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Upon receiving the news, Lauryn Hill told Apple Music: “This is my award, but it’s a rich, deep narrative, and involves so many people, and so much sacrifice, and so much time, and so much collective love.”

To celebrate, Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden sat down with legendary record producer, writer, and performer Nile Rodgers and Grammy-nominated artist and producer Maggie Rogers to reflect on the list during a special roundtable broadcasting globally today on Apple Music. Watch the full roundtable at music.apple.com *live from 1pm BST.

Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums is a modern 21st-century ranking of the greatest records ever made, crafted by Apple Music’s team of experts alongside a select group of artists, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals. The list is an editorial statement, fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music — a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.

The full 100 albums can be found here: 100 Best

Explore the top 10 albums here: 

1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998), Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill’s debut — and only — solo studio album was a seismic event in 1998: a stunningly raw, profound look into the spiritual landscape not just of one of the era’s biggest stars, but of the era itself. She was, and remains, a once-in-a-generation talent whose inspiration and innovation can be heard through the decades. Artists exhaust long discographies hoping for a cohesive piece of work resonant enough to reshape culture and inscribe its creator into the pantheon; Lauryn Hill did it in one. 

2. Thriller (1982), Michael Jackson
There are few pop albums, or even works of art, that denote a wholesale shift in time and space the way Michael Jackson’s Thriller did in 1982. It did nothing less than define the modern pop blockbuster and redefine the scope and reach of music. Seven of its nine original cuts were top 10 singles, and it became one of the bestselling albums ever made. 

3. Abbey Road (1969), The Beatles
The Beatles’ Abbey Road is an ageless, unmatched collection of songs by a world-changing band at their creative peak. The band’s 11th and penultimate album sounds like nothing more or less than four extremely gifted humans playing one indelible song after another in the same room together.

4. Purple Rain (1984), Prince & The Revolution
With half its track list comprising top 10 singles, this soundtrack is what truly turned Prince Rogers Nelson into one of the most instantly recognisable and distinctive pop artists ever. Prince often drew comparisons to Jimi Hendrix for the way he mixed music that felt Black and white, sacred and profane. The reality is that he had no precedent then and no comparison now. 

5. Blonde (2016), Frank Ocean
Though Blonde packs 17 tracks into one quick hour, it’s a sprawling palette of ideas, a testament to the intelligence of flying one’s own artistic freak flag and trusting that audiences will meet them where they’re at. They did. And Ocean established himself as a generational artist uniquely suited to the complexities and convulsive changes of the second decade of the 21st century. 

6. Songs in the Key of Life (1976), Stevie Wonder
In 1974, Stevie Wonder was the most critically revered pop star in the world; he was also considering leaving the music industry altogether. So when Songs in the Key of Life was released two years later, demand was so high that it became, at the time, the fastest-selling album in history. The album, which runs nearly 90 minutes, is effortlessly melodic, broad in scope, and deeply personal. Sonically, culturally, and emotionally, Songs in the Key of Life is much more than a gigantic collection of songs — it forms an entire worldview.

7. good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore album good kid, m.A.A.d city is one of the defining hip-hop records of the 21st century. West Coast hip-hop elders like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre anointed Lamar to carry on the legacy of gangsta rap, and the legacy of this album is a crucial example of American storytelling that established the future Pulitzer Prize winner as perhaps his generation’s most accomplished writer. 

8. Back to Black (2006), Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse’s presentation and otherworldly, timeless vocals make her music feel different — not so much an attempt to re-create the past as to honour the music she loved while still being true to the trash-talking, self-effacing millennial she was. The sound of Back to Black might appeal to retro-soul fans and jazz classicists, but the attitude is closer to rap. Yes, she was funny. But she wasn’t kidding. 

9. Nevermind (1991), Nirvana 
Nevermind and its opening salvo “Smells Like Teen Spirit” didn’t just mark an unlikely breakthrough for the Seattle trio, it upended popular culture in ways never before and never since. Punk became pop, grunge became global vernacular, industry walls broke into rubble, and lead vocalist Kurt Cobain was anointed the reluctant voice of a generation in need of catharsis — all seemingly overnight.

10. Lemonade (2016), Beyoncé
Beyoncé’s genre-obliterating blockbuster sixth album is furious, defiant, anguished, vulnerable, experimental, muscular, triumphant, humorous, and brave — a vivid personal statement, released without warning in a time of public scrutiny and private suffering. Every second of Lemonade deserves to be studied and celebrated.

