Apple Music Top 100 Albums of All Time: Top Picks Across Decades

This list from Apple Music highlights the top 100 albums of all time according to its editorial team and a select panel of music professionals. The company released this ranking in 2024 as a way to showcase records that helped shape music history. This list is not a chart based on streaming numbers. Instead, it reflects editorial decisions about cultural impact, artistic completeness, and historical importance.



Apple Music’s Top 100 Albums list is historic in scope. It includes albums from many decades, genres, and countries. It begins with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill at number one, followed by Thriller and Abbey Road. These choices reflect albums that have influenced listeners and artists for years.



The ranking was rolled out gradually. Apple revealed the bottom portion of the list first, then revealed the top 10 in a finale event. Artists, songwriters, producers, and critics participated in the editorial discussions. Apple Music promoted the list with interviews and features to help fans explore these classic albums.



What Makes This List Different



Unlike daily streaming charts, this Top 100 Albums list is editorial. It does not depend on how many times an album was played. Instead, curators considered how complete an album feels and how it represents a moment in music. They also looked at the influence of an album across genres and cultures.



Some critics have pushed back on the selections. They argue that the list shows a bias toward more recent music and light representation of some genres. Others say the ranking skips over important albums that many fans expected to see.



Notable Albums in the Apple Music Top 100



The full Top 100 list covers many well known albums. Some items that stand out include:




The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill (No. 1)



Thriller by Michael Jackson (No. 2)



Abbey Road by The Beatles (No. 3)



Purple Rain by Prince & The Revolution (Top 10)



Good Kid, M.A.A.D City by Kendrick Lamar (Top 10)



1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift sits at number 18 on the list.




These albums appear alongside other classics from rock, pop, R&B, hip hop, and soul. The selection reflects a mix of commercial success and long lasting artistic influence.



The Role of Genre and Legacy



The Apple Music list covers albums from a broad range of genres. Rock and hip hop feature strongly among the top selections. Pop, soul, and R&B also play a central role. Some listeners have pointed out that jazz, punk, and other styles are less prominent, raising questions about how wide the list’s reach really is.



Still, the Apple Music Top 100 Albums list offers a starting point for listeners who want to explore some of the most influential records ever made. For many fans, the list serves as both a celebration of familiar favourites and an invitation to discover new ones.