List of best-selling music artists#
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The following list of best-selling music artists includes musical artists from the 20th century to the present with claims of 75 million or more record sales worldwide. The sales figures are calculated based on the formula detailed below.
The tables are listed with each artist's claimed sales figure(s) and their total independently certified units and are ranked in descending order by claimed sales. If two or more artists have the same claimed sales, they are then ranked by certified units. The claimed sales figure and the total of certified units (for each country) within the provided sources include sales of albums, singles, compilation-albums, music videos as well as downloads of singles and full-length albums. Sales figures, such as those from SoundScan, which are sometimes published by Billboard magazine, have not been included in the certified units column.
Definitions
Gold/Platinum certifications issued after 2016, especially on singles, are in some cases more than 50% streaming generated. Some of the 20th century artists can also have significant amount of streaming based certifications. The certified units of the newer artists may sometimes be higher than their listed claimed figures. This is because Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and almost all other certifying bodies count streaming towards Gold and Platinum thresholds required for Digital Single Award certification.{{Cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/riaa-debuts-album-award-streams/|title=RIAA Debuts Album Award With Streams|publisher=RIAA|access-date=January 15, 2017|date=February 1, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202081752/http://www.riaa.com/riaa-debuts-album-award-streams/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://nmc.ca/music-streaming-numbers-now-count-toward-canadas-goldplatinum-certifications/|title=Music streaming numbers now count toward Canada's Gold/Platinum certifications|publisher=National Music Centre|access-date=January 15, 2017|date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116172918/https://nmc.ca/music-streaming-numbers-now-count-toward-canadas-goldplatinum-certifications/|archive-date=January 16, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/france-now-counts-streaming-towards-certified-sales-awards/|title=France Now Counts Streaming Towards Certified Sales Awards|publisher=musicbusinessworldwide.com|access-date=January 15, 2017|date=October 5, 2016|archive-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116173408/http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/france-now-counts-streaming-towards-certified-sales-awards/|url-status=live}} For this reason, some singles and even albums get over certified by hundreds of thousands of units. The over certified figures, however, are often in millions of units for RIAA certifications, one such example is Rihanna's single "We Found Love", which is certified at nine times Platinum by the RIAA, yet at the time of the certification, it had sold 5.4 million downloads.{{Cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=&ti=We+Found+Love&lab=&genre=&format=Single&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=DI&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=RIAA Gold and Platinum: We Found Love|publisher=RIAA|access-date=January 15, 2017|date=February 1, 2016|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803090854/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=&ti=We+Found+Love&lab=&genre=&format=Single&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=DI&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6605708/ask-billboard-rihannas-best-selling-songs-albums|title=Ask Billboard: Rihanna's Best-Selling Songs & Albums|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|access-date=January 15, 2017|date=June 23, 2015|archive-date=November 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109081157/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6605708/ask-billboard-rihannas-best-selling-songs-albums|url-status=live}}
The certified units for some artists/bands who have multi-disc albums can be higher than their listed claimed figures due to the RIAA counting each unit within a set as one unit toward certification. The certified units also can be inflated by the redundancy of certifications, because each of tracks downloads and streams contributed to the certifications of both of the single and the respective album. The RIAA counts 10 downloads of individual track as well as 1,500 audio/video streams as an equivalent to one unit of album, including those from singles released prior to the album release.