Music of the United States

Last Updated : 21 Aug, 2025

In the 20th century, the United States became a big player in the global entertainment scene, exporting movies, films, and music. While genres like pop, rock, hip hop, country, and jazz are well-known exports, other styles in the roots music category, such as blues, salsa, bluegrass, and Celtic music, also have a significant impact on American music and culture.

In this article, we will take a look at the Highest-Certified Music Artists in the United States, Education and Scholarship, Different Genres as well as the roots of Music in the United States.

Let's get started!

Music of the United States: Top 100 Certified Music Artists (Albums)

Here's the list of artists with the top 100 highest-certified albums:

RankUnits (millions)NameNationalityActive Years
1183The BeatlesUK1960s–1970s
2162Garth BrooksUS1980s–2020s
3146.5Elvis PresleyUS1950s–1970s†
4120EaglesUS1970s–2020s
5112.5Led ZeppelinUK1960s–1980s
689Michael JacksonUS1970s–2000s†
786Billy JoelUS1970s–2020s
880Elton JohnUK1960s–2020s
975AC/DCAustralia1970s–2020s
1075Mariah CareyUS1990s–2020s
1175Pink FloydUK1960s–2010s
1271Bruce SpringsteenUS1970s–2020s
1369.5AerosmithUS1970s–2020s
1469.5George StraitUS1980s–2020s
1568.5Barbra StreisandUS1960s–2010s
1666.5The Rolling StonesUK1960s–2020s
1765.5MadonnaUS1980s–2020s
1863MetallicaUS1980s–2020s
1961.5EminemUS1990s–2020s
2061Whitney HoustonUS1980s–2010s†
2156.5Van HalenUS1970s–2010s
2255.5Fleetwood MacUK1960s–2010s
2353Celine DionCanada1990s–2020s
2452.5JourneyUS1970s–2020s
2552U2Ireland1970s–2010s
2651Taylor SwiftUS2000s–2020s
2749.5Neil DiamondUS1960s–2020s
2849AlabamaUS1970s–2020s
2948Kenny GUS1980s–2020s
3048Shania TwainCanada1990s–2020s
3147.5DrakeCanada2000s–2020s
3247.5Kenny RogersUS1950s–2000s†
3344.5Alan JacksonUS1980s–2020s
3444.5Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet BandUS1960s–2020s
3544.5Guns N' RosesUS1980s–2020s
3643.5SantanaUS1960s–2020s
3743QueenUK1970s–2020s
3841Reba McEntireUS1970s–2020s
3940Eric ClaptonUK1960s–2020s
4040Tim McGrawUS1990s–2020s
4139ChicagoUS1960s–2020s
4238.5Britney SpearsUS1990s–2020s
4338.5Simon & GarfunkelUS1960s–2010s
4438ForeignerUS1970s–2020s
4538Rod StewartUK1960s–2020s
4637Backstreet BoysUS1990s–2020s
4736.5Tupac ShakurUS1990s†
4836Bob DylanUS1960s–2020s
4935.5Def LeppardUK1970s–2020s
5035Kenny ChesneyUS1990s–2020s
5134.5Bon JoviUS1980s–2020s
5234.5Dave Matthews BandUS1990s–2020s
5334The DoorsUS1960s–1970s
5433.5Jay-ZUS1990s–2010s
5533.5John DenverUS1960s–1990s†
5633.5Phil CollinsUK1970s–2020s
5733James TaylorUS1960s–2020s
5833The ChicksUS1980s–2020s
5933UsherUS1990s–2020s
6032R. KellyUS1990s–2010s
6131.5Pearl JamUS1990s–2020s
6231.5Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersUS1970s–2010s†
6331.5Willie NelsonUS1950s–2020s
6431BostonUS1970s–2010s
6530.5BeyoncéUS2000s–2020s
6630.5Linkin ParkUS1990s–2010s
6730Creedence Clearwater RevivalUS1960s–1970s
6830Linda RonstadtUS1960s–2010s
6929.75Ozzy OsbourneUK1960s–2020s
7029.5Kanye WestUS2000s–2020s
7128.5Lynyrd SkynyrdUS1960s–2020s
7228AdeleUK2000s–2020s
7328Bee GeesUK/Australia1960s–2010s
7428Mannheim SteamrollerUS1970s–2010s
7528Michael BoltonUS1980s–2020s
7628NSYNCUS1990s–2020s
7728NirvanaUS1980s–1990s†
7827.5Barry ManilowUS1970s–2020s
7927.5Brooks & DunnUS1990s–2010s
8027.5John MellencampUS1970s–2020s
8127.5Red Hot Chili PeppersUS1980s–2020s
8227Boyz II MenUS1990s–2020s
8327Frank SinatraUS1930s–1990s†
8427Luther VandrossUS1960s–2000s†
8526.5EnyaIreland1980s–2010s
8626.5Steve Miller BandUS1960s–2010s
8726Janet JacksonUS1980s–2010s
8826OutkastUS1990s–2010s
8926RihannaBarbados2000s–2020s
9026RushCanada1970s–2010s†
9125.5Faith HillUS1990s–2010s
9225CreedUS1990s–2010s
9325Hootie & the BlowfishUS1980s–2020s
9425Lil WayneUS1990s–2020s
9525Mötley CrüeUS1980s–2010s
9625Toby KeithUS1990s–2020s†
9725ZZ TopUS1970s–2020s
9824.5REO SpeedwagonUS1970s–2010s
9924.5The CarpentersUS1960s–1980s†
10024Green DayUS1980s–2020s
10124Justin BieberCanada2000s–2020s
10224NickelbackCanada1990s–2020s
10324Vince GillUS1970s–2010s

