Miley has achieved her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart in over ten years with the debut of her latest project, "Bass Persuades." The album launched atop the prestigious chart for the week of October 3, amassing an impressive 61,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States during the tracking period ending September 24, according to data from Luminate. This marks Miley’s sixth career leader on the Billboard 200 and her sixteenth top 10-charted set. Her last album to reach the pinnacle of the chart was "Bangerz" in 2013.
The successful rollout of "Bass Persuades" began with its announcement on September 1, followed by its official release on September 18. The lead single, also titled "Bass Persuades," was unveiled on September 3 and made its debut at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated September 19, securing Miley’s 24th top 40 hit. This new album arrives just over a year after her previous studio project, "Something Beautiful," which debuted and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 dated June 14, 2025. The significant gap between "Bangerz" and "Bass Persuades" in reaching the No. 1 position highlights a notable chapter in Miley’s evolving career trajectory.
Breakthroughs for Riley Green and beabadoobee
Alongside Miley’s triumphant return to the top of the charts, the latest Billboard 200 also features significant milestones for Riley Green and beabadoobee, both of whom score their first top 10 entries on the chart with their respective new projects. This underscores a diverse landscape of popular music, with established stars and emerging artists alike finding success.
The Billboard 200, a cornerstone of music industry tracking, ranks the most popular albums in the U.S. based on a comprehensive multi-metric consumption system. This system, meticulously compiled by Luminate, translates various forms of engagement into equivalent album units. These units are derived from album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA), and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). To clarify the metrics, one equivalent album unit is equivalent to one album sale, ten individual tracks sold from an album, or 2,500 ad-supported on-demand official audio streams, or 1,000 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated from songs within an album. The full Billboard 200 chart for the October 3, 2026, dated week is scheduled for publication on the Billboard website on September 29. For continuous updates on chart news, fans and industry professionals are encouraged to follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
"Bass Persuades" Drives Strong Sales and Streaming Performance
The debut of "Bass Persuades" was fueled by a robust combination of album sales and streaming figures. Of the 61,000 equivalent album units earned, album sales accounted for a substantial 47,000 units, propelling the album to the No. 1 position on the Top Album Sales chart. Streaming equivalent album (SEA) units contributed 14,000 units, translating to approximately 14.22 million on-demand official streams of the album’s tracks. Track equivalent album (TEA) units comprised a negligible portion of the total. The album’s impressive first-week sales were significantly bolstered by a strategic release across multiple formats. Fans had access to 16 distinct vinyl variants, one of which included a bonus track, alongside nine CD variants, also featuring a bonus track option. Furthermore, six digital download editions, many with exclusive bonus content, and a cassette version were made available, catering to a wide range of consumer preferences and collecting habits.
Historical Context of Miley’s Chart Success
Miley’s last appearance at the top of the Billboard 200 was in October 2013 with "Bangerz." Her career accolades on the chart, including six No. 1 albums and sixteen top 10 entries, encompass her work under both her personal name and her former Disney character, Hannah Montana, as well as her soundtrack albums. This extended period between No. 1 albums is not entirely unprecedented in the modern music landscape.
Miley joins a select group of artists who have experienced significant gaps between their No. 1 albums. In 2026, she is the third artist to achieve a return to the top spot after a decade or more, following the recent successes of Bruno Mars and A$AP Rocky. Bruno Mars reclaimed the No. 1 position on the March 14 chart with the debut of "The Romantic," a full 13 years after his previous chart-topper, "Unorthodox Jukebox," in March 2013. Similarly, A$AP Rocky debuted at No. 1 on the January 31-dated chart with "Don’t Be Dumb," marking a return to the summit over 10 years and six months after his last No. 1 album, "At.Long.Last.A$AP," in June 2015. These instances highlight the enduring appeal and dedicated fanbases of artists who can maintain relevance and deliver impactful projects over extended periods.
Ella Langley Holds Strong at No. 2
Ella Langley’s chart-topping album, "Dandelion," maintains a strong presence, holding steady at No. 2 on the latest Billboard 200. The album garnered nearly 61,000 equivalent album units in the current tracking week, reflecting a 1% increase from the previous week. This sustained performance indicates strong ongoing listener engagement and critical acclaim for Langley’s work.