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ALBUM-AWARD-RIAA-AND-GRF-CERTIFICATION-AUDIT-REQUIREMENTS.pdf|title=RIAA AND GR&F CERTIFICATION AUDIT REQUIREMENTS RIAA ALBUM AWARD|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=August 15, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729161739/https://www.riaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ALBUM-AWARD-RIAA-AND-GRF-CERTIFICATION-AUDIT-REQUIREMENTS.pdf|url-status=live}} Theoretically, if one song were streamed 1.5 billion times on YouTube, the single would receive Diamond and the whole album could be certified Platinum,{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/02/01/465178626/forget-selling-albums-artists-can-now-go-platinum-via-streaming|title=Forget Selling Albums — Artists Can Now Go Platinum Via Streaming|first=Anastasia|last=Tsioulcas|date=February 1, 2016|publisher=NPR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417130605/https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/02/01/465178626/forget-selling-albums-artists-can-now-go-platinum-via-streaming|archive-date=April 17, 2022}} thus creating a combined total of 11 million certified units without any sales. Kanye West's album The Life of Pablo achieved Platinum without selling a single copy and was only available for streaming.{{cite news|url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/kanye-west-life-of-pablo-platinum/|title=Kanye West's 'The Life Of Pablo' Just Went Platinum and He Didn't Even Sell A Single CD|first=Danielle|last=Kwateng-Clark|magazine=Essence|date=April 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731101556/https://www.essence.com/celebrity/kanye-west-life-of-pablo-platinum/|archive-date=July 31, 2021}}
Issued certifications for songs which have been recorded by multiple artists including featured artists are added to each artist's total amount of certified units, as all the artists would have played a significant part in a song. For example, "This Is What You Came For" and "Where Them Girls At" include Rihanna and Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj as featured artists respectively, so the certifications issued for these songs are added to the total amount of certified units for all involved artists. However, the certifications issued for songs that have been recorded by four or more artists are not included as the artists involved would have played minor roles, examples of such songs are Kanye West's "Monster" and/or "All Day".{{efn|name=songs}}
=Standards=
- 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/riaj/open/open-record!file?fid=1638|title=RIAJ Yearbook 2017: IFPI Global Music Report 2017 (Page 4)|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|access-date=2018-06-20|archive-date=June 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618052745/https://www.riaj.or.jp/riaj/open/open-record!file?fid=1638|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.musikindustrie.de/fileadmin/bvmi/upload/06_Publikationen/MiZ_Jahrbuch/2019/Musikindustrie_in_Zahlen_2019_ePaper.pdf|title=Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Internationales: ABB. 28// Umsätze aus dem europäischen Musikverkauf (Page 54)|publisher=Bundesverband Musikindustrie|access-date=February 27, 2021|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101081019/https://www.musikindustrie.de/fileadmin/bvmi/upload/06_Publikationen/MiZ_Jahrbuch/2019/Musikindustrie_in_Zahlen_2019_ePaper.pdf|url-status=live}}
- The column for certified sales includes markets, the databases of which contain certifications representing figures of 100,000 and more.
Artists by reputed sales
=250 million or more records=
File:The Beatles arrive at JFK Airport.jpg|The Beatles
File:Michael Jackson in 1988.jpg|Michael Jackson
File:Elvis Presley promoting Jailhouse Rock.jpg|Elvis Presley
File:Elton John 2011 Shankbone 2.JPG|Elton John
File:Queen A Night At The Opera (1975 Elektra publicity photo 02).jpg|Queen
File:MadonnaO2171023 (97 of 133) (53269593787) (cropped).jpg|Madonna
File:Led Zeppelin - promotional image (1971).jpg|Led Zeppelin
=200 million to 249 million records=
File:Eminem - Concert for Valor in Washington, D.C. Nov. 11, 2014 (2) (cropped).jpg|Eminem
File:Mariah Carey 2 by David Shankbone.jpg|Mariah Carey
File:Whitney Houston (cropped3).JPEG|Whitney Houston
File:Taylor Swift The Eras Tour Speak Now Set Era (53109969638) (cropped).jpg|Taylor Swift
File:Beyoncé - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - 1st June 2023 (25 of 118) (52946287590) (center cropped).jpg|Beyoncé
File:Ed Sheeran-6886 (cropped).jpg|Ed Sheeran
File:ACDC Let There Be Rock (1977 Atco publicity photo).jpg|AC/DC
=120 million to 199 million records=
File:Drake at The Carter Effect 2017 (36818935200) (cropped).jpg|Drake
File:Garth Brooks 2019 By Glenn Francis.jpg|Garth Brooks
File:Kanye West at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival-2 (cropped).jpg|Kanye West
File:Billy Joel Shankbone NYC 2009.jpg|Billy Joel
File:Justin Bieber in 2015.jpg|Justin Bieber
File:BrunoMars24KMagicWorldTourLive (cropped).jpg|Bruno Mars
File:Britney Spears 2013 (Straighten Crop).jpg|Britney Spears
=100 million to 119 million records=
File:Nicki Minaj 3, 2012.jpg|Nicki Minaj
File:ColdplayBBC071221 (cropped).jpg|Coldplay
File:LinkinParkBerlin2010.jpg|Linkin Park
File:George Strait 2014 1.jpg|George Strait
