Formerly referred to as the Nielsen data, the MRC Media & Info charts for the midway mark of 2021 have been released. With three different charts, 2021’s Midyear Top 10 Albums, Based on Overall Equivalent Album Units, 2021’s Midyear Top 10 Selling Albums and 2021’s Midyear Top 10 Selling Vinyl Albums, many of the names that appear are not surprising in the slightest.
The top five of the former list include pop-sensation Olivia Rodrigo’s unavoidable Sour with 1.36 million, Pop Smoke’s posthumous Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon with 948,000 and The Weeknd’s “return to form” in After Hourswith 832,000. Topping off this list with a whopping 2.108 million was Dangerous: The Double Album by Morgan Wallen, a lengthy country LP. Another rap album that appeared on this one was Lil Durk’s well-received The Voice.
As far as legitimate sales go, Taylor Swift’s Evermore sits at the top of the chart with 374,000, well over 100,000 above, again, Morgan Wallen’s double album. Hell, Swift’s deluxe edition of the record sold only 4,000 less and lies at third. There are no rap albums that appear on this specific chart, although this year’s list of songs offers a handful, with Cardi B’s “Up,” Saweetie’s collab with Doja Cat “Best Friend,” as well as all the other ones that Tik Tok has watered all the way down.
Interestingly enough, the Top 10 Selling Vinyl Albums boast a triple of seminal classics like Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Prince and The Revolution’s soundtrack to Purple Rain and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, with Kendrick Lamar’s iconic debut, good kid, m.A.A.d. city, landing at third with a sliver under 100K (99,000). First? Funny you asked because it’s Taylor Swift again. Take a look at each list in its entirety below.