Top-selling vinyl albums in the U.S. 2023

In 2023, the top-selling vinyl album in the United States was Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor’s Version) with 1.01 billion vinyl albums sold. Five of the top 10 selling vinyl albums were released by Swift in 2023. Also, her albums sold 3.5 billion copies on vinyl in the same year, which is the most of any artist. Recent data shows that vinyl record sales in the U.S. have been experiencing a period of constant growth since 2007, and such albums are not reserved only for older, more established artists. Vinyl sales Vinyl is back. Out of the few physical formats, vinyl is going through a resurgence. The phenomenon of nostalgia, returning to tangible products and vintage vibes is driving the revival of vinyl records. The main reasons for buying vinyl are building a collection, ownership of physical music, and the ritual of playing the record, so the trend is based in lifestyle choices. The numbers show that sales of vinyl are constantly growing, having reached more than 49 million units in 2023 in the United Sates alone. This format is actually on of few in recorded music that shows positive growth throughout the past years, in 2023 reaching 14.2 percent. Taylor Swift leading music consumption The artist's debut album “Taylor Swift” was grounded in country music, but her switch to pop music thereafter led to a significant fanbase - so-called Swifties - and generated substantial media interest. However, according to a study from 2023, her most popular albums are later releases, namely the albums 1989 and Fearless. As of 2024, she has released ten studio albums in total, while also re-recording four of her albums after the rights to her music were bought by music producer Scooter Brown. As a result of her endeavors in this area, Swift became an advocate for female empowerment and an inspiration for musicians who seek greater ownership of their work.