Watch the full roundtable conversation with Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, Nile Rodgers and Maggie Rogers at music.apple.com.

As an additional gift to music fans, Apple Music created 100 audio vignettes telling the story of each album and contextualising its significance and position on the list. Written by a team of music experts and edited by award-winning audio editors, these vignettes are sonic companions to Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums. Listen to the stories behind each of the albums and more on Apple Podcasts at apple.co/100BestRadio

Music lovers can also access 100 Best Albums special content across the Apple ecosystem on the App Store, Apple News, Apple Retail, apple.com, and more. Additionally, they can explore a 100 Best Albums dedicated space on Apple Books, which celebrates titles by and about artists from the list.

Quotes on the top 3 from the roundtable:

1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998), Lauryn Hill
Zane Lowe: "This album doesn’t just resonate with the people who were around when it came out and who hold it dear. It has not dated, not even a fraction. In fact, it feels more fresh and more relevant the more you listen to it… There are a lot of young artists hearing it, and it’s becoming part of their artistic DNA. It’s inspiring and influencing them… It’s timeless."

2. Thriller (1982), Michael Jackson
Zane Lowe: "Not only did it outsell everything in its opening year, it outsold everything in its second year. It changed the way people approached making music, releasing music, distributing, marketing music, and no one ever caught up to it. It set the bar so high."

Nile Rodgers: "When Michael dropped this record, to me, the world changed. It was a seismic shift. Having a Black artist do a music video on the level of “Thriller” just changed the world.

3. Abbey Road (1969), The Beatles

Nile Rodgers: "There’s something about the Beatles that’s always really magical to me. Believe it or not, the first song I ever actually learned to play on guitar was a Beatles song. I knew at that moment that I was going to be a guitar player. Prior to that, I played the clarinet."

Zane Lowe: "The amount of songs that have stayed with people as they’ve lived their lives to a point… played at anniversaries, weddings, funerals, fall in love to, broken up to. There are lots of songbooks that speak to many times in life. I think The Beatles have the songbook of life."

 
Apple Music 100 Best Albums - Full List 
  • 100: Body Talk - Robyn
  • 99: Hotel California - The Eagles
  • 98: ASTROWORLD - Travis Scott
  • 97: Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
  • 96: Pure Heroine - Lorde
  • 95: Confessions - USHER
  • 94: Untrue - Burial
  • 93: A Seat at the Table - Solange
  • 92: Flower Boy - Tyler, The Creator
  • 91: Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 - George Michael
  • 90: Back in Black - AC/DC
  • 89: The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition) - Lady Gaga
  • 88: I Put a Spell on You - Nina Simone
  • 87: Blue Lines - Massive Attack
  • 86: My Life - Mary J Blige
  • 85: Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
  • 84: Doggystyle - Snoop Dogg
  • 83: Horses - Patti Smith
  • 82: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ - 50 Cent
  • 81: After the Gold Rush - Neil Young
  • 80: The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem
  • 79: Norman F****** Rockwell! - Lana Del Rey
  • 78: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
  • 77: Like A Prayer - Madonna
  • 76: Un Verano Sin Ti - Bad Bunny
  • 75: Supa Dupa Fly - Missy Eliott
  • 74: Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails
  • 73: Aja - Steely Dan
  • 72: SOS - SZA
  • 71: Trans-Europe Express - Kraftwerk
  • 70: Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A
  • 69: Master of Puppets (Remastered) - Metallica
  • 68: Is this It - The Strokes
  • 67: Dummy - Portishead
  • 66: The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths
  • 65: 3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul
  • 64: Baduizm - Erykah Badu
  • 63: Are You Experienced? - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
  • 62: All Eyez on Me - 2Pac
  • 61: Love Deluxe - Sade
  • 60: The Velvet Underground and Nico (45th Anniversary Edition) - Velvet Underground & Nico
  • 59: AM - Arctic Monkeys
  • 58: (What's The Story) Morning Glory - Oasis
  • 57: Voodoo - D’Angelo
  • 56: Disintegration (Remastered) - The Cure
  • 55: ANTI - Rihanna
  • 54: A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
  • 53: Exile on Main Street (2010 Remaster) - Rolling Stones
  • 52: Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'N Roses
  • 51: Sign O’The Times - Prince
  • 50. Hounds of Love (2018 Remaster) - Kate Bush
  • 49. The Joshua Tree - U2
  • 48. Paul’s Boutique - Beastie Boys
  • 47. Take Care (Deluxe Version) - Drake
  • 46. Exodus ((2013 Remaster) - Bob Marley & The Wailers
  • 45. Homogenic - Björk
  • 44. Innervisions - Stevie Wonder
  • 43. Remain in Light - Talking Heads
  • 42. Control - Janet Jackson
  • 41. Aquemini - Outkast
  • 40. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You - Aretha Franklin
  • 39. Illmatic - Nas
  • 38. Tapestry - Carole King
  • 37. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) [Expanded Edition] - Wu-Tang Clan
  • 36. BEYONCÉ - Beyoncé
  • 35. London Calling - The Clash 
  • 34. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
  • 33. Kid A - Radiohead
  • 32. Ready to Die (The Remaster) - Notorious B.I.G.
  • 31. Jagged Little Pill (Remastered) - Alanis Morisette 
  • 30. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? - Billie Eilish
  • 29. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
  • 28. The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd 
  • 27. Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
  • 26. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
  • 25. Kind of Blue - Miles Davis 
  • 24. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (2012 Remaster) - David Bowie
  • 23. Discovery - Daft Punk 
  • 22. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
  • 21. Revolver - The Beatles
  • 20: Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys
  • 19: The Chronic - Dr. Dre
  • 18: 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
  • 17: What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
  • 16: Blue - Joni Mitchell
  • 15: 21 - Adele
  • 14: Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan
  • 13: The Blueprint - JAY-Z
  • 12: OK Computer - Radiohead
  • 11: Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
  • 10. Lemonade - Beyoncé
  • 9. Nevermind - Nirvana 
  • 8. Back to Black, Amy Winehouse
  • 7. good kid, m.A.A.d city, Kendrick Lamar
  • 6. Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
  • 5. Blonde, Frank Ocean
  • 4. Purple Rain, Prince & The Revolution
  • 3. Abbey Road , The Beatles
  • 2. Thriller, Michael Jackson
  • 1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill

