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Drake Extends Billboard 200 No. 1 Weeks Lead Over Adele

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Drake’s latest week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 is more than another chart win; it widens a career benchmark that matters to labels, publishers, and rights holders because chart dominance still defines long-tail value and catalog leverage. With Iceman, Drake now has 41 career weeks at No. 1, extending his lead as the hip-hop artist with the most weeks atop the chart and the Canadian artist with the most weeks at No. 1.[1]

Drake pulls further ahead in a crowded all-time race

Drake now sits ahead of Adele, who logged 40 weeks at No. 1 from 2011 to 2022.[1] If he stays at No. 1 for another week, he will tie Morgan Wallen, who has logged 42 weeks at No. 1.[1] Drake’s No. 1 albums span nearly 16 years, from July 2010 to June 2026.[1]

Elvis, Bee Gees and the chart’s long memory

Billboard’s tally of the acts with 30 or more weeks at No. 1 goes back to March 24, 1956, when the Billboard 200 began publishing on a consistent weekly basis.[1] The article notes that Elvis Presley’s Billboard 200 history captures his entire career, even though his breakthrough came before the launch of Billboard’s flagship songs chart.[1] Presley’s debut album, Elvis Presley, entered the chart at No. 11 in the issue dated March 31, 1956, the chart’s second week.[1]

The piece also notes that if Saturday Night Fever is counted as a Bee Gees album, the group’s total would be 31 weeks at No. 1, but Billboard counts it as a multi-artist soundtrack album.[1]

Only a select group has crossed 30 weeks

The list includes Mariah Carey and the Eagles at 30 weeks each.[1] Carey’s No. 1 albums have all been regular studio releases, while her holiday album Merry Christmas peaked at No. 3.[1] The Eagles’ tally includes The Long Run, Hotel California, Eagles/Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975, and the live album Hell Freezes Over.[1]

Prince and Eminem are tied at 35 weeks.[1] Prince’s total includes Purple Rain, Batman, Around the World in a Day, and The Very Best of Prince, which reached No. 1 after his death in 2016.[1] Eminem’s count includes Curtain Call: The Hits, while 8 Mile: Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture and two No. 1 albums by D12 do not count toward his total.[1]

Harry Belafonte has 37 weeks at No. 1.[1] His album Belafonte was No. 1 on the very first weekly Billboard 200 chart, and Calypso spent 31 weeks at No. 1.[1]

Watch next: whether Drake can add another week and match Morgan Wallen’s 42-week total.[1]

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