Adele's mega-selling "21" album continues to rewrite the record books.
This week, the XL/Columbia release pushes past the 10 million U.S. sales mark in only its 92nd week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In doing so, "21" becomes the 21st album to
The last album to sell as many copies in a shorter span of time was 'N Sync's "No Strings Attached," which raced to 10 million in its 43rd week (January 2001). Only one album in the SoundScan era hit 10 million faster: Backstreet Boys'"Millennium," in its 39th week in February 2000.
"21" is one of only eight albums to hit the 10 million mark within two years of release (104 weeks). In addition to "21,""No Strings Attached" and "Millennium," Santana's "Supernatural" (60 weeks to 10 million), Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" (66), "The Bodyguard" soundtrack (72), Creed's "Human Clay" (93) and Shania Twain's "Come On Over" (96) all raced to the figure in under two years.
"21" shifted another 28,000 in the past week, bringing its to-date sum to 10,020,000. "21" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spent 24 non-consecutive weeks atop the tally -- the most in the SoundScan era. It hasn't left the chart since, earning 80 weeks in the top 10. This week, the set moves 31-35.
"21" is the third album to cross the 10 million mark this year, following Linkin Park's "Hybrid Theory" and Usher's "Confessions." However, those sets took much longer to reach 10 million. Linkin Park's set was released in 2000 while Usher's effort bowed in 2004. (Next in line to hit 10 million is likely Pearl Jam's "Ten," which has sold 9.98 million so far.)
Since 1991, the highest selling album -- according to SoundScan -- is Metallica's self-titled 1991 release, which has moved 15.8 million. Shania Twain's "Come On Over" is in second place with 15.5 million and Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" is in third with 14.8 million. In fourth place is "Millennium" (12.2 million), followed by Beatles'"1" (12.1 million), "The Bodyguard" (12 million), "Supernatural" (11.7 million), "Human Clay" (11.6 million) and Bob Marley and the Wailers'"Legend" (11.2 million) at Nos. 5-9. Rounding out SoundScan's top 10 selling albums since 1991 is "No Strings Attached," with 11.1 million.
Adele's "21" spun off four official singles -- all of which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The first three, in fact, all hit No. 1: "Rolling in the Deep,""Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain." The fourth and final single, "Rumour Has It," climbed to No. 16. (An unofficial single, "Turning Tables," reached No. 63 in May of 2011.)
Adele is currently riding the Hot 100 with "Skyfall," the title song from the James Bond film of the same name. ("Skyfall" is not on the "21" album.) The single debuted at No. 8 in October.