The TOP TWENTY Best-Selling Music Artists of All Time

From the Recording Industry Association of America:

"Music is the world's universal form of communication. It touches every person of every culture on the globe to the tune of $40 billion annually, and the U.S. recording industry accounts for fully one-third of that world market. It employs thousands of people, including singers, musicians, producers, sound engineers, record promoters and retail salespersons, to name only a few.

"The Recording Industry Association of America is the premiere source for comprehensive market data on music trends in America. The association compiles, analyzes and reports on the quantity and value of recorded music (all formats) shipped into all market channels. The RIAA also identifies trends in music purchasing, while also constructing consumer demographic profiles based on feedback from music fans across America."

Totals are derived from cumulative album sales totals (U.S. only).

Artists - Units (in millions)

THE BEATLES - 169.0

ELVIS PRESLEY - 118.5

GARTH BROOKS - 116.0

LED ZEPPELIN - 109.5

EAGLES - 91.0

BILLY JOEL - 79.5

PINK FLOYD - 73.5

BARBRA STREISAND - 71.0

ELTON JOHN - 69.0

AC/DC - 68.0

THE ROLLING STONES - 65.5

AEROSMITH - 65.5

MADONNA - 63.0

GEORGE STRAIT - 62.5

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - 62.5

MARIAH CAREY - 61.5

MICHAEL JACKSON - 60.5

METALLICA - 57.0

VAN HALEN - 56.5

WHITNEY HOUSTON - 54.0