12 Dec 2025 | Press release

Nile Rodgers honoured with Outstanding Achievement Award at 65th MPA Christmas lunch

Iconic CHIC co-founder and global hitmaker recognised for five decades of musical innovation as the MPA celebrates a Disco-themed 2025 Christmas Lunch   The Music Publishers Association (MPA) today presented the legendary Nile Rodgers with its prestigious Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting &...more

12 Dec 2025 | Press release

FAC & Amazon Music offer a step up boost to five more UK artists

  Gigi Moss, lleo, Maya Lane, Nia Wyn and Richard Carter will all receive three days of studio time at The Breakthrough Lab - the bespoke, state-of-the-art production facility operated by Amazon Music and Metropolis Studios This expansion of Step Up Fund...more

12 Dec 2025 | Press release

‘You could go for years without knowing you can earn a penny’: Kojey Radical on songwriter royalties

Exclusive recording of 101 Part Time Jobs podcast with BRIT, Ivor Novello and Mercury Prize-nominated Kojey Radical out now.   The launch of the Livelihood campaign from PRS for Music highlights the crucial need for greater education  around live performance royalties. An...more

12 Dec 2025 | Press release

Over 137,000 Hate Crimes in England and Wales Last Year - Ask For Clive Leads the Charge Against Hate and Builds Inclusive Nightlife Spaces

  Hate crime isn’t just a statistic, it’s a harsh reality affecting thousands daily. Over 137,000 hate crimes were recorded in England and Wales last year, though the true figure is closer to 176,000. Marginalised communities, including LGBTQ+ people and disabled...more

12 Dec 2025 | Press release

rekordbox for iOS/Android now supports SpotifyDJ on mobile devices – rekordbox for Mac/Windows supported

AlphaTheta announces that its DJ application rekordbox for iOS/Android is now compatible with Spotify. Spotify is the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, offering over 100 million tracks and billions of playlists. With this update, in addition to rekordbox for...more

12 Dec 2025 | Press release

Rebecca Allen promoted to Chief Artist and Strategy Officer at Universal Music Group UK

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12 Dec 2025 | Press release

Ticket Fairy announces deal to provide millions in funding for promoters worldwide

