The top 10 artists in Nielsen SoundScan history (May 25,1991 on)are, in order:

01. GARTH BROOKS: 67,774,000
02. THE BEATLES: 56,110,000
03. MARIAH CAREY: 50,004,000
04. CELINE DION: 49,951,000
05. METALLICA: 48,867,000
06. GEORGE STRAIT: 39,403,000
07. TIM MCGRAW: 36,657,000
08. ALAN JACKSON: 35,654,000
09. PINK FLOYD: 34,665,000
10. SHANIA TWAIN: 33,591,000