Topline
The top selling albums of 2022 so far include expected recent hits from Harry Styles, BTS and Adele and, surprisingly, the 1977 album Rumours from Fleetwood Mac, Billboard announced Thursday, roughly half way through the year.
Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac performs onstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival at … [+] T-Mobile Arena on September 21, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Getty Images for iHeartMedia
Key Facts
Rumours is the ninth best-selling album of 2022 so far, and is the only work in the Top 10 list not released in 2021 or 2022.
The album, containing classic hits “Dreams”—which has over 1 billion streams on Spotify—“The Chain” and “Go Your Own Way,” is also the fourth top-selling vinyl of the year, which could be contributing to its overall sales surge.
Rumours celebrated its 45th anniversary in February, and was honored with stories on its messy creation and classic songs, press which could have drummed up renewed interest in the work.
Earlier this year, experts told The Guardian its longlasting chart history can be attributed to its sound, because it “never goes out of style,” and its vinyl popularity.
Rumours is also one of top-selling vinyl albums of the year so far in the U.K.
Streams of “Dreams” surged in 2020 after the song went viral on TikTok, thanks to a video of a man skateboarding to the tune while drinking cranberry juice.
Tangent
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from the Encanto soundtrack is the most-streamed song of the year so far, and Latto’s “Big Energy” is the top-selling song of the year so far, and Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” is the most-heard song on the radio in the U.S. so far this year. Vinyl sales could also be contributing to the success of Harry’s House, as it’s also the best-selling vinyl album this year so far.
Top-Selling Albums Of 2022 So Far
Harry’s House, Harry Styles (2022)
Proof, BTS (2022)
Sour, Olivia Rodrigo (2021)
30, Adele (2021)
Encanto soundtrack (2021)
Oddinary, Stray Kids (2022)
Dawn FM, The Weeknd (2022)
Unlimited Love, Red Hot Chili Peppers (2022)
Rumours, Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Minisode 2: Thursday’s Child, Tomorrow X Together (2022)
Top Streamed Songs Of 2022 So Far
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” The Encanto cast (2021)
“Industry Baby,” Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow (2021)
“Heat Waves,” Glass Animals (2020)
“Super Gremlin,” Kodak Black (2022)
“Enemy,” Imagine Dragons and JID (2021)
“As It Was,” Harry Styles (2022)
“Stay,” Justin Bieber and The Kid LAROI (2021)
“Surface Pressure,” Jessica Darrow (2021)
“First Class,” Jack Harlow (2022)
“abcdefu,” Gayle (2022)
Most Heard Songs On The Radio In 2022 So Far
“Heat Waves,” Glass Animals (2020)
“Stay,” Justin Bieber and The Kid LAROI (2021)
“Easy On Me,” Adele (2021)
“Ghost,” Justin Bieber (2021)
“That’s What I Want,” Lil Nas X (2021)
“Big Energy,” Latto (2022)
“Bad Habits,” Ed Sheeran (2021)
“Shivers,” Ed Sheeran (2021)
“Woman,” Doja Cat (2021)
“Need To Know,” Doja Cat (2021)
Best-Selling Songs Of 2022 So Far
“Big Energy,” Latto (2022)
“Cold Heart (PNAU Remix),” Dua Lipa and Elton John (2021)
“We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” The Encanto cast (2021)
“AA,” Walker Hayes (2021)
“abcdefu,” Gayle (2022)
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo (2022)
“As It Was,” Harry Styles (2022)
“‘Til You Can’t,” Cody Johnson (2021)
“Shivers,” Ed Sheeran (2021)
“Fancy Like,” Walker Hayes (2021)
What To Watch For
These lists could soon be upended with the releases of several highly-anticipated projects. Beyonce’s latest album Renaissance comes out next week. Lizzo’s new album Special will be released Friday. Eminem’s Curtain Call 2 will be released August 2.
Key Background
Since being released in April, Harry’s House has broken Spotify released records, and its lead single “As It Was” has topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. The Encanto soundtrack dominated the Billboard Hot 100 and 200 charts for weeks at the start of the year, so it’s no surprise two of its most-popular songs were some of this year’s most-streamed so far.
Further Reading
Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’ Tops Billboard Chart For Ninth Time As Lizzo Moves Up (Forbes)
‘Encanto’ Soundtrack Falls From Number One After Nine Weeks On Billboard 200 (Forbes)
Fleetwood Mac: after its 926 weeks on the chart, who’s still buying Rumours? (The Guardian)
Harry Styles’ New Album ‘Harry’s House’ Breaks A Vinyl Sales Record (Forbes)
Tyler, The Creator Album Tops Billboard Chart Thanks To Record-Breaking Vinyl Sales (Forbes)
