Katy Perry Hits A Career Milestone — Even After Her Recent Disappointment

The saying goes, whatever goes up must come down, and that is certainly true when it comes to stars in the entertainment industry and certainly in the music business. Nobody knows this better than Katy Perry, who quickly rocketed to superstardom, but who has struggled to recapture the public’s attention with her last several eras.

Perry’s first few full-lengths produced multiple smashes, but none were more successful than Teenage Dream, which became a historic win and turned her into one of the most commercially viable pop musicians of all time. Even as Perry’s more recent projects disappeared quickly, Teenage Dream held on, and the blockbuster brings the Grammy nominee to a never-before-seen milestone as Americans continue to consume the album and its many hits nonstop.

Teenage Dream Falls on the Billboard 200 – But It’s Still Around

Teenage Dream drops nearly 20 spaces on the Billboard 200, the chart company’s namesake ranking of the most consumed albums in America. This week, thanks to 9,200 equivalent units shifted (per Luminate), the hugely popular release dips to No. 172.

Katy Perry Celebrates a Career Milestone

As of this frame, Teenage Dream has lived on the Billboard 200 for 450 weeks. It is one of the longest-charting albums by any female soloist and easily Perry’s most successful project, especially when it comes to longevity.

Teenage Dream and Prism Stand Out Within Katy Perry’s Discography

It is not surprising that Teenage Dream marks Perry’s first release to celebrate 450 weeks on the Billboard 200. What may shock some listeners is how much more successful it is when compared to her other efforts.

Only one other studio offering by Perry, Prism, her Teenage Dream follow-up, has accrued triple-digit stays on the Billboard 200. Prism has racked up 102 turns somewhere on the 200-spot list. One of the Boys, which turned her into a household name more than a decade ago, came close to doing so. One of the Boys has managed 92 weeks somewhere on the Billboard 200.

Teenage Dream Outpaces Katy Perry’s Entire Catalog

Teenage Dream has lived on the Billboard 200 for so long that it outpaces all of Perry’s six other charting titles combined. In fact, Teenage Dream has spent more time on the ranking than her half dozen other wins combined… times two.

How Many No. 1 Albums Has Katy Perry Charted?

While One of the Boys earned Perry her first hit songs and made her one of the most exciting new names in the competitive Top 40 pop space, it was Teenage Dream that helped her reach the summit on the Billboard 200 for the first time. Teenage Dream debuted at the summit in September 2010. She would follow that up with another two leaders: Prism in 2013 and Witness four years later in 2017. One of the Boys peaked at No. 9, while her two most recent full-lengths, Smile and 143, only climbed to Nos. 5 and 6 respectively.

Teenage Dream Singles Define Katy Perry’s Legacy

Teenage Dream is remembered as a historic collection of radio-ready singles. The first five promotional cuts pushed from the project — “California Gurls” with Snoop Dogg, “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” “E.T.” with Kanye West, and “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” — all reached No. 1 in a winning streak that only Michael Jackson had managed prior.

“The One That Got Away” finished that run as it stalled at No. 3. Perry then re-released Teenage Dream as a deluxe edition, titled Teenage Dream The Complete Confection, and more wins were in the cards. Lead cut “Part of Me” hit No. 1, while “Wide Awake” missed out on running the show on the Hot 100 by just one space.

Katy Perry’s Recent Albums Smile and 143 Have Struggled

To put the success of Teenage Dream into context with where Perry is in her career at the moment, it is worth noting that her latest album, 143, which only recently turned one year old, is one of her least successful on the Billboard 200. 143 debuted at No. 6, adding to her collection of top 10s, but only managed two weeks on the tally before slipping away. Only Perry’s MTV Unplugged EP failed to hold on as long as it lived on the chart for a single frame.

Perry recently looked to reinvigorate her career with new single “Bandaids,” which so far is not attached to any project. “Bandaids” missed the Hot 100, peaking at No. 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, but it did become a top 40 win on the Digital Song Sales tally and several pop radio rosters.