Beyonce‘s record-breaking week at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is nothing short of historic.
As if jetting past Pop megastars Taylor Swift and Rihanna to become the female act with the most titles in the RIAA’s 72-year history wasn’t enough to brag, the slew of updates to her catalog also raced Bey into another set of unprecedented milestones.
On Tuesday (December 17), the RIAA announced a massive update to Beyonce’s certification stats (over 60 titles) – a feat that saw many of her most beloved hits upgraded to Gold, Platinum, Multi-Platinum, or even Diamond status.
Together, those shiny new plaques pushed the diva’s cumulative solo career single sales to 161.5 million – making her only the fifth act in the organization’s history behind Drake (244 million), Rihanna (183 million), Eminem (167 million), and Kanye West (163 million) to boast single sales over the 150 million mark.
Unlike the aforementioned, Bey is the first and only American-born vocalist to nab the achievement – leapfrogging over her nearest competitors Taylor Swift (137.5 million), Katy Perry (121.5 million), and Chris Brown (114.5 million).
With album and single sales combined, Beyonce’s certified sales in the USA now sit at 145 million – making her one of the best-selling female acts of all time in the country.
At writing, only Rihanna (211 million), Taylor Swift (194.5 million), and Mariah Carey (149 million) have sold more among women.
There is no way Beyoncé or anyone on this list has sold more of anything than Michael Jackson, Elvis and the Beatles. Outside of Mariah Carey and Eminem none of these people sales went over the 100 million mark until they started counting FREE STREAMING. Just use your brain and think about all of the Number one songs the Beatles, Mariah Carey and Elvis have. Those songs had to sell millions pure sales. Now imagine instead of having to go out and physically buy those Great artist Records and they could just STREAM them for free at home. Elvis, Michael Jackson and the Beatles Record sales would be over A billion lol SMH
I don’t understand these stats anymore.