Pink Floyd’s’Dark Side of the Moon’ Soars Back to Billboard Charts Following Record Store Day
One of the biggest winners of the latest edition of Record Store Day—a music industry-wide event where major musicians release special items exclusively for record stores—was unexpectedly one of the oldest acts involved: Pink Floyd. The band participated this year, and both independent record sellers and Pink Floyd are experiencing the positive effects of their latest release.
“Dark Side of the Moon,” Pink Floyd’s most successful album, has made a notable return to three Billboard charts this week following Record Store Day. The album now appears on five different rankings, having already been present on two before this resurgence.
Most impressively, “Dark Side of the Moon” has re-entered the Billboard 200, a chart that tracks the most-consumed albums in the U.S. The album reappears at No. 67, a significant re-entry for a set that was absent from the list in the previous frame. This achievement extends its record as the album with the most weeks spent on the Billboard 200, now totaling 990 weeks.
The resurgence in popularity of “Dark Side of the Moon” can be attributed to a collector’s edition released for Record Store Day. This special edition, featuring prismatic-effected vinyl, was limited to only a few thousand copies, yet it was enough to propel Pink Floyd back up the weekly rankings.
In the past tracking week, “Dark Side of the Moon” sold an additional 10,671 copies. According to Luminate, this figure represents a more than 328% increase from the previous period, during which it sold just under 2,500 copies.
The spike in sales has propelled “Dark Side of the Moon” up the Top Album Sales chart, where it surged from No. 35 to No. 8, marking its return to the top 10. Vinyl sales played a crucial role in this uptick. Thanks to fans who eagerly purchased another copy of the iconic album, it jumped from No. 25 to No. 3 on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart. This is a remarkable feat for a title that has been selling copies in various formats for decades.
The renewed interest in “Dark Side of the Moon” also pushed the album back onto two other Billboard charts. It now appears on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart at No. 17 and the Top Rock Albums chart at No. 13, marking its return to both rankings.
Pink Floyd’s involvement in Record Store Day has proven to be a significant success, not only for the band but also for record stores and vinyl enthusiasts. This resurgence underscores the timeless appeal of “Dark Side of the Moon” and the enduring love for vinyl among music fans.
As the album approaches an unprecedented milestone of 1,000 weeks on the Billboard 200, its latest achievements on the charts highlight the lasting impact of Pink Floyd’s masterpiece and its continued relevance in the modern music landscape.