Apple Music 100 Best Albums
Apple Music 100 Best Albums is an opinion survey and curated music ranking created by the streaming service Apple Music. Apple Music's team crafted the list alongside a group of artists including (but not limited to) Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Maren Morris, and Charli XCX.[1] The list is an editorial statement and does not take into account any streaming numbers on Apple Music or any other streaming service.[2][3]
Background
The first 10 placements (91-100) of the list were announced on May 13, 2024, via a press release by Apple. It was revealed that the whole list would be released as a countdown beginning that same day, revealing 10 albums each day for the following 10 days.[4] To accompany the list, Apple Music unveiled a dedicated microsite to analyze and discuss the albums.[2]
Statistics
Genres
The following table lists the genres of the albums included on the list, which are based on Apple Music's assigned genre.
| Genre | Number of albums |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Hip-Hop/Rap | 20 | 22.2% |
| Rock | 17 | 18.9% |
| Alternative | 13 | 14.4% |
| Pop | 12 | 13.3% |
| R&B/Soul | 9 | 10.0% |
| Electronic | 4 | 4.4% |
| Hard rock | 3 | 3.3% |
| Jazz | 3 | 3.3% |
| Punk | 2 | 2.2% |
| Singer/Songwriter | 2 | 2.2% |
| Country | 1 | 1.1% |
| Latin | 1 | 1.1% |
| Metal | 1 | 1.1% |
| Motown | 1 | 1.1% |
| Roots Reggae | 1 | 1.1% |
Number of albums from each decade
| Decade | Number of albums |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1 | 1.1% |
| 1960s | 9 | 10.0% |
| 1970s | 17 | 18.9% |
| 1980s | 15 | 16.7% |
| 1990s | 21 | 23.3% |
| 2000s | 10 | 11.1% |
| 2010s | 14 | 15.5% |
| 2020s | 3 | 3.3% |
Number of albums from each year
| Year | Number of albums |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 1965 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 1966 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 1967 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 1969 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 1971 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 1972 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 1973 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 1975 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 1976 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 1977 | 4 | 4.4% |
| 1979 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 1980 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 1985 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 1986 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 1987 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 1988 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 1989 | 4 | 4.4% |
| 1990 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 1991 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 1992 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 1993 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 1994 | 5 | 5.5% |
| 1995 | 2 | 2.5% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 1997 | 4 | 4.4% |
| 1998 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 2000 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 2001 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 2004 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 2011 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 2013 | 3 | 3.3% |
| 2016 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1.1% |
| 2018 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 2019 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 2022 | 2 | 2.2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1.1% |
Artists
The following table lists the artists who have an album included on the list. Order is based on their albums positions, from top to bottom (11-100).
| Artist | Number of albums by artist |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Radiohead | 2 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), they are the only artists with two albums on the list. |
| Fleetwood Mac | 1 | |
| Jay-Z | 1 | |
| Bob Dylan | 1 | |
| Adele | 1 | |
| Joni Mitchell | 1 | |
| Marvin Gaye | 1 | |
| Taylor Swift | 1 | |
| Dr. Dre | 1 | |
| The Beach Boys | 1 | |
| The Beatles | 1 | |
| Bruce Springsteen | 1 | |
| Daft Punk | 1 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), they are the only artist with a Dance album on the list. |
| David Bowie | 1 | |
| Miles Davis | 1 | |
| Kanye West | 1 | |
| Led Zeppelin | 1 | |
| Pink Floyd | 1 | |
| A Tribe Called Quest | 1 | |
| Billie Eilish | 1 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), she is the youngest artist with an album on the list; she is also one of the two only artists to debut on the 2010s. |
| Alanis Morissette | 1 | |
| The Notorious B.I.G. | 1 | |
| Public Enemy | 1 | |
| The Clash | 1 | |
| Beyoncé | 1 | |
| Wu-Tang Clan | 1 | |
