Rock music albums have not been dominating the charts in the 21st century as one might expect. In fact, among the Top 20 albums listed by Billboard’s recent compilation of the Top 200 Albums of the 21st Century, there is only a single entry from a rock artist: Nickelback’s 2005 album, All the Right Reasons, which impressively ranks at No. 9. This statistic highlights a noticeable decline in rock music’s commercial success in this era compared to previous decades.
To find the first classic rock artist on this prominent list, one must look much further down. The iconic Beatles make an appearance with their 2000 hits compilation, 1. Interestingly, Santana is the only classic rock musician featured with a new album of original material, 1999’s Supernatural. Other legendary artists such as Elton John, Bob Marley, and Guns N’ Roses are represented in the latter part of the list with various greatest hits compilations, indicating a trend where classic rock artists are more often celebrated for their past successes rather than new releases.
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Leading the list of top-selling albums is country artist Morgan Wallen, whose 2021 release, Dangerous: The Double Album, has captivated audiences. Wallen also secures the No. 6 spot with his 2023 album, One Thing at a Time. Other prominent artists in the Top 10 include Adele, Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Lil Baby, Lady Gaga, and even the Hamilton soundtrack, showcasing a diverse range of genres dominating the charts today. This shift emphasizes the growing popularity of genres outside of rock.
Rock Albums Featured in Billboard’s Top 200 Albums of the 21st Century:
9. Nickelback, All the Right Reasons
21. Linkin Park, Hybrid Theory
23. Daughtry, Daughtry
48. Creed, Human Clay
49. Kid Rock, Rock N Roll Jesus
55. Green Day, American Idiot
60. The Beatles, 1
97. Nickelback, Silver Side Up
99. Santana, Supernatural
103. Creed, Weathered
104. Nickelback, Dark Horse
106 Elton John, Diamonds
111. Staind, Break the Cycle
128. Limp Bizkit, Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water
134. Linkin Park, Minutes to Midnight
172. Linkin Park, Meteora
177. Kings of Leon, Only By the Night
187. Bob Marley and the Wailers, Legend
190. Guns N’ Roses, Greatest Hits
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Gallery Credit: Ultimate Classic Rock Staff