Music of the United States: List of Highest-Certified Music Artists in the United States

As of February 10, 2024, the list of the highest-certified music artists in the United States, based on certifications of albums and digital singles by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), is as follows:

  • The Beatles have the highest number of total certified albums.
  • Drake has the highest number of total certified digital singles.

Among the top 30 artists on these lists, Michael Jackson, Eminem, Taylor Swift, and Mariah Carey are the only acts to appear on both. It's important to note that RIAA certifications are based on wholesale shipments, and awards are only presented upon application by the record company, so the total certified units for each artist may not be fully up-to-date or complete. Additionally, these certifications include on-demand audio/video streams and track sales equivalents since 2016.

Music of the United States: Roots

The United States is a melting pot of people from Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, shaping its rich musical heritage.

  • Native Americans: They use voice, drums, percussion, and flutes in their music. Powwows are popular, featuring singing and dancing, along with modern genres like rock and hip-hop.
  • Hawaii: Influenced by Polynesian and European cultures, Hawaiian music features instruments like the guitar and ukulele. Hawaiian slack key guitar is a popular style.
  • African Americans: Originating from the South, they brought forth genres like gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and Zydeco, influencing rock and roll.
  • Appalachian Music: Influenced by English, Celtic, and African-American music, Appalachian music includes old-time, bluegrass, gospel, and country. Instruments like the fiddle, banjo, and guitar are common.
  • Texan Influences: Polish, German, Slovak, Czech, and Hungarian immigrants brought polkas and waltzes, blending with existing music. The accordion introduced new musical forms, heard in Tex-Mex conjunto and western swing.
  • Cajun Music: Developed by Acadians in Louisiana.
  • Eastern European Immigrants: Brought polkas and other dances to the industrial North.
  • Recent Immigrants: From Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, they've introduced new beats and instruments like Indian classical, bhangra, and klezmer.
  • Hispanic Influence: Hispanics from the Southwest and Texas developed tejano music, norteño, and corridos. Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Dominicans created New York salsa, blending various Caribbean styles.

Also Read: American Culture: United States Culture History, Examples

Music of the United States: Top 50 Certified Music Artists (Digital Singles)

Here's the list of artists with the top 50 highest-certified digital singles as of March 8, 2024:

RankUnits (millions)NameNat.Active
1244DrakeCanada2000s–2020s[25]
2167EminemUS1990s–2020s[16]
3166.5RihannaBarbados2000s–2020s[59]
4160.5Kanye WestUS2000s–2020s[51]
5137.5Taylor SwiftUS2000s–2020s[14]
6134Post MaloneUS2010s–2020s[68]
7122.5Justin BieberCanada2000s–2020s[64]
8114.5BeyoncéUS2000s–2020s[69]
9113The WeekndCanada2010s–2020s[70]
10112Katy PerryUS2000s–2020s[71]
11103.5Imagine DragonsUS2000s–2020s[72]
12103.5Morgan WallenUS2010s–2020s[73]
1395Ed SheeranUK2000s–2020s[74]
1495FutureUS2000s–2020s[75]
1594.5Chris BrownUS2000s–2020s[76]
1692Lil WayneUS1990s–2020s[23]
1791.5Bruno MarsUS2000s–2020s[77]
1890.5Luke CombsUS2010s–2020s[78]
1987.5Maroon 5US2000s–2020s[79]
2084Juice WrldUS2010s†[80]
2182.5Lady GagaUS2000s–2020s[14]
2282.5UsherUS1990s–2020s
2382YoungBoy Never Broke AgainUS2010s–2020s[81]
2481.5Luke BryanUS2000s–2020s[23]
2577.5Ariana GrandeUS2010s–2020s[82]
2677J. ColeUS2000s–2020s[83]
2776Lil BabyUS2010s–2020s[84]
2875.5XXXTentacionUS2010s†[85]
2965.5Michael JacksonUS1970s–2000s†[86]
3063Mariah CareyUS1990s–2020s[87]
3162SZAUS2010s–2020s[88]
3260Miley CyrusUS2000s–2020s[23]
3358Britney SpearsUS1990s–2020s[34]
3458Cardi BUS2010s–2020s[89]
3557Fall Out BoyUS2000s–2020s[11]
3654.5Florida Georgia LineUS2010s–2020s[90]
3754.5Panic! at the DiscoUS2000s–2020sd[91]
3854KhalidUS2010s–2020s[92]
3953Chris StapletonUS2000s–2020s[93]
4053Twenty One PilotsUS2010s–2020s[94]
4152.5Flo RidaUS2000s–2020s[95]
4252A Boogie wit da HoodieUS2010s–2020s[96]
4352Blake SheltonUS2000s–2020s[97]
4452Harry StylesUK2010s–2020s[98]
4551Sam SmithUK2000s–2020s[14]
4650PitbullUS2000s–2020s[99]
4749.5DJ KhaledUS2000s–2020s[11]
4849Carrie UnderwoodUS2000s–2020s[23]
4949Polo GUS2010s–2020s[100]
5048.5JourneyUS1970s–2020s

