List of best-selling albums in the United States of the Nielsen SoundScan era
List of best-selling albums in the United States since 1991
Metallica's self-titled album is the highest selling record under Nielsen SoundScan, selling over 17 million copies
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.
Best-sellers (overall)
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
Taylor Swift is the first artist to have the annual best seller seven times (2009, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023).[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]
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 The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift in 2024. The following is a list of all of the albums that sold at least one million copies in a single week:[60][61][62][63][64]
^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]
^"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.
^ ab"The Weeknd's Back in the Top 40: Billboard 200 Chart Moves". Billboard. September 29, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
^ abcdCaulfield, 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 & Songs, From 'Rolling in the Deep' to 'Hello' & 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.
^ abc"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 & Most-Streamed Songs: Ask Billboard Mailbag". Billboard. November 26, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^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. 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 & 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.
^ abc"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.
^ abCaulfield, 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.
^ ab"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. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 21, 1995). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 20, 1996). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 18, 1997). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^Inc, Nielsen Business Media (January 31, 1998). "Billboard". Billboard – via Google Books. {{cite magazine}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ abcd"Got Charts? Linkin Park, Shaggy, 'NSYNC Are 2001's Top-Sellers". MTV. Archived from the original on January 7, 2002. 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 & 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. Archived from the original on January 5, 2003. 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. Archived from the original on June 8, 2014.
^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 & 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 (January 10, 2024). "Morgan Wallen's 'One Thing at a Time' Is Luminate's Top Album of 2023 in U.S." Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
^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.
^ abcdefghijklmnopq"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 (April 28, 2024). "Taylor Swift Makes Historic Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With 'The Tortured Poets Department'". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
^Caulfield, Keith (November 5, 2023). "Taylor Swift's '1989 (Taylor's Version)' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With Biggest Week in Nearly a Decade". Billboard. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
^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.
^ abCaulfield, 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.