The first band to go platinum officially was The Eagles, with their compilation album Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975), certified by the RIAA on February 24, 1976, when the platinum award (one million sales) was introduced, though other acts like Cream had earlier unofficial "platinum" records. Johnny Taylor's single "Disco Lady" was also the first single to receive platinum certification the same year.
The Platinum Album and Single Awards are introduced signifying one million copies sold. The Eagles' "Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" (Elektra) becomes the RIAA's first Platinum Album, while nearly 50 more albums achieve the prestigious status that year.
The Beatles were an English rock band that became arguably the most successful act of the 20th century. They contributed to music, film, literature, art, and fashion, made a continuous impact on popular culture and the lifestyle of several generations.
Harry Belafonte is the first platinum selling artist. The Day O singer with his calypso album was the first to sell more than a million copies. Harry is now in his 90s and is still a very influential voice for the black community.
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.
Garth Brooks is the artist with nine diamond-certified albums, a record for album sales (10 million+ units each), though Drake now leads in total Diamond certifications (albums and singles combined) with over 10, followed by Post Malone for singles. Brooks' nine diamond albums include classics like Double Live, The Ultimate Hits, and In Pieces, making him the sole artist with this many album awards from the RIAA.
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.
Jackson became a worldwide symbol through music videos and pop innovation, while Swift dominates fandom culture and fan engagement in the digital age. Ultimately, the show lands on a nuanced conclusion: both artists define their generations — just in completely different ways.
The Rolling Stones, $2.5 billion
Compared to other rock bands that came up in the 1960s, the Rolling Stones have fared well.
If people recognize the Billboard Hot 100 as primarily pop-oriented, it isn't surprising that AC/DC, Black Sabbath, the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Ozzy Osborne, Ramones, and Rush never had a #1. Heck, Rush is technically a one-hit wonder since "New World Man" was their only song to reach the top 40.
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.
There's no single "number one" album due to different metrics (sales, critical acclaim, cultural impact), but Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982) is consistently cited as the best-selling album worldwide and a landmark pop record, while The Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) often tops US sales charts. Other contenders for "best" often include Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, and recent critical favorites like Adele's 21.
🎂 Da Brat, Miami, Florida, 1999 The first female rapper to go platinum ❄️🌞 📸©️ Jamil GS 1994 - 2025.
They are sometimes referred to as Moonwalkers. Michael Jackson's fanbase is one of the largest in the world, with numerous media outlets reporting that he reached billions of fans over his four-decade career.
After Jackson's death, McCartney said, "It's so sad and shocking... He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever." (I quote a post from FB)
The 100 Most Significant Figures in History
Garth Brooks is the artist with nine diamond-certified albums, a record for album sales (10 million+ units each), though Drake now leads in total Diamond certifications (albums and singles combined) with over 10, followed by Post Malone for singles. Brooks' nine diamond albums include classics like Double Live, The Ultimate Hits, and In Pieces, making him the sole artist with this many album awards from the RIAA.
Today In Music History February 13, 1981 Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of Moon became the longest-running rock record on the Billboard album chart, concluding its 402nd week.
The Beatles (they're the best-selling music artist of all time, with over 600 million records sold)
The best-selling vinyl album of all time is widely considered to be Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982), with estimated sales of over 66 million copies, many of those on vinyl before CDs dominated, though *Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)* (1976) is also a massive contender, often cited as the best-selling non-compilation vinyl in the US due to its strong classic rock appeal and vinyl's dominance in the mid-70s. Other perennial best-sellers on vinyl include Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, and AC/DC's Back in Black.
Its single "Bad Guy" became the first by an artist born in the 21st century to top the US Billboard Hot 100 and be certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Rappers with the most DIAMOND plaques 💎 • Eminem - 6 • Drake - 6 • Jay Z - 3 • Cardi B - 3.