List of number-one albums of 2008 (U.S.)

The highest-selling albums and EPs in the United States are ranked in the Billboard 200, which is published by Billboard magazine. The data are compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales.[1] In 2008, 38 albums advanced to the peak position of the chart.

Country singer Taylor Swift's Fearless had the longest run among the releases that have reached peak position in 2008, spending 11 non-consecutive weeks beginning with the issue dated November 29 and continuing into the 2009 chart year.[2] She is the only singer to have achieved the longest-running album as a country female recording act in the Billboard 200 history.[3] Swift is now ranked fifth on the list of solo female artists with the longest-running number-one album in Billboard history, tied with veterans Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.[4] Other albums with extended chart runs include Jack Johnson's fifth studio album, Sleep Through the Static, and Metallica's ninth studio album, Death Magnetic; each spent three straight weeks on the chart. Three soundtrack albums topped the chart in 2008: Juno, Mamma Mia! and Twilight.

Hip hop artist Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III is the highest-selling album of 2008 in the US, selling 2.874 million copies since its release.[5][6] The album attained the most sales in a week, netting over one million units after a week of release, a feat previously accomplished in 2005.[7] The second best-selling album of the year is alternative rock band Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends with 2.144 million copies sold, followed by Swift's Fearless with 2.112 million.[6] It is also the best-selling album in digital format, having topped the Billboard Top Digital Albums of 2008.[8] Alternative rock band Radiohead's In Rainbows had the most vinyl albums sold in 2008, amounting to 26,000 units.[5]

Pop singer Madonna scored her seventh number-one album, Hard Candy, making her the female act with the second most number-one albums in the United States. Pop singer Mariah Carey earned her sixth number-one album in 2008 with E=MC², tying her with R&B singer Janet Jackson for third place for most number-one albums by a female act. E=MC² opened at number one on the chart for selling 463,000 copies, outselling Carey's previous albums' debut figures.[9]

