How successful was Taylor Swift’s comeback last year?
There was a fair amount of industry chatter on that very subject, following the release of her sixth studio album, Reputation, in November.
One party who will certainly count it as a commercial triumph is Vivendi – the parent company of Universal Music Group.
Within Universal’s year-end 2017 figures, issued last week, Vivendi notes which artists generated the most revenue for UMG’s labels in the year.
Taylor Swift was No.1 in this annual Top 5, followed by Kendrick Lamar (2), Drake (3), The Weeknd (4) and Luis Fonsi (5).
Reputation was also Universal’s biggest-selling (on a monetary basis) record release in the calendar 12 months.
You can see the full Top 10, plucked from Vivendi’s year-end investor report, below.
Interesting to see The Beatles’ classic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (recently given the anniversary re-release treatment) raked in more than albums from the likes of Post Malone.
But there can only be one No.1. Look what you made her do…
- Taylor Swift – Reputation
- Kendrick Lamar – Damn
- Drake – More Life
- The Weeknd – Starboy
- Luis Fonsi – Despacito & Mis Grandes Éxitos
- Various Artists – Moana OST
- Imagine Dragons – Evolve
- The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s
- Post Malone – Stoney
- Sam Smith – The Thrill Of It All
Music Business Worldwide
