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List of best-selling albums in the United States of the Nielsen SoundScan era

October 28, 2023

This is a list of best-selling albums in the United States of the Nielsen SoundScan era. SoundScan began tracking sales data for Billboard on March 1, 1991. SoundScan data is unrelated to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certifications, and is based on actual sales while the RIAA's certification process is based on shipments.

Metallica's self-titled album is the highest selling record under Nielsen SoundScan, selling over 17 million copies

Best-sellers (overall) edit

 
Shania Twain's Come On Over (released in 1997) has sold over 15.7 million copies.
 
Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill (released in 1995) has sold over 15.3 million copies.
 
The Beatles' 1 (released in 2000) has sold over 13 million copies.
List of the best-selling albums in the United States since 1991, showing title, release year, artist, and sales figure
Album Release year Artist(s) Nationality Pure sales figures Ref.
Metallica 1991 Metallica United States 17,300,000 [1]
Come On Over 1997 Shania Twain Canada 15,730,000 [2]
Jagged Little Pill 1995 Alanis Morissette Canada / United States 15,200,000 [3]
1 2000 The Beatles United Kingdom 13,000,000 [4]
Legend 1984 Bob Marley and the Wailers Jamaica 12,300,000 [5]
Millennium 1999 Backstreet Boys United States 12,300,000[a] [7]
The Bodyguard 1992 Whitney Houston United States 12,140,000 [8]
21 2011 Adele United Kingdom 12,100,000 [9]
Supernatural 1999 Santana Mexico / United States 11,850,000 [8]
Human Clay 1999 Creed United States 11,690,000 [8]
No Strings Attached 2000 NSYNC United States 11,160,000[b] [8]
Come Away with Me 2002 Norah Jones United States 11,100,000 [12]
The Marshall Mathers LP 2000 Eminem United States 11,000,000 [7]
Falling into You 1996 Celine Dion Canada 10,900,000 [13]
...Baby One More Time 1999 Britney Spears United States 10,700,000[c] [17]
The Eminem Show 2002 Eminem United States 10,600,000 [12]
Hybrid Theory 2000 Linkin Park United States 10,500,000 [18]
Confessions 2004 Usher United States 10,300,000 [12]
Cracked Rear View 1994 Hootie & the Blowfish United States 10,270,000[d] [20]
Titanic 1997 James Horner United States 10,170,000 [20]
Backstreet Boys 1997 Backstreet Boys United States 10,120,000[e] [20]
Ten 1991 Pearl Jam United States 10,000,000 [22]

Best-selling albums by decade edit

1991–1999 edit

Best-selling albums in the United States in the 1990s[23][better source needed]
Album Release year Artist(s) Sales
Jagged Little Pill 1995 Alanis Morissette 13,542,393
Come On Over 1997 Shania Twain 12,110,660
Metallica 1991 Metallica 11,715,533
The Bodyguard 1992 Whitney Houston 11,605,690
Falling into You 1996 Celine Dion 10,224,282
Cracked Rear View 1994 Hootie & the Blowfish 9,817,666
Titanic 1997 James Horner 9,806,175
Millennium 1999 Backstreet Boys 9,445,732
Ropin' the Wind 1991 Garth Brooks 9,370,863
Backstreet Boys 1997 Backstreet Boys 9,258,265

2000–2009 edit

Best-selling albums in the United States in the 2000s[24]
Album Release year Artist(s) Sales
1 2000 The Beatles 11,564,000
No Strings Attached 2000 NSYNC 11,113,000
The Marshall Mathers LP 2000 Eminem 11,100,000
The Eminem Show 2002 Eminem 10,900,000
Come Away With Me 2002 Norah Jones 10,579,000
Confessions 2004 Usher 9,730,000
Hybrid Theory 2000 Linkin Park 9,697,000
Human Clay 1999 Creed 9,495,000
Oops!... I Did It Again 2000 Britney Spears 9,184,000
Country Grammar 2000 Nelly 8,464,000

2010–2019 edit

Best-selling albums in the United States in the 2010s[25]
Album Release year Artist(s) Sales
21 2011 Adele 12,009,000
25 2015 Adele 9,517,000
1989 2014 Taylor Swift 6,215,000
Recovery 2010 Eminem 4,867,000
Speak Now 2010 Taylor Swift 4,694,000
Red 2012 Taylor Swift 4,465,000
Christmas 2011 Michael Bublé 4,379,000
Frozen 2014 Various artists 4,314,000
Need You Now 2010 Lady Antebellum 4,221,000
The 20/20 Experience 2013 Justin Timberlake 3,743,000

Best-selling albums by year edit

 
Taylor Swift is the first artist to have the annual best seller six times (2009, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022).[26]
 
Adele has the annual best seller five times (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2021).
 
