Nielsen Music: Adele's '25' Tops 5 Million

Adele: Keeps Selling, Breaking Records

ADELE just keeps shattering sales records. According to NIELSEN MUSIC, "25" (XL RECORDINGS/COLUMBIA) has now sold more than 5 million copies in the U.S., the first to do so since -- that's right -- ADELE's previous album, "21," performed the feat back in 2011.

NIELSEN MUSIC reported that "25" has sold at least 510,000 copies after processing sales reports from YESTERDAY. Add that total to the 4.49 million "25" has already sold in two weeks, and you get the 5 million figure. 

Reports are that "25" could sell as many as 650,000 copies by the close of business this AFTERNOON (DECEMBER 10th).

Back in 2011, "21" sold 5.82 million and was the top-selling album of the year. "25" and "21" are the only albums to sell 5 million copies in a calendar year since 2004, when USHER’s "Confessions" tallied 7.98 million.

"25" is one of only 11 albums released since 2005 to sell 5 million in a calendar year, with five of them by either ADELE or TAYLOR SWIFT.

The albums released since 2005 that have sold more than 5 million in the U.S. are: SWIFT’s "1989" (5.5 million in 2014), "21" (2011, 11.3 million), SWIFT’s "Fearless" (2008, 7 million), JOSH GROBAN’s "Noel" (2007, 5.82 million), SWIFT’s self-titled album (2006, 5.56 million), DAUGHTRY’s self-titled album (2006, 5.04 million), NICKELBACK’s "All The Right Reasons" (2005, 7.91 million), CARRIE UNDERWOOD’s "Some Hearts" (2005, 7.45 million), MARIAH CAREY’s "The Emancipation Of Mimi" (2005; 6.08 million) and 50 CENT’s "The Massacre" (2005; 5.36 million).

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