Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- Katy Perry is the `` most rewarded digital act '' ever , according to the organization that hands out gold and platinum records . Perry fans have bought 72 million singles online , which is 20 million more digital singles than the No . 2 artist , Rihanna , has sold , the Recording Industry Association of America announced . Taylor Swift is third with 51 million digital singles sold . How iTunes changed music , and the world . The music industry group , which started honoring vinyl record sales in 1958 , launched its digital sales awards in 2004 when online music downloads -- not including the pirated versions -- became a mainstream way of buying songs . The RIAA added online music streaming to its tracking last year . Katy Perry is the most followed on Twitter . Perry has earned 18 gold , 16 platinum and 56 multiplatinum digital singles awards in addition to her multiplatinum awards for her album `` Teenage Dream '' and a platinum award for the album `` One of the Boys . '' Perry 's top hits include `` I Kissed a Girl , '' `` Hot N Cold , '' `` Dark Horse '' and `` Birthday . '' RIAA Chairman Cary Sherman , at a ceremony Wednesday , called Perry `` a force to be reckoned with in music . '' `` She embodies all that makes a true global superstar : the musical talent , the extraordinary drive and genuine charisma , and an intrinsic connection with her fans , '' Sherman said . `` The award is a reflection of her deep commitment to those qualities and to her music , which has propelled her to this historic milestone . '' Katy Perry disses Miley 's tongue , Miley bites back .
Her fans have bought 72 million digital singles online . She has four gold , four platinum and 56 multiplatinum digital singles worldwide . Recording Industry Association of Japan began awarding gold and platinum digital singles in ' 04 .