Taylor Swift’s latest album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ has sold 2.61 million copies in the US during its first week, as reported by Billboard. Whether this marks a significant milestone for Swift and secures her album as the best-selling of the year remains to be seen. In the meantime, let’s take a look at the top-selling US albums of the past decade, as per Billboard. Notably, female musicians have dominated the charts during this period.
In 2023, the only album to sell two million copies in the United States was ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version).’ Released in October, it featured five vault tracks and sixteen re-recorded versions. This album broke records with 176 million streams in a single day worldwide and all 21 tracks charting on the Billboard 100.
Taylor Swift’s tenth album swiftly topped the Billboard 200 once again, marking her eleventh consecutive number-one debut. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, she clinched Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. Meanwhile, in 2022, Anti-Hero claimed the top spot on the charts in the United States.
Adele’s fourth album, ’30,’ delved into her journey after divorce and its impact on her kids. Upon its debut, it shattered records, quickly becoming the top-selling album of 2021.
Taylor Swift’s announcement of her eighth album’s artwork in April 2020 caused a social media frenzy. Despite her summer plans not panning out as expected, the unveiling of ‘Folklore’ as her eighth studio album proved to be a significant and unexpected highlight. The album went on to achieve the longest consecutive run at number one in 2020.
Taylor’s first album after leaving Big Machine Records, ‘Lover,’ became the top-selling album of the year, selling 1.085 million pure copies.
The soundtrack CD for the film The Greatest Showman was a massive success upon its release, earning critical acclaim, numerous awards, and topping the US album charts with total sales of 1,491,000 copies.
Taylor Swift responded to media criticism by releasing ‘Reputation’ without any prior promotional efforts. It marked her fourth consecutive album to sell over a million copies in its debut week in the US, with total sales reaching 2.478 million by the end of the year.
Taylor’s fifth album shattered records upon its release, becoming one of her most successful to date. It clinched the Grammy for Album of the Year and stormed onto the US Billboard 200, selling 1.287 million copies in its first week, making it the fastest-selling album of the year.