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The Independent Albums chart (previously titled Top Independent Albums) ranks the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays (EPs) in the United States, as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine.[1] It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels. Rankings are compiled by point-of-purchase sales obtained by Nielsen, and from legal music downloads from a variety of online music stores. The chart began in the week of February 5, 2000.[2][3]

The top 25 positions are published through the Billboard website, with further chart positions available through a paid subscription to Billboard.biz.[1] As with all Billboard charts, albums appearing on the Independent chart may also concurrently appear on the Billboard 200, the main chart published based solely on sales, as well as any of the other Billboard charts. In addition, exclusive album titles which are only sold through individual retail sites may also be included in the chart, following a revised chart policy announced on November 7, 2007.[4]

The chart's first number one was Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men,[3] which went on to top the year-end chart for 2001.[5]

Best-selling top independent albums by year

Since 2002, Billboard.biz has annually published an end-of-year list of the top 50 best selling independent albums. Billboard also independently announced the highest selling album for 2001. Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz have topped this chart three times since its inception, twice with their 2002 album Kings of Crunk.

References

  1. ^ a b "Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  2. ^ Billboard. Feb 5, 2000
  3. ^ a b "Week of December 02, 2000 - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2000-12-02. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  4. ^ "Revised Chart Policy Lands Eagles At No. 1". Billboard. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  5. ^ a b "Baha Men 'Move' To Follow 'Dogs'". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
  6. ^ "2002 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2002-12-28. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  7. ^ "2003 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2002-12-27. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  8. ^ "2004 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2002-12-25. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  9. ^ "2005 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2002-11-26. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  10. ^ "2006 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2006. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  11. ^ "2007 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2007. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  12. ^ "2008 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2008. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  13. ^ "2009 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2009. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  14. ^ "2010 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2010. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  15. ^ "2011 Year End Charts - Independent Albums". Billboard. 2011. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  16. ^ "Independent Albums - Year-End 2012". Billboard. 2012. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  17. ^ "Independent Albums - Year-End 2013". Billboard. 2013. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  18. ^ "Independent Albums - Year-End 2014". Billboard. 2014. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  19. ^ "Independent Albums - Year-End 2015". Billboard. 2015. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  20. ^ "Independent Albums - Year-End 2016". Billboard. 2016. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  21. ^ "Independent Albums - Year-End 2017". Billboard. 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  22. ^ "Independent Albums - Year-End 2018". Billboard. 2018. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  23. ^ "Independent Albums - Year-End 2019". Billboard. 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  24. ^ "Independent Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard.
  25. ^ "Independent Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard.

External links

Billboard charts
Category