Adele's '30' named top selling album of 2021

Adele's '30' named top selling album of 2021

Only Adele can release an album in late 2021 and still outsell the biggest artists of the year. 

Adele
Image credit: YouTube/Adele (I Drink Wine music video)

Adele woke up to some good news this week. Her critically acclaimed fourth album, '30', was the best-selling record of 2021. 

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) revealed that the 'Easy On Me' hitmaker sold more than five million copies of her album in November and December. 

The organisation, which represents the recorded music industry worldwide, says Adele topped both the IFPI Global Album Sales Chart and IFPI Global Vinyl Album Chart.

She was also the winner of the Global Album All Format Chart. 

Adele beat Olivia Rodrigo (Sour), Justin Bieber (Justice), Ed Sheeran (Equals) and The Weeknd (After Hours) to claim the number one spot. 

“It has been wonderful to have Adele back and releasing music over the second half of last year. Her dominance of all three IFPI Album Charts speaks to her unique song-writing talent, her iconic voice and unrelenting global popularity," IFPI said in a statement. 

Adele's album broke several records in 2021. The 33-year-old sold more than 500, 000 copies of '30' in just three days - beating a previous record set by Taylor Swift.

Two of Taylor's albums featured on the IFPI Global Album Sales Chart. Her new versions of 'Red' and "Fearless' placed seventh and tenth respectively. 

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Adele might have been top of the global albums chart, but it was The Weeknd who reigned supreme on the global singles chart. 

His hit single, 'Save Your Tears', was streamed more than two billion times.  The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber's 'Stay' and Dua Lipa's 'Levitating' featured in the top three. 

ALSO READ: 'Dawn FM' by The Weeknd tops Billboard's album chart

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