21's success feels more poignant due to how it sold so much in such a dead climate. But Thriller was overall the far bigger era. 

15 hours ago, Protocol said:

Depends what you consider a "female album". Rumours, The Bodyguard soundtrack and Grease soundtrack all feature female vocalists and were bigger.

 

However 21 is indeed the biggest solo female era ever.

 

https://chartmasters.org/2017/10/best-selling-artists-albums-and-singles-of-all-time/11/?y=alltime

(I know it's not a perfect measurement but it's really the best we've got at this moment)

Come On Over is the biggest selling female album in the US, 2XD. But it peaked #2 its 1st 2 wks.....51 T10 wks though. COO was huge worldwide too. 

@Bey Admired I'm pretty sure 21 got 84 T 10 wks b/c it tied Born In The USA for 2nd longest T10 BB200 run. But that didn't happen until 25s release. 

Just now, Protocol said:

Well 21 seems to be bigger overall once you factor in single sales and streaming. Chart Masters attempts to measure overall revenue from recorded music sales and streaming as opposed to just album sales.

21 had the better chart run without a doubt. But COO generated 11.5 releases too. That'll never be matched either. 

5 hours ago, FreeXone said:

I can't even remember a song off of 21. Every thriller track is legendary. 

 

Thriller is THAT ALBUM.

Agreed. The Lady in My Life>>>> 21

9 hours ago, abrahamjmr said:

And 21 was released in a market where pure sales were dead yet it still managed to sell what it sold.

When did 21 sell 70 million worldwide? 21 had better chart runs, because the competition was definitely not as prominent. Doesn't invalidate the success though.

19 minutes ago, brianc33710 said:

@Bey Admired I'm pretty sure 21 got 84 T 10 wks b/c it tied Born In The USA for 2nd longest T10 BB200 run. But that didn't happen until 25s release. 

Thank you! 

 

4 minutes ago, DevonRoars said:

When did 21 sell 70 million worldwide? 21 had better chart runs, because the competition was definitely not as prominent. Doesn't invalidate the success though.

Tbh, this is a stupid argument lol. Adele was competing with some of the biggest stars of the 21st Century throughout her reign with 21. 

People saying Adele had no competition when she was against Bey, Drake, Gaga basically at her peak, etc

 

Anyway, no one is saying that 21 is bigger than Thriller they’re just comparing their chart runs which reflects their longevity…

I like Adele and 21 is a great album, but y’all have a lot of nerve comparing it to Thriller 

 

The cultural impact of Thriller alone destroys the entirety of the 21 album/era. Thriller helped ease racial tensions not just in the music industry but in society. Adele could never.

Imagine if 21 had 7 singles like Thriller did too instead of just four.

25 minutes ago, Chainsmoker said:

Imagine if 21 had 7 singles like Thriller did too instead of just four.

Radio gave unsolicited airplay to several 21 tracks, tracks differed by format after RHI. Though Adele/Label didn't promote further singles. 

5 hours ago, brianc33710 said:

Radio gave unsolicited airplay to several 21 tracks, tracks differed by format after RHI. Though Adele/Label didn't promote further singles. 

Turning Tables deserved 

6 hours ago, LookinAssHittas said:

I like Adele and 21 is a great album, but y’all have a lot of nerve comparing it to Thriller 

 

The cultural impact of Thriller alone destroys the entirety of the 21 album/era. Thriller helped ease racial tensions not just in the music industry but in society. Adele could never.

I’ll compare whatever I want, thanks. MJ was not a god. He was a very flawed human being who happened to have a huge album like Thriller. If you can’t handle the fact that 21 had better chart runs in many countries across the world, that’s on you. 

On 11/6/2021 at 11:41 AM, OnlyManInTheWorld said:

I believe „21” is bigger and more successful than thriller. She did something unbelievable and broke all kinds of records despite the declining market.

Thriller invented MTV and by that in the long run Youtube. 

 

Both eras... 1982 and 2011 are not that far apart in how much removed they are from the alltime sales peak (2001-2002).