Eminem has the best-selling album of a calendar year twice (2002 and 2010).
 
Drake has the year's top-consumed album (based on album-equivalent units) twice (2016 and 2018).

The following list includes the annual best-selling albums since 1991, as reported by MRC Data (formerly Nielsen SoundScan). For albums released after 2015, the best-performing album of the year is determined by album-equivalent units consisted of album sales, digital songs sales, and on-demand streaming, while the best-selling album is determined by album sales only.[27]

Key
† Indicates album-equivalent units
Best-selling albums by year in the United States since 1991
Year Album Artist(s) Figures Ref.
1991 Mariah Carey Mariah Carey 4,885,000 [28]
1992 Some Gave All Billy Ray Cyrus 4,700,000 [29]
1993 The Bodyguard Whitney Houston 5,460,000 [30][31]
1994 The Lion King Various Artists 4,900,000 [32]
1995 Cracked Rear View Hootie & the Blowfish 7,000,000 [33]
1996 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette 7,400,000 [34]
1997 Spice Spice Girls 5,300,000 [35]
1998 Titanic James Horner 9,338,061 [36]
1999 Millennium Backstreet Boys 9,445,732 [36][37]
2000 No Strings Attached NSYNC 9,936,104 [36][38]
2001 Hybrid Theory Linkin Park 4,812,852 [36]
2002 The Eminem Show Eminem 7,607,925 [39]
2003 Get Rich or Die Tryin' 50 Cent 6,535,809 [40]
2004 Confessions Usher 7,978,594 [41]
2005 The Emancipation of Mimi Mariah Carey 4,968,606 [42][43]
2006 High School Musical Various Artists 3,719,071 [44]
2007 Noël Josh Groban 3,698,934 [45]
2008 Tha Carter III Lil Wayne 2,874,420 [46]
2009 Fearless Taylor Swift 3,216,988 [47]
2010 Recovery Eminem 3,414,927 [48]
2011 21 Adele 5,823,628 [49]
2012 21 Adele 4,414,000 [50]
2013 The 20/20 Experience Justin Timberlake 2,427,000 [51]
2014 1989 Taylor Swift 3,661,000 [52]
2015 25 Adele 8,008,000† [53]
7,441,000
2016 Views Drake 4,140,000† [54]
25 Adele 1,731,000
2017 ÷ Ed Sheeran 2,764,000† [55]
Reputation Taylor Swift 1,903,000
2018 Scorpion Drake 3,905,000† [56]
The Greatest Showman Various Artists 1,491,000
2019 Hollywood's Bleeding Post Malone 3,001,000† [57]
Lover Taylor Swift 1,085,000
2020 My Turn Lil Baby 2,632,000† [27]
Folklore Taylor Swift 1,276,000
2021 Dangerous: The Double Album Morgan Wallen 3,226,000† [58]
30 Adele 1,464,000
2022 Un Verano Sin Ti Bad Bunny 3,400,000† [26]
Midnights Taylor Swift 1,818,000

Single week best-sellers edit

See also: Lists of fastest-selling albums § United States

The first album in the SoundScan era to sell a million copies or more in a week is the soundtrack of The Bodyguard by Whitney Houston in 1992; the most recent album to do so is Midnights by Taylor Swift in 2022. The following is a list of all of the albums that sold at least one million copies in a single week:[59][60][61][62][63]

Key
† Indicates album-equivalent units
Week ending Title Artist Total units Pure sales Week # Reference
November 26, 2015 25 Adele 3,474,000† 3,378,000 1st [64]
March 26, 2000 No Strings Attached *NSYNC 2,416,000 1st [64]
July 29, 2001 Celebrity 1,880,000 1st [64]
May 28, 2000 The Marshall Mathers LP Eminem 1,760,000 1st [64]
November 26, 2000 Black & Blue Backstreet Boys 1,591,000 1st [64]
October 27, 2022 Midnights Taylor Swift 1,578,000† 1,140,000 1st [65]
June 2, 2002 The Eminem Show Eminem 1,322,000 2nd[f] [64]
May 21, 2000 Oops!... I Did It Again Britney Spears 1,319,000 1st [64]
November 2, 2014 1989 Taylor Swift 1,287,000 1st [64]
December 24, 2000 1 The Beatles 1,259,000 6th [66]
November 16, 2017 Reputation Taylor Swift 1,238,000† 1,216,000 1st [67]
October 28, 2012 Red Taylor Swift 1,208,000 1st [64]
December 24, 2015 25 Adele 1,190,000† 1,160,000 5th [68]
December 3, 2015 1,160,000† 1,110,000 2nd [68]
March 6, 2005 The Massacre 50 Cent 1,141,000 1st[g] [64]
May 23, 1999 Millennium Backstreet Boys 1,134,000 1st [64]
May 29, 2011 Born This Way Lady Gaga 1,108,000 1st [64]
March 28, 2004 Confessions Usher 1,096,000 1st [64]
November 22, 1998 Double Live Garth Brooks 1,095,000 1st [64]
December 28, 1992 The Bodyguard Soundtrack/Whitney Houston 1,061,000 6th [69]
October 22, 2000 Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water Limp Bizkit 1,055,000 1st [64]
October 31, 2010 Speak Now Taylor Swift 1,047,000 1st [64]
May 22, 2016 Views Drake 1,040,000† 852,000 1st [70]
February 17, 2004 Feels Like Home Norah Jones 1,022,000 1st [64]
June 21, 2008 Tha Carter III Lil Wayne 1,006,000 1st [71]

