Top 10 Best-Selling Music Artists of All Time That Would be Remembered Forever

Musicians are extremely talented. They experiment with musical instruments and record songs in different styles. Every month or a year, music trends change, and people get crazy listening to them. 

If you look at the best or top 10 celebs of all time, you will find that every year, there would be up and down in their rankings based on audience interests. You can’t tag one singer as the best singer of all time. While some find Taylor Swift the best, others Bob Dylan as the emerging artist of all time. 

So, if you are a music fan and want to listen to the best and unique music ever, then here we have compiled a list of the best selling music artists of all time. 

1. The Beatles

Source = Rollingstone

If you have never heard The Beatles, you are missing something important in your life. The four lads first arrived in the US in 1964. Unfortunately, the band separated in 1970, but The Beatles are still in the hearts of millions. They were active from 1960-1970. They have starred in films, received several awards, and broke many records. 

Do you know since 2001, 16th January is recognized as the World’s Beatles day under UNESCO. They were not only popular for music but also for sound editing techniques they used to add depth and texture to the song. The Beatles left a mark on the music industry and influenced generations of musicians. They have certified sales of over 280 million. 

2. Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift started singing at a young age of 14. She created several songs based on her life story and made media gossip, which gained her popularity. Do you know Taylor Swift was the youngest artist to be signed by the Sony/ATV Music Publishing House at the age of 15? She has sold over 150 million singles and 50 million albums worldwide and is one of the best selling music artists of all time. 

She has been featured in TIME’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, the Forbes celebrity 100, and was named Woman of the Decade by Billboard. From 2011 to 2020, Swift Taylor featured in the top three on the Forbes Top-Earning Women in Music list. Here are some Taylor Swift songs that will make you nostalgic. 

3. Eminem

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Do you know Eminem’s born name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III?  He is a songwriter, American rapper, and record producer. He is one of the greatest rappers of all time and made his debut in the motion picture industry in 2002 with the musical drama film 8 Mile. He has won several awards like Grammy awards, Billboard music awards, MTV Europe Music Global Icon Award. 

He has global sales of over 220 million records and is recognized as one of the best selling music artists of all time. In 2001, he published Angry Blonde, a non-fiction book, where he featured commentary of his songs with unpublished photographs. In 2008, his autobiography, The Way I Am, was published. It described his life and his struggle with fame, heartbreak, and drugs. 

4. Madonna

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Madonna is well-known for her transitions from dance-pop, EDM, and hip-hop. She is a beautiful actress, record executive, and popular American singer-songwriter. She gained popularity after she acted in several films like Evita, A League of Their Own, and more. She also founded an entertainment company Maverick. According to Billboard, she is the most successful solo artist in its Hot 100 chart history. 

Furthermore, she is also the wealthiest woman in the music industry and has an estimated worth of around $800 million. Having sold over 300 million worldwide, she is tagged as one of the best female artists of all time. After she signed a singles deal with Sire, the debut single released in 1982 and 1983 went superhit. She is the highest solo artist of all time. Do you know she uses her last name to represent her non-music businesses? 

5. The Rolling Stones

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This British Rock Group was formed in 1962. The band became popular in 1964 in the United States and has released over 30 studio albums and several compilations. In 2008, The Rolling Stones were listed 10th on Billboard Hot 100 of all-time top Artists chart. 

The band has sold over 240 million albums worldwide and has been nominated for numerous awards in their music career. They have performed over 2000 concerts worldwide and Brown Sugar, Paint it Black, are a few popular songs of this band. 

6. Rihanna

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Born on 20th February 1988, Rihanna is a songwriter, actress, and philanthropist. She gained recognition after the release of her two albums Music of the Sun and A Girl Like Me. 

Her achievements include 13 American Music Awards, 6 Guinness World Records, and 9 Grammy Awards. She is the owner of the Nonprofit organization Clara Lionel Foundation and fashion house Fenty under LVMH. 

She grew up in Barbados and was not exposed to music. After she moved to the United States, she explored varieties of American music. When she was debuting, she recorded songs that were inspired by her Caribbean roots. She explored a wide range of genres, like hip hop and EDM. 

She finds Madonna as her inspiration and wants to be the black Madonna. She praised her for reinventing her throughout her career. She was also influenced by Beyonce, Aaliyah, and others. 