File:Pink 2019-07-27 Munich (cropped).jpg|Pink
=80 million to 99 million records=
File:2023-11-16 Gala de los Latin Grammy, 03 (cropped)02.jpg|Shakira
File:Ariana Grande during The Honeymoon Tour in Jakarta 2015.jpg|Ariana Grande
File:Alicia Keys 2011.jpg|Alicia Keys
File:Tim McGraw with Gov. Hogan (cropped).jpg|Tim McGraw
File:Lionel Richie 2019.jpg|Lionel Richie
File:JohnnyCashHouse1969.jpg|Johnny Cash
File:Justin Timberlake by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|Justin Timberlake
=75 million to 79 million records=
File:FEQ July 2018 The Weeknd (44778856382) (cropped).jpg|The Weeknd
File:Imagine Dragons, Roundhouse, London (35390234536).jpg|Imagine Dragons
File:LukeBryanApr10.jpg|Luke Bryan
File:Greenday2010.jpg|Green Day
File:Alabama at Bayfest 2014.jpg|Alabama
File:Nirvana around 1992.jpg|Nirvana
See also
{{portal|Record production}}
- List of best-selling albums
- List of best-selling albums by country
- List of best-selling singles
- List of best-selling singles by country
- Best-selling artists by nationality
- List of best-selling Belgian music artists
- List of biggest-selling British music artists
- List of estimated best-selling Italian music artists
- List of best-selling Swedish music artists
- Best-selling artists by territory
- List of best-selling music artists in Brazil
- List of best-selling music artists in Finland
- List of highest-certified music artists in Germany
- List of best-selling music artists in Japan
- List of best-selling female music artists in the United Kingdom
- List of highest-certified music artists in the United States
- Best-selling artists by genre
- List of best-selling Latin music artists
- List of best-selling boy groups
- List of best-selling girl groups
- List of best-selling female rappers
- List of best-selling gospel music artists
- IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year
Notes
{{notelist|40em|refs=
{{efn|name=cert|Certification systems have been established periodically throughout the past half century; thus, certification databases are not able to cover all sales. Some (or all) records released and sold prior to a certification system's establishment year may not be found within the available searchable certification databases. Year of establishment (from largest market to smallest based on Retail Value each market generates respectively):
- United States: 1958{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/story/|title=History of the Awards|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=August 6, 2011}}
- Japan: 1989{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/f/e/about/history.html|title=About RIAJ: History|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|access-date=November 8, 2015}}
- Germany: 1975{{cite web|url=https://www.musikindustrie.de/markt-bestseller/gold-/platin-und-diamond-auszeichnung/datenbank|title=BVMI: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank|publisher=Bundesverband Musikindustrie|access-date=August 5, 2019}}
- United Kingdom: 1973{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-awards/about-bpi-awards/|title=About BPI Awards|publisher=British Phonographic Industry|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107222214/https://www.bpi.co.uk/bpi-awards/about-bpi-awards/}}
- France: 1973
- Canada: 1975{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=CRIA+Gold+and+Platinum+1975&pg=PT58|title=CRIA|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 1, 2014|date=October 2, 1976|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc}}
- Australia: 1997{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations.htm|title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=September 15, 2009}} (online certification-database has begun since 1997. Certifications; however, existed in Australia since the 1970s)
- Brazil: 1990{{cite web|url=https://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/certificados/|title=Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos – Certificados|trans-title=Brazilian Association of Record Producers – Certificates|publisher=Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos|language=pt|access-date=October 27, 2018}}
- Netherlands: 1978
- Italy: 2009{{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/certificazioni#/category:album/year:2018/page:0|title=F.I.M.I: Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|publisher=Federation of the Italian Music Industry|access-date=June 7, 2018}} (online certification-database covers certifications issued since 2009. Certifications; however, have existed in Italy since the 1980s)
- Spain: 1979
- Sweden: 1987{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.se/?page_id=67|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517224028/http://www.ifpi.se/?page_id=67|archive-date=May 17, 2011|title=Guld & Platina IFPI|trans-title=Gold & Platinum IFPI|language=sv|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Sweden|access-date=August 31, 2013}}
- Norway: 1993
