Adele overtakes Madonna for the most weeks at Number 1 on the Official Album Chart
If this week's Official Chart Update is any to go by (and trust us, it's accurate), Adele is looking very likely to end her consecutive seven-week run at the top of the Official Albums Chart with 25 this Friday (January 15).
And while we're sure she'll have no problem handing the baton over to whoever tops this week's chart (almost certain to be David Bowie's new album Blackstar), she may be pleased to know she's bagged herself yet another Official Chart Record.
Adele now holds the title for the most weeks at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart for a female act ever across all her releases, overtaking previous leader Madonna.
MORE: The Official Top 40 Biggest Albums of 2015 revealed
Over the course of Adele's three albums, she's so far racked up 31 weeks at the summit, compared to Madonna's 30 across her 12 chart-topping records.
Each of Adele's albums has debuted at Number 1; her debut 19 logged just one week at the top in February 2008, while 21 managed a staggering 23 weeks. Check out the full, week-by-week chart runs of Adele's albums here.
Meanwhile, Madonna has a huge 12 chart-topping records, with her 1990 retrospective The Immaculate Collection spending the most time at the summit at nine weeks. Look through Madonna's full UK chart history here.
The pair are also way out in front of other successful female acts when it comes to weeks at Number 1. Barbra Streisand's albums have spent at total of 19 weeks at the top in the UK, while Celine Dion has logged 18 weeks and Dido 17 weeks. And with both acts seemingly not planning on calling it day any time soon, we suspect they'll battling this out for some time yet...
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Brian Quinn
The pop charts have become a farce since the introduction of downloading and particularly streaming. Next they will include surveys to be counted towards the charts. Where will it end?
de Sascha
Not to mention & burping.
But I agree, something isn't right about it.
Darolome Barileja
I actually don't pay much attention to these kind of ' new records' . I think it's hard to draw any comparison between records set in the Pre- and Post -digital era . I wonder how many sales Adele would have each week if the only way to purchase was a trip to the store! Similarly how long would Madonna have stayed at the #1 spot if , in her early career , you could also download her music digitally!!!?
It's like Wayne Rooney overtaking Bobby Charlton's goal scoring record when more matches are played now - equals more opportunities OR compare Usain Bolt's Olympic 100m in 9.63 secs in 2012 to Bob Hayes' 10 secs in 1964! Diff time, diff training, diff opportunities. I must say I don't get the Adele thing ... I did go to one of her concerts and I was sooo bored. Her voice wasn't that good live and I know many people who have better voices who dont force it and just sing in choirs. You got it! I'm not a fan but good luck to those who are. Madonna says she likes her anyway Lol !
Lane Fair
I wonder how much these artists would have sold with pirating. Because the artists today have these challenges.
de Sascha
And the artists didn't have piracy challenges in the past?
Lane Fair
Not near as bad.
de Sascha
Well, one example, I used to have MJ's Dangerous album on a tape, and around 5 of my school mates taped/copied it. That's like 5 free copies. I like to belive it was as bad as it is now. If we want it, we get it, no matter what decade.
Darolome Barileja
Pirating has been around for decades! Pirate copies of Madonna's VHS EP in early 80s were everywhere. So was Justify My Love VHS . Cassette tape copies could be bought anywhere from Cyprus to Wembley market believe me! Vinyl fakes (now bootlegs) were common too. It's just the quality which has improved. Artists then lost just as much as now tho they didn't get their albums leaked Pre-release !!!!!
Anna Nekrylova
Adele is like a better British version of Mariah Carey. Mariah "killed" Madonna's US career in the 90s. And Madonna herself did it with Justify My Love and book. But Adele is more likable that Mariah. Maybe too likable. And she doesn't seem to have Madge's "craziness" inside of her.
Darolome Barileja
Adele is a big fake! She's created this cockney girl personae which is completely untrue . I know someone who was at Brit school with her and they said she was constantly changing the 'story of her life' Personally she bores me to tears. Over the years I've known loads of people with voices better than , or similar to , hers . She forces her voice and that's why she has so much problem with it. In concert she does nothing else apart from stand and sing and that's why she's invented this 'funny girl' intended interaction ,with the audience in her shows. Why buy a very expensive concert ticket when you could just put her CD on at home and get the same effect!? I don't get her at all. Give me Pink,
Madonna or even KP any day .... people who really are multi-faceted , entertaining and put on a great theatrical show - worth every penny!!!!