SZA’s 9 week reign of the Billboard album chart - what other female artists have achieved Billboard history?

SZA’s record-breaking time at the top of the Billboard album chart continues its domination after the weekend, with her album SOS now reigning for nine weeks in the United States. She is one week away from equalling the record for the most time spent consecutively at the top of the album charts since Taylor Swift’s album, 1989, spent 11 weeks on top in 2014 and 2015.

SZA already holds the record for the most number of weeks at number one for an artist in the 21st century and is only one of three female musicians in the last 10 years to see their work reign across consecutive weeks.

The other two? The aforementioned Taylor Swift and British musician Adele, who was the most recent artist to accomplish this feat with the 2015 album 25.

SOS has also spent the most weeks at No. 1 for an R&B/hip-hop album by a woman, or an R&B album by a woman, since Mariah Carey’s self-titled debut spent 11 weeks, all consecutively, at No. 1 in 1991.

Not content with female representation in music, the album is also the first R&B/hip-hop album with at least eight weeks atop the list since Drake’s Views, which held the spot for 13 non-consecutive between May to October 2016.

The achievement from SZA has had Peopleworld taking a look at what other records from female musicians are currently still in effect from the Billboard album chart. Taking a look at the information provided by Billboard’s website, here are some other notable records from the history of the album chart that rank up there with SZA’s achievement.

Adele

British singer Adele has had numerous successes Stateside with regards to the Billboard album chart; a consistent threat to the top position, it was her 2015 album 25 that broke the record for most consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 for a female artist. The only person to come close to that feat since is - you guessed it, SZA.

Where Taylor Swift might have one additional week over Adele, such a feat for an international artist was a momentous achievement for British music and demonstrated Adele’s overwhelming international appeal.

Taylor Swift

Speaking of Taylor Swift, as of writing the pop megastar currently holds the record for the most consecutive albums by a female musician to reach number one on the Billboard album chart with 11 - tied with Jay-Z for the most across both male, female and non-binary gender performers.

Those albums in question? Add the following to your streaming service playlist: Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, Reputation, Lover, Folklore, Evermore, Midnights, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version)

Madonna

As Madonna juggles her time between getting ready for her worldwide tour and dealing with a constant stream of remarks about her appearance, at least the Material Girl can attest that she is the first woman in Billboard history to have five different albums enter the top ten of the chart across five different decades.

Those albums in question are: Like A Virgin (1984), Erotica (1992), Music (2000), MDNA (2012) and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022.)

Those were the albums that first charted throughout the numerous decades, quite clearly pointing out that despite the barbs Madonna has received regarding when she’ll call it a day, the album sales prove that the Queen of Pop should keep going.

Barbra Streisand

Though Barbra Streisand had one album more regarding Madonna’s record, it was technically an ensemble cast soundtrack (and would be unfair to the other participants to call it just a Barbara Streisand soundtrack.)

Streisand however does hold the record for the female with the most albums to have charted into the Billboard album charts’ top 10 since its inception. Streisand will have no problems with everyone knowing that throughout her career, the singer and actress has amassed 34 albums that have landed in the top ten.

The only other musician to have more than Barbra Streisand? The Rolling Stones with 37 albums; so we only need Streisand to release three more albums to finally topple that record.

Whitney Houston

The untimely death of Whitney Houston helped the legendary diva cement her place in the Billboard album chart in 2012; with the many tributes her fellow performers provided the public with after her death, her fans played their own part in her tribute.

No less than 10 of her albums all entered the Billboard chart in 2012, as fans celebrated the life and music of the I Will Always Love You singer, with three entering the top ten alone. Only two other musicians have managed this feat - The Beatles with 13 albums in 2014 and Prince with 19 albums in 2016.