Among the most successful musicians in history, the Beatles are the most prolific when it comes to charting number one albums. The band has sold 290 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling band of all time. Their 19 number one albums on the Billboard 200 chart are more than any other act in history.

Another famous group to hit the top of the charts is U2: the band has a streak of seven number one albums on the chart. They topped the chart in the 1990s with Pop and Zooropa, and then reclaimed the top spot in the 2000s with How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

Another artist with a long career is Madonna, who has landed three number one albums. The last of her top 10 albums was American Life, which landed in 2003.

In the 1970s, Elton John had seven number one albums. In the 1980s, Barbra Streisand had two number one albums, one of which was the Christmas song “I Will Always Love You.”

Jay-Z has amassed 14 number one albums, with his first being Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life on October 17, 1998. He has also scored five compilation albums and one live album. His new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, debuted at No. 1. It sold 117,000 traditional album sales and 279,000 equivalent album units in the US in its first week.

U2 is the only band to hit the top of the chart in four successive decades. Their first five albums, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, Pop and No Line on the Horizon, all spent at least three weeks at the top of the chart. The group has been on the top of the charts for a total of 741 weeks.