Miley Cyrus Album Falls From No. 1 to No. 157 on Billboard

October 7, 2026

Direct answer: Miley Cyrus’ new album “Bass Persuades” has fallen from No. 1 to No. 157 on the Billboard 200 in its second week — a 156-spot plunge that marks the biggest second-week drop from No. 1 by a female artist in Billboard chart history, according to chart reports published October 6–7, 2026.

Miley Cyrus has made Billboard history this week — just not the kind any artist hopes for. The pop star’s tenth studio album, “Bass Persuades,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on September 28, has tumbled 156 positions to land at No. 157 in its second week on the chart.

How far did Miley Cyrus’ album fall on the Billboard 200?

The numbers are stark. After opening at the summit with roughly 61,000 equivalent album units — a figure combining physical sales and streaming — “Bass Persuades” collapsed to No. 157 one week later. That 156-position freefall is the largest second-week decline from No. 1 ever recorded by a female artist in Billboard chart history.

The album’s debut had ended a nearly 13-year wait for another Cyrus chart-topper. “Bass Persuades” was her first Billboard 200 No. 1 since 2013’s “Bangerz” and the sixth No. 1 album of her career. The second-week reversal has now turned that comeback into a different kind of chart record.

Who held the record for the biggest drop before?

Two previous female chart-toppers held the mark before Cyrus claimed it. Madonna’s 2019 album “Madame X” fell from No. 1 to No. 77 — a record that stood until Celine Dion surpassed it just months later, when “Courage” dropped from the top spot to No. 111.

Across all acts, one album fell even further: Bon Jovi’s 2018 album “This House Is Not for Sale” plummeted from No. 1 to No. 169 in its second week, the steepest No. 1 descent on record. Cyrus’ 156-spot fall now sits just behind it on the all-time list.

Why did “Bass Persuades” debut at No. 1 in the first place?

The No. 1 debut was the result of an aggressive, heavily discounted first-week campaign by Atlantic Records — the singer’s new label after she departed Columbia Records earlier this year. The label slashed the album’s digital price and released a blizzard of physical editions: 16 vinyl variants, nine CD versions, six download variants, and a cassette tape.

Atlantic also rolled out instrumental and a cappella versions of all ten album tracks through iTunes on September 22, followed by a demo edition featuring “Aftermath (Demo)” and five previously unreleased voice notes documenting her songwriting process. The demo edition was available exclusively through iTunes until 11:59 p.m. ET on September 24, placing it inside the album’s opening-week tracking window.

The strategy worked — barely. “Bass Persuades” beat its nearest competition, country singer Ella Langley’s “Dandelion,” by roughly 70 units to take the top spot. It had originally been projected to debut outside the top five.

How did Miley Cyrus react to the No. 1 debut?

Cyrus celebrated the narrow victory publicly. Atlantic delivered a floral wreath shaped like a No. 1 to her home, and the singer — who had mysteriously dropped her last name from her social media handles ahead of the album’s release, promoting the project under the mononym MILEY — wrote on Instagram: “Bass Persuades being #1 transcends a win.”

She continued: “This process has been some of the best times for me. Everyone involved made it possible and more importantly fun and memorable. 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.”

What about the album’s lead single?

The campaign did produce one genuine bright spot. The album’s lead single, “Bass Persuades,” debuted at No. 35 on the charts, powered by a viral music video — making it Cyrus’ first solo top 40 hit since “Used to Be Young” reached No. 8 in 2023.

That follows the enormous success of her 2023 album “Endless Summer Vacation,” which debuted at No. 3 and produced “Flowers” — a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single certified seven times platinum. By contrast, her previous album, 2025’s “Something Beautiful,” opened at No. 4 with 44,000 total units, slipped to No. 102 in its second week, and disappeared from the chart entirely after its third frame — a trajectory “Bass Persuades” now appears to be following even more sharply.

What does the chart collapse mean for the album’s future?

A second-week fall of this magnitude typically reflects first-week sales driven almost entirely by hardcore fans and collectors buying multiple variants, with minimal streaming support to sustain the album afterward. Once the discounted bundles and variant editions ran out of buyers, the album’s underlying weekly consumption was too small to hold a chart position anywhere near the top.

The pattern is not unique to Cyrus — front-loaded, variant-driven No. 1 debuts followed by historic collapses have become a recurring feature of the modern chart landscape, and fellow hitmaker Drake is no stranger to making headlines of his own.

But the scale of this particular fall, the largest ever by a female artist, has made “Bass Persuades” a case study in how modern chart campaigns can produce a No. 1 that lasts exactly seven days.

For now, Cyrus has not publicly addressed the second-week numbers, even as fellow pop superstar Taylor Swift continues to dominate entertainment headlines.

FAQ

How far did Miley Cyrus’ “Bass Persuades” fall on the Billboard 200?

The album fell from No. 1 to No. 157 in its second week — a 156-spot drop, the biggest second-week fall from No. 1 by a female artist in Billboard 200 history.

What was the previous record for the biggest drop by a female artist?

Celine Dion’s “Courage” held the mark, falling from No. 1 to No. 111; before that, Madonna’s “Madame X” dropped from No. 1 to No. 77 in 2019.

Why did the album debut at No. 1?

Atlantic Records discounted the digital price and released dozens of variants — 16 vinyl editions, nine CD versions, six download variants, and a cassette — plus iTunes-exclusive alternate versions, helping it edge Ella Langley’s “Dandelion” by about 70 units.

Is this the biggest drop from No. 1 ever on the Billboard 200?

For a female artist, yes. Overall, only Bon Jovi’s “This House Is Not for Sale” (No. 1 to No. 169 in 2018) fell further.