TWICE achieves an impressive milestone with its sixth consecutive top 10 entry on the Top Album Sales chart, as their new release STRATEGY debuts at an outstanding No. 2 on the list dated December 21. This latest album sold a remarkable 81,000 copies across the United States in the week ending December 18, as reported by Luminate. The top 10 is further energized by notable entries such as ROSÉ’s solo debut album rosie at No. 3, Sabrina Carpenter’s holiday-themed Fruitcake landing at No. 4, J. Cole’s anniversary reissue of 2014 Forest Hills Drive reappearing at No. 5, and Vince Guaraldi Trio’s timeless A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack making a significant jump to No. 10.

Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart serves as a definitive ranking of the highest-selling albums of the week, solely based on traditional album sales metrics. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, marking the inception of Billboard’s use of electronically monitored piece count data provided by SoundScan, now known as Luminate. Initially, pure album sales were the only metric used for the Billboard 200 albums chart until the methodology evolved on December 6, 2014, to incorporate a blend of album sales, track equivalent album units, and streaming equivalent album units, reflecting the changing dynamics of music consumption in the digital age.

In its first week, STRATEGY achieved impressive sales totaling 81,000 copies, with physical CD sales accounting for 72,000 of that figure. The remaining sales were derived from a combination of vinyl and digital download album purchases. The album’s successful launch was significantly supported by its availability in over 15 distinct CD and vinyl editions, each featuring unique collectible paper ephemera, some of which were randomized, enticing fans and collectors alike to obtain multiple versions of the album.

Taylor Swift continues to reign supreme on the Top Album Sales chart, with her latest release The Tortured Poets Department maintaining the No. 1 position for a remarkable 10th nonconsecutive week, selling 201,000 copies (a decrease of 45% from the previous week). This sustained success is largely attributed to the exclusive release of the CD and vinyl editions at Target, which has provided a unique incentive for fans to purchase the album in physical formats, further bolstering its sales figures.

ROSÉ’s much-anticipated solo debut album rosie makes a significant splash by entering the Top Album Sales chart at No. 3 with 70,000 copies sold. As a prominent member of the globally successful pop group BLACKPINK, ROSÉ has previously contributed to three top 10 albums, including two No. 1 hits: THE ALBUM (2020) and BORN PINK (2022). Of the 70,000 copies of rosie sold in its first week, CD sales accounted for 30,000, vinyl sales for 29,000, with the balance coming from digital downloads and cassette sales. The album’s success was further enhanced by its diverse range of over 15 physical variants, many of which included collectible items that delighted fans.

Sabrina Carpenter’s festive album Fruitcake debuts impressively at No. 4 on the Top Album Sales chart with 39,000 copies sold. This release, which came after its wide distribution on CD, vinyl (offered in three unique variants), and cassette on December 6, marks the largest sales week for a holiday album in four years, showcasing the growing trend of holiday music consumption. Furthermore, it represents the highest sales week for a holiday album on vinyl in the modern era, indicating a resurgence of interest in physical music formats during the festive season.

J. Cole’s acclaimed album 2014 Forest Hills Drive makes a notable return to the top 10, reentering at No. 5 with 33,000 copies sold, reflecting an astounding 2,648% increase in sales following its 10th anniversary reissue across CD, vinyl, and digital formats, which included bonus tracks. The previous No. 1, the Wicked film soundtrack, drops from No. 2 to No. 6 with 30,000 copies sold (down 41%). Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet experiences a slight slip from No. 5 to No. 7 with 28,000 copies sold (though it’s up 25% from the previous week). Chappell Roan’s former leader The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess falls from No. 3 to No. 8 with nearly 21,000 copies sold (down 16%), while Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft drops from No. 4 to No. 9 with 18,000 copies sold (down 21%).

The Vince Guaraldi Trio’s iconic A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack rounds out the top 10, making a significant leap from No. 17 to No. 10 with nearly 14,000 copies sold (up 13%). This beloved set, which previously peaked at No. 2 in December 2022, marks its return to the top 10 for the first time since the January 7, 2023-dated chart, when it held the No. 8 position, showcasing the enduring popularity of holiday music during the festive season.