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Adele And Justin Bieber Run Pop, Reign Atop Billboard’s Year-End Charts

By Page Mackinley
Published on: 06:39 PST, Dec 9, 2016

All hail Adele and Justin Bieber. Between them, the pair dominate Billboard’s year-end lists, which tally how well artists performed over 2016 on various charts.

The pop prince and Brit queen both launched music comebacks in 2015 after stepping away for very different reasons. Adele and Bieber being crowned as artists who performed best over the year is the ultimate victory lap for both.

Adele’s 25 closes out 2016 atop the Billboard 200 album chart. It sold millions upon its release in late 2015 and is still doing strong numbers. To date, it’s sold 9.1 million and counting.

The singles — “Hello,” “When We Were Young,” and “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” — all placed well in charts, all of which gives Adele the Top Artist of the Year accolade for the third time. Bieber placed second on the same chart.

Drake’s Views, Bieber’s Purpose, Beyonce’s Lemonade, and Rihanna’s Anti complete the Top 5.

Justin wraps 2016 at No. 1 on the Hot 100 singles chart, the biggest act on radio, and Billboard’s Top Male artist for 2016. That Hot 100 ranking is due to three No. 1 smash hits from 2015-2016 including “Love Yourself,” the acoustic kiss-off that Bieber co-wrote with Brit Ed Sheeran.

Although “Love Yourself” only spent a two non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 it resided in the Top 10 for 24 weeks. That was enough for the Bieber to take the No. 1 spot on the year-end Hot 100 chart and radio songs chart, among others.

How did Bieber follow up that achievement? With himself, of course.

The 22-year-old takes ownership of the top two Hot 100 spots, with “Sorry” taking second place. Drake’s “One Dance,” Rihanna’s “Work,” and Twenty One Pilots’ “Stressed Out” round out the Billboard’s Top 5.

“Sorry,” an infectious dancehall jam, was the second single from Bieber’s multi-platinum Purpose album, which was released a week before Adele’s 25 on November 13, 2015.

Notably, the Biebs is only the third artist in the Hot 100’s 58-year history to land the year-end top two songs (“Love Yourself” and “Sorry”). The pop superstar’s first mentor, Usher, did it with “Yeah!” and “Burn” in 2004. British legends The Beatles also did it in 1964 with debut hits “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.”

Last year, Purpose debuted atop the Billboard 200 (his sixth to do so) and went on to deliver three No. 1 songs on the Hot 100, breaking records and making history with “What Do You Mean,” “Sorry,” and “Love Yourself.”

Bieber’s arduous path back to pop ascendancy came after he officially took a year out in 2014 amid a turbulent two-year period. Unquestionably, the singer’s musical return began with his co-written collaboration with Jack Ü’s Diplo and Skrillex on “Where Are U Now.” It peaked at No. 8 on the Hot 100 eventually landed a Grammy in 2015.

Months later, Purpose snatches third position on Billboard’s Year-end 200 album chart, after 25, then Views. Beyonce’s Lemonade and Rihanna’s Anti scoop up the Top 5.

To date, Purpose has sold nearly 5.2 million worldwide and has been streamed 11 billion times on combined services. In addition to three No. 1 singles, the record bagged Bieber (now a seven-time Grammy nominee) four Grammy noms in the upcoming 59th Annual Grammy awards next year — including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for “Love Yourself.

In related news, the music video for “Sorry” takes the No. 1 spot as the most viewed video of 2016 according to Vevo. The Paris Goebbel-directed, produced, and choreographed video has been viewed 1.8 billion times since its release last in October.

Bieber has three other entries in Vevo’s worldwide Top 10. The videos for “What Do You Mean?” and “Love Yourself” charting at fifth and sixth place respectively.

Meanwhile, the superstar’s super successful, epic “Purpose World Tour” recently announced six stadium shows across North America, along with an extra date in Toronto and festivals.

Justin has also been confirmed to headline a massive outdoor show on July 2 at London’s Hyde Park as part of the Barclaycard British Summer Time series.

Special guests included Martin Garrix, Tove Lo, and Anne-Marie with more to be announced. Other headliners include Phil Collins, Green Day, and Kings of Leon, who will perform on different days.

It’s also been announced that Bieber will play Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on June 30. June.

Justin Bieber and Adele owned 2015 and 2016. Bow down.

[Featured Image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images and Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images]

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