Tropical Albums


Tropical Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. Established in June 1985, the chart compiles information about the top-selling albums in genres like salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato, which are frequently considered tropical music. The chart features only full-length albums and, like all Billboard album charts, is based on sales. The information is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan from a sample representing more than 90% of the U.S. music retail market, including not only music stores and music departments at electronics and department stores but also direct-to-consumer transactions and Internet sales. A limited number of verifiable sales at concert venues is also tabulated. Innovations by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico was the first album to reach number-one in the chart. Up until May 21, 2005, reggaeton albums appeared on the chart. After the installation of the Latin Rhythm Albums chart, reggaeton titles could no longer appear on the Tropical Albums chart. By removing reggaeton albums from the Tropical Albums chart, it opened slots for re-entries and debuts. American bachata group Aventura claimed the top spot on the Tropical Albums chart, which marked the first time since the issue dated November 6, 2004 that an reggaeton album was not at the number-one spot.
The current number-one album, as of the September 23, 2017 issue is Golden by Romeo Santos.

Chart achievements

Artist with the most number-ones

Year-end best selling albums

According to the RIAA, albums containing more than 50% Spanish language content are awarded with gold certifications for U.S. shipments of 100,000 units; platinum for 200,000 and multi-platinum for 400,000 and following in increments of 200,000 thereafter.
YearArtistAlbumLabelRIAA certification
1986Frankie RuizSolista Pero No SoloRodven Records
1987Eddie SantiagoAtrevido y DiferenteRodven Records
1988Eddie SantiagoSigo AtrevidoRodven Records
1989Eddie SantiagoInvasión de la PrivacidadRodven Records
1990Luis EnriqueMi MundoSony Discos
1991Juan Luis GuerraBachata RosaKAREN RecordsPlatinum
1992Gilberto Santa RosaPerspectivaSony Discos2× Platinum
1993Jerry RiveraCuenta ConmigoSony Discos4× Platinum
1994Gloria EstefanMi TierraEpic16× Platinum
1995Gloria EstefanMi TierraEpic16× Platinum
1996Gloria EstefanAbriendo PuertasEpic6× Platinum
1997Charlie ZaaSentimientosSonoluxPlatinum
1998Buena Vista Social ClubBuena Vista Social ClubWorld CircuitPlatinum
1999Elvis CrespoSuavementeSony DiscosPlatinum
2000Marc Anthony'RMMGold
2001Son by FourSon by FourSony DiscosGold
2002Marc AnthonyLibreSony DiscosGold
2003Celia CruzHits MixSony Discos2× Platinum
2004Daddy YankeeBarrio FinoEl Cartel RecordsPlatinum
2005Daddy YankeeBarrio FinoEl Cartel RecordsPlatinum
2006AventuraGod's ProjectStritchcode/Premium Latin4× Platinum
2007AventuraK.O.B. LiveStritchcode/Premium Latin6× Platinum
2008Aventura'Stritchcode/Premium Latin8× Platinum
2009AventuraThe LastStritchcode/Premium Latin4× Platinum
2010AventuraThe LastStritchcode/Premium Latin4× Platinum
2011Prince RoycePrince RoyceTop Stop Music3× Platinum
2012Romeo SantosFormula: Vol. 1Sony Music Latin3× Platinum
2013Marc Anthony3.0Sony Music Latin4× Platinum
2014Romeo SantosFormula: Vol. 2Sony Music Latin11× Platinum
2015Romeo SantosFormula: Vol. 2Sony Music Latin11× Platinum