See also edit

References edit

Footnotes

  1. ^ Not including an additional 1.59 million copies sold through BMG Music Clubs. Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[6]
  2. ^ As of October 2014, No Strings Attached sold 11.16 million copies per SoundScan.[10] An additional 1.52 million copies sold through the BMG Music Club are not included in SoundScan's total.[11]
  3. ^ As of May 2020, ...Baby One More Time has sold 10,700,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan,[14] with an additional 1,600,000 copies sold through BMG Music Clubs.[15] Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[16]
  4. ^ Not including an additional 3 million copies sold through CD clubs. Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through CD clubs, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[19]
  5. ^ Not including an additional 1.72 million copies sold through BMG Music Clubs. Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[21]
  6. ^ Following an abbreviated single-day first week.
  7. ^ Abbreviated sales week of four days.
  1. ^ "Metallica's 'Black Album' Returns to Top 10 on Billboard 200 After 30th Anniversary Reissue". Billboard. September 19, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "Luke Combs' 'This One's For You' Ties No 1 Weeks Record On Top Country Albums". Billboard. October 28, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Alanis Morissette's 'Reasons I Drink' Hits Top 10 on Adult Alternative Songs Chart". Billboard. January 23, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  4. ^ "The Beatles' 'Abbey Road' Returns to Top 3 on Billboard 200 Chart After Nearly 50 Years". Billboard. October 6, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  5. ^ "Bob Marley's 'Legend' Album Hits 500th Week on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. December 21, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  6. ^ . August 17, 2009. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "The Weeknd’s Back in the Top 40: Billboard 200 Chart Moves". Billboard. September 29, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d Caulfield, Keith (October 9, 2014). "Adele's '21' Surpasses 11 Million In U.S. Sales". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  9. ^ Trust, Gary (May 5, 2021). "Ask Billboard: Adele's Biggest Albums & Songs, From 'Rolling in the Deep' to 'Hello' & More". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 10, 2014). "Adele's '21' Surpasses 11 Million In U.S. Sales". Billboard. from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  11. ^ . www.mi2n.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2003. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "Adele's '25' Sales Surpass 8 Million in the U.S." Billboard. February 7, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  13. ^ "Celine Dion's Best-Selling Albums & Most-Streamed Songs: Ask Billboard Mailbag". Billboard. November 26, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  14. ^ Trust, Gary (May 15, 2020). "Britney Spears' Career Sales & Streams, In Honor of 20 Years of 'Oops!...I Did It Again': Ask Billboard Mailbag". Billboard. from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
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  17. ^ "Britney Spears' Career Streams & Sales: Ask Billboard". Billboard. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  18. ^ "Linkin Park's 'Hybrid Theory' Producer Calls Working With Chester Bennington a 'Dream Come True'". Billboard. July 24, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  19. ^ "Four Columbia House insiders explain the shady math behind "8 CDs for a penny"". The A.V. Club. June 10, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "Usher's 'Confessions' Album Hits 10 Million in U.S. Sales". Billboard. July 5, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
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  22. ^ "Pearl Jam's 'Ten' Album Hits 10 Million in U.S. Sales". Billboard. February 20, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  23. ^ "Top Selling Albums of SoundScan Era (1991 – 12/30/1999)". Members.tripod.com. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  24. ^ "Top Ten". People. December 28, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  25. ^ (PDF). Nielsen Music. January 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 10, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (January 11, 2023). "Bad Bunny's 'Un Verano Sin Ti' Is Luminate's Top Album of 2022 in U.S." Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Billboard Year-End 2020" (PDF). Billboard. January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  28. ^ "The Billboard 200 - Year End Charts - 1991". Billboard. December 21, 1991. from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  29. ^ Philips, Chuck (January 5, 1993). "Cyrus, Brooks Give Their All to Record Sales". Los Angeles Times.
  30. ^ Grein, Paul. "Chart Watch Extra: 20 Years of Top Albums". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  31. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 15, 1994). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  32. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 21, 1995). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  33. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 20, 1996). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  34. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 18, 1997). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  35. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 31, 1998). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  36. ^ a b c d "Got Charts? Linkin Park, Shaggy, 'NSYNC Are 2001's Top-Sellers". MTV. Retrieved August 8, 2009.
  37. ^ "SoundScan 1999 Year-End Music Industry Report". Backstreet.net. January 5, 2000. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  38. ^ . Avrev.com. January 3, 2001. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  39. ^ D'Angelo, Joe (January 3, 2003). "MTV News:Eminem Sold Most Albums, Nickelback Ruled Radio In '02". MTV. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  40. ^ "Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen BDS 2003 Year End Music Industry Report". Retrieved June 13, 2012 – via Find Articles.
  41. ^ "Usher's 'Yeah!' Was Most Played Song of 2004". MTV.
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  51. ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 2, 2014). "Justin Timberlake's '20/20' 2013's Best Selling Album, 'Blurred Lines' Top Song". Billboard. Nielsen Soundscan. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  52. ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 31, 2014). "Taylor Swift's '1989' Beats 'Frozen' As Top Selling Album of 2014". Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  53. ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 5, 2016). "Adele's '25' Rules as Nielsen Music's Top Album of 2015 in U.S." Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  54. ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 5, 2017). "Drake's 'Views' Is Nielsen Music's Top Album of 2016 in the U.S." Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  55. ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 3, 2018). "Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' Is Nielsen Music's Top Album of 2017 in U.S." Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  56. ^ Drake's 'Scorpion' Is Nielsen Music's Top Album Of 2018 in U.S., 'God's Plan' Most-Streamed Song. Billboard. 8 January 2019.
  57. ^ "'Hollywood's Bleeding' Is Nielsen Music/MRC Data's Top Album of 2019, 'Old Town Road' Most-Streamed Song". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  58. ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 6, 2022). "Dua Lipa's 'Levitating' Is Most-Streamed Song of 2021 In U.S., Morgan Wallen's 'Dangerous: The Double Album' Is MRC Data's Top Album". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  59. ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 23, 2015). "Adele's '25' Is the 20th Album to Sell a Million Copies in a Week: See the Full List". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
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  62. ^ Caulfield, Keith (November 20, 2017). "Official: Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Album Sells 1.2M Copies in US During First Week". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
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  65. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 30, 2022). "Taylor Swift's 'Midnights' Blasts in at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With Biggest Week for an Album in 7 Years". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
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  69. ^ Billboard Staff (February 3, 2011). "29 Black Music Milestones: Whitney Houston Sells 1 Million in A Week". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
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  71. ^ "Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter III' Sells 1 Million". Billboard. June 18, 2008. from the original on May 13, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.

