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Tops In 2008 Best Selling Albums, Most Downloaded Songs

3 minute read | December 2008

Nielsen has issued a year-end look at the most popular trends among Americans during 2008, covering everything from the top TV programs to the most popular consumer packaged goods.

Alicia Keys’ “As I Am” was the top selling album of 2008, according to Billboard and Nielsen.

Keys also had the most listened-to radio song of the year, “No One,” which drew 3.08 billion radio listeners between November 12, 2007 through November 16, 2008. 

“Low,” by Flo Rida, featuring T-Pain, was the most downloaded song of the year, through November 16.

According to Scarborough Research, a joint partnership with Nielsen and Arbitron, MP3 players are most prevalent in Washington D.C., where 40% of adults live in households with at least one player.  Nationwide, 30% of adults live in homes with MP3 players.

Top 10 Albums

RankAlbumArtist
1As I AmAlicia Keys
2NoelJosh Groban
3Tha Carter IIILil Wayne
4Long Road Out of EdenEagles
5Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift
6Rock N Roll JesusKid Rock
7Viva La Vida or Death and All His FriendsColdplay
8NOW 26Various Artists
9Carnival RideCarrie Underwood
10The Ultimate HitsGarth Brooks
Source: Billboard 200 / The Nielsen Company.
Note: Data is from Billboard’s Dec 1, 2007 issue through November 29, 2008 (including sales data from Nov. 12, 2007 through November 16, 2008).

Top 10 Most Listened-To Radio Songs

RankSongArtistTotal Listeners
1No OneAlicia Keys3,084,014,000
2LowFlo Rida Featuring T-Pain3,025,670,000
3Bleeding LoveLeona Lewis2,754,498,000
4ApologizeTimbaland Featuring OneRepublic2,508,246,000
5LollipopLil Wayne Featuring Static Major2,365,270,000
6With YouChris Brown2,348,062,000
7Love in this ClubUsher Featuring Young Jeezy2,280,490,000
8No AirJordin Sparks Duet With Chris Brown2,170,133,000
9Sexy Can IRay J & Yung Berg1,926,995,000
10Take A BowRihanna1,920,855,000
Source: Billboard Hot 100 Airplay / The Nielsen Company.
Note: Data is from Billboard’s Dec 1, 2007 issue through November 29, 2008 (including sales data from Nov. 12, 2007 through November 16, 2008).

Top 10 Most Digitally-Downloaded Songs

RankSongArtist
1LowFlo Rida Featuring T-Pain
2Bleeding LoveLeona Lewis
3LollipopLil Wayne Featuring Static Major
4I Kissed a GirlKaty Perry
5Viva La VidaColdplay
6Love SongSara Bareilles
7ApologizeTimbaland Featuring OneRepublic
8No AirJordin Sparks Duet With Chris Brown
9DisturbiaRihanna
104 MinutesMadonna Featuring Justin Timberlake
Source: Billboard Hot Digital Songs / The Nielsen Company.
Note: Data is from Billboard’s Dec 1, 2007 issue through November 29, 2008 (including sales data from Nov. 12, 2007 through November 16, 2008).

Top U.S. Markets: Adults Living In A Household With An MP3 Player

RankMarket% Adults

Living In Households

With An MP3 Player

1Washington, D.C. DMA40%
2Salt Lake City DMA39%
3San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose DMA38%
4Providence/New Bedford DMA36%
5Chicago DMA36%
6Seattle/Tacoma DMA35%
7New York DMA35%
8Denver DMA35%
9Honolulu DMA34%
10San Diego DMA34%
 National Average 30%
Source: Scarborough Research, Scarborough USA+ Release 1 2008.

View the press release.

Relive the greatest hits of 2008 — stay tuned on Nielsen Wire for more Tops In 2008 coverage.

Look ahead to the new year with Nielsen Wire’s 2009 Industry Outlook series.

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