For much of 2023, Morgan Wallen has maintained an iron grip on the two most significant Billboard charts: the Hot 100, which ranks the most consumed songs in the U.S., and the Billboard 200, which tracks album consumption. Numerous musicians have attempted to dethrone him with high-profile releases, but few have succeeded. Now, it appears that Wallen’s reign may be coming to an end as there is a real chance he’ll lose his hold on both charts in just a few days.
Rapper Lil Uzi Vert is currently poised to secure their third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with their latest release, Pink Tape. According to music industry publication HitsDailyDouble, the album is predicted to become the first hip-hop record to rule the chart this year. It is expected to open with an impressive 165,000 equivalent units, easily surpassing One Thing at a Time, which is likely to move around 100,000 units—a number it hits consistently.
On the Hot 100, the race for the top spot is much closer. Wallen may once again be forced down from his throne by a new smash hit. Olivia Rodrigo’s highly-anticipated single, “Vampire,” was initially predicted to debut at No. 1 on the chart as soon as it was released. However, as the tracking week progressed, it became apparent that Wallen and Rodrigo are in a neck-and-neck competition, as his single “Last Night” is still going strong. The outcome remains uncertain, but Rodrigo has a real chance of becoming the latest artist to conquer the Hot 100.
Since the release of his blockbuster album One Thing at a Time in March, Wallen has dominated both the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts more often than not. On the albums ranking, he has only been displaced from the top spot for two weeks, once by Taylor Swift’s Midnights and another time by K-pop act Stray Kids’ 5-Star. Aside from these two titles, Wallen has reigned supreme, accumulating an impressive 15 consecutive weeks atop the tally.
Although Wallen’s grip on the Hot 100 hasn’t been as tight, his current single, “Last Night,” has still managed to claim the chart’s summit for 13 nonconsecutive weeks, with several recent weeks in a row. His reign has been interrupted by the likes of Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” SZA’s “Kill Bill,” and Jimin’s “Like Crazy” for one frame apiece. Despite these challenges, Wallen has maintained a strong presence at the top of both the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 since March, often holding the No. 1 position on both simultaneously.
Now, it seems that Wallen may face a temporary setback as he potentially loses the top spot on both rankings for the first time. That said, there is still a chance for him to reclaim the throne in the following frame, at least on the Hot 100. The following period, Taylor Swift will almost certainly dominate the Billboard 200 with her just-released Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and the Hot 100 is up for grabs.
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