Calling all Mitski stans! The barrier to industry recognition may have toppled for our favorite artist.
Since the album’s release on Feb. 4, Mitski’s “Laurel Hell” has been the top-selling album in the U.S., debuting at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart. Although it’s technically still behind four other albums, including the soundtrack from Disney’s “Encanto” and rapper Gunna’s album “DS4EVER,” Billboard confirmed that “Laurel Hell” scored highest in pure sales. This number accounts for the total amount of albums sold rather than streams or purchases of individual tracks.
According to a recent NME article, Mitski sold 24,000 units of “Laurel Hell” in total, with 17,000 of those units being vinyl sales. It’s a noteworthy feat for an artist who not only stays out of the public eye, but who also creates a sound that doesn’t tend toward mainstream music trends. “An independent artist landing a Top 5 on the Billboard 200 and a number 1 selling album is always an achievement to celebrate,” Phil Waldorf—co-founder of Mitski’s label, Dead Oceans—said in a Feb. 14 Pitchfork article. “Mitski is an uncompromising artist and a generational talent, and to see her gain commercial recognition, entirely on her own terms, is an incredible achievement.”
Could Mitski finally take a stab at a Grammy nomination in the upcoming year? We’ll have to wait and see, but with this development, signs are beginning to point toward a yes.