- Denmark: 2001 (online certifications for Denmark start from 2001. Certifications; however, existed in Denmark since the early 1990s{{cite news |author=Noe Habermann |url=http://www.b.dk/kultur/guld-og-platinplader-er-devalueret|title=Guld- og platinplader er devalueret|trans-title=Gold and Platinum awards are lowered|date=April 24, 2003|newspaper=Berlingske |language=da|access-date=June 7, 2014}})
- Switzerland: 1989{{cite web|url=http://www.swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=1989|title=The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community – Awards|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=September 15, 2009}}
- Mexico: 1999{{cite web|url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/certificaciones.php?item=menuCert&contenido=certificados|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412161601/http://www.amprofon.com.mx/certificaciones.php?item=menuCert&contenido=certificados|archive-date=April 12, 2010|title=Certificaciones (Earlier certification database covering the years 1999–2010)|publisher=AMPROFON|language=es|access-date=April 8, 2013}}
- Argentina: 1980{{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?CodOp=ESOP&CO=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820130003/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?CodOp=ESOP&CO=5 |archive-date=August 20, 2011|title=Capif|publisher=Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers|language=es|access-date=June 20, 2018}}
- Belgium: 1995{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/goud-platina/1995/|title=Goud En Platina - Singles 1995|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=June 30, 2018}}
- Austria: 1990{{cite web|url=https://ifpi.at/auszeichnungen/|title=IFPI Austria: Gold & Platin|language=de|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Austria|access-date=February 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723062814/http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin|archive-date=July 23, 2011}}
- Poland: 1995{{cite web|url=http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/|title=Polish certification awards 1995–present|publisher=ZPAV|language=pl|access-date=November 13, 2014}}
- Finland: 1971{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myontamisrajat|title=Tilastot|trans-title=IFPI Statistics|language=fi|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Finland|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610024250/http://ifpi.fi/tilastot/myontamisrajat|archive-date=June 10, 2010}}
- Ireland: 2005{{cite news|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/awards/index.htm|title=The Irish Charts: Certtifications-Awards|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|access-date=February 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208043010/http://www.irishcharts.ie/awards/index.htm|archive-date=February 8, 2012}}
- New Zealand: July 1978{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/1978-07-14|title=Recorded Music New Zealand: The Official New Zealand Music Chart|publisher=Recorded Music New Zealand|access-date=May 16, 2015}}
- Portugal:(online certification-database covers certifications issued since 2004. Certifications; however, have existed in Portugal since the 1980s)
Certified sales might sometimes be larger than actual sales, if stores order more albums than they are able to sell, due to certifications generally being determined by shipments and not actual sales. Often, however, actual sales are larger than certified sales, since record labels must pay a fee to obtain certifications. Record companies often apply for certifications only when a record reaches a multiple-certification level, meaning certifications might not be visible in the databases for more than a short period of time after an album reached a certification level.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124760651612341407|title=Spun: The Off-the-Wall Accounting of Record Sales|work=The Wall Street Journal|last=Bialik|first=Carl|access-date=September 8, 2009|date=July 15, 2009}}{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/about-awards/|title=The awards: Certifications|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=August 6, 2011}}
As global music sales declined in the 2000s mostly due to CD burning and downloading from unauthorized sites, certification bodies opted to reduce their certification levels.{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/worldsales2003.pdf|title=The Recording Industry – World Sales 2003|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|access-date=September 16, 2009|archive-date=December 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229203203/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/worldsales2003.pdf}} See the changes in Certification-award-levels in the following markets:
