Miley Cyrus has made Billboard chart history with her new album Bass Persuades—but for an unwanted reason.
After exceeding early sales forecasts and making a surprise No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 last week, Bass Persuades has crashed to No. 157 in its second week.
The dramatic 156-place plunge marks the largest second-week drop from No. 1 by a female artist in Billboard chart history.
Madonna previously held the record with Madame X, which slipped from No. 1 to No. 77 in 2019. Celine Dion surpassed that mark several months later when Courage fell from the top spot to No. 111.
Bass Persuades is Cyrus’ first album for Atlantic Records since she departed Columbia Records earlier this year.
The album had initially been expected to open outside the top five, but Atlantic Records launched an aggressive sales campaign to help secure a No. 1 debut.
Miley Cyrus’ new album has recorded the biggest fall from No. 1 by a female artist in Billboard chart history
The label reduced the album’s digital price and issued an extensive range of physical editions, including 16 vinyl variants, nine CD versions, six download variants and a cassette.
The strategy helped Bass Persuades outperform its early projections. It narrowly edged out its closest competitor, country singer Ella Langley’s Dandelion, by approximately 70 units to claim the chart’s top position.
Cyrus and Atlantic Records celebrated the slim victory last month, when the label sent a floral wreath shaped like the number one to the singer’s home.
“Bass Persuades being #1 transcends a win,” Cyrus wrote enthusiastically on Instagram at the time.
“This process has been some of the best times for me. Everyone involved made it possible and more importantly fun and memorable,” she continued.
“Thank you Atlantic, my team, and everyone who walks beside me with conviction. I love you.
“To the fans, you make my world go round. Making music for you brings immeasurable joy to my life. Forever.”
While Bass Persuades has fallen to No. 157, several of Cyrus’ pop peers are continuing to perform strongly on this week’s Billboard charts.
After beating initial sales expectations to debut at No. 1 last week, the album has plunged to No. 157 in its second week on the chart
Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl returned to No. 1 this week, while Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So In Love remains at No. 2 after four months
Taylor Swift reclaimed the top spot with The Life of a Showgirl, helped by the arrival of its deluxe “Encore” edition.
Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So In Love sits at No. 2, underscoring the album’s staying power four months into its chart run.
Langley’s Dandelion, which Cyrus narrowly defeated the previous week, dropped only one place to No. 3 after spending nearly six months on the chart.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Atlantic Records for comment.
Cyrus has struggled on the charts in recent years, with her prior album, last year’s Something Beautiful, also failing to become a commercial success.
The former Hannah Montana star has largely coasted off the success of her 2023 single Flowers, which is the biggest hit of her career and won Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2024.
Cyrus will promote the album with two sold-out shows at the Hollywood Bowl this month
Cyrus has refused to tour any of her music since 2014’s Bangerz world tour, although she has teased a potential residency in the future.
She’s set to play two shows at the Hollywood Bowl this month, which resulted in a whopping 1.5 million fans queuing up in an attempt to snag one of the 18,000 tickets to the iconic venue.
Speaking to Zane Lowe about the concerts, Cyrus admitted that she chose the Hollywood Bowl because she wanted to get home to bed immediately after performing and that she doesn’t need to go on a proper tour to sell tickets.
‘I chose to do the show at the Bowl because I knew that my bed was only going to be like a 10-minute drive home by 11,’ she said.
‘I’ve learned now through the queue that my calculations are correct, and people will come to me. I don’t need to drive to you. Proven. That was a test. I win.’