Notes edit

October 28, 2023
list, best, selling, albums, united, states, nielsen, soundscan, this, list, best, selling, albums, united, states, nielsen, soundscan, soundscan, began, tracking, sales, data, billboard, march, 1991, soundscan, data, unrelated, recording, industry, associatio. This is a list of best selling albums in the United States of the Nielsen SoundScan era SoundScan began tracking sales data for Billboard on March 1 1991 SoundScan data is unrelated to the Recording Industry Association of America RIAA certifications and is based on actual sales while the RIAA s certification process is based on shipments Metallica s self titled album is the highest selling record under Nielsen SoundScan selling over 17 million copies Contents 1 Best sellers overall 2 Best selling albums by decade 2 1 1991 1999 2 2 2000 2009 2 3 2010 2019 3 Best selling albums by year 4 Single week best sellers 5 See also 6 References 7 NotesBest sellers overall edit nbsp Shania Twain s Come On Over released in 1997 has sold over 15 7 million copies nbsp Alanis Morissette s Jagged Little Pill released in 1995 has sold over 15 3 million copies nbsp The Beatles 1 released in 2000 has sold over 13 million copies List of the best selling albums in the United States since 1991 showing title release year artist and sales figure Album Release year Artist s Nationality Pure sales figures Ref Metallica 1991 Metallica United States 17 300 000 1 Come On Over 1997 Shania Twain Canada 15 730 000 2 Jagged Little Pill 1995 Alanis Morissette Canada United States 15 200 000 3 1 2000 The Beatles United Kingdom 13 000 000 4 Legend 1984 Bob Marley and the Wailers Jamaica 12 300 000 5 Millennium 1999 Backstreet Boys United States 12 300 000 a 7 The Bodyguard 1992 Whitney Houston United States 12 140 000 8 21 2011 Adele United Kingdom 12 100 000 9 Supernatural 1999 Santana Mexico United States 11 850 000 8 Human Clay 1999 Creed United States 11 690 000 8 No Strings Attached 2000 NSYNC United States 11 160 000 b 8 Come Away with Me 2002 Norah Jones United States 11 100 000 12 The Marshall Mathers LP 2000 Eminem United States 11 000 000 7 Falling into You 1996 Celine Dion Canada 10 900 000 13 Baby One More Time 1999 Britney Spears United States 10 700 000 c 17 The Eminem Show 2002 Eminem United States 10 600 000 12 Hybrid Theory 2000 Linkin Park United States 10 500 000 18 Confessions 2004 Usher United States 10 300 000 12 Cracked Rear View 1994 Hootie amp the Blowfish United States 10 270 000 d 20 Titanic 1997 James Horner United States 10 170 000 20 Backstreet Boys 1997 Backstreet Boys United States 10 120 000 e 20 Ten 1991 Pearl Jam United States 10 000 000 22 Best selling albums by decade edit1991 1999 edit Best selling albums in the United States in the 1990s 23 better source needed Album Release year Artist s SalesJagged Little Pill 1995 Alanis Morissette 13 542 393Come On Over 1997 Shania Twain 12 110 660Metallica 1991 Metallica 11 715 533The Bodyguard 1992 Whitney Houston 11 605 690Falling into You 1996 Celine Dion 10 224 282Cracked Rear View 1994 Hootie amp the Blowfish 9 817 666Titanic 1997 James Horner 9 806 175Millennium 1999 Backstreet Boys 9 445 732Ropin the Wind 1991 Garth Brooks 9 370 863Backstreet Boys 1997 Backstreet Boys 9 258 2652000 2009 edit Best selling albums in the United States in the 2000s 24 Album Release year Artist s Sales1 2000 The Beatles 11 564 000No Strings Attached 2000 NSYNC 11 113 000The Marshall Mathers LP 2000 Eminem 11 100 000The Eminem Show 2002 Eminem 10 900 000Come Away With Me 2002 Norah Jones 10 579 000Confessions 2004 Usher 9 730 000Hybrid Theory 2000 Linkin Park 9 697 000Human Clay 1999 Creed 9 495 000Oops I Did It Again 2000 Britney Spears 9 184 000Country Grammar 2000 Nelly 8 464 0002010 2019 edit Best selling albums in the United States in the 2010s 25 Album Release year Artist s Sales21 2011 Adele 12 009 00025 2015 Adele 9 