In the decades before streaming-era rules and digital downloads inflated album sales, platinum certification was more difficult for artists to obtain.
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The 30 best-selling music artists of all time, ranked by platinum albums
Using RIAA data, we ranked the best-selling artists of all time — including acts like The Beatles and Elvis Presley — by their number of platinum album sales.
The Beatles.
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When an artist achieved platinum status back then — selling a million or more physical copies of an album — it took a greater, more fervent effort from fans (driving to record stores, finding an album, handing over your hard-earned cash for it), but many acts reached platinum certification routinely nonetheless.
Using RIAA data, we ranked the best-selling artists of all time by the number of platinum albums they've sold in the US.
While some of the results are surprising — country singer Garth Brooks, for instance, has the most diamond (or 10-times platinum) albums of all time with seven — the legendary acts sitting atop the list are the ones you'd probably expect.
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Check out the 30 best-selling artists of all time, ranked by platinum albums:
30. Linda Ronstadt — 13
Platinum albums: 13
Multi-platinum: 7
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"Greatest Hits" (7 million copies)
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29. Rush — 14
Platinum albums:14
Multi-platinum: 3
Best-selling album: " target="_blank"Rush In Rio" (7 million copies)
28. Dave Matthews Band — 14
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Platinum albums:14
Multi-platinum: 7
Best-selling album:"Crash" target="_blank" (7 million copies)
27. James Taylor — 14
Platinum albums:14
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Multi-platinum: 5
Diamond: 1
Best-selling album: " target="_blank"James Taylor's Greatest Hits" (11 million copies)
26. The Doors — 14
Platinum albums:14
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Diamond: 1
Best-selling album: " target="_blank"The Best of The Doors" (10 million copies)
25. Bob Dylan — 15
Platinum albums:15
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Multi-platinum: 6
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits" (5 million copies)
24. Willie Nelson — 15
Platinum albums:15
Multi-platinum: 6
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Best-selling album:"Stardust" target="_blank" (5 million copies)
23. Alan Jackson — 15
Platinum albums:15
Multi-platinum: 8
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"The Greatest Hits Collection" (6 million copies)
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22. Pink Floyd — 15
Platinum albums:15
Diamond: 2
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"The Wall" (23 million copies)
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21. Luther Vandross — 16
Platinum albums:16
Multi-platinum: 7
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"The Best of Luther Vandross" (3 million copies)
20. U2 — 16
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Platinum albums:16
Best-selling album: " target="_blank"The Joshua Tree" (1o million copies)
19. Kenny Rogers — 17
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Platinum albums:17
Best-selling album: " target="_blank"Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits" (12 million copies)
18. Bruce Springsteen — 17
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Platinum albums:17
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"Born In The U.S.A." (15 million copies)
17. Billy Joel — 17
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Platinum albums:17
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II" (23 million copies)
16. Madonna — 17
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Platinum albums:17
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"Like A Virgin" (10 million copies)
15. Chicago — 18
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Platinum albums:18
Best-selling album:" target="_blank"Chicago 17" (6 million copies)
14. Aerosmith — 18
Platinum albums:18
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Best-selling album:(11 million copies)
13. Led Zeppelin — 18
Platinum albums:18
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Best-selling album:(23 million copies)
12. Reba McEntire — 19
Platinum albums:19
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Best-selling album:(5 million copies)
11. Rod Stewart — 19
Platinum albums:19
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Best-selling album:(3 million copies)
10. Alabama — 20
Platinum albums:20
Best-selling album:(5 million copies)
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9. AC/DC — 20
Platinum albums:20
Best-selling album:(22 million copies)
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8. Neil Diamond — 21
Platinum albums:21
Best-selling album:(5 million copies)
7. Elton John — 27
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Platinum albums:27
Best-selling album:(17 million copies)
6. The Rolling Stones — 28
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Platinum albums:28
Best-selling album:(19 million copies)
5. Barbra Streisand — 30
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Platinum albums:30
Best-selling album:(5 million copies)
4. Garth Brooks — 30
Platinum albums:30
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Best-selling album:(21 million copies)
3. George Strait — 33
Platinum albums:33
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Best-selling album:(8 million copies)
2. The Beatles — 42
Platinum albums:
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Best-selling album:(19 million copies)
1. Elvis Presley — 53
Platinum albums:
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Best-selling album:(10 million copies)
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