Beyoncé’s Renaissance is the only album everyone’s been listening to on repeat last week, so it’s not a shocker to see it soar to No. 1. This album debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, setting several 2022 milestones in its wake.
Following its release on July 29, Renaissance earned 332,000 equivalent album units during its first week on the chart, easily hitting No. 1. Album sales comprise 190,000, SEA units comprise 138,000, while TEA units comprise 4,000 of the record’s total sales.
Renaissance’s debut is the second largest this year, behind Harry Styles’ Harry’s House with 521,500 units earned during its first week on the chart. This also marks the biggest debut of the year for a female artist and the first album released by a woman in 2022 to top the chart, following Adele’s 30.
The release of Renaissance was preceded by one single—“Break My Soul”. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and we’re yet to see if the release of the full album will improve its rating.
Renaissance is Beyoncé’s first solo album since Lemonade, but she’s been pretty busy since. In addition to teaming up with Jay-Z on The Carters’ Everything Is Love in 2018, she also released Homecoming: The Live Album and led The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack in 2019.