517 0001989 2014 Taylor Swift 6 215 000Recovery 2010 Eminem 4 867 000Speak Now 2010 Taylor Swift 4 694 000Red 2012 Taylor Swift 4 465 000Christmas 2011 Michael Buble 4 379 000Frozen 2014 Various artists 4 314 000Need You Now 2010 Lady Antebellum 4 221 000The 20 20 Experience 2013 Justin Timberlake 3 743 000Best selling albums by year edit nbsp Taylor Swift is the first artist to have the annual best seller six times 2009 2014 2017 2019 2020 2022 26 nbsp Adele has the annual best seller five times 2011 2012 2015 2016 2021 nbsp Eminem has the best selling album of a calendar year twice 2002 and 2010 nbsp Drake has the year s top consumed album based on album equivalent units twice 2016 and 2018 The following list includes the annual best selling albums since 1991 as reported by MRC Data formerly Nielsen SoundScan For albums released after 2015 the best performing album of the year is determined by album equivalent units consisted of album sales digital songs sales and on demand streaming while the best selling album is determined by album sales only 27 Key Indicates album equivalent unitsBest selling albums by year in the United States since 1991 Year Album Artist s Figures Ref 1991 Mariah Carey Mariah Carey 4 885 000 28 1992 Some Gave All Billy Ray Cyrus 4 700 000 29 1993 The Bodyguard Whitney Houston 5 460 000 30 31 1994 The Lion King Various Artists 4 900 000 32 1995 Cracked Rear View Hootie amp the Blowfish 7 000 000 33 1996 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette 7 400 000 34 1997 Spice Spice Girls 5 300 000 35 1998 Titanic James Horner 9 338 061 36 1999 Millennium Backstreet Boys 9 445 732 36 37 2000 No Strings Attached NSYNC 9 936 104 36 38 2001 Hybrid Theory Linkin Park 4 812 852 36 2002 The Eminem Show Eminem 7 607 925 39 2003 Get Rich or Die Tryin 50 Cent 6 535 809 40 2004 Confessions Usher 7 978 594 41 2005 The Emancipation of Mimi Mariah Carey 4 968 606 42 43 2006 High School Musical Various Artists 3 719 071 44 2007 Noel Josh Groban 3 698 934 45 2008 Tha Carter III Lil Wayne 2 874 420 46 2009 Fearless Taylor Swift 3 216 988 47 2010 Recovery Eminem 3 414 927 48 2011 21 Adele 5 823 628 49 2012 21 Adele 4 414 000 50 2013 The 20 20 Experience Justin Timberlake 2 427 000 51 2014 1989 Taylor Swift 3 661 000 52 2015 25 Adele 8 008 000 53 7 441 0002016 Views Drake 4 140 000 54 25 Adele 1 731 0002017 Ed Sheeran 2 764 000 55 Reputation Taylor Swift 1 903 0002018 Scorpion Drake 3 905 000 56 The Greatest Showman Various Artists 1 491 0002019 Hollywood s Bleeding Post Malone 3 001 000 57 Lover Taylor Swift 1 085 0002020 My Turn Lil Baby 2 632 000 27 Folklore Taylor Swift 1 276 0002021 Dangerous The Double Album Morgan Wallen 3 226 000 58 30 Adele 1 464 0002022 Un Verano Sin Ti Bad Bunny 3 400 000 26 Midnights Taylor Swift 1 818 000Single week best sellers editSee also Lists of fastest selling albums United States The first album in the SoundScan era to sell a million copies or more in a week is the soundtrack of The Bodyguard by Whitney Houston in 1992 the most recent album to do so is Midnights by Taylor Swift in 2022 The following is a list of all of the albums that sold at least one million copies in a single week 59 60 61 62 63 Key Indicates album equivalent unitsWeek ending Title Artist Total units Pure sales Week ReferenceNovember 26 2015 25 Adele 3 474 000 3 378 000 1st 64 March 26 2000 No Strings Attached NSYNC 2 416 000 1st 64 July 29 2001 Celebrity 1 880 000 1st 64 May 28 2000 The Marshall Mathers LP Eminem 1 760 000 1st 64 November 26 2000 Black amp Blue Backstreet Boys 1 591 000 1st 64 October 27 2022 Midnights Taylor Swift 1 578 000 1 140 000 1st 65 June 2 2002 The Eminem Show Eminem 1 322 000 2nd f 64 May 21 2000 Oops I Did It Again Britney Spears 1 319 000 1st 64 November 2 2014 1989 Taylor Swift 1 287 000 1st 64 December 24 2000 1 The Beatles 1 259 000 6th 66 November 16 2017 Reputation Taylor Swift 1 238 