Billboard: Albums of the Year (1956-2024)

Billboard: Albums of the Year, 1956-2024

Billboard magazine has named an album of the year each year since 1956. The award is based on the album with the best overall chart performance in that calendar year. Check out other album of the year awards here. 2024: Taylor Swift Tortured Poets Department 2023: Morgan Wallen One Thing at a Time 2022: Bad Bunny Un Verano Sin Ti 2021: Olivia Rodrigo Sour 2020: Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding 2019: Bilie Eilish When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? 2018: Taylor Swift Reputation 2017: Kendrick Lamar Damn. 2016: Adele 25 2015: Taylor Swift 1989 2014: Frozen (soundtrack) 2013: Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience 2012: Adele 21 2011: Adele 21 2010: Susan Boyle I Dreamed a Dream 2009: Taylor Swift Fearless 2008: Alicia Keys As I Am 2007: Daughtry Daughtry 2006: Carrie Underwood Some Hearts 2005: 50 Cent The Massacre 2004: Usher Confessions 2003: 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin’ 2002: Eminem The Eminem Show 2001: The Beatles 1 (compilation: 1962-70) 2000: N Sync No Strings Attached 1999: Backstreet Boys Millennium 1998: James Horner (composer) Titanic (soundtrack) 1997: Spice Girls Spice 1996: Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995: Hootie & the Blowfish Cracked Rear View 1994: Ace of Base The Sign 1993: Various Artists (Whitney Houston et al) The Bodyguard (soundtrack) 1992: Garth Brooks Ropin’ the Wind 1991: Mariah Carey Mariah Carey 1990: Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation 1814 1989: Bobby Brown Don’t Be Cruel 1988: George Michael Faith 1987: Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 1986: Whitney Houston Whitney Houston 1985: Bruce Springsteen Born in the U.S.A. 1984: Michael Jackson Thriller 1983: Michael Jackson Thriller 1982: Asia Asia 1981: REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity 1980: Pink Floyd The Wall 1979: Billy Joel 52nd Street 1978: Various Artists (Bee Gees et al) Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack) 1977: Fleetwood Mac Rumours 1976: Peter Frampton Frampton Comes Alive! 1975: Elton John Greatest Hits (compilation: 1970-74) 1974: Elton John Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 1973: War The World Is a Ghetto 1972: Neil Young Harvest 1971: Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice (composers) Jesus Christ Superstar (studio album) 1970: Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water 1969: Iron Butterfly In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida 1968: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Are You Experienced? 1967: The Monkees More of the Monkees 1966: Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream & Other Delights 1965: Richard and Robert Sherman (composers) Mary Poppins (soundtrack) 1964: Jerry Herman (composer) Hello, Dolly! (cast album) 1963: Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim (composers) West Side Story (soundtrack) 1962: Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim (composers) West Side Story (soundtrack) 1961: Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe (composers) Camelot (cast album) 1960: Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II (composers) The Sound of Music (cast album) 1959: Henry Mancini The Music from Peter Gunn soundtrack 1958: Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe (composers) My Fair Lady (cast album) 1957: Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe (composers) My Fair Lady (cast album) 1956: Harry Belafonte Calypso Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” Billboard.com Wikipedia.org: Billboard Year-End Number One Singles and Albums Dave’s Music Database: “The All-Time Top 100 Albums According to Billboard” First posted 9/6/2020; last updated 12/23/2024.