Chart history

Issue date Album Artist(s) Reference(s)
January 5 Noël Josh Groban [10]
January 12 Growing Pains Mary J. Blige [11]
January 19 In Rainbows Radiohead [12]
January 26 As I Am Alicia Keys [13]
February 2 [14]
February 9 Juno Soundtrack [15]
February 16 As I Am Alicia Keys [16]
February 23 Sleep Through the Static Jack Johnson [17]
March 1 [18]
March 8 [19]
March 15 Discipline Janet Jackson [20]
March 22 Good Time Alan Jackson [21]
March 29 Trilla Rick Ross [22]
April 5 Welcome to the Dollhouse Danity Kane [23]
April 12 Day26 Day26 [24]
April 19 Troubadour George Strait [25]
April 26 Spirit Leona Lewis [26]
May 3 E=MC² Mariah Carey [27]
May 10 [28]
May 17 Hard Candy Madonna [29]
May 24 Home Before Dark Neil Diamond [30]
May 31 Narrow Stairs Death Cab for Cutie [31]
June 7 3 Doors Down 3 Doors Down [32]
June 14 Here I Stand Usher [33]
June 21 Indestructible Disturbed [34]
June 28 Tha Carter III Lil Wayne [35]
July 5 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay [36][37]
July 12 [38]
July 19 Tha Carter III Lil Wayne [39]
July 26 [40]
August 2 Untitled Nas [41]
August 9 Breakout Miley Cyrus [42]
August 16 Love on the Inside Sugarland [43]
August 23 Mamma Mia! Soundtrack [44]
August 30 A Little Bit Longer Jonas Brothers [45][46]
September 6 [47]
September 13 All Hope Is Gone Slipknot [48]
September 20 The Recession Young Jeezy [49]
September 27 Death Magnetic Metallica [50][51]
October 4 [52]
October 11 [53]
October 18 Paper Trail T.I. [54]
October 25 [55]
November 1 Lucky Old Sun Kenny Chesney [56]
November 8 Black Ice AC/DC [57]
November 15 [58]
November 22 Twilight Soundtrack [59]
November 29 Fearless Taylor Swift [60]
December 6 I Am… Sasha Fierce Beyoncé [61]
December 13 808s & Heartbreak Kanye West [62]
December 20 Circus Britney Spears [63]
December 27 Fearless Taylor Swift [64]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Billboard Methodology". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i603a2426afda5aaafb64750aacecd192. Retrieved 2009-01-27. 
  2. ^ Hasty, Katie (2009-03-04). "Taylor Swift Continues Billboard 200 Dominance". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/taylor-swift-continues-billboard-200-dominance-1003947378.story. Retrieved 2009-03-05. 
  3. ^ Bronson, Fred (2009-02-26). "Chart Beat: Al, Taylor Swift, Annie Lennox". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart-beat-bonus/chart-beat-ai-taylor-swift-annie-lennox-1003945958.story. Retrieved 2009-02-27. 
  4. ^ Bronson, Fred (2009-03-05). "Chart Beat: Miley Cyrus, Bill Ray Cyrus, Taylor Swift". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/thisday/chart-beat-miley-cyrus-billy-ray-cyrus-taylor-1003948403.story. Retrieved 2009-03-06. 
  5. ^ a b Cohen, Jonathan (2008-12-31). "Lil Wayne Notches Top-Selling Album Of '08". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/lil-wayne-notches-top-selling-album-of-08-1003926030.story. Retrieved 2009-02-27. 
  6. ^ a b "2008 U.S. Music Purchases Exceed 1.5 Billion; Growth in Overall Music Purchases Exceeds 10%". Market Watch. 2008-12-31. http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/2008-us-music-purchases-exceed/story.aspx?guid={6335B083-3284-461F-A0C7-C018F0997DBA}&dist=msr_3. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  7. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (2008-06-17). "Lil Wayne Cracks 1 Million With 'Tha Carter III'". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1589491/20080617/lil_wayne.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  8. ^ "Top Digital Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. http://www.billboard.com/news/lil-wayne-notches-top-selling-album-of-08-1003926030.story. Retrieved 2009-03-02. 
  9. ^ Harris, Chris (2008-04-23). "Mariah Carey's E=MC2 Rockets To Billboard #1, Sets Career Record". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1586092/20080423/carey_mariah.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-28. 
  10. ^ Walsh, Chris (2007-12-27). "Groban, Blige Enjoy Huge Weeks On Album Chart". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/groban-blige-enjoy-huge-weeks-1003689227.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  11. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-01-02). "Blige Topples Groban, Radiohead Debuts Early". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/blige-topples-groban-radiohead-debuts-early-1003690553.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  12. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2008-01-09). "Radiohead Nudges Blige From Atop Album Chart". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/radiohead-nudges-blige-from-atop-1003694375.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  13. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-01-16). "Keys Holds Off Radiohead, 'Juno' At No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/keys-holds-off-radiohead-juno-at-no-1-1003696997.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  14. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-01-23). "Keys Still Atop Album Chart In Slow Sales Week". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/keys-still-atop-album-chart-in-slow-1003700470.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  15. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-01-30). "'Juno' Unseats Keys From Atop Album Chart". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/juno-unseats-keys-from-atop-album-1003703770.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  16. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-02-06). "Keys Notches Fourth Week At No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/keys-notches-fourth-week-at-no-1-1003707091.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  17. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-02-13). "Digital Sales Propel Johnson To Second No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/digital-sales-propel-johnson-to-second-1003710309.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  18. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-02-20). "Johnson Remains No. 1; Winehouse, Hancock Soar". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/johnson-remains-at-no-1-winehouse-1003712744.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  19. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-02-27). "Johnson's 'Static' Prevails Again On Album Chart". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/johnsons-static-prevails-again-on-album-1003716062.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  20. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-03-05). "Janet Dethrones Jack To Top Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/janet-dethrones-jack-to-top-billboard-200-1003719609.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  21. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-03-12). "Alan Jackson Bests Janet To Top Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/alan-jackson-bests-janet-to-top-billboard-1003724042.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  22. ^ Cohen, JOnathan (2008-03-19). "Ross Zooms By 'NOW,' Snoop To Debut At No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/ross-zooms-by-now-snoop-to-debut-at-1003727383.story. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  23. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-03-26). "Danity Kane Snags Second Straight No. 1 Album". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003741823. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  24. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-04-02). "Day26 Upends Danity Kane To Debut At No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003784138. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  25. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-04-09). "Strait Speeds Past R.E.M. To Debut At No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003787340. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  26. ^ Hasty, Katie; Mayfield, Geoff (2008-04-16). "Leona Lewis Makes Big Splash Atop Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003789988. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  27. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-04-23). "Mariah Debuts At No. 1 After Monster First Week". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003793091. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  28. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-04-30). "Mariah Carey Remains Atop Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003796535. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  29. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-05-07). "Madonna Leads Busy Billboard 200 With 7th No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003799874. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  30. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-05-14). "Diamond Dominates Billboard 200 With First No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003803055. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  31. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-05-21). "Death Cab For Cutie Scores First No. 1 Album". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003806082. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  32. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-05-28). "3 Doors Down Cruises To No. 1 On Album Chart". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003808771. Retrieved 2009-01-20. 