Music of the United States: Genres

  1. Alt-Country: Short for Alternative Country, blends elements of country music with various American roots genres like bluegrass, Americana, rock, rockabilly, and honky-tonk.
  2. American Folk Music: Typically performed by singer-songwriters, incorporates elements of country, blues, bluegrass, pop, and rock into their music.
  3. Americana: Americana is a broad term encompassing American roots music, sometimes referred to as "alternative country." It includes bluegrass, folk, traditional country, blues, rock, and jazz. It emerged as a distinct genre in the 1990s, offering audiences a rawer sound compared to mainstream country music.
  4. Bluegrass: Bluegrass is an acoustic genre characterized by fast-paced music blending old-time, blues, and jazz. Instruments like fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, and upright bass are common. The International Bluegrass Music Association hosts an annual conference and awards ceremony, and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Owensboro, Kentucky, preserves the history of bluegrass music.
  5. Bluegrass Books: Books like "Bill Monroe: The Life and Music of the Blue Grass Man" and "Foggy Mountain Troubadour" delve into the roots of bluegrass music, characterized by fast-paced acoustic music.
  6. Blues: Originating in the Southern United States, blues music expresses feelings of melancholy and pain, with subgenres like Delta blues, Piedmont blues, and Chicago blues.
  7. Boogaloo/Bugalú: Latin Soul genre originating in New York City's Spanish Harlem in the 1960s, blending mambo and Latin jazz with African American R&B, soul, and doo-wop.
  8. Chicken Scratch/Waila Music: Developed by the Tohono O’odham people in southwest Arizona, blending Southwestern, Mexican, and European influences with accordion-driven polkas and waltzes.
  9. Country Music: Rooted in rural southern Appalachia, country music's influences include old-time, bluegrass, gospel, folk, and Celtic music. It evolved into pop-influenced Nashville productions in the 1970s and 1980s.
  10. Jazz: Developed by African Americans in the US, characterized by rhythm, blue notes, and improvisation. Jazz has evolved into various forms like bebop, cool jazz, fusion, Latin jazz, and smooth jazz, with influential musicians like Miles Davis and Duke Ellington.
  11. Zydeco: Popular accordion-based music from southern Louisiana performed by Creoles of Color, blending traditional sounds with rhythm and blues elements.

Music of the United States: Education and Scholarship

  • The academic study of music in the United States explores its connection to social class, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexuality, as well as delving into music history and musicology. This scholarly pursuit has roots dating back to the late 19th century, with researchers like Alice Fletcher and Francis La Flesche studying Omaha peoples' music for institutions like the Bureau of American Ethnology and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.
  • In the early 20th century, American music was often viewed through the lens of European classical traditions, with folk and traditional music considered low-class. However, scholars like Arthur Farwell questioned this approach, pondering the unique musical traditions emerging from American culture. John Tasker Howard's "Our American Music" (1930) became a standard text, focusing on concert music composed in the United States.
  • From the mid-20th century onwards, scholars like Charles Seeger emphasized the relationship between American music history and perceptions of race and ancestry. Gilbert Chase's "America's Music, from the Pilgrims to the Present" (1955) recognized folk traditions as culturally significant, shaping the dominant view among academics. However, until the 1960s and 1970s, most scholars focused on European music, with limited attention to American styles beyond classical and jazz.
  • In recent decades, modern musicologists and ethnomusicologists have broadened their focus, studying national musical identity and the specific styles of different communities throughout American history. Notable studies include Charles Hamm's "Music in the New World" (1983) and Richard Crawford's "America's Musical Life" (2001).

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