Ticket Fairy expands global financing, unlocking funding of up to £5M in the UK, €3M across Europe and $3M in the US, for venues, festivals and events promoters   Ticket Fairy has announced a significant expansion of its global financing capabilities that...more

12 Dec 2025 | Press release

Warner Chappell unifies music publishing and production music sync teams under Rich Robinson

Well respected creative leader also adds Audio Asset team to remit   Warner Chappell Music (WCM) today announced it has unified its global sync operations, bringing its frontline, catalog, and now Production Music sync teams together under Rich Robinson, EVP, Global Synchronization and...more

12 Dec 2025 | Press release

MIT Climate Machine with support from Coldplay, Warner Music Group, Live Nation, and Hope Solutions release first ever total emissions of live music in US and UK

Findings from over 80,000 shows across the U.K. and U.S. provide a foundation to decarbonize the future of live entertainment Click HERE for the full report The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Climate Machine (formerly part of the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative) with support from Coldplay,...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

2025 Through Music Video: Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” Was the Biggest U.K. Premiere on Vevo

  Skye Newman and Olivia Dean were also among the chart newcomers in the UK on Vevo  A first for K-Pop, JENNIE’s “like JENNIE” was the most watched premiere on Vevo globally UK fans rewatch “Die With a Smile”, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”,...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

It's Beginning to Sound A Lot Like Last Year - new analysis finds Christmas music is on repeat

New study finds 63% of the songs in the 2024 Christmas Top 40 were exactly the same as the year before  In contrast no songs were repeated in any of the Christmas Top 40s between 2000 and 2005 Fairytale of New York has...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Music Studios Business Rates

The Rt Hon Rachel Reeves 11 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA Dear Chancellor, 7 December 2025 As you are doubtless aware, the United Kingdom is famous for its music industry, and part of that is being home to the finest recording studios in the...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Chancellor's budget sparks alarm as nightlife businesses say Treasury modelling fails reality, new flash poll shows

  The lights are dimming on Britain’s night-time economy. From buzzing pubs to packed music venues, local businesses are sounding the alarm after a new flash survey of 345 night-time economy businesses revealed that the Chancellor’s latest Budget will hit them...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Producer/musician/multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin signs worldwide publishing deal with Peermusic

  Global independent music publishing company, Peermusic, has signed producer, musician, and multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin to a worldwide publishing administration deal as announced today by Jamie Cerreta, President U.S. and Canada, Peermusic and Tuff Morgan, Vice President of A&R, Peermusic. Through the deal, Peermusic will also represent Terrace Martin...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Drowned in Sound Announces Partnership with Qobuz

25 year old music publication and ethical streaming platform partner to support mission-driven journalism and music discovery   Drowned in Sound, the independent music publication, podcast and online community, has today announced a new partnership with Qobuz, the independently-owned high-quality music streaming...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Saudi Arabia’s EIF and Legends Global score big joint venture announcement

  Saudi Arabia’s Event Investment Fund (EIF) and Legends Global have announced a joint venture to support the Kingdom’s vision and investment in its fast-growing venue industry.   This partnership will become the venue operator for venue projects within the Kingdom of Saudi...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Angry Mob Music Signs Foreign Sub-Publishing Agreement With D-Version Music Publishing in Greece

  Angry Mob Music, an independent music publisher boldly serving songwriters, composers, artists, and creatives, has signed a new sub-publishing agreement with D-Version Music Publishing to represent their catalog in Greece, bringing the Angry Mob Music catalog to the Greek market for...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Universal Music Group announces new UMusic shops in New York and London

Today, Universal Music Group (UMG), the world-leader in music-based entertainment has announced the launch of two UMusic Shop locations in New York and London, dedicated to reimagining the fan experience.  Each UMusic Shop offers exclusive custom collections and pieces inspired by UMG's iconic artists,...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Jeff Sosnow named President of Reprise Records

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11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Openstage Puts Artists in Control of Fan Relationships by Uniting Once Fragmented Data

Artists struggle with one basic issue: Control.  They don't know who their fans are. Even with large followings, most artists struggle to identify real fans, understand who is engaged, or build relationships over time. Fan information is scattered across ticketing platforms,...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Seventeen live music sector organisations sign open letter to UK Prime Minister calling for urgent review of Business Rates

