2025-10-03T21:17:51Z Share Facebook Email X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky WhatsApp Copy link lightning bolt icon An icon shaped like a vivid lightning bolt, symbolizing energy and impact. Impact Link Save Saved Read in app This exclusive report is available only to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider today and access the full story instantly. Already a member? Simply log in. \n\nThe Billboard 200 is the authoritative chart that meticulously tracks and ranks the most popular albums across the United States each week, reflecting the pulse of America’s listening habits. Within the vast landscape of modern music, only a select few albums have managed an especially rare feat—spending at least ten weeks seated firmly at the chart’s very top. Since the dawn of the 21st century, only eleven albums have sustained this level of dominance, marking them as monumental achievements in musical history. Most recently, Taylor Swift’s record-breaking project, *The Tortured Poets Department*, has earned its place among these elite titles, joining the pantheon of long-reigning chart leaders.\n\nTo grasp the significance of this milestone, one must understand that the Billboard 200 has long stood as the industry’s definitive measure of success, combining physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming activity. Since 2000, merely eleven albums have remained at No. 1 for ten or more weeks — a minuscule fraction compared to the thousands that briefly graced the list. Taylor Swift stands at the forefront of this modern era with three albums achieving double-digit reigns, a record unmatched by any other artist. Trailing closely behind her, Adele and Morgan Wallen have each accomplished the feat twice, further emphasizing the consistency and scale of their global appeal. Below is a chronological overview of every album that has ascended to this rare position of eminence.\n\n1. **“Fearless” by Taylor Swift (2008)** — Swift’s second studio album was an epochal release that catapulted her from promising country star to global sensation. Spending eleven commanding weeks at No. 1, *Fearless* not only achieved diamond certification from the RIAA but also became the most-awarded country album in history. Before its triumph, Usher’s *Confessions* held the millennium record with nine weeks atop the chart, a benchmark that *Fearless* decisively surpassed.\n\n2. **“21” by Adele (2011)** — Adele’s sophomore effort, released under Columbia Records, became a cultural phenomenon. Claiming twenty-four total weeks at No. 1, *21* achieved the longest cumulative reign for any female artist’s album in modern times. Garnering the coveted Album of the Year Grammy Award, it was later honored as the highest-performing album in the entire history of the Billboard 200 — a testament to its enduring emotional resonance and massive global reach.\n\n3. **“Frozen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” by Various Artists (2013)** — Disney’s animated juggernaut *Frozen* captivated audiences worldwide, and its accompanying soundtrack echoed that universal appeal. The album ruled the chart for thirteen weeks, making it the most successful film soundtrack since 1998’s *Titanic*.\n\n4. **“1989” by Taylor Swift (2014)** — Reinventing herself from country prodigy to pop powerhouse, Swift delivered *1989*, her fifth studio album — an exuberant collection of sleek, synth-driven anthems. The record spent eleven weeks at No. 1 and went on to secure the Album of the Year Grammy, her second win in that category following *Fearless*. Since then, Swift has amassed four such victories, the most by any artist in Grammy history.\n\n5. **“25” by Adele (2015)** — Following the immense expectations set by *21*, Adele’s third album showcased her continued mastery over heartfelt balladry and vocal drama. *25* dominated for ten weeks at No. 1 and triumphed at the Grammys, once again claiming Album of the Year — prevailing over Beyoncé’s *Lemonade* in one of the decade’s most-discussed contests.\n\n6. **“Views” by Drake (2016)** — Released through Young Money, Drake’s fourth studio album captured the zeitgeist of mid-2010s hip-hop and R&B. Spanning thirteen weeks in the top spot, *Views* emerged as the defining chart performer of 2016, even surpassing Adele’s tremendous *25*.\n\n7. **“Dangerous: The Double Album” by Morgan Wallen (2021)** — Issued under Big Loud and Republic, Wallen’s second studio release dominated the Billboard 200 for ten consecutive weeks. Remarkably, it became only the third album in history to spend its initial ten weeks at No. 1, joining Whitney Houston’s *Whitney* (1987) and Stevie Wonder’s *Songs in the Key of Life* (1976).\n\n8. **“Un Verano Sin Ti” by Bad Bunny (2022)** — Through Rimas Entertainment, Bad Bunny delivered his fourth studio album, which transformed Latin pop’s global influence. With thirteen weeks at No. 1, *Un Verano Sin Ti* not only became one of the most acclaimed releases of 2022 but also earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year, ultimately losing to Harry Styles’ *Harry’s House*.\n\n9. **“SOS” by SZA (2022)** — Released through RCA and accompanied by Daniel Sannwald’s striking visuals, SZA’s sophomore album redefined contemporary R&B. Spending ten weeks at No. 1, *SOS* became the first R&B album by a female artist to achieve such longevity since Mariah Carey’s self-titled debut in 1991, reaffirming SZA’s status as a transformative voice for a new generation.\n\n10. **“One Thing at a Time” by Morgan Wallen (2023)** — Building on his earlier success, Wallen’s third full-length album, issued by Big Loud and Republic, reigned an astounding nineteen nonconsecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200, surpassing Bad Bunny’s earlier benchmark. It also claimed the title of the most successful country album in the chart’s history, overtaking Garth Brooks’ *Ropin’ the Wind* (1991). Wallen’s commercial impact remained immense, even as he weathered multiple controversies — from abrupt concert cancellations to public scandals involving inappropriate behavior.\n\n11. **“The Tortured Poets Department” by Taylor Swift (2024)** — Swift’s eleventh studio project, one of her most ambitious artistic statements to date, debuted with unparalleled force. Spending its first twelve weeks consecutively at No. 1, it marked the longest uninterrupted streak by a female artist since Whitney Houston’s *Whitney* nearly four decades earlier. Moreover, *The Tortured Poets Department* joined Morgan Wallen’s *One Thing at a Time* and Stevie Wonder’s *Songs in the Key of Life* as one of only three albums ever to maintain their first twelve weeks at the pinnacle. Later, it returned for an additional five weeks atop the chart, bringing its total reign to seventeen — ultimately becoming the most dominant album of Swift’s illustrious career.\n\nTogether, these eleven projects — spanning genres from pop and country to R&B, rap, and Latin music — represent an extraordinary intersection of artistry, cultural significance, and sustained public devotion. Each one not only defined its moment but also helped shape the evolving landscape of popular music in the 21st century.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/number-1-albums-most-weeks-this-century
