Madonna ties Elvis Presley's record with 10th No. 1 album on Billboard 200

More than 40 years after releasing her debut album, Madonna has returned to the top of the Billboard 200. The chart, published weekly by Billboard, ranks the most-consumed albums and EPs in the United States. While historically based solely on sales, the tally now also incorporates streaming activity.

Madonna achieves this milestone thanks to the strong sales performance of Confessions II. With her return to the summit, she ties a rock and roll legend and joins an exclusive group of the most successful female musicians of all time.

Confessions II Earns Madonna Her 10th No. 1 Album

Confessions II debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking Madonna's 10th chart-topping album. The sequel to Confessions on a Dance Floor arrived with 134,000 equivalent album units, of which more than 114,000 were physical purchases (CD, vinyl, and digital download), according to Luminate.

Madonna Returns to No. 1 After Seven Years

Madonna first reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 1985 with her sophomore album, Like a Virgin. It has been just over seven years since Madame X, her most recent leader before Confessions II, spent a single week at the top. Madame X logged only two weeks on the chart, debuting with strong sales driven by her fan base before dropping off rapidly.

Madonna's No. 1 Albums on the Billboard 200

• American Life
• Confessions II
• Confessions on a Dance Floor
• Hard Candy
• Like a Prayer
• Like a Virgin
• Madame X
• MDNA
• Music
• True Blue

Madonna Becomes the Third Woman With 10 No. 1 Albums

Madonna is only the third female artist to achieve double-digit No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. Taylor Swift leads with 15 chart-toppers, a milestone she reached less than a year ago with The Life of a Showgirl. Barbra Streisand holds one more No. 1 than Madonna.

Madonna Ties Elvis Presley With 10 No. 1 Albums

Among all artists, Madonna is now tied for the 10th-most No. 1 albums in the more than 50-year history of the Billboard 200. With her 10th leader, she matches Elvis Presley's career total.

For context:

• Barbra Streisand is tied with Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, Ye (formerly Kanye West), and Future.
• Future is expected to add to his tally soon, as The Real Me is projected to become his 12th No. 1.
• Taylor Swift and Drake are tied for second-most No. 1 albums of all time, each one ahead of Jay-Z.
• The Beatles continue to lead all acts with 19 chart-toppers. It may be years before Swift or Drake matches that record, but many believe it is only a matter of time.

Confessions II Leads Four of Five Billboard Rankings

This week, Confessions II debuts on five Billboard charts and tops all but one. The album misses the No. 1 spot on the Top Streaming Albums chart, which tracks plays on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Madonna does appear on that chart for the first time in her career, with Confessions II entering at No. 32.

The album debuts at No. 1 on the following charts:

• Billboard 200
• Top Album Sales
• Vinyl Albums
• Top Dance Albums

Confessions II Gives Madonna Another Sales Champion

Madonna has not achieved double-digit No. 1s on any of those four charts except the Billboard 200. Confessions II is her ninth leader on the Top Album Sales chart. She has now topped the Top Dance Albums chart (formerly Top Dance/Electronic Albums) four times. The pop icon also doubles her total number of No. 1s on the Vinyl Albums chart with Confessions II.

Source: Forbes - Madonna Charts One Of The Biggest Sales Hits Of Her Career By Hugh McIntyre