Now that we’re just about halfway through the year, Billboard has revealed the most successful albums and artists of 2012 thus far.
Leading the pack are Adele, Lionel Richie and Whitney Houston.
According to figures uncovered Friday, Adele holds the top spot with “21” moving 3.3 million copies in the last five months. But, it is Lionel Richie’s “Tuskegee” album that is the top three’s lone “new” release.
Released in March, Richie’s album has sold 789,000 copies making it his best-selling album in over four years.
“Tuskegee,” a collection of duets, debuted on the Billboard 200 chart just over eight weeks ago with 199,000 copies sold, which was also his best opening week since 1991.
While Richie’s success with “Tuskegee” is major, Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Hits” compilation was the year’s second best-selling album until this week. Thus far, the album has sold 784,000 copies.
As widely reported, sales of Houston’s songs and albums soared following her death in February.
2012 was an exciting year for music, with a variety of incredible artists topping the charts. From Lionel Richie to Whitney Houston to Adele, some of the most iconic names in music were among the top selling acts that year. For those who love pop and soul music, this was a dream come true! But what made these three acts so successful? Let’s take a look at how they managed to become some of the best-selling artists of 2012.
The first artist we’ll consider is Lionel Richie. The R&B singer had been making hits since his days as part of the Commodores in 1968, but 2012 saw him reach new heights – both critically and commercially. His single “Tuskegee” topped Billboard 200 chart and its accompanying album sold over 800 000 copies worldwide. It also won Richie two Grammy Awards: Best Country Album and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Whitney Houston was another star whose success peaked during 2012 despite having passed away earlier that year. Her greatest hits collection titled “I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston” achieved double platinum status in just six weeks after her death on February 11th, becoming one of the fastest selling albums ever released by any artist. This remarkable achievement helped her posthumously break numerous records including being the first female artist ever to have three singles simultaneously placed inside Top 10 on Hot 100 Chart.
Top Selling Music Artists Of 2012
The music industry saw a lot of success in 2012, with some of the biggest names in the business topping the charts. Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston and Adele all made huge waves that year, becoming some of the top selling artists around.
Lionel Richie has been one of pop’s most beloved crooners since his days as front man for The Commodores in the 1970s. His mix of soulful ballads and upbeat tunes have earned him millions of fans over time, and 2012 was no exception. He released several new singles that shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 list.
Whitney Houston is considered by many to be one of the greatest voices in modern music history. She had numerous hits throughout her career until her untimely death in February 2012 at age 48. That year she sold more albums than any other artist due to an outpouring of love from her fans who were devastated by her passing.
Adele also topped the sales chart that year with her hit album “21”. This Grammy Award-winning record spawned five successful singles and cemented Adele’s place among today’s hottest stars. Her unique blend of soulful melodies and powerful lyrics captivated listeners worldwide, making it one of the must-have records for anyone interested in current popular music trends.
Popularity Of Genre In 2012
2012 saw a variety of genres reaching the top spots on the charts. Pop music remained popular, but there were also other genre-specific hits that resonated with listeners. Hip hop and R&B both had strong showings throughout the year, thanks to artists like Drake, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj producing hit songs.
Rock music was also a major presence in 2012, with bands such as Muse and The Black Keys achieving huge successs. Indie rock fans embraced albums from acts like Alt-J and Of Monsters and Men while metalheads rocked out to releases by Five Finger Death Punch and Avenged Sevenfold.
Alternative music experienced something of a revival in 2012 too, with indie pop outfit Fun., electro duo Passion Pit, and alternative hip hop group Grouplove all charting big singles. These different sounds combined to make for an incredibly diverse musical landscape which offered something for everyone’s taste.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 2012 was a great year for music with many popular artists hitting the top of the charts. Lionel Richie and Whitney Houston were two of the most successful acts of the year, both having multiple albums reach number one on the Billboard Charts. Adele also made an appearance in 2012, her album 21 becoming one of the best selling releases ever. Genres like EDM and rap/hip-hop had a strong presence throughout 2012 as well, showing that these styles are becoming increasingly popular among listeners worldwide.
It’s clear that this past year has been a big success for musicians everywhere; their hard work is paying off through increased sales and recognition from fans across all genres. The music industry continues to evolve every day and it’ll be exciting to see what kind of new talent emerges in 2013. I’m looking forward to seeing which artist will have everyone talking next year!
