Best-selling female album artists in Nielsen Music history - Gaga finally ties Rihanna

[Mills 446]

Best-selling female solo artists in Nielsen Music history, in reported album sales, as recognized by Billboard:

Rank / Artist (Year of Mainstream debut) / Career sales (as of week ending)

1. Mariah Carey (1990) - 54.6 million (3/22/15)
2. Celine Dion (1990) - 52.4 million (3/22/15)
3. Shania Twain (1993) - 34.5 million (3/22/15)
4. Britney Spears (1999) - 33.1 million (3/22/15)
5. Reba McEntire (1977) - 30.4 million (3/22/15)
6. Madonna (1983) - 28.2 million (3/29/15)
7. Taylor Swift (2006) - 27.67 million (3/8/15)
8. Enya (1987) - 26 million (1/5/14)
9. Whitney Houston (1985) - 24.617 million (2/12/12)*
10. Mary J. Blige (1992) - 24.5 million (11/16/14)
11. Alanis Morissette (1991) - 20.5 million (11/7/10)
12. LeAnn Rimes (1996) - 20.493 million (11/25/12)
13. Faith Hill (1993) - 20.105 million (11/25/12)
14. Janet Jackson (1982) - 19.874 million (8/30/09)
15. Norah Jones (2002) - 19.1 million (11/23/14)
16. Alicia Keys (2001) - 18.4 million (3/29/15)
17. Christina Aguilera (1999) - 17.9 million (8/31/14)
18. P!nk (2000) - 16.2 million (11/23/14)
19. Miley Cyrus (2006) - 15.9 million (4/27/14)
20. Beyonce (2003) - 15.8 million (3/29/15)
21. Carrie Underwood (2005) - 14.7 million (11/23/14)
22. Adele (2008) - 13.8 million (11/23/14)
23. Kelly Clarkson (2003) - 13.5 million (11/23/14)
24. Jennifer Lopez (1999) - 12.4 million (6/9/13)
25. Avril Lavigne (2002) - 12.305 million (6/22/14)

Bubbling Under:
Cher (1965) - 10.588 million (8/31/14)
Rihanna (2005) - 10.3 million (3/29/15)
Lady Gaga (2008) - 10.3 million (3/29/15)

Notables:
Hilary Duff (2002) - 8.287 million (4/14/13)
Shakira (1996) - 7.79 million (3/2/14)
Missy Elliott (1997) - 7.52 million (1/11/15)
Jessica Simpson (1999) - 6.69 million (2/15/09)
Katy Perry (2008) - 6.2 million (1/25/15)
Ashanti (2002) - 5.957 million (10/26/08)
Gwen Stefani (2004) - 5.7 million (5/17/09)
Fergie (2006) - 3.9 million (9/14/14)
Ashlee Simpson (2004) - 3.892 million (5/11/08)
Nicki Minaj (2010) - 3.4 million (3/29/15)
Selena Gomez (2009) - 2.8 million (8/17/14)
Mandy Moore (1999) - 2.74 million (5/31/09)
Kesha (2010) - 2.4 million (10/12/14)
Demi Lovato (2008) - 1.87 million (3/2/14)
Kylie Minogue (1988) - 1.58 million (2/27/11)
Lindsay Lohan (2004) - 1.405 million (5/11/08)

 

* While Billboard counts the sales of "The Bodyguard OST" (1992) towards Whitney Houston’s total career album sales since Nielsen Music began tracking over-the-counter sales in 1991, Nielsen Music does not with their own current tally of the best-selling artists since they consider it as a standalone soundtrack by various artists and not solely by Whitney Houston. Per Nielsen Music’s own tally, their last reported career album sales for Whitney Houston stands at 12.787 million, as of week ending February 12, 2012 - therefore placing her as 23rd among the best-selling female solo album artists in their running tally since 1991.

[Runway 27,876]

In less time

[LePetitGAGABLover 21,234]

Think about it. Rihanna has released 7 albums and gaga only 5. That says a lot. Then again, adele has only realased two albums. Mess

[OBEY 57,107]

slay gaga slay, less albums and less years in the business than riri

coming for Mariah with her next album 

 

[Haroon 49,685]

Congratulations to her but I think it'll be short-lived considering #R8 is just around the corner  

[OBEY 57,107]

Congratulations to her but I think it'll be short-lived considering #R8 is just around the corner  

​Gaga will surpass her/tie her again when her next album is out 

 

[RodeckDanny 1,944]

Gaga will catch up with time

[Bloody 64,631]

Congrats Gaga!  

I'm sure her numbers will rise within the next years.  

[UrethraFranklin 434]

The fact that Miley has outsold Both Beyonce & Jlo

[MANiCURE1295 8,673]

That's so awesome! Can't wait to see her in the top 25  

[Ladey Gagz 2,512]

Miley  

TaylTaylor slaying  

I thought gaga would be already higher than Rih though considering Rih is mostly a singles artist 

[Cody Draco 2,531]

Gaga will pass Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, and Jennifer Lopez without a doubt.

[Cody Draco 2,531]

Miley  

TaylTaylor slaying  

I thought gaga would be already higher than Rih though considering Rih is mostly a singles artist 

​Rih has been around longer and has released more albums so I'm not surprised.

[Ladey Gagz 2,512]

​Rih has been around longer and has released more albums so I'm not surprised.

​True but considering that all her first week sales of all her albums are lower than ARTPOP's first week sales, it's surprising to me. Unless she has longevity and I didn't know

[Yves 1,891]

Taylor Alison Swift

Adele, my other fave, destroying your faves with just two albums.  

Gaga, that's good  

 

Poor Katheryn. Let the light in for the sales of your albums.