Chart Beat

Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Becomes Only Album Released in Last Two Years to Sell 2 Million Copies in U.S.

3/21/2018

Taylor Swift celebrates her sixth album to sell 2 million copies in the U.S., as Reputation reached the mark in the week ending March 15, according to Nielsen Music. The set sold another 5,000 copies that week, bringing its cumulative sum to just over the 2 million threshold.

Notably, Reputation -- which was released on Nov. 10, 2017 -- is the only album released in the last two years to sell 2 million copies in the U.S. It launched with 1.216 million copies sold in its first week.

Previous to Reputation, the most recently released set to sell 2 million was Adele’s 25, which arrived on Nov. 20, 2015. It hit the 2 million mark after just three days and bowed with 3.38 million sold in its first week. 25 has sold 9.45 million copies through March 15.

Artist Mentioned

Taylor Swift

For context, in all of 2017, only two albums sold more than a million copies: Reputation and Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Divide). That’s a stark contrast to 10 years earlier, when 29 albums sold at least 1 million, with eight of those surpassing 2 million.

Of course, the diminishing number of million-selling titles isn’t surprising. Since 2001, album sales have steadily declined each year (except for 2011). In 2017, 166.3 million total albums were sold, as compared to 500.5 million in 2007 and 790.1 million in 1997.

Swift Goes Six for Six: As for Swift, all six of her studio albums have now sold at least 2 million copies.

Reputation reached the 2 million milestone in its 18th week of release. To compare, here’s a look at how fast Swift’s five earlier studio albums cleared 2 million: 1989 (three weeks), Red (five), Speak Now (six), Fearless (seven) and her self-titled debut (61).

By Keith Caulfield

3/22/2018

Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Becomes Only Album Released in Last Two Years to Sell 2 Million Copies in U.S.

The Daily