[1] It is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) on behalf of the Americana Music Association UK.
The launch of the chart came at a time when Americana music was growing in popularity in the UK.
[2] In 2017, it was reported that sales of Americana albums in the UK had increased by 35 percent year-on-year.
[3] The first chart was announced on 28 January 2016 on the Bob Harris Country show on BBC Radio 2.
As part of the launch, the best selling Americana album of 2015 was also announced.
First Aid Kit
had the best-selling Americana album of 2015 and their album
Ruins
spent six weeks at number one in 2018. Their follow-up
Palomino
also reached number one in 2022.
Love Stuff
, the debut album by
Elle King
, was the chart's first ever number one. The album reached the top spot for a total of nine weeks in 2016.
Teddy Thompson
was the first UK artist to reach number one on the chart with
Little Windows
, his duets album with American singer Kelly Jones. His sixth album,
Heartbreaker Please
, also hit the top spot in 2020.
Western Stars
by
Bruce Springsteen
spent a combined total of eighteen weeks at number one in 2019 and was the best-selling Americana album of the year. His 2020 album
Letter to You
was also the best-selling Americana album in the UK that year.
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5
]
Bob Dylan
spent the most weeks at number one in 2020, with
Rough and Rowdy Ways
reaching the top spot for ten non-consecutive weeks.
Song for Our Daughter
by
Laura Marling
was the best-selling UK Americana album of 2020. Marling's album spent a total of six weeks at number one that year. Her previous album,
Semper Femina
, spent two weeks at number one in 2017.
Jason Isbell
's 2020 album
Reunions
was the 100th album to top the Official Americana Albums Chart.
Neil Young
has charted eight number one albums on the chart since its inception, including four different albums reaching the top spot in 2021.