Unveiling Apple Music's 100 Best Albums

Apple Music has unveiled its definitive list of the 100 Best Albums of all time, a curated selection of musical masterpieces spanning various genres and eras. The list, assembled with the help of artists and experts, is a modern love letter to the records that have shaped the world of music.

The article will explore the significance of this list, the curation process, and the impact of some of the albums featured.

It provides a glimpse into Apple Music’s unique approach to celebrating the greatest albums ever made.

What Criteria Did Apple Music Use to Select the 100 Best Albums?

Apple Music used the following criteria to select the 100 Best Albums of all time:

Represented a cultural moment for the artist or genre
Were complete, cohesive works rather than just collections of hit songs
Thoroughly represented culture through their production and lyrics
Inspired future generations of musicians to create more music
Demonstrated the highest levels of storytelling, musicianship, recording, and production
Transcended genre categorization and stood the test of time as timeless works

The list was curated by Apple Music’s internal team, who were given these specific guidelines when ranking the albums. The final list was compiled with input from a select group of artists, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals.

What Role Did Artists Play in the Selection Process?

Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list was a collaborative effort between the streaming service’s internal team and a select group of artists. The curation process involved specific guidelines to identify albums that represented cultural moments, told complete stories, thoroughly embodied their genre, inspired future music, and stood the test of time.

Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Maren Morris, Charli XCX, and other acclaimed artists worked alongside Apple Music’s experts to rank the albums. Their input was essential in shaping the final list, which culminated in Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill taking the top spot.

Hill acknowledged the collaborative nature of the list, emphasizing the involvement of many people, sacrifices, time, and collective love that went into its creation. The artists’ guidance helped determine which albums were selected and how they were ranked, resulting in a definitive list that celebrates the greatest musical works across genres and eras.

Popular Artists Included in Apple’s Music Best Albums List:

Here are some of the notable popular artists included in Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list:

The Beatles

Represented with two albums: “Abbey Road” (#3) and “Revolver” (#21)

Michael Jackson – His album “Thriller” ranked #2

Prince

Represented with two albums: “Purple Rain” (#4) and “Sign O’ the Times”

Beyoncé

Included with two albums: “Lemonade” (#10) and her self-titled fifth album

Taylor Swift

Her album “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” was controversially ranked #18

Kendrick Lamar

“good kid, m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version)” was ranked #8

Frank Ocean

His album “Blonde” was ranked #5

Stevie Wonder

Included with two albums: “Songs in the Key of Life” (#7) and “Innervisions”

Radiohead

With two albums: “OK Computer” and “Kid A”

Nirvana

Their album “Nevermind” was ranked #9

The list featured a diverse range of popular artists across genres like hip-hop, R&B, pop, and rock. However, the placement and inclusion of some artists, like Taylor Swift, sparked debate among critics and fans.

How to Listen to Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums?

Here are the steps to listen to Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums:

Go to the dedicated 100 Best Albums website. This is the official hub for the list curated by Apple Music.
On the site, you can explore the full countdown of the 100 Best Albums. The list is revealed in batches of 10 albums per day.
To stream full tracks from the albums, you’ll need to sign up for an Apple Music subscription. This will allow you to add the albums to your library and listen to them.
Apple Music has also launched a dedicated “100 Best Albums Radio” podcast that provides deeper dives and behind-the-scenes stories for each of the top albums. Subscribers can access these exclusive audio episodes.
Additionally, Apple Music has released a series of video roundtables and discussions with artists like Nile Rodgers and Maggie Rogers talking about the curation process and significance of the 100 Best Albums list.