In the age of streaming and digital file storage, playing your favorite song is just a click away. In stark contrast to the sale of physical music products, online music releases can be made instantly available — to be enjoyed and shared by fans around the world.
24/7 Tempo reviewed the current 30 best-selling artists for digital singles from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). For context, sales data on digital singles has been collected by the RIAA since 2004 and there are 422 artists with at least 5 million certified units in the category. We included a popular single for each artist using Billboard Hot 100 chart data. All data is as of January 2022.
Click here to see the all time best selling artists for digital singles
There’s nothing like a good lyric or beat to escape into. From Kanye West’s “Heartless” (once played in every dance club back in the day) to the house party worthy retro beats of The Weeknd’s “Blinding lights,” there’s a song for everyone on this list.Â
There are even heartfelt, modern love songs like Sam Smith’s “Stay with me.” Some may say this list captures our current times and is as worthy a listen as some of Elvis’s most popular songs of his time. Click here to see the most popular Elvis Presley songs.Â
2021 has been an increasingly big year for a few of the artists on this list reinforcing their drive and current relevance. For example, Drake’s WIN of the “Top Streaming Songs Artist” award and Lady Gaga’s WIN of the “Top Dance/Electronic Artist” award at the 2021 Billboard music Awards.
Moreover in the continuing pandemic, some artists like Ed Sheeran (who contracted Covid-19 last year), persevered with home performances and a new album release in the fall of 2021.
Source: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
30. Sam Smith
> Digital singles: 46 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Stay With Me” (54 weeks)
> “Stay With Me” peaked on chart: May 2, 2015
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Source: Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images North America
28. Cardi B
> Digital singles: 48 million (tie)
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” (35 weeks)
> “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” peaked on chart: Mar 10, 2018
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
28. Carrie Underwood
> Digital singles: 48 million (tie)
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Before He Cheats” (64 weeks)
> “Before He Cheats” peaked on chart: Dec 1, 2007
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
27. Twenty One Pilots
> Digital singles: 49.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Stressed Out” (52 weeks)
> “Stressed Out” peaked on chart: Oct 1, 2016
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Source: Bennett Raglin / Getty Images
26. Xxxtentacion
> Digital singles: 50 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Sad!” (38 weeks)
> “Sad!” peaked on chart: Dec 1, 2018
Source: Jason Kempin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
25. Florida Georgia Line
> Digital singles: 50.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Talk You Out Of It” (26 weeks)
> “Talk You Out Of It” peaked on chart: Aug 24, 2019
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
24. Blake Shelton
> Digital singles: 52 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “God Gave Me You” (25 weeks)
> “God Gave Me You” peaked on chart: Jan 14, 2012
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
23. Flo Rida
> Digital singles: 52.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “My House” (39 weeks)
> “My House” peaked on chart: Aug 20, 2016
22. Youngboy Never Broke Again
> Digital singles: 55 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Make No Sense” (20 weeks)
> “Make No Sense” peaked on chart: Apr 11, 2020
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Source: Tabatha Fireman / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
21. J. Cole
> Digital singles: 55.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Work Out” (28 weeks)
> “Work Out” peaked on chart: Mar 24, 2012
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
20. Future
> Digital singles: 58 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Mask Off” (31 weeks)
> “Mask Off” peaked on chart: Oct 7, 2017
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
19. Ariana Grande
> Digital singles: 63.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “7 Rings” (33 weeks)
> “7 Rings” peaked on chart: Sep 14, 2019
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
18. Luke Bryan
> Digital singles: 68.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Drunk On You” (24 weeks)
> “Drunk On You” peaked on chart: Aug 25, 2012
Source: Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images
17. Lil Wayne
> Digital singles: 70 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “How To Love” (24 weeks)
> “How To Love” peaked on chart: Nov 19, 2011
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Source: David Becker / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
15. Imagine Dragons
> Digital singles: 74.5 million (tie)
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Radioactive” (87 weeks)
> “Radioactive” peaked on chart: May 10, 2014
Source: Bennett Raglin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
15. Juice Wrld
> Digital singles: 74.5 million (tie)
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Lucid Dreams” (48 weeks)
> “Lucid Dreams” peaked on chart: Dec 28, 2019
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
13. Ed Sheeran
> Digital singles: 80.5 million (tie)
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Shape Of You” (59 weeks)
> “Shape Of You” peaked on chart: Mar 3, 2018
Source: Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
13. Lady Gaga
> Digital singles: 80.5 million (tie)
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Poker Face” (40 weeks)
> “Poker Face” peaked on chart: Oct 3, 2009
Source: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
12. Maroon 5
> Digital singles: 85.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “This Love” (43 weeks)
> “This Love” peaked on chart: Dec 4, 2004
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Source: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
11. The Weeknd
> Digital singles: 86 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Blinding Lights” (90 weeks)
> “Blinding Lights” peaked on chart: Sep 4, 2021
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
9. Bruno Mars
> Digital singles: 90.5 million (tie)
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “That’s What I Like” (52 weeks)
> “That’s What I Like” peaked on chart: Jan 20, 2018
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Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
9. Chris Brown
> Digital singles: 90.5 million (tie)
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Run It!” (38 weeks)
> “Run It!” peaked on chart: May 13, 2006
Source: Rich Fury / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
8. Post Malone
> Digital singles: 95 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Circles” (61 weeks)
> “Circles” peaked on chart: Nov 7, 2020
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
7. Justin Bieber
> Digital singles: 105.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Sorry” (42 weeks)
> “Sorry” peaked on chart: Aug 27, 2016
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Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
6. Katy Perry
> Digital singles: 106 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Hot N Cold” (39 weeks)
> “Hot N Cold” peaked on chart: May 9, 2009
Source: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
5. Eminem
> Digital singles: 107.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Not Afraid” (25 weeks)
> “Not Afraid” peaked on chart: Nov 6, 2010
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Source: Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
4. Kanye West
> Digital singles: 120 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Heartless” (30 weeks)
> “Heartless” peaked on chart: Jun 13, 2009
Source: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
3. Taylor Swift
> Digital singles: 134 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “You Belong With Me” (50 weeks)
> “You Belong With Me” peaked on chart: Apr 17, 2010
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
2. Rihanna
> Digital singles: 151.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Needed Me” (45 weeks)
> “Needed Me” peaked on chart: Dec 24, 2016
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
1. Drake
> Digital singles: 163.5 million
> Single with the longest run on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Hotline Bling” (36 weeks)
> “Hotline Bling” peaked on chart: Apr 23, 2016
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