Drake holds the record for the most RIAA Diamond-certified singles (songs selling/streaming 10 million units), with over a dozen, followed by Post Malone, while Garth Brooks leads for Diamond-certified albums, boasting nine, far ahead of The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.
Over 170 songs have been certified diamond, and 39 artists have multiple songs on the list. Drake has the most with 15, followed by Post Malone with nine. Rihanna has the most among women.
Garth Brooks has received seven Diamond awards for seven individual albums from the RIAA for selling over ten million units each, a feat only he can claim, and is the No. 1 selling solo artist in U.S. history certified by the RIAA with over 138 million album sales.
There's no single "number 1 artist of all time" as it's subjective, but Leonardo da Vinci often tops lists for visual art due to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, while The Beatles are frequently cited as the best-selling music group ever, and Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley are often named as top solo music artists by sales and influence. Modern metrics like Spotify streams point to artists like Bad Bunny or Taylor Swift for recent dominance.
Garth Brooks is the only artist with nine Diamond-certified albums, a unique achievement for album sales, though other artists like Drake and Post Malone have more total Diamond certifications (singles + albums). Brooks' Diamond albums include No Fences, Ropin' the Wind, The Hits, The Chase, In Pieces, Fresh Horses, Double Live, The Ultimate Hits, and Man Against Machine.
George Strait holds the record for the most platinum albums, with 33 certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for selling over one million copies each in the USA, a feat that cements his status as the "King of Country" and leads all artists across genres. He is followed by Elvis Presley and The Beatles in overall platinum awards, but Strait leads the pack specifically for platinum albums.
Who is the most successful artist of all time?
There's no single "greatest band" as it's subjective, but The Beatles are consistently ranked #1 across many lists for their unparalleled impact on music and culture, alongside other top contenders like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Queen, all recognized for massive sales, influence, and songwriting depth.
Taylor Swift Beats The Beatles' Record
The Beatles held the previous record with six songs in the Top 10 in 1964. Swift's dominance is further highlighted by the success of her single "The Fate of Ophelia," which debuted at No. 1 with nearly 700,000 points—mostly from streams—but also bolstered by sales and airplay.
Drake is the male artist with the most platinum singles. Beyoncé is the female artist with the most platinum singles. Maroon 5 is the band with the most platinum singles. This table tracks artists with some number of singles that have received at least 20 digital platinum certifications (excluding features).
Sales: Off the Wall has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2025. Billboard Year-End Awards (1980): Jackson was recognized as Top Black Artist and the album as Top Black Album. Major Awards and Nominations.
Here are the Rappers with certified Diamond albums in US💎 - #Eminem has most (3) - #Drake becomes the latest entry with 'Take Care' - #LaurynHill is the only female Rapper with Diamond album.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Mars' breakout hit "Just the Way You Are" has been certified 21-times Platinum, making it the highest-certified single of all time.
The 13 albums in all of music history that have been certified Double Diamond (20 million copies sold or streaming equivalent units) are: Fleetwood Mac - Rumours Eagles - Eagles, Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971 – 1975 Michael Jackson - Thriller AC/DC - Back in Black Eagles - Hotel California The Beatles - The Beatles ...
Artists by reputed sales
Most credit either British band Venom or the genre's so-called "Big Four": Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth, with commentators crediting Venom as the first thrash metal band and others tending to favor the "Big Four", though many give equal credit to all those five bands.
While fame is subjective, Leonardo da Vinci is widely considered the #1 most famous artist due to his iconic Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and his status as the ultimate "Renaissance Man" (artist, scientist, inventor). Other contenders frequently cited for global fame include Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Michelangelo, known for their prolific work and revolutionary styles.
10 Most Underrated Classic Rock Bands
While Elvis Presley holds the popular title, many music historians, fellow musicians, and Little Richard himself consider him the "true" King, or more accurately, the "Architect," of rock and roll. His explosive style, flamboyant persona, and groundbreaking music laid the essential foundations for the genre.
The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they are considered one of the most influential acts in the original wave of British punk rock, with their music fusing elements of reggae, dub, funk, ska, and rockabilly.
Taylor Swift is the highest-grossing live music artist of all time, collecting $3 billion according to Pollstar. U2, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, and Elton John also passed two-billion mark in concert revenue.
Michael Jackson has sold over 1 billion records worldwide across all credits. He's the best selling artist in music history.
Through his songs, concerts, and fashion, he proliferated visual performance for artists in popular music, popularizing street dance moves such as the moonwalk, the robot, and the anti-gravity lean. Jackson is often deemed the greatest entertainer of all time.