LEAVING? NOT SO, SWIFT: Few weeks go by in which Taylor Swift doesn't occupy space in Chart Beat. She has, after all, consistently authored achievements since her arrival in 2006.
Absolutely no weeks, however, have passed since Nov. 11, 2006, that Swift's debut album did not grace the Billboard 200, a run that, this week, grants her one of her most impressive chart feats yet.
To recap just a few of Swift's milestones: Her "Love Story" became the first country crossover title to top Billboard's Pop Songs chart. "You Belong With Me" became the first country crossover to crown Radio Songs/Hot 100 Airplay. And, her sophomore album "Fearless" is the only set to spend double-digit weeks (12) atop the Billboard 200 this decade.
This week, it's her eponymous debut album that affords Swift her latest chapter of chart history. "Taylor Swift" logs a 157th week on the Billboard 200, marking the longest stay on the survey by any release this decade. The album peaked at No. 5 in January 2008 and this week ranks at No. 60.
Here are the top 10 albums with the most weeks spent on the Billboard 200 since the first chart week of 2000 (peak year in parentheses):
157 weeks, Taylor Swift, "Taylor Swift" (2008) 156 weeks, Nickelback, "All the Right Reasons" (2005) 148 weeks, Norah Jones, "Come Away With Me" (2003) 147 weeks, Daughtry, "Daughtry" (2007) 138 weeks, Guns N' Roses, "Greatest Hits" (2004) 137 weeks, Carrie Underwood, "Some Hearts" (2005) 133 weeks, Flyleaf, "Flyleaf" (2007) 126 weeks, Buckcherry, "15" (2008) 121 weeks, Three Days Grace, "One-X" (2006) 118 weeks, Switchfoot, "The Beautiful Letdown" (2004)
Having already passed the 151-week chart life of Shania Twain's "Come On Over" (1997-2000), "Taylor Swift" is also the longest-charting album by a female country artist in the entire Nielsen SoundScan era, which dawned the chart week of May 25, 1991.
As has become common over the past three years, Swift looks likely to follow one record-setting week with another. After the release of the "Platinum Edition" of "Fearless" Tuesday (Oct. 27) with six new songs and 10 videos, the set will roar back up next week's Billboard 200. Based on early digital sales reports, the album should also send several cuts onto next week's Billboard Hot 100.
For more on Swift, view Billboard's exclusive video Q&A with the star herself, in which she discusses her wildly successful "Fearless" tour, the origins of her tireless work ethic, and her indebtedness to her fans.
"I never want to get to the point where success and nominations and things like that ever seem just like something that happens every day," Swift says.
"I was brought up by two parents who taught me that the world doesn't owe you anything. You have to work for everything you get and you have to be appreciative of every bit of success that the world gives you."
LUCKY 13: Taylor Swift's first hit song was "Tim McGraw." So, it's a bit eerie that in a week where Swift makes major chart news, so does the namesake of her breakthrough smash. (Halloween is, of course, just days away).
Tim McGraw debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with "Southern Voice," a bow that establishes a first in the chart's 53-year history.
Becoming his 13th top 10, McGraw has now reached the top tier with each of his Billboard 200 chart entries, a discography that dates to his sophomore set, "Not a Moment Too Soon," in 1994.
Prior to McGraw, no artists had sent their first 13 charted titles into the Billboard 200's top 10 since the survey's March 24, 1956, inception.
In setting the new mark, McGraw breaks a tie with an artist who posted his 12th top 10 in his first 12 tries 49 years ago. Between his 1957 arrival and 1960, Johnny Mathis notched 12 top 10s (counting three separate top 10 runs for "Merry Christmas" in 1958, 1959 and 1960 as one title). His 13th charted album, "I'll Buy You a Star," peaked at No. 38 in 1961.
One legendary act came oh-so-close to maintaining a perhaps unbeatable career-opening top 10 streak. 26 of the Rolling Stones' first 27 albums reached the top 10. The only one that didn't? Their first, "England's Newest Hit Makers/The Rolling Stones." The position at which the set peaked? No. 11.
I adore Taylor! She is truly the queen of country and pop right now. She seems unstopable. She also has youth on her side. So much success at such a young age; she is a true superstar.
Taylor Swift has earned top honors as the artist with the longest-charting album on Billboard's Top 200 charts, Billboard has announced.
Swift's self-titled debut, released in October 2006, now spends its 157th week on the chart, more weeks than any other album this decade. The 19-year-old takes the honor from band Nickelback.
What's more? Since surpassing the 151-week chart life of Shania Twain's Come On Over, Swift's disc also becomes the longest-charting album from a female country artist in the Nielsen SoundScan era.
There's been much talk lately about the fact that Taylor Swift just broke the record set by Nickelback for having an album stay on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart the longest time during this decade. Good for her. Nickelback was hard to beat because their All the Right Reasons had the staying power to remain on the chart for 156 weeks. But Swift's self-titled debut album has now been on it for 157 weeks, so she wins. But I tend to look at things through only country music glasses, so I wanted to know what country album records she beat. So, according to Billboard, here goes: Shania Twain came the closest to Swift when her 1997 album, Come on Over, was on the chart for 151 weeks. And Carrie Underwood was on for 137 weeks with Some Hearts. And the Dixie Chicks, who I never thought anyone could ever beat, stayed on the charts for 134 weeks with Wide Open Spaces. Other noncountry albums have enjoyed similar success during this decade. And, of course, Pink Floyd's 1973 album, Dark Side of the Moon, holds the all-time record with 741 consecutive weeks on the chart.