  33. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-06-04). "Usher Scores Second Best Sales Debut Of '08". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003811576#/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003811576. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  34. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-06-11). "Disturbed Scores Third Straight No. 1 Album". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/news/disturbed-scores-third-straight-no-1-album-1003814785.story#/news/disturbed-scores-third-straight-no-1-album-1003814785.story. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  35. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-06-18). "Lil Wayne Crushes The Competition To Debut At No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003817736. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  36. ^ Caulfield, Keith; Pietroluongo, Silvio (2008-06-18). "Coldplay Headed To No. 1 On Billboard 200, Hot 100". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003817876. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  37. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-06-25). "Coldplay Cruises To No. 1 On The Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003820412. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  38. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-07-02). "Coldplay Scores Second Week Atop Album Chart". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003823227. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  39. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-07-09). "Lil Wayne Back On Top Of The Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003825808. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  40. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-07-16). "Lil Wayne Remains King Of The Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003827992. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  41. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-07-23). "Nas Dethrones Lil Wayne Atop Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003830496. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  42. ^ Caulfield, Keith; Hasty, Katie (2008-07-30). "Miley Trumps Sugarland To Lead Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003832870. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  43. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-08-06). "Sugarland Leapfrogs Miley To Earn First No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003835589. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  44. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-08-13). "'Mamma Mia!' Leaps To No. 1 On The Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003838390. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  45. ^ Caulfield, Keith (2008-08-13). "Jonas Brothers On Track For First No. 1 Album". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003838781. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  46. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-08-20). "Jonas Bros. Score Third-Best Debut Week Of '08". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003840660. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  47. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2008-08-27). "Jonas Brothers Begin Second Week At No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003843124. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  48. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-09-03). "Slipknot Edges The Game Atop Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003845433. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  49. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-09-10). "Young Jeezy Nets Second Album Chart-Topper". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003848166. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  50. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (2008-09-15). "Metallica's 'Magnetic' A Lock To Top Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003849975. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  51. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-09-17). "Metallica Scores Fifth Straight No. 1 Album". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003850675. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  52. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-09-24). "Metallica Edges Ne-Yo, Nelly To Remain No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003854245. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  53. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-10-01). "Metallica Scores Third Week Atop Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003857662. Retrieved 2009-01-19. 
  54. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-10-08). "T.I. Debuts Big Atop Billboard 200, Hot 100". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003871707. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  55. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-10-15). "T.I. Begins Second Week Atop Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003874108. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  56. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-10-22). "Kenny Chesney Scores Fifth Chart-Topping Album". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003876285. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  57. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-10-29). "AC/DC Debuts At No. 1 With 784,000". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003878705. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  58. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-11-05). "AC/DC Fends Off High Debuts To Remain No. 1". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003887056. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  59. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-11-12). "'Twilight' Bumps AC/DC From Atop Billboard 200". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003889643. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  60. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2008-11-19). "Taylor Swift Soars To No. 1 Debut". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003892753. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  61. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2008-11-26). "Beyonce Starts 'Fierce' Atop Album Chart". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/beyonce-starts-fierce-atop-album-chart-1003916959.story. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  62. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-12-03). "Kanye Edges GNR, Ludacris For No. 1 Debut". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/kanye-edges-gnr-ludacris-for-no-1-debut-1003918838.story. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  63. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-12-10). "Britney's 'Circus' Debuts Atop Album Chart". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/britney-s-circus-debuts-atop-album-chart-1003921402.story. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  64. ^ Hasty, Katie (2008-12-17). "Taylor Swift Reclaims Billboard 200 Throne". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/taylor-swift-reclaims-billboard-200-throne-1003923353.story. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
1945–1959
1960–1979
1980–1999
2000–present
See also