Adele And Katy Perry Rule In Mid-Year Album, Digital Single Sales

Billboard has offered up NielsenSoundscan’s data on the best-selling albums and singles of the year, and one thing is clear: in 2011, girls rule on Planet Pop — particularly girls who sing about broken hearts, S&M, alien love and self-empowerment. One surprising factor: album sales are actually up compared to this same time 12 months ago, marking the first mid-year gain since 2004. Head below to see what’s been bumping America’s speakers over the past six months.

It’s no shocker that Adele’s 21, which is on its way to sales of three million copies, is the year’s top album. Since it’s release in late February, the record has spent a total of 10 non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the Top 200. Says Billboard’s Keith Caulfield, “It’s the only album to have sold more than 2 million in 2011, and one of only two to surpass 1 million.” THE TOP 10 ALBUMS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2011
1. Adele, 21 (2,517,000)
2. Lady Gaga, Born This Way (1,540,000)
3. Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More (982,000)
4. Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party (763,000)
5. Bruno Mars, Doo Wops & Hooligans ( 686,000)
6. Justin Bieber, Never Say Never: The Remixes (676,000)
7. Chris Brown, F.A.M.E. (646,000)
8. Various Artists, NOW 37 (637,000)
9. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday ( 609,000)
10. Katy Perry, Teenage Dream (600,000)
See all Top 20 albums of the year so far here.
Regarding Katy Perry’s “E.T.” and Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep,” Caulfield notes, “It’s the first time we’ve had a song — much less two — hit 4 million in download sales this quickly in a year. At this point last year, the top selling song was Train’s ‘Hey, Soul Sister,’ with 3,381,000.”
THE TOP 10 DIGITAL SINGLES IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2011
1. Katy Perry feat. Kanye West, “E.T.” (4,120,000)
2. Adele, “Rolling In The Deep” (4,089,000)
3. Cee Lo Green, “F**k You (Forget You)” (3,229,000)
4. Lady Gaga, “Born This Way” (3,029,000)
5. Rihanna, “S&M” (2,734,000)
6. Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull, “On The Floor” (2,669,000)
7. The Black Eyed Peas, “Just Can’t Get Enough” (2,462,000)
8. Chris Brown feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes. “Look at Me Now” (2,442,000)
9. Bruno Mars, “Grenade” (2,355,000)
10. Katy Perry, “Firework” (2,283,000)
See all Top 20 digital singles of the year so far here.

©Idolator.com