Thanks to the ongoing success of the Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen continues to be king of the rock album charts in the first half of 2019. In fact, no other band has sold more rock albums so far this year. According to Nielsen Music’s mid-year 2019 rock charts, the band owns the two most popular rock albums: the Bohemian Rhapsody film soundtrack and its Greatest Hits album. During the tracking period of January 4 through June 20, 2019, Bohemian Rhapsody earned 705,000 equivalent album units in the U.S., while Greatest Hits earned 385,000 units. As you'll see below, other Classic Rockers ruled the charts as well. Elton John, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Journey, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, even the classic rock-heavy Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol. 1 made the Top 10.
2019’s Mid-Year Top 10 Rock Albums (Based on Overall Equivalent Album Units)
1. Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody (Soundtrack) (705,000)
2. Queen, Greatest Hits (385,000)
3. Panic! at the Disco, Pray for the Wicked (354,000)
4. Elton John, Diamonds (334,000)
5. Imagine Dragons, Evolve (289,000)
6. Imagine Dragons, Origins (280,000)
7. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Best Of Everything (258,000)
8. Hozier, Wasteland, Baby! (243,000)
9. Journey, Greatest Hits (238,000)
10. Vampire Weekend, Father of the Bride (227,000)
2019’s Mid-Year Top 10 Selling Rock Albums
1. Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody (Soundtrack) (253,000)
2. Queen, Greatest Hits (152,000)
3. Vampire Weekend, Father of the Bride (148,000)
4. Queen, Greatest Hits I II & III: The Platinum Collection (135,000)
5. Hozier, Wasteland, Baby! (129,000)
6. Weezer, Weezer (Teal Album) (103,000)
7. Gary Clark Jr.,This Land (91,000)
8. Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 (84,000)
9. Greta Van Fleet, Anthem of the Peaceful Army (80,000)
10. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Greatest Hits (79,000)