000 1 216 000 1st 67 October 28 2012 Red Taylor Swift 1 208 000 1st 64 December 24 2015 25 Adele 1 190 000 1 160 000 5th 68 December 3 2015 1 160 000 1 110 000 2nd 68 March 6 2005 The Massacre 50 Cent 1 141 000 1st g 64 May 23 1999 Millennium Backstreet Boys 1 134 000 1st 64 May 29 2011 Born This Way Lady Gaga 1 108 000 1st 64 March 28 2004 Confessions Usher 1 096 000 1st 64 November 22 1998 Double Live Garth Brooks 1 095 000 1st 64 December 28 1992 The Bodyguard Soundtrack Whitney Houston 1 061 000 6th 69 October 22 2000 Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water Limp Bizkit 1 055 000 1st 64 October 31 2010 Speak Now Taylor Swift 1 047 000 1st 64 May 22 2016 Views Drake 1 040 000 852 000 1st 70 February 17 2004 Feels Like Home Norah Jones 1 022 000 1st 64 June 21 2008 Tha Carter III Lil Wayne 1 006 000 1st 71 See also edit nbsp Record production portalAlbum era List of best selling albums in the United States List of best selling albums by year in the United StatesReferences editFootnotes Not including an additional 1 59 million copies sold through BMG Music Clubs Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service which were significantly popular in the 1990s 6 As of October 2014 No Strings Attached sold 11 16 million copies per SoundScan 10 An additional 1 52 million copies sold through the BMG Music Club are not included in SoundScan s total 11 As of May 2020 Baby One More Time has sold 10 700 000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan 14 with an additional 1 600 000 copies sold through BMG Music Clubs 15 Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service which were significantly popular in the 1990s 16 Not including an additional 3 million copies sold through CD clubs Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through CD clubs which were significantly popular in the 1990s 19 Not including an additional 1 72 million copies sold through BMG Music Clubs Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service which were significantly popular in the 1990s 21 Following an abbreviated single day first week Abbreviated sales week of four days Metallica s Black Album Returns to Top 10 on Billboard 200 After 30th Anniversary Reissue Billboard September 19 2021 Retrieved November 12 2021 Luke Combs This One s For You Ties No 1 Weeks Record On Top Country Albums Billboard October 28 2019 Retrieved May 1 2020 Alanis Morissette s Reasons I Drink Hits Top 10 on Adult Alternative Songs Chart Billboard January 23 2020 Retrieved May 19 2020 The Beatles Abbey Road Returns to Top 3 on Billboard 200 Chart After Nearly 50 Years Billboard October 6 2019 Retrieved May 1 2020 Bob Marley s Legend Album Hits 500th Week on Billboard 200 Chart Billboard December 21 2017 Retrieved May 1 2020 Mi2N com SHANIA BACKSTREET BRITNEY EMIMEN AND JANET TOP ALL TIME SELLERS August 17 2009 Archived from the original on August 17 2009 Retrieved August 13 2022 a b The Weeknda s Back in the Top 40 Billboard 200 Chart Moves Billboard September 29 2016 Retrieved May 7 2020 a b c d Caulfield Keith October 9 2014 Adele s 21 Surpasses 11 Million In U S Sales Billboard Retrieved October 11 2014 Trust Gary May 5 2021 Ask Billboard Adele s Biggest Albums amp Songs From Rolling in the Deep to Hello amp More Billboard Retrieved November 19 2021 Caulfield Keith October 10 2014 Adele s 21 Surpasses 11 Million In U S Sales Billboard Archived from the original on October 12 2014 Retrieved May 7 2020 Shania Backstreet Britney Eminem And Janet Top All Time Sellers www mi2n com Archived from the original on July 3 2003 Retrieved May 7 2020 a b c Adele s 25 Sales Surpass 8 Million in the U S Billboard February 7 2016 Retrieved May 7 2020 Celine Dion s Best Selling Albums amp Most Streamed Songs Ask Billboard Mailbag Billboard November 26 2019 Retrieved May 19 2020 Trust Gary May 15 2020 Britney Spears Career Sales amp Streams In