Noah Kahan sets new records for vinyl and streaming with ‘The Great Divide’

Noah Kahan has made a remarkable jump from aspiring artist to musical dominance with his latest album, The Great Divide, which has claimed the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. The Vermont singer-songwriter’s fourth studio album made a massive impact with 389,000 equivalent album units, marking the most substantial debut of his career and one of the most significant commercial openings of 2026.

Billboard reports that The Great Divide achieved the most significant week for a rock album since the Billboard 200 transitioned to equivalent units back in late 2014. Not only that, but it also secured the third-largest album week of the year across all music genres.

For Kahan, this achievement is more than just surpassing the No. 2 peak of his previous album, Stick Season, in 2024. The Great Divide has broken records with the most substantial streaming week for any album released this year and set a new modern-era high for the most significant vinyl sales week for a rock album since 1991.

The success of The Great Divide has reverberated globally. The album debuted at the top spot on the UK Official Albums Chart and Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart. In the UK, it marked the most substantial first week for an international artist in 2026.

It’s worth noting that Kahan’s previous album, Stick Season, is still making waves. In its 179th week on the Billboard 200, Stick Season has climbed from No. 11 to No. 10, giving Kahan the distinction of having two albums in the top 10 simultaneously.

In other chart standings, Kehlani claimed her fourth top 10 entry as her self-titled album debuted at No. 4, while Michael Jackson’s Thriller experienced a resurgence, climbing to No. 7 following the buzz around the Michael biopic’s release.

Noah Kahan’s rise to the top of the charts with The Great Divide is a testament to his talent and the universal appeal of his music. With a record-breaking debut and global recognition, Kahan has solidified his position as a music industry force to be reckoned with.