Metallica, the 1991 album commonly called The Black Album, was the first album in the Nielsen SoundScan era to sell more than 16 million copies in the United States.
Nielsen SoundScan began tracking U.S. music sales in 1991, the same year Metallica was released. The album’s sustained sales made it the best-selling album in the United States since SoundScan tracking began, surpassing releases from artists in multiple genres.
Its success was not limited to the original release period. The album continued selling steadily through catalog purchases, repeated chart appearances, physical formats, and anniversary editions. By 2016, reported U.S. sales had reached 16.4 million copies.
The album’s domestic achievement is distinct from its worldwide total. Metallica has sold more than 30 million physical copies worldwide, while the SoundScan milestone refers specifically to U.S. sales measured during the SoundScan era.