2 hours ago, Bey Admired said:

I’ll compare whatever I want, thanks. MJ was not a god. He was a very flawed human being who happened to have a huge album like Thriller. If you can’t handle the fact that 21 had better chart runs in many countries across the world, that’s on you. 

chart runs that were helped by multiple rule changes. Remember how Thriller wasn't even allowed to chart once it dropped off due to the catalogue rule in the US? Catalogue charts also existed in many other markets. 

 

 

4 hours ago, Bey Admired said:

I’ll compare whatever I want, thanks. MJ was not a god. He was a very flawed human being who happened to have a huge album like Thriller. If you can’t handle the fact that 21 had better chart runs in many countries across the world, that’s on you. 

Firstly, I never said he was a God.

 

Secondly, “very flawed human being” where? The facts are facts, he was acquitted of any wrong doing, so your statement is wrong.

 

Lastly, your thread isn’t coherent as it doesn’t take into account the chart rules from the 80s. When an album fell off the Billboard 200 chart back in the day, it wasn’t allowed to chart back onto the Billboard 200 even if it sold enough copies to place on the Billboard 200.

 

Albums that fell off the Billboard 200 were moved to the Billboard Catalog Albums Charts. As of this past week, Thriller has spent 536 weeks on the Catalog Albums Chart (currently #11) and has spent 494 weeks on the Billboard 200 Chart (currently #65). Thriller chart run was broken up between two charts. 

 

https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/10747897-us-billboard-charts-06-11-2021?p=10749425#post10749425

 

https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/10747897-us-billboard-charts-06-11-2021?p=10749443#post10749443

 

Most, if not all, major markets such as USA, UK, Canada, etc. had an official albums charts and a catalog albums charts back in the day, which is why 21 appears to have spent more weeks on the official albums chart. 21 wasn’t affected by this chart rule.

 

Furthermore, official albums charts in major music markets such as France, Spain, Italy, etc. (where Thriller sold millions of copies) didn’t commence until the mid-late 80s, several years after Thriller’s 1982 release. 

Edited November 7, 20214 yr by LookinAssHittas

Thriller song and album will sell for generations to come… the other one only with another her albums and hype

 

imagine if MJ was still with us 

16 hours ago, DevonRoars said:

When did 21 sell 70 million worldwide? 21 had better chart runs, because the competition was definitely not as prominent. Doesn't invalidate the success though.

Yeah, let's act like Drake, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and more didn't release albums in 2011. Adele didn't have competition at all. All of those albums they release during that year also managed to sell over 20 million copies worldwide at least,

2 hours ago, abrahamjmr said:

Yeah, let's act like Drake, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and more didn't release albums in 2011. Adele didn't have competition at all. All of those albums they release during that year also managed to sell over 20 million copies worldwide at least,

Okay let's act like Prince, Lionel Richie, Toto, Olivia Netwon-John, Journey, Bob Marley, Madonna, Metallica, and more also didn't release?? 

Just now, DevonRoars said:

Okay let's act like Prince, Lionel Richie, Toto, Olivia Netwon-John, Journey, Bob Marley, Madonna, Metallica, and more also didn't release?? 

No one said they didn’t. That was in response to someone saying Adele had little competition, which is categorically false. 

4 hours ago, Winged said:

Thriller song and album will sell for generations to come… the other one only with another her albums and hype

 

imagine if MJ was still with us 

What  Adele has some of the best catalogue sales of any artist ever, whether she’s releasing or not

21 is more impressive. That came from nowhere. It was just so effortless. 

1 minute ago, iamanearthling said:

21 is more impressive. That came from nowhere. It was just so effortless. 

Especially considering she was really not a big name in the US before 21. Sure, she had a bit of success with 19 but not a household name by any means. 

21 was huge omg 

3 minutes ago, Bey Admired said:

No one said they didn’t. That was in response to someone saying Adele had little competition, which is categorically false. 

The first thing that they responded to was someone saying that Thriller had more competition and that comparison can't be made.