Many of the biggest names in music continue to dominate the charts with major releases in 2017. Drake, Lorde, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z have released commercially and critically successful albums that debuted at No. 1 and have remained on the Billboard 200 since their release.
2017 has also been a year of firsts for a few new breakout artists. Rapper Kodak Black’s “Project Baby 2” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 four months after his “Painting Pictures” debuted at No. 3. Similarly, Logic achieved his first No. 1 album with “Everybody,” and 21 Savage cracked the top 10 for the first time with “Issa Album,” which peaked at No. 2. And pop punk band Neck Deep finally reached its highest point on the charts with “The Peace And The Panic,” which peaked at No. 4 in early September.
To determine 2017’s most popular albums, 24/7 Wall St. created an index that consists of an album’s peak position on the Billboard 200, weeks spent on the Billboard 200, Metacritic ratings, and Wikipedia page views.
Click here to see the full list of the most popular albums released this year.
Click here to see the our detailed findings and methodology.
50. “The Peace And The Panic” by Neck Deep
> Release date: August 18, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 4
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 1
> Biggest single: “In Bloom”
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49. “8” by Incubus
> Release date: April 21, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 4
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 4
> Biggest single: “Nimble Bastard”
48. “Heart Break” by Lady Antebellum
> Release date: June 9, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 4
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 13
> Biggest single: “You Look Good”
47. “American Teen” by Khalid
> Release date: March 3, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 4
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 28
> Biggest single: “Location”
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46. “Tremaine The Album” by Trey Songz
> Release date: March 24, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 3
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 18
> Biggest single: “Nobody Else But You”
45. “Painting Pictures” by Kodak Black
> Release date: March 31, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 3
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 24
> Biggest single: “Tunnel Vision”
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44. “The Breaker” by Little Big Town
> Release date: February 24, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 4
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 14
> Biggest single: “Better Man”
43. “Brett Eldredge” by Brett Eldredge
> Release date: August 4, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 6
> Biggest single: “Somethin’ I’m Good At”
42. “Fifth Harmony” by Fifth Harmony
> Release date: August 25, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 4
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 3
> Biggest single: “Down”
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41. “Life Changes” by Thomas Rhett
> Release date: September 8, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 1
> Biggest single: “Craving You”
40. “Strength Of A Woman” by Mary J. Blige
> Release date: April 28, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 3
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 8
> Biggest single: “U + Me (Love Lesson)”
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39. “Rather You Than Me” by Rick Ross
> Release date: March 17, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 3
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 17
> Biggest single: “Trap Trap Trap”
38. “Welcome Home” by Zac Brown Band
> Release date: May 12, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 12
> Biggest single: “My Old Man”
37. “Jungle Rules” by French Montana
> Release date: July 14, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 3
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 9
> Biggest single: “Unforgettable”
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36. “Fifty Shades Darker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” by Various Artists
> Release date: February 10, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 23
> Biggest single: “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever”
35. “SweetSexySavage” by Kehlani
> Release date: January 27, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 3
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 23
> Biggest single: “CRZY”
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34. “Villains” by Queens Of The Stone Age
> Release date: August 25, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 3
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 3
> Biggest single: “The Way You Used to Do”
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33. “I See You” by The xx
> Release date: January 13, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 5
> Biggest single: “On Hold”
32. “Evolve” by Imagine Dragons
> Release date: June 23, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 12
> Biggest single: “Believer”
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31. “Memories…Do Not Open” by The Chainsmokers
> Release date: April 7, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 23
> Biggest single: “Something Just Like This”
30. “Issa Album” by 21 Savage
> Release date: July 4, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 10
> Biggest single: “Bank Account”
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29. “Ctrl” by SZA
> Release date: June 9, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 3
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 14
> Biggest single: “Love Galore”
28. “The Search for Everything” by John Mayer
> Release date: April 14, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 21
> Biggest single: “Love on the Weekend”
27. “Sleep Well Beast” by The National
> Release date: September 8, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 1
> Biggest single: “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness”