Riley Green Achieves First Top 10 Billboard 200 Album
Riley Green makes a significant career mark by securing his first top 10 position on the Billboard 200 with the debut of his album, "That’s Just Me." The project enters the chart at No. 3, driven by 60,000 equivalent album units earned, representing his strongest week to date in terms of unit volume. Breaking down this impressive figure, album sales contributed 29,000 units, marking Green’s best sales week and landing "That’s Just Me" at No. 2 on the Top Album Sales chart. Streaming equivalent album (SEA) units accounted for 30,000 units, equating to 30.89 million on-demand official streams of the album’s songs, and it debuts at No. 10 on the Top Streaming Albums chart. Track equivalent album (TEA) units contributed 1,000 units. Similar to Miley, Green’s album sales were significantly boosted by a multi-format release strategy, featuring 13 vinyl and CD variants, some with exclusive bonus tracks, two digital download editions, and a cassette version.
The release of "That’s Just Me" was preceded by the single "Think as You Drunk," which continues to perform well, holding its No. 11 peak position on the latest Country Airplay chart. This new full-length studio project follows Green’s previous album, "Don’t Mind If I Do," which debuted and peaked at No. 25 in 2024 and has demonstrated remarkable longevity on the chart, spending 99 weeks to date. "Don’t Mind If I Do" was a significant success in its own right, spawning three top-two hits on the Country Airplay chart, including the No. 1 singles "Worst Way" and "Don’t Mind If Do." Both of these tracks also achieved crossover success, reaching the top 25 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Green’s consistent output and growing popularity signal a bright future for the country singer-songwriter.
Established Artists Round Out the Top 10
Following Riley Green in the top tier of the Billboard 200 are several artists with previous No. 1 albums. Morgan Wallen’s "I’m the Problem" remains strong at No. 4, accumulating 58,000 equivalent album units (a 1% increase). Olivia Rodrigo’s "you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love" dips two spots from No. 3 to No. 5, with 55,000 units earned (an 8% decrease). Noah Kahan’s "The Great Divide" moves from No. 5 to No. 6, with 46,000 units (an increase of less than 1%).
beabadoobee Secures First Top 10 Entry
beabadoobee achieves a significant career milestone with her project "Pylon" debuting at No. 7 on the Billboard 200. This marks her first top 10-charted project, driven by 35,000 equivalent album units, her best week by unit volume. Album sales form a substantial part of this total, with 25,000 units sold, making it her best sales week and debuting her at No. 3 on the Top Album Sales chart. Streaming equivalent album (SEA) units contributed 10,000 units, equating to 10.79 million on-demand official streams, while track equivalent album (TEA) units were negligible. The first-week sales of "Pylon" were significantly enhanced by its availability across a variety of formats, including 10 vinyl variants (featuring signed editions), three CD variants (including a signed edition), two cassettes, and a digital download option. This strategic approach demonstrates beabadoobee’s commitment to engaging her fanbase through diverse and collectible offerings.
Closing Out the Top 10
Rounding out the top 10 of the latest Billboard 200 chart are: Jhené Aiko’s "Westside Whimsy," which falls from No. 1 to No. 8 in its second week, earning 35,000 equivalent album units (a 53% decrease); Drake’s former chart-leader "ICEMAN," which drops from No. 6 to No. 9 with nearly 35,000 units (a 2% decrease); and Noah Kahan’s "Stick Season," which remains steady at No. 10 with 34,000 units (a 3% increase).
Data Integrity and Chart Methodology
Luminate, the independent data provider responsible for compiling the Billboard charts, undertakes a rigorous review of all submitted data to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the weekly rankings. This process involves thorough authentication and review of data. In collaboration with Billboard, any data identified as suspicious or unverifiable is meticulously removed using established criteria before the final chart calculations are finalized and published. This commitment to data integrity ensures that the Billboard charts accurately reflect the consumption and popularity of music across the United States.
