Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Beyoncé Lead Mid-Year Album Sales, Latin Music Continues Fast Growth

variety.com:

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Billie Eilish had the most successful years thus far in terms of U.S.

album sales, according to Luminate‘s midyear music report for 2024. The report, which examines trends from the year thus far based on multiple data points, notes that the musicians benefitted not only from streaming but from physical sales, notably from the multiple versions released of a project — “variants,” which generally feature bonus tracks or artwork variations.

On average the top 10 U.S. physical albums had an average of seven different LP variants, 13 CDs and two cassettes. “The Tortured Poets Department” touts the highest sales in the U.S.

with 4.66 million total album-equivalent units, followed by Morgan Wallen’s “One Thing at a Time,” Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season,” Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” and SZA’s “SOS.” In terms of total sales, “Poets” leads the pack, followed by “Hit Me Hard,” “Cowboy Carter,” Swift’s “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” and Swift’s “Lover.” Benson Boone undoubtedly has the biggest song of the year with “Beautiful Things,” which has accrued 1.434 billion on-demand audio streams worldwide. “Beautiful Things” also tops various singles-focused charts including U.S.