Local music tops the album charts in France with 18 of 20 the best selling albums of 2021 being sung in French according to figures released by SNEP, the French music industry association. In an analysis of the top 200 albums of 2021:
- 18 of the top 20 albums are French productions
- 165 French productions are ranked in the 200 best sales in 2021 i.e. 83% compared to 80% in 2020
- French productions also feature prominently in the jazz and classical charts
These results represent a strong trend in French music as for the past 7 years, 17 to 19 French productions have featured in the 20 best annual sales of albums.
New young artists continue to be well represented in the Top 200 with 28 first albums appearing of which 26 are French productions. A dozen of these young artists – Aya Nakamura, Eva, Angèle, 47 Ter, Koba Lad, Franglish, Hatik, Tayc, Maes, Timal, Laylow and Zola – who were unknown 3 years ago are finding success with 2 albums making it into the Top 200.
Female artists had 39 albums in the Top 200 compared to 32 in 2020 – 24 of which are French productions. Representation has improved with 20% of the Top 200 being from female artists compared to 16% last year. 4 female artists are among the 20 best sales: Adèle with 30, Vitaa in duet with Slimane in the album Versus, Clara Luciani with Coeur and Dua Lipa with Future Nostalgia.
Urban music in all its diversity still carves out the lion’s share in the annual ranking with following artists ranking in the Top 20 – Orelsan, SCH, Damso, Jul, Soprano, Ninho (with two entries), Dadju, Naps, Djadja & Dinaz, Booba and PNL.
To view the complete SNEP Top 200 albums go here.
