RouteNote Blog

Neilsen gathers information from both bricks and mortar and online stores in the US, and has released a full report of music sales in 2009. The album charts are more or less what you might expect, apart from the last minute addition of Susan Boyle, who sold almost as much in the 5 weeks after her debut was released as Taylor Swift, the next biggest selling artist of 2009.  Michael Jackson’s death in the Summer undoubtedly caused his high chart position, but dear old Lady Gaga has smashed into the number 4 position from practically a standing start. Shows what you can achieve if you’re prepared to take your clothes off in a college bar, dole out some pizza and start selling your hair.

Best Selling Albums 2009

1. Fearless / Taylor Swift ~ 3,217,000
2. I Dreamed a Dream / Susan Boyle ~ 3,104,000
3. Number Ones / Michael Jackson ~ 2,355,000
4. The Fame / Lady Gaga ~ 2,238,000
5. My Christmas / Andrea Bocelli ~ 2,207,000
6. Hannah Montana: The Movie (soundtrack) / Hannah Montana ~ 1,823,000
7. The E.N.D. / Black Eyed Peas ~ 1,787,000
8. Relapse / Eminem ~ 1,735,000
9. The Blueprint 3 / Jay-Z ~ 1,515,000
10. Only by the Night / Kings of Leon ~ 1,398,000

In terms of an artists’ overall units, rather than single albums, MJ topped the list, with the Beatles (whose catalogue is owned by the Jackson estate) making a surprise appearance at number 3, presumably supported by their Rock Band license deal.

2009 TOP TEN SELLING ARTISTS

(based on Album sales from 12/29/2008-1/3/2010)

1. Michael Jackson  ~   8,286,000
2. Taylor Swift     ~    4,643,000
3. Beatles    ~     3,282,000
4. Susan Boyle    ~     3,104,000
5. Lady Gaga     ~    2,813,000
6. Andrea Bocelli    ~     2,668,000
7. Michael Buble     ~    2,280,000
8. Eminem       ~      2,166,000
9. Carrie Underwood   ~    1,895,000
10. Black Eyed Peas   ~   1,881,000

Another widely expected, but still pleasing phenomenon is that while the CD slides sickeningly into obscurity, vinyl sales are up: 33% in a single year, to 2.5 million albums. The Beatles and Jackson feature high on the list in the vibyl format, resting on a bed of heavy listening, serious music fan music like Fleet Foxxes, Animal Collective and Radiohead.

2009 TOP TEN VINYL ALBUMS
(12/29/2008-1/3/2010)

Abbey Road/ Beatles       ~       34,800
Thriller/ Michael Jackson      ~       29,800
Merriweather Post Pavilion/Animal Collective  ~   14,000
Wilco/ Wilco        ~       13,200
Fleet Foxes/ Fleet Foxes       ~      12,700
Backspacer/ Pearl Jam         ~        12,500
Veckatimest/ Grizzly Bear       ~      11,600
Appetite for Destruction/ Guns N’ Roses    ~     11,500
Big Whiskey & the…/Dave Matthews Band    ~    11,500
In Rainbows/ Radiohead         ~        11,400

2009 TOP TEN VINYL ARTISTS
(based on vinyl album sales from 12/29/2008 – 1/3/2010)

Radiohead       ~      45,700
Beatles       ~      38,800
Michael Jackson    ~     30,400
Metallica       ~      30,200
Wilco          ~       29,600
Bob Dylan       ~      24,500
Animal Collective     ~    20,600
Pearl Jam       ~      19,900
Bon Iver       ~      17,100
Iron & Wine      ~       16,600