Miley Cyrus hit with devastating career blow as new album Bass Persuades suffers biggest chart fall in Billboard history

Miley Cyrus has made chart history with her new album Bass Persuades, but not in a good way.

After Bass Persuades defied initial sales expectations and pulled off a shock No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200 last week, the disc has plummeted to No. 157 in its second week.

This cataclysmic drop makes it the biggest fall from No. 1 for a female artist in Billboard history.

The record was originally held by Madonna’s Madame X, which fell from No. 1 to No. 77 in 2019, before being broken a few months later by Celine Dion’s Courage, which plummeted from the top spot to No. 111.

Bass Persuades is the first album Cyrus has released under Atlantic Records after leaving Columbia Records earlier this year.

It was originally projected to debut outside of the top five, until Atlantic Records pulled out all the stops to boost sales in order to secure a number one debut.

Not only did the label slash the digital price of the album, they also released it with 16 vinyl variants, nine CD versions, six download variants, and a cassette tape.

The sales tactic worked, with Bass Persuades significantly increasing its initial projections until it was able to narrowly beat its nearest competition, country singer Ella Langley’s Dandelion, by roughly 70 units to eke out the top spot. 

Both Cyrus and Atlantic Records celebrated the narrow victory last month, with the label delivering a floral wreath shaped like a number one to the star’s home.

‘Bass Persuades being #1 transcends a win,’ Cyrus gushed on Instagram at the time.

‘This process has been