- United States{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?id=B5127985-CDB2-C7AD-ADF1-E33023D88A0C|title=Country Takes The Crop (February 14, 2008)|publisher=RIAA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301040927/http://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?id=B5127985-CDB2-C7AD-ADF1-E33023D88A0C|archive-date=March 1, 2008|access-date=January 23, 2010}} (Note, U.S. certification-award-levels for singles before 1989 were: 1,000,000 for Gold and 2,000,000 for Platinum.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-14-fi-188-story.html|title=New Golden Rule: 500,000 Sales Mark for All Singles|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 7, 2021|date=May 14, 1989|first=Paul|last=Grein|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608131656/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-14-fi-188-story.html|archive-date=June 8, 2021}} Also, U.S. certification-awards for Shortform albums before September 1996 were: 250,000 for Gold and 500,000 for Platinum{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wgcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA35|title=RIIA Certifications|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 9, 2011|date=August 10, 1996}})
- Japan{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IBEEAAAAMBAJ&q=Japan+platinum+certification-awards+2002&pg=PA10|title=RIAJ Certs Plan Criticized|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|access-date=March 30, 2012|date=October 25, 2003}}{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd.html|title=現基準-旧基準（～2003.06）|trans-title=Current criteria-Former Criteria|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|access-date=November 8, 2015}}
- Germany{{cite web|url=https://www.musikindustrie.de/markt-bestseller/gold-platin-und-diamond-auszeichnung|language=de|title=GOLD-/PLATIN- und DIAMOND-Auszeichnung|trans-title=GOLD / PLATINUM and DIAMOND awards|publisher=Bundesverband Musikindustrie|access-date=January 26, 2020}} (Note, German certification-award-levels for singles before 1988 were: 500,000 for Gold and 1,000,000 for Platinum.{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kyQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Germany+Gold+singles+500%2C000+units+1978+Billboard&pg=PT85|title=From the Music Capitals of the World|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 17, 2021|date=July 22, 1978|first=Wolfgang|last=Spahr}}{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uyQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=German+Platinum+for+singles+1%2C000%2C000+units+Billboard&pg=PT10|title=Ariola Takes German Singles Honors|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 17, 2021|date=December 28, 1985|first=Jim|last=Sampson}}{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ESUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Germany+Platinum+for+singles+1%2C000%2C000+units+1987+Billboard&pg=RA2-PA75|title=West German Music Sales Up 5%|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 17, 2021|date=October 11, 1986|first=Wolfgang|last=Spahrn}})
- United Kingdom{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/08mugz08pmrii9x/BPI+Certified+Awards+Timeline.pdf|title=Certified Awards Timeline|publisher=BPI|access-date=May 1, 2012}}
- France{{cite web|url=http://snepmusique.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SNEP-tableau.pdf|title=A propos des certifications|work=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|publisher=SNEP|access-date=November 14, 2019|language=fr}}{{cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Album_Certification_Methodologie.php|title=Les Certifications Officielles: Chronologie Albums|publisher=Info Disc|access-date=March 4, 2016}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_JhYEAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_JhYEAAAAMBAJ/page/n15 16]|quote=SNEP reduces Platinum certification.|title=France Lowers Gold Standard|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 22, 2012|date=July 26, 2006|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc}}{{cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Chanson_Certification_Methodologie.php|title=Les Certifications Officielles: Chronologie Singles|publisher=Info Disc|access-date=March 4, 2016}}
- Canada{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/certification/|title=Certification Definitions|work=Music Canada |access-date=July 1, 2014}} (Canadian certification-award-levels for singles before February 1982 were: 75,000 for Gold and 150,000 for Platinum{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2yQEAAAAMBAJ&q=Canada%20(CRIA)%20Singles%20Gold%20and%20Platinum%20levels&pg=PA56|title=CRIA Reports 46% Rise for Disk Certifications|magazine=Billboard|date=February 27, 1982|access-date=July 29, 2011}})