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26. “Humanz” by Gorillaz
> Release date: April 28, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 13
> Biggest single: “Saturnz Barz”
25. “Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1” by Calvin Harris
> Release date: June 30, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 11
> Biggest single: “Slide”
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24. “From A Room: Volume 1” by Chris Stapleton
> Release date: May 5, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 19
> Biggest single: “Broken Halos”
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23. “Pretty Girls Like Trap Music” by 2 Chainz
> Release date: June 14, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 13
> Biggest single: “It’s A Vibe”
22. “Grateful” by DJ Khaled
> Release date: June 23, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 12
> Biggest single: “I’m the One”
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21. “True to Self” by Bryson Tiller
> Release date: May 26, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 16
> Biggest single: “Run Me Dry”
20. “Everything Now” by Arcade Fire
> Release date: July 28, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 6
> Biggest single: “Everything Now”
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19. “One More Light” by Linkin Park
> Release date: May 19, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 16
> Biggest single: “Heavy”
18. “Flower Boy” by Tyler, The Creator
> Release date: July 21, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 2
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 8
> Biggest single: “Who Dat Boy”
17. “Science Fiction” by Brand New
> Release date: August 18, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 2
> Biggest single: “Can’t Get It Out”
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16. “Everybody” by Logic
> Release date: May 5, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 19
> Biggest single: “1-800-273-8255”
15. “Witness” by Katy Perry
> Release date: June 9, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 14
> Biggest single: “Chained to the Rhythm”
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14. “I Decided.” by Big Sean
> Release date: February 1, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 32
> Biggest single: “Bounce Back”
13. “Future” by Future
> Release date: February 17, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 30
> Biggest single: “Mask Off”
12. “hopeless fountain kingdom” by Halsey
> Release date: June 2, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 15
> Biggest single: “Now or Never”
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11. “÷” by Ed Sheeran
> Release date: March 3, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 28
> Biggest single: “Shape of You”
10. “Harry Styles” by Harry Styles
> Release date: May 12, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 18
> Biggest single: “Sign of the Times”
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9. “American Dream” by LCD Soundsystem
> Release date: September 1, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 2
> Biggest single: “Call the Police”
8. “HNDRXX” by Future
> Release date: February 24, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 29
> Biggest single: “Selfish”
7. “Lust For Life” by Lana Del Rey
> Release date: July 21, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 8
> Biggest single: “Love”
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6. “Rainbow” by Kesha
> Release date: August 11, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 5
> Biggest single: “Praying”
5. “Culture” by Migos
> Release date: January 27, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 33
> Biggest single: “Bad and Boujee”
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4. “4:44” by JAY-Z
> Release date: June 30, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 10
> Biggest single: “4:44”
3. “DAMN.” by Kendrick Lamar
> Release date: April 14, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 22
> Biggest single: “Humble”
2. “Melodrama” by Lorde
> Release date: June 16, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 13
> Biggest single: “Green Light”
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1. “More Life” by Drake
> Release date: March 17, 2017
> Peak Billboard position: 1
> Weeks on Billboard 200: 26
> Biggest single: “Fake Love”
While many of the most popular albums released this year are from rising artists and those at the peak of their careers, a number are comeback albums from older bands. “American Dream,” for example, was LCD Soundsystem’s first studio album in seven years and the band’s first album ever to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Similarly, “Science Fiction” marks Brand New’s first album in eight years and its first No. 1 album since the band debuted on the charts in 2003 — the longest gap between any act’s first chart appearance and No. 1 debut besides David Bowie’s 43-year gap between 1973’s “Hunky Dory” and 2016’s “Blackstar.”
R&B and hip hop continue to be the most popular musical genres in 2017. Of the 24 albums to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, 10 are by R&B and hip hop artists. This is followed by pop artists, who managed nine of the 24 No. 1 albums in 2017. Rock groups notched four No.1 albums. Thomas Rhett’s “Life Changes” is the only country album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts so far this year.
To determine the most popular albums released this year, 24/7 Wall St. created an index that consists of an album’s peak position on the Billboard 200, weeks spent on the Billboard 200, average Metacritic score and user rating, and daily average Wikipedia page views. We only considered albums that were released in 2017 and peaked at No. 4 or higher from January 7, 2017 to September 30, 2017. An album’s peak position on the Billboard 200 was given double weight in the index. An album’s time spent on the Billboard 200 was adjusted for the number of weeks since its release. The daily Wikipedia page views consist of average page views over the period January 1, 2017 to September 21, 2017.
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