Honor of 20 Years of Oops I Did It Again Ask Billboard Mailbag Billboard Archived from the original on May 16 2020 Retrieved February 4 2021 David Barry February 18 2003 Shania Backstreet Britney Eminem and Janet Top All Time Sellers Music Industry News Network Archived from the original on September 25 2015 Retrieved July 17 2009 Caulfield Keith January 25 2008 Ask Billboard Good Is Not So Good Billboard Archived from the original on January 29 2008 Retrieved July 6 2012 Britney Spears Career Streams amp Sales Ask Billboard Billboard May 15 2020 Retrieved May 19 2020 Linkin Park s Hybrid Theory Producer Calls Working With Chester Bennington a Dream Come True Billboard July 24 2017 Retrieved May 19 2020 Four Columbia House insiders explain the shady math behind 8 CDs for a penny The A V Club June 10 2015 Retrieved August 13 2022 a b c Usher s Confessions Album Hits 10 Million in U S Sales Billboard July 5 2012 Retrieved May 19 2020 Mi2N Music Industry News Network July 3 2003 Archived from the original on July 3 2003 Retrieved August 13 2022 Pearl Jam s Ten Album Hits 10 Million in U S Sales Billboard February 20 2013 Retrieved May 19 2020 Top Selling Albums of SoundScan Era 1991 12 30 1999 Members tripod com Retrieved June 13 2012 Top Ten People December 28 2009 Retrieved January 16 2012 Year End Music Report 2019 PDF Nielsen Music January 2020 Archived from the original PDF on January 10 2020 Retrieved January 19 2020 a b Caulfield Keith January 11 2023 Bad Bunny s Un Verano Sin Ti Is Luminate s Top Album of 2022 in U S Billboard Retrieved January 12 2023 a b Billboard Year End 2020 PDF Billboard January 2 2020 Retrieved January 9 2020 The Billboard 200 Year End Charts 1991 Billboard December 21 1991 Archived from the original on December 11 2007 Retrieved August 11 2010 Philips Chuck January 5 1993 Cyrus Brooks Give Their All to Record Sales Los Angeles Times Grein Paul Chart Watch Extra 20 Years of Top Albums Yahoo Archived from the original on January 5 2013 Retrieved May 13 2011 Inc Nielsen Business Media January 15 1994 Billboard Billboard via Google Books a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a last has generic name help Inc Nielsen Business Media January 21 1995 Billboard Billboard via Google Books a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a last has generic name help Inc Nielsen Business Media January 20 1996 Billboard Billboard via Google Books a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a last has generic name help Inc Nielsen Business Media January 18 1997 Billboard Billboard via Google Books a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a last has generic name help Inc Nielsen Business Media January 31 1998 Billboard Billboard via Google Books a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a last has generic name help a b c d Got Charts Linkin Park Shaggy NSYNC Are 2001 s Top Sellers MTV Retrieved August 8 2009 SoundScan 1999 Year End Music Industry Report Backstreet net January 5 2000 Retrieved June 13 2012 Audio Video Revolution Record Sales Up 4 in 2000 Despite Napster amp MP3 com Avrev com January 3 2001 Archived from the original on June 2 2013 Retrieved June 13 2012 D Angelo Joe January 3 2003 MTV News Eminem Sold Most Albums Nickelback Ruled Radio In 02 MTV Retrieved June 13 2012 Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen BDS 2003 Year End Music Industry Report Retrieved June 13 2012 via Find Articles Usher s Yeah Was Most Played Song of 2004 MTV Grein Paul Chart Watch Extra 20 Years of Top Albums Archived from the original on January 5 2013 Retrieved May 13 2011 a Phil Brodie Band Muso Information Page Philbrodieband com Retrieved June 13 2012 Nielsen Music 2006 Year End Music Industry Report Businesswire com January 4 2007 Retrieved October 28 2012 Reuters Press Release 2007 U S Music Purchases Exceed 1 4 Billion Reuters January 3 2008 Archived from