| Carole King | 1 | |
| Nas | 1 | |
| Aretha Franklin | 1 | |
| Outkast | 1 | |
| Janet Jackson | 1 | |
| Talking Heads | 1 | |
| Stevie Wonder | 1 | |
| Björk | 1 | |
| Bob Marley and the Wailers | 1 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), they are the only artist with a Roots Reggae album on the list. |
| Drake | 1 | |
| Beastie Boys | 1 | |
| U2 | 1 | |
| Kate Bush | 1 | |
| Prince | 1 | |
| Guns N' Roses | 1 | |
| The Rolling Stones | 1 | |
| John Coltrane | 1 | |
| Rihanna | 1 | |
| The Cure | 1 | |
| D'Angelo | 1 | |
| Oasis | 1 | |
| Arctic Monkeys | 1 | |
| The Velvet Underground | 1 | |
| Sade | 1 | |
| 2Pac | 1 | |
| The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1 | |
| Erykah Badu | 1 | |
| De La Soul | 1 | |
| The Smiths | 1 | |
| Portishead | 1 | |
| The Strokes | 1 | |
| Metallica | 1 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), they are the only artist with a Metal album on the list. |
| N.W.A | 1 | |
| Kraftwerk | 1 | |
| SZA | 1 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), she is one of the two only artists to debut on the 2010's[5]. |
| Steely Dan | 1 | |
| Nine Inch Nails | 1 | |
| Missy Elliott | 1 | |
| Bad Bunny | 1 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), he is the only artist with a Latin or Spanish album on the list. |
| Madonna | 1 | |
| Elton John | 1 | |
| Lana Del Rey | 1 | |
| Eminem | 1 | |
| Neil Young | 1 | |
| 50 Cent | 1 | |
| Patti Smith | 1 | |
| Snoop Dogg | 1 | |
| Kacey Musgraves | 1 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), she is the only artist with a Country album on the list. |
| Mary J. Blige | 1 | |
| Massive Attack | 1 | |
| Nina Simone | 1 | |
| Lady Gaga | 1 | |
| AC/DC | 1 | |
| George Michael | 1 | |
| Tyler, The Creator | 1 | |
| Solange | 1 | |
| Burial | 1 | |
| Usher | 1 | |
| Lorde | 1 | Based on the revealed list so far (11-100), she is the second youngest artist with an album on the list. |
| Rage Against The Machine | 1 | |
| Travis Scott | 1 | |
| Eagles | 1 | |
| Robyn | 1 |
Record labels
The following table lists the record labels under which the albums included on the list were released and distributed, it also includes the parent company of each record label. Some artists have joint agreements to release and distribute their records with more than one label, therefore, their albums will be assigned to more than one label. Most labels are owned or partnered with one of the "Big Three", Universal Music Group (UMG), Warner Music Group (WMG), and Sony Music Entertainment (SME).
| Label | Parent | Number of albums |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interscope Records | Universal Music Group | 9 | |
| Capitol Records | 6 | ||
| Polydor Records | 4 | ||
| Def Jam Recordings | 3 | ||
| Republic Records | 3 | ||
| Virgin Records | 3 | ||
| Aftermath Entertainment | 2 | Founded by hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre in 1996 | |
| A&M Records | 2 | Founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. | |
| Island Records | 2 | ||
| Motown | 2 | ||
| Priority Records | 2 | ||
| Roc-A-Fella Records | 2 | Defunct American hip hop label founded by record executives and entrepreneurs Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke in 1994 | |
| Barclay | 1 | ||
| Cash Money Records | 1 | ||
| Darkroom Records | 1 | A forward-thinking, full-service label. It operates as a marketing and business development consultant for Interscope Records with a focus on artist development, creative strategies, and fan engagement. | |
| EMI Records | 1 | ||
| Fiction Records | 1 | ||
| Go! Discs | 1 | ||
| G-Unit Records | 1 | Founded in 2003 by rapper 50 Cent. | |
| Geffen Records | 1 | ||
| Harvest Records | 1 | British-American label, originally created by EMI in 1969. | |
| Impulse! Records | 1 | ||
| Kedar Records | 1 | ||
| Konichiwa Records | 1 | ||
| KonLive Distribution | 1 | Defunct record label founded by R&B singer Akon. The label was created to allow Interscope Records & Akon to manage the career and recording catalogue of singer Lady Gaga. | |
| Lava Records | 1 | Owned by Jason Flom, in partnership with Universal Music Group | |
| Mother Records | 1 | Defunct label founded by the band U2 in 1983 and distributed by Island Records. | |
| MCA Nashville | 1 | ||
| MCA Records | 1 | Defunct American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. | |
| Nothing Records | 1 | ||
| Philips Records | 1 | ||
| Pharlophone (Beatles Catalogue) | 1 | Label founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. Currently owned by WMG, except for the Beatles Catalogue. | |
| Shady Records | 1 | Founded by rapper Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999, | |
| Uptown Records | 1 | ||
| Verve Records | 1 | ||
| Young Money Entertainment | 1 | ||
| Columbia Records | Sony Music Entertainment | 11 | |
| Epic Records | 5 | ||
