# Ten iconic albums from 1976, ranked by sales

> Business Insider ranks the best-selling albums turning 50 this year using RIAA certification data.
- Title: Ten iconic albums from 1976, ranked by sales | Shortify
- Summary: Business Insider ranks the best-selling albums turning 50 this year using RIAA certification data. Business Insider ranked ten iconic albums from 1976 by…
- Keywords: 1976 albums, riaa certifications, album sales, vinyl records, music history, business, technology, Ten, iconic, albums, 1976, ranked
- Source: Business Insider — https://businessinsider.com/albums-turning-50-this-year-ranked
- Author: Rose Luczaj
- Published: 2026-10-08T13:20:01.25+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: 1976 albums, riaa certifications, album sales, vinyl records, music history, business, technology
## Fifty years of iconic music
Nineteen seventy-six produced some of music's most enduring albums. Many remain among the best-selling of all time, with artists continuing to benefit from their lasting success.
## How RIAA measures album success
Business Insider used certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America, or RIAA, whose Gold and Platinum database measures commercial success. Gold albums sold five hundred thousand units, platinum one million, and diamond ten million.
## Ranking the best sellers from 1976
Business Insider ranked ten iconic albums from 1976 by RIAA-certified units sold. Awards and broader cultural impact were considered, but greatest-hits albums and live records were excluded from the list.
## Key takeaway

Business Insider ranked ten iconic albums from 1976 by sales using RIAA certifications, which measure commercial success through gold, platinum, multi-platinum and diamond awards.