- Brazil{{cite web|url=http://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/certificados/tabela-de-niveis-de-certificacao-pro-musica/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621044425/http://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/certificados/tabela-de-niveis-de-certificacao-pro-musica/|archive-date=June 21, 2018|title=Tabela de Níveis de Certificação Pro-Música|trans-title=Levels for Certifications (most recent)|language=pt|publisher=Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos|access-date=November 7, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://abpd.org.br/home/certificados/tabela-de-niveis-de-certificacao-pro-musica/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906115346/http://abpd.org.br/home/certificados/tabela-de-niveis-de-certificacao-pro-musica/|archive-date=September 6, 2017|title=Níveis de Certificação|trans-title=Levels for Certifications|language=pt|publisher=Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos|access-date=October 27, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/certification-award-levels.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190545/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/certification-award-levels.pdf|title=Certification Award Levels 2009|publisher=IFPI|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}
- Netherlands{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/download/83ujwbf3d0fjuid/NVPI_Certification-award-levels.doc|title=Dutch Certification-award-levels|format=Words|language=nl|publisher=NVPI|access-date=May 1, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- Italy{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XBQEAAAAMBAJ&q=FIMI++Platinum+from+100,000+to+80,000+2005&pg=PA45|title=Newsline: Italian Label Body FIMI|magazine=Billboard|date=February 5, 2005|access-date=October 24, 2011}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/1313783/fimi-lowers-gold-platinum-levels|title=FIMI Lowers Gold, Platinum Levels|magazine=Billboard|date=January 28, 2008|access-date=November 13, 2014}}
- Spain{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hhMEAAAAMBAJ&q=Canada%20lowers%20Gold%2FPlatinum%20certification-levels%20of%20singles&pg=PA24|title=Global Newsline: Spain Lowers Certifications|magazine=Billboard|date=November 26, 2005|access-date=October 24, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://promusicae.es/files/listassemanales/albumes/historial/TOP%20100%20ALBUMES%2009_37.pdf|title=PROMUSICAE: Top 100 Albums (SEMANA 37: del 07.09.2009 al 13.09.2009)|publisher=PROMUSICAE|date=September 13, 2009|access-date=November 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509061758/http://promusicae.es/files/listassemanales/albumes/historial/TOP%20100%20ALBUMES%2009_37.pdf|archive-date=May 9, 2013}}
- Sweden{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/download/yv8zdd3dtqwg67h/Sweden%27s_certification-award-levels%282%29.pdf|title=Swedish Certification-award-levels|publisher=IFPI Sweden|access-date=August 31, 2013}}
- Norway{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-AkEAAAAMBAJ&q=IFPI+Norway+Platinum+50%2C000+units&pg=PA47|title=Global Music Pulse: Norway|date=July 11, 1998|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 28, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.no/troferegler.htm|title=TROFÉREGLER 2002|publisher=IFPI Norway|date=June 30, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040202221952/http://www.ifpi.no/troferegler.htm|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-date=February 2, 2004}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.no/troferegler.htm|title=TROFÉREGLER 2007|publisher=IFPI Norway|date=January 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115132547/http://www.ifpi.no/troferegler.htm|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.no/component/content/article/22-trofenyheter/2-troferegler|title=TROFÉREGLER 2015|publisher=IFPI Norway|date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033120/http://www.ifpi.no/component/content/article/22-trofenyheter/2-troferegler|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.no/component/content/article/22-trofenyheter/2-troferegler|title=Gull og platina|publisher=IFPI Norway|date=January 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607140210/http://www.ifpi.no/component/content/article/22-trofenyheter/2-troferegler|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-date=June 7, 2018}}
- Denmark{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/global/1326640/ifpi-denmark-revamps-certification-levels|title=IFPI Denmark Revamps Certification Levels|date=February 7, 2007|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 28, 2011}}{{cite magazine |url=http://gaffa.dk/nyhed/32163|title=Nye regler for platinplader til downloads|trans-title=New rule for Gold and Platinum downloads|date=April 20, 2009 |magazine=Gaffa |access-date=June 7, 2014|archive-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322231923/https://gaffa.dk/nyhed/32163}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=node/11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411134535/http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=node%2F11|archive-date=April 11, 2011|title=IFPI Denmark: Guld og platin|year=2011|website=IFPI (Denmark)|access-date=June 7, 2014}}
- Switzerland
