History's Best Selling Music of 2016

Hats off to 2016! Few music commanded as much fanfare and nationwide excitement as Blackstar. Alongside sensationally popular hits like Blue & Lonesome and essential classics, consumers eagerly embraced the Y2K fever and early digital revolution. Pioneering outfits from industry leaders like David Bowie and The Rolling Stones set the standard for quality, producing celebrated items that dominated airwaves and playground buzz alike. Browse our definitive retrospective below to rediscover the genuine articles of the era.

1. Blackstar (album)

   Released in 2016 by David Bowie

   On January 8, 2016, his 69th birthday, David Bowie released his 25th and final studio album, *Blackstar*. What fans initially celebrated as another brilliant, enigmatic work from the music icon was tragically re-contextualized just two days later with the announcement of his death. This specific release date was no coincidence; it was a meticulously planned final artistic statement, a parting gift that transformed the album from a new release into an instant, poignant epitaph and a global cultural phenomenon.

2. Blue & Lonesome

   Released in 2016 by The Rolling Stones, Polydor Records

   On December 2, 2016, legendary rock band The Rolling Stones released 'Blue & Lonesome,' their first studio album in over a decade. The release was a significant event for music fans, marking a full-circle return to the band's earliest inspirations. In an era dominated by digital pop and meticulously produced records, this raw, spontaneous collection of blues covers was a powerful statement about the enduring vitality of roots music. It served as a reminder that before they were stadium-filling rock gods, the Stones were a group of young men obsessed with the Chicago blues, and that passion had never faded over their five-decade career.