UK National Album Day returns for 2021 on Saturday, 16th October and its theme will be Celebrating Women in Music, shining a light on the huge contribution made by women to music and album making. National Album Day also reveals the Top Ten women album artists since the start of 2000 according to Official Charts Company data, with Adele named the best-selling women album artist of the century. The list also features such icons as Amy Winehouse, Kylie, Madonna and Britney Spears. Between them the Top Ten artists have sold in excess of 72 million albums (including streamed album equivalents), with three of the artists British – Adele, Dido and Amy Winehouse.
The Official Charts data also reveal the Top Ten albums by women over this period, with Adele featuring no less than three times. Each of her seminal albums has been BRIT Certified at least 8x Platinum in the UK, with 2011’s 21 selling 6 million copies in the UK alone. The most successful album of this period was Adele’s 21, followed by Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black (marking its 15th anniversary in October) and fellow Brit Leona Lewis’ Spirit was the fourth best-selling album.
This year’s Celebrating Women in Music themed National Album Day creates the perfect opportunity to revisit iconic and influential albums by best-selling women artists and point to the exciting women artists of tomorrow. It will also highlight the role of women within the wider music community, including songwriters and producers, as well as featured artists and performers.
Top 10 Women Album Artists 2000-2021 (present)
Based on Official Charts Company data.
- Adele
- P!nk
- Madonna
- Rihanna
- Dido
- Amy Winehouse
- Kylie Minogue
- Beyoncé
- Britney Spears
- Lady Gaga
Top 10 albums by women artists 2000-2021 (present)
Based on Official Charts Company data.
- Adele ‘21’
- Amy Winehouse ‘Back To Black’
- Adele ‘25’
- Leona Lewis ‘Spirit’
- Lady Gaga ‘Fame’
- Dido ‘No Angel’
- Dido ‘Life For Rent’
- Norah Jones ‘Come Away With Me’
- Adele ‘19’
- Emeli Sandé ‘Our Version Of Events’
National Album Day is organised jointly by the BPI, the Entertainment Retailers Association in partnership with official audio partner Bowers & Wilkins. The event is supported across broadcast partner the BBC with highlights available to listen to on BBC Sounds, along with the UK’s recorded music community including AIM and other trade associations, retailers and digital/streaming services, and album platforms such as Classic Album Sundays and The Record Club.
Based on Official Charts Company data, 155.4 million albums or their equivalent were purchased, downloaded or streamed in 2020 – up 8.2% on the previous year. Even during the first six months of a Covid-hit 2020, album equivalent sales rose by 6.8%. The album format does particularly well on vinyl, with around 5 million LPs purchased in 2020 marking 13 years of consecutive growth. Cassettes are now finding favour again, with over 150,000 sold in 2020, the highest level since 2003.
More information and news on events and activities can be found on the National Album Day website here.