Dear Prime Minister, We are writing on behalf of the live events sector to urge you to review the devastating, unintended consequences for live venues of changes announced to the Business Rates system at the Budget.  The combined impact of disproportionate, inappropriate,...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

Sony Music Publishing Signs Global Deal with BigXthaPlug

Sony Music Publishing today announced it has signed a global publishing deal with award-winning, multi-platinum selling breakout star BigXthaPlug. BigXthaPlug, aka Xavier Landum, has quickly established himself as one of music’s most powerful new storytellers. With an unmistakable sound that delves into...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

The Live Awards 2025 - Winners announced

The LIVE Awards 2025, which took place in association with Skiddle at The Troxy, in East London, on the evening of Wednesday 10th December, has published its full list of winners. Attended by over 500 guests including promoters, venues, agents, festivals,...more

11 Dec 2025 | Press release

IMPF Key Principles for CMO Licensing Models for Generative AI

  Generative AI is rewriting the rules of the music ecosystem, at speed and scale we have never seen before. For independent publishers and the songwriters and composers they represent, this shift brings both opportunity and profound risk. At the core...more

10 Dec 2025 | Press release

beatBread Surpasses $100 Million in Deal Funding as Company Marks its Fifth Anniversary

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10 Dec 2025 | Press release

BDi Music signs exclusive worldwide publishing deal with artist, producer and topliner Jack Critchlow

Critchlow has had significant support at radio at DSPs.   BDi Music has signed emerging artist, producer and topliner Jack Critchlow to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal. Hailing from the North of England, 22-year-old Critchlow is one of the most exciting upcoming acts...more

10 Dec 2025 | Press release

Bucks Music Group appoints Rick Lansdell as COO alongside key promotions

Flash Taylor,  James Paterson, Rhiannon Bramley, Maria McDonald, Sevana Mehrunnesa and Andrea Loizidou all step up at independent publisher.   Bucks Music Group has announced the appointment of Rick Lansdell as the company’s Chief Operating Officer, as well as a number of...more

10 Dec 2025 | Press release

Tyler West and Chloe Burrows announced for KISS Breakfast Show

KISS have announced that Tyler West will be the new host of the KISS Breakfast Show. However, he won’t be alone as podcaster and TV personality, Chloe Burrows, will be joining KISS as his co-presenter.   Tyler and Chloe will be taking over KISS Breakfast when,...more

10 Dec 2025 | Press release

Live Music Company DHP Family Brings Two Senior Women To The Board

  Two senior colleagues have joined the board of DHP Family, the live music company behind a host of iconic live music venues, award-winning festivals and a thriving concerts business.  Julie Tippins becomes a non-executive director as she steps away from the...more

10 Dec 2025 | Press release

Music League and Roxxem Win Music Tectonics’ 2025 Swimming with Narwhals Startup Competition

  Music Tectonics is here to shout about the winners of its annual Swimming with Narwhals competition for innovative startups in music tech. These winners show how music is everywhere, shifting the status quo of media, tech, and entertainment. This year, two...more

12 Dec 2025

  • The 10 biggest AI music stories of 2025 (see Features)

11 Dec 2025

  • Do pop stars write their own hits—and if not, who does? (see Analysis)

10 Dec 2025

  • TikTok unveils its Year in Music Report (see Digital)

09 Dec 2025

  • Coldplay, U2, Ed Sheeran named most popular touring artists of the millennium (see News)

  • King Gizzard, having pulled music from Spotify in protest, find genAI clones on the platform (see Digital)

08 Dec 2025

  • UK parliamentarians join call to regulate most powerful AI systems (see News)

  • Martin Mills is trying to thwart a record industry takeover by Universal (see Features)

05 Dec 2025

  • IMPF says members should reject AI deals that do not value songs properly (see News)

  • Which songs do we replay the most? (see Analysis)

04 Dec 2025

  • Spotify Wrapped 2025 goes live (see Digital)

03 Dec 2025

  • Daddy Yankee files lawsuit against former manager and third parties for alleged royalty scheme (see News)

  • EU touring: Impact of Brexit worsening, says UK Music report (see Reports)

02 Dec 2025

  • ORCA released a report analysing the economic investments and social impact of nine leading independent record labels (see Reports)

  • Jorja Smith’s label requests share of royalties from ‘AI-cloned’ song (see News)

01 Dec 2025

  • A creative nation is a thriving nation (see Opinion)