Miley's 'Bass Persuades' Suffers Record Second-Week Slide on Billboard 200
Miley's tenth studio album, 'Bass Persuades', entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 with 61,000 equivalent album units, giving her a first US chart-topper since 2013's 'Bangerz'. The following week it fell 156 spots to No. 157, the largest second-week decline ever for an album that debuted at the top. Released via Atlantic Records, the record followed 2025's 'Something Beautiful' and includes work with Model/Actriz.
"Bass Persuades" arrived September 18 through Atlantic Records, shortly after Miley announced it with two Hollywood Bowl dates. She also began using only her first name professionally; Billy Ray Cyrus supported that shift. The album follows 2025's "Something Beautiful," features Model/Actriz, and draws partly on her relationship with fiancé Maxx Morando. An NME review gave it three stars, calling it more dancefloor-focused while preserving her quirky style.
Elsewhere, Taylor Swift returned to No. 1 with "The Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore," while Tinashe's "Popstar" entered at No. 6, her first US Top 10. Miley also honored godmother Dolly Parton after Parton's death at 80, recalling final talks about music and transformation.
The record-setting drop may intensify industry debate about how streaming, bundles, and release strategies shape chart longevity, potentially affecting artists, labels, and listeners who treat rankings as discovery signals. For Miley, the contrast between a No. 1 debut and rapid fall could influence future promotion and touring choices, while fans may see it as evidence that commercial peaks and lasting engagement are increasingly separate. It may also prompt chart observers to ask what a No. 1 now represents.