Not only for her songs, but people follow her for a unique fashion sense. TIME magazine featured Rihanna on its 100 Most influential People in the world. She is one of the coolest, talented, and most listened to artists of all time. Throughout her career, she has sold over 250 million records worldwide. 

7. Michael Jackson

You can’t miss the name of the legend Michael Jackson when you are discussing the best selling artists of all time. Michael Jackson was a popular dancer, songwriter, and American singer. 

He made his professional debut in the year 1964, along with his brothers. He began his solo career in 1971 and gained stardom with his 5th album Off the Wall. In 1980, he became a figure of controversy and due to his changing appearance, relationships, and behavior. 

With over 35 million sales worldwide, Michael Jackson is one of the best selling music artists of all time. In his career, he received 13 Grammy Awards, Grammy Lifetime achievement award, 39 Guinness World Record, Golden Globe award, and more. In 1988, he released his autobiography, Moonwalk, where he discussed his childhood and abuse from his father. It sold over 200,000 copies and got listed in the New York Times bestsellers list. 

In 1993, he won three American Music Awards and was the first to win the International Artist Award of Excellence. At the 35th Annual Grammy Awards, Michael Jackson won the Living Legend Award. 

In August 1993, he was accused of child sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy. After this, police raided Jackson’s house and found photographs of boys with no clothing. 

He was influenced by musicians, including Jackie Wilson, David Ruffin, and more. You would be shocked to know that his estate still brings him around $800 million annually. 

8. Garth Brooks

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Troyal Garth Brooks is the only artist in the music industry to have released nine that received diamond status in the United States. He has won several awards, including 2 Grammy Awards, 17 American Music Awards, and RIAA award. 

As of 2020, his net worth is $350 million. In 1985, he began his career in music from the Oklahoma clubs and bars. His eponymous first selling album released in 1989 was a grand success. His second album No Fences spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart. 

In 2014, Brooks announced two concerts to be held in Dublin. Due to high demand, three more shows were added, and around 400,000 tickets were sold. However, due to licensing issues, the management team had to cancel his two concerts. 

In 2005, he ended his association with Capitol Records and launched his record label as Pearl Records. In 2014, he established Ghost Tunes, an online music store that featured his digital music and other songs from artists. On 27 June 2020, he performed a concert broadcast at drive-in-theatres throughout North America.

9. Bruce Springsteen

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As of 2020, the net worth of Bruce Springsteen is around $500 million. He is the 4th richest rock star in the world. He is a singer, songwriter, and leader of the E Street Band. During his career, he has performed rock and folk songs. 

Born in the USA is his most successful album. Seven of his singles are listed at the top 10 of Billboard Hot 100. He has sold over 130 million copies worldwide and 64 million records in the United States. He has received an Academy Award, 20 Grammy Awards Tony Award, and more. 

In 1964, he saw The Beatles’ performance on the Ed Sullivan show and got inspired. He bought his first guitar and then started playing guitar for the people. In 1972, he formed a band to record his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. By 1970, he gained recognition in the pop world. 

In 1979, he joined the Musicians United for Safe Energy anti-nuclear power collective at Madison Square Garden for two nights. He supported Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and announced his endorsement in 2008. He is an activist for LGBT rights and comes as a strong supporter of gay marriage. 

10. Led Zeppelin

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Led Zeppelin was a popular English rock band. It included Jimmy Page as a guitarist, Robert Plant as a vocalist, and John Paul Jones, as a violinist. In 1968, the band began their first tour and played their first show as Led Zeppelin at the University of Surrey in Battersea. 

Their debut album was released in 1969 and reached number 10 on the Billboard chart. In the 1970s, the band gained worldwide recognition and is considered as one of the most influential groups of the era. In 1975, the band released double album Physical Graffiti. It was their first release on the Swan Song label. It included nearly 15 songs, out of which eight songs were recorded at Headley Grange in 1974. 

Final Words  

Gone are the days when people used to buy CDs and cassettes of their favorite artists. Now with the streaming services, people can download anything for free or at a fair price. Today, everyone from the corner of the world can listen to songs, watch movies, and do anything via the internet. 

Which are your favorite artists? We wonder who will become next in the list of best selling music artists of all time! Do you know other artists who got retired and still influence musicians of different generations?