Music News

Adele’s ‘21’ biggest seller since 2004

By Patrick Luce Dec 28, 2011, 17:16 GMT

21 is the eagerly awaited sophomore album from British singer-songwriter Adele. It\'s the follow up to Adele\'s critically acclaimed, Grammy award winning debut album 19 (both named after her age at the time the songs were written). Recorded in Malibu and London, 21 offered Adele the opportunity to work with such luminary producers and songwriters as Rick Rubin, Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder, Dan Wilson and Fraser T. Smith, ...more

In addition to being one of the best albums released in 2011, Adele's ‘21' has become the biggest selling album in a single year with a reported 5.6 million copies sold in America.

The English singer-songwriter took the title from R&B icon Usher – whose 2004 release ‘Confessions’ held the top spot.

Nielsen Soundscan reported music sales in general enjoyed a good 2011 with sales up three percent from 2010 with an even larger increase expected for music on the digital market.

Although it was a stellar year for Adele’s album, the singer saw her share of trouble due to a benign polyp in her throat that forced her to cancel the remaining dates of her 2011 tour. She had surgery on her vocal chord and has reportedly been working on retraining her voice.

‘21’ left fans wanting more from the singer, but Adele has stated it could be as much as three years before a new studio album is released.

‘21' was released on January 24, 2011, in the UK and February 22nd in the states. It featured a sound that was a mix of classic blues, country and pop.

The album's first single "Rolling in the Deep" hit No. 1 in eight countries as well as the Billboard Hot 100.The second single "Someone Like You" was Adele's second consecutive number-one single on the Hot 100 from the same album.