- Mexico{{cite web|url=http://amprofon.com.mx/en/media/documentos/antecedentes_criterios_certificaciones.pdf|title=Certificaciones|language=es|publisher=Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|access-date=March 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321130303/http://amprofon.com.mx/en/media/documentos/antecedentes_criterios_certificaciones.pdf|archive-date=March 21, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/certificaciones.php?item=menuCert&contenido=criterios|archive-date=July 12, 2010|title=Certificaciones (Earlier changes in certification-levels including levels for Pre-loaded albums/singles and Mater Ringtones)|language=es|publisher=Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas|access-date=April 8, 2013|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712080550/http://www.amprofon.com.mx/certificaciones.php?item=menuCert&contenido=criterios|df=mdy-all}}
- Argentina
- Belgium{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/Certification%20Awards%20Full%20List%20-%20OCTOBER%2007.pdf|title=Certification Award Levels 2007|publisher=IFPI|access-date=April 16, 2011|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315132305/http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/Certification%20Awards%20Full%20List%20-%20OCTOBER%2007.pdf}}
- Austria:{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/issue/pdf/RIAJ2005E.pdf|title=35. Standard for Certifying Awards of Countries (Unit sales) (Page 25)|work=IFPI|publisher=RIAJ|access-date=May 26, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/?sa87881rf7jmad9|title=Certification levels for Austria (all periods)|publisher=IFPI Austria|language=de}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_4AkEAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_4AkEAAAAMBAJ/page/n65 54]|quote=GSA Region Platinum.|title=GSA: Austria|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 26, 2011|date=December 6, 1997}}
- Poland{{cite web|url=http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/wyroznienia/regulamin.php|title=Pełny Tekst Regulaminu Przyznawania Wyróżnień|trans-title=Complete Rules of Awards|language=pl|publisher=ZPAV|access-date=November 13, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/download/c9idhc732dnn2x6/Poland%27s_Certification-award-levels.pdf|title=Polish Certification-levels|publisher=ZPAV|access-date=August 31, 2013}}
- Finland
- New Zealand: (NZ certification-levels for singles before 1989 were: 10,000 for Gold, 20,000 for Platinum){{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/b1l57842fpfp59p/NZ_chart+book_Cher.pdf|title=The Complete NZ Music Charts 1966-2006|work=Dean Scapolo|access-date=November 12, 2018}}(NZ certification-levels for singles before June 2007 were: 5,000 for Gold, 10,000 for Platinum){{cite web|url=http://www.rianz.org.nz/attachments/rianz/chart-1567-04-jun-07.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119193025/http://www.rianz.org.nz/attachments/rianz/chart-1567-04-jun-07.pdf|archive-date=January 19, 2014|title=The Official Music Charts of NZ: June 4, 2007|publisher=rianz.org.nz|access-date=July 7, 2016}} (The levels for singles were adjusted again on June 17, 2016 from previous 7,500 for Gold, 15,000 for Platinum, to 15,000 for Gold, 30,000 for Platinum){{cite press release|title=On Demand Streams Added To New Zealand Top 40 Album Charts|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1606/S00183/on-demand-streams-added-to-new-zealand-top-40-album-charts.htm|location= |publisher=Recorded Music NZ|agency=Scoop|date=June 17, 2016|access-date=July 7, 2016}}
- Portugal:{{cite web|url=http://dn.sapo.pt/2005/05/13/artes/crise_emagrece_galardoes_discografic.html|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20050524142713/http://dn.sapo.pt/2005/05/13/artes/crise_emagrece_galardoes_discografic.html|archive-date=May 24, 2005|title=Crise emagrece galardões discográficos|trans-title=Crisis reduces discographic award levels|publisher=DN Online|language=pt|date=May 13, 2005|access-date=August 6, 2021}}
}}
{{efn|name=songs|Below you can get an understanding as to when certifications for songs are added to the total certified sales of the listed artists.
- One lead artist and one featured artist. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both, the lead artist and the featured artist as both will have almost equal amount of part).
- Two lead artists.(The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both lead artists as both will have almost equal amount of part).
- Two lead artists and one featured artist. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of both lead artists as well as the featured artist. Both lead artists will play a significant part in a song and the part of the featured artist also should be significant enough).
- One lead artist and two featured artists. (The issued certification(s) should be added to the total of the lead artist and to the total of both featured artists as almost all should have equal amount of part).
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Music industry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Best-selling music artists}}