| Arista Records | 4 | ||
| RCA Records | 4 | ||
| LaFace Records | 1 | Defunct American label. | |
| Jive Records | 1 | Defunct British-American label founded by Clive Calder in 1981. Jive remained a wholly owned unit by Sony until the label’s dissolution in 2011 when Jive was absorbed into RCA Records. | |
| Loud Records | 1 | ||
| Ode Records | 1 | Defunct American label, started by Lou Adler in 1967, now part of SME. | |
| Reprise Records | Warner Music Group | 4 | Founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. |
| Atlantic Records | 3 | ||
| Elektra Records | 3 | ||
| Warner Records | 3 |
Also known as Warner Bro. Records. | |
| Pharlophone | 2 | Label founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. | |
| Sire Records | 2 | ||
| Asylum Records | 1 | ||
| Bad Boy Records | 1 | American label founded in 1993 by Sean "Puffy" Combs. | |
| East West Records | 1 | ||
| Maverick Records | 1 | American entertainment company founded in 1992 by Warner Music Group and run by Madonna, as well as Frederick DeMann and Veronica "Ronnie" Dashev. | |
| Paisley Park Records | 1 | American label founded by musician Prince in 1985. | |
| Death Row Records | Independent Labels | 3 | Founded in 1991 by The D.O.C., Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and Dick Griffey. |
| Rough Trade Records | 2 | Independent label based in London, England. Formed in 1976 by Geoff Travis. | |
| Albert Productions | 1 | Distributed by Sony Music Entertainment. | |
| Cactus Jack Records | 1 | Label founded by American rapper and singer Travis Scott. | |
| Creation Records | 1 | Defunct British independent record label founded in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green, and Joe Foster. | |
| DJM Records | 1 | Defunct British independent record label, set up in the late 1960s by British music publisher Dick James. | |
| Domino | 1 | ||
| Grand Hustle Records | 1 | Also known as Hustle Gang Music, founded by American rapper T.I. and his manager Jason Geter. | |
| Hyperdub | 1 | UK based label founded by Steve Goodman, a.k.a. Kode9. | |
| Kling Klang Studio | 1 | Private music studio of the band Kraftwerk. | |
| London Recordings | 1 | Previously owned by UMG. | |
| One Little Independent Records | 1 | English independent label. Founded in 1985 by members of various anarcho-punk bands. | |
| Rimas Entertainment | 1 | Puerto Rican independent record label, mainly focuses on reggaeton and Latin trap | |
| Ruthless Records | 1 | American Independent record label founded by "Eazy-E" and Jerry Heller in Compton in 1987. | |
| Saint Records | 1 | Founded by Solange Knowles to focus on not-yet mainstream hip-hop and R&B artists. Distributed by Sony Music Entertainment | |
| The Goldmind Inc. | 1 | Founded in 1997 by rapper Missy Elliott. | |
| Top Dawg Entertainment | 1 | Founded in 2004 by record producer Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith. | |
| Tommy Boy Records | 1 | American independent label founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman. | |
| Track Records | 1 | ||
| Westbury Road | 1 | Founded by Rihanna in 2015. | |
| XL Recordings | 1 | British label founded in 1989 by Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes. | |
| ABC Records | ABC | 1 | Defunct American record label founded in New York City in 1955. |
| Parkwood Entertainment Records | Parkwood Entertainment | 1 | American label founded by American singer-songwriter Beyoncé in 2010. |
| Roc Nation Records | Roc Nation | 1 | American multi-disciplinary entertainment company founded by rapper Jay-Z in 2008. |
| Rolling Stones Records | Promotone BV | 1 | Label formed by the Rolling Stones members in 1970 |
See also
- Album era
- All Time Top 1000 Albums
- Critic's Choice: Top 200 Albums
- NME's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
- 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
- Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
- Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
- Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time
- Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time
References
- ^ "Maren Morris Names Her 'Perfect Album' as She Works with Apple Music to Choose the 100 Best of All Time (Exclusive)". Yahoo. May 13, 2024. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "Apple Music celebrates the greatest records ever made with the launch of inaugural 100 Best Albums list". Apple Newsroom. May 13, 2024. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Apple Music 100 Best Albums". Apple. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ Powel, James. "Apple Music reveals more albums on its 100 Best Albums of all-time list: See numbers 80-71". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ https://open.spotify.com/album/07w0rG5TETcyihsEIZR3qG
External links
- Apple Music 100 Best Albums by Apple Music