the original on February 8 2009 Retrieved June 13 2012 Soundscan End of Year Report For all 2008 Businesswire com December 31 2008 Retrieved June 13 2012 Nielsen Music 2009 Year End Music Industry Report Businesswire com Jan 7 2010 article Nielsen Music 2010 Year End Music Industry Report Billboard Retrieved January 5 2011 Nielsen Music 2011 Year End Music Industry Report Billboard Retrieved January 5 2012 The Nielsen Company amp Billboard s 2012 Music Industry Report Nielsen Soundscan Business Wire January 4 2013 Retrieved January 27 2014 Caulfield Keith January 2 2014 Justin Timberlake s 20 20 2013 s Best Selling Album Blurred Lines Top Song Billboard Nielsen Soundscan Retrieved January 27 2014 Caulfield Keith December 31 2014 Taylor Swift s 1989 Beats Frozen As Top Selling Album of 2014 Retrieved January 6 2016 Caulfield Keith January 5 2016 Adele s 25 Rules as Nielsen Music s Top Album of 2015 in U S Retrieved January 6 2016 Caulfield Keith January 5 2017 Drake s Views Is Nielsen Music s Top Album of 2016 in the U S Retrieved January 5 2017 Caulfield Keith January 3 2018 Ed Sheeran s Divide Is Nielsen Music s Top Album of 2017 in U S Billboard Retrieved January 5 2018 Drake s Scorpion Is Nielsen Music s Top Album Of 2018 in U S God s Plan Most Streamed Song Billboard 8 January 2019 Hollywood s Bleeding Is Nielsen Music MRC Data s Top Album of 2019 Old Town Road Most Streamed Song Billboard Retrieved January 10 2020 Caulfield Keith January 6 2022 Dua Lipa s Levitating Is Most Streamed Song of 2021 In U S Morgan Wallen s Dangerous The Double Album Is MRC Data s Top Album Billboard Retrieved January 6 2022 Caulfield Keith November 23 2015 Adele s 25 Is the 20th Album to Sell a Million Copies in a Week See the Full List Billboard Retrieved December 7 2015 Caulfield Keith December 5 2015 Adele s 25 Sells 1 11 Million in Second Week in U S Billboard Retrieved December 7 2015 Caulfield Keith December 27 2015 Adele s 25 Sells Another 1 16 Million in U S Spends Fifth Week at No 1 on Billboard 200 Chart Billboard Retrieved December 31 2015 Caulfield Keith November 20 2017 Official Taylor Swift s Reputation Album Sells 1 2M Copies in US During First Week Billboard Retrieved December 12 2017 Lil Wayne s Tha Carter III Sells 1 Million Billboard Billboard Music June 18 2008 Archived from the original on May 13 2018 Retrieved February 25 2018 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Albums That Sold 1 Million in One Week Billboard October 23 2012 Archived from the original on May 12 2018 Retrieved October 23 2021 Caulfield Keith October 30 2022 Taylor Swift s Midnights Blasts in at No 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With Biggest Week for an Album in 7 Years Billboard Retrieved October 30 2022 Billboard Staff October 23 2012 Albums That Sold 1 Million in One Week Billboard Retrieved November 19 2021 Caulfield Keith November 20 2017 Official Taylor Swift s Reputation Album Sells 1 2M Copies in US During First Week Billboard Archived from the original on November 30 2017 Retrieved October 23 2017 a b Caulfield Keith December 27 2015 Adele s 25 Sells Another 1 16 Million in U S Spends Fifth Week at No 1 on Billboard 200 Chart Billboard Retrieved November 19 2021 Billboard Staff February 3 2011 29 Black Music Milestones Whitney Houston Sells 1 Million in A Week Billboard Retrieved November 19 2021 Caulfield Keith May 8 2016 Drake s Views Debuts at No 1 on Billboard 200 Chart Sets Streaming Record Billboard Retrieved November 19 2021 Lil Wayne s Tha Carter III Sells 1 Million Billboard June 18 2008 Archived from the original on May 13 2018 Retrieved February 25 2018 Notes edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of best selling albums in the United States of the Nielsen SoundScan era amp oldid 1160982419, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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