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.
Let’s examine the artists whose albums have been the best-selling in the United States over the past decade
- In 2023, Taylor Swift’s album ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ topped the charts
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.
- In 2022, Taylor Swift achieved success with her album ‘Midnights’
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.
- In 2021, Adele’s album ’30’ claimed the top spot
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.
- In 2020, Taylor Swift secured the top-selling album with ‘Folklore’
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.
- 2019 – Taylor Swift for ‘Lover’
Taylor’s first album after leaving Big Machine Records, ‘Lover,’ became the top-selling album of the year, selling 1.085 million pure copies.
- In 2018, the top-selling album was ‘The Greatest Showman’ soundtrack by Various Artists
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.
- In 2017, Taylor Swift’s album ‘Reputation’ took the spotlight as the top-selling
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.
- In 2016, Drake’s album ‘Views’ dominated as the highest-selling
- In 2015, Adele’s album ’25’ soared as the top-selling
Adele’s album ’25’ debuted with over 3.38 million copies sold in the US during its first week. It later earned the Album of the Year award at the 2017 Grammy Awards. The lead single, ‘Hello,’ enjoyed significant success, maintaining a spot in the Billboard Top 100 for ten consecutive weeks. Additionally, ‘Hello’ won Grammys for Best Pop Solo Performance, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.
- In 2014 Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ Reigns as a Top-Selling Album
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.