17, 2018
Hey Taylor Swift is on the list now. I also predict that Adele will crack the top 50 at some point. But the list will not change a lot year to year.
fluence51
+7
Level 35
May 22, 2015
I had never ever heard of Garth Brooks...
IsleAuHaulte
+7
Level 91
Dec 14, 2018
I don't know a single thing he's ever done except wear a cowboy hat indoors all the time like a buffoon.
kalbahamut
+4
Level 81
Dec 15, 2018
He grew a soul patch and pretended to be a bad rock musician for a while.
ander217
+2
Level 75
Feb 23, 2019
Absolutely unbelievable. He's one of the greatest country singers ever, and has one of the most iconic voices. Friends in Low Places, Unanswered Prayers, The Dance...nobody can listen to Callin' Baton Rouge without their feet just gettin' up and dancin' even if the rest of them stays in the chair. Sheesh, people!
komtvoordebakker
+7
Level 43
Dec 11, 2019
Sorry, not everybody on this site is from the USA. And a lot of musical acts here are quite unknown outside of the USA. Sure, we know the big names, but hardly anyone who isn't into country or from the USA knows any of the countrystuff. Names like Zeppelin, Elvis, Jackson and the Beatles are so much better known on this side of the pond.
MrPi2002
+1
Level 76
Jun 10, 2025
I often see the discussion for who the most famous person in a certain country who's unknown elsewhere is. I think Garth Brooks must be up there for the US. Most famous American artists are pretty known elsewhere, but I have never even heard of him unlike most of the others I didn't get. Along with George Strait (also country) he's the only one in top 25 I don't know. And literally everybody else is not only known but wildly famous in other countries.
stubart409
+1
Level 68
Mar 25, 2017
The Backdoor Boys sold 37 million records!?! Somebody kill me now.
Hugh2000
+2
Level 72
Jul 3, 2017
this is a very different list to international sales. maybe the quizzes should not just be centred on America a little more, as people from other countries are disadvantaged in the quiz.
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Jun 17, 2018
There is no reliable data for international albums sales.
Hugh2000
+2
Level 72
Aug 30, 2018
Wikipedia does but I can see your point of view as acts such as Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Black Sabbath and Bing Cosby are not included because of some technicality with units.
DonTheLamplighter
+1
Level 86
Sep 19, 2017
What?! No Slim Whitman?!!!
IsleAuHaulte
+2
Level 91
Dec 14, 2018
What?! No Boxcar Willie?!!!
Hugh2000
+2
Level 72
Apr 29, 2018
Why is it only U.S. sales? The list is very different on international sales.
Jorissie
+4
Level 92
May 9, 2018
Country isn't as big outside the US as at is inside. As a European I almost knew none of the country artists (with exception of Brooks and Twain)
Sifhraven
+1
Level 73
Jun 5, 2025
For me it was Twain and Rogers (my parents used to have a record with islands in the stream..).

Though it is probably indeed a lot bigger in the states, I think it is not as "small" here as you think, just no particular bands that people are fan of or atleast no big names. But there are still line-dancing clubs and fairs with country music. And a lot of things that have a mix going from country to bluegrass to blues to irish folkmusic.

(to shanties, to medieval music to classical to metal etc lol you could make quite a loop :D)

RobNobody
+1
Level 79
Aug 16, 2018
I'm honestly surprised Alan Jackson isn't guessed more often, if only because he's a freebie if you guess Michael Jackson by his last name.
toccina
+1
Level 65
Dec 14, 2018
I had never heard this artist. Maybe, everybody isn't american?
jmellor13
+7
Level 67
Dec 15, 2018
I think Marlowe's point was that if you just type in "Jackson" (which most people seem likely to do, as Michael Jackson is the most obvious answer to choose), you should get Alan Jackson too, even if you don't know who he is.
determinedtobeatthis
+1
Level 68
Jan 16, 2022
Funny, I guessed Jackson because of Alan, but got Michael as a freebie. =)
kinjapan
+2
Level 72
Dec 14, 2018
Would have done better, but I spent way too much time trying to figure out if I was just spelling Prince wrong.
charchar711
+2
Level 67
Feb 23, 2019
One of the top five is the Bee Gees who are just behind the Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Not sure how they aren't on this list.
martay
+3
Level 70
Sep 9, 2019
This might be an unpopular opinion to state out loud, but I don't really miss buying albums. Most artists just didn't have enough quality material and they were actually pretty expensive for what they were. Those margins were ridiculous.
WillemLAif
+1
Level 76
Jul 8, 2022
There's this crazy new invention called the internet... It allows you to hear it all before buying, so there is no risk of bad purchases beyond hyouman error.

The albums have gotten cheaper, too. At least where I buy. (and I do mean buy, not "Arr!")

Straight from the band/artist is the best. Have a try.

SpartanLlama
+1
Level 74
Sep 9, 2019
IDK how only 40 got Rolling Stones.
boopuffyboo
+3
Level 45
Aug 1, 2020
Surprised Green Day isn't on here
JackintheBox
+5
Level 80
Feb 22, 2021
Who is Garth Brooks? I've never heard of him! (but still managed to get 21/53)
bigdiknick
+2
Level 59
Jul 15, 2022
https://prince.org/msg/7/450866?&pg=1 lists Prince at 37.6M
mikeyheath92
+2
Level 49
Jul 15, 2022
"No-one buys albums any more"

Bit of a generalisation/exaggeration, no? People should still buy a physical copy of whatever they're listening to, or burn it on a CD. You never know when Amazon, Spotify, iTunes etc. is going to fold after all. That's just me, though. 🤷‍♀️

RealBillGates
+1
Level 77
Jul 15, 2022
I would hardly call John Denver pop
IsleAuHaulte
+1
Level 91
Jun 8, 2025
In 1974 the great Charlie Rich won Country Musician of the Year. In 1975 he had to pass that award on and do you know to who? Mr. Sunshine-on-my-god-damn-shoulders, John Denver! Yeah, can you believe it? Replaced by John fng Denver! Well, I'll be damned if Mr. Rich didn't take out his lighter and light that award on fire in front of everybody right there ... you get it?

- Radioman / occasional patrolman Rod Farva

dsaved
+2
Level 69
Jul 16, 2022
I love these quizzes because they really help me, as an Italian, get a glimpse of what America is. A couple of "duels" caught my eye: Mariah over Madonna?! Def Leppard over Bon Jovi? And Foreigner over both of them?! And Alabama over the three of them?!! And then, of course, I know John Denver, Garth Books, Shanya Twain and Kenny Rogers, but I don't have the slightest idea of who George Strait is. Or Reba McIntire. Or Tim McGraw.
HyddenRizz
+3
Level 67
Jul 16, 2022
Bob Marley, ABBA, Beach Boys, David Bowie, Kinks, Nirvana, Adele, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Oasis, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, CCR, Rush, Chuck Berry, The Who, Marvin Gaye, Green Day, Ray Charles, the Bee Gees, Foo Fighters, and so on...

Can't believe ALL of these are missing, this quiz is so hard haha. Honestly there's 5 answers I've never heard of.

AJFSPPRDRTYTS
+2
Level 36
Dec 5, 2022
I was really surprised by some that were missing. Where did the creator get these answers from?
SpartanLlama
+2
Level 74
May 9, 2023
Thought I did bad at 25 but realized that's quite a bit above average, some of these are hard to think of
JohnnyYeet
+2
Level 61
Feb 26, 2024
I would call John Denver a country singer
Char2c
+1
Level 29
Mar 18, 2025
WHERE IS THE SUPREMES AND THE TEMPTATIONS!
WanderingWalrus
+1
Level 81
Jun 15, 2025
7 country singers but no Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton or Kenny Rogers?
Walacama
+1
Level 82
Jun 15, 2025
Kenny Rogers is on the list.
halpie
+1
Level 79
Jun 18, 2025
I'd suggest a reclassification of Simon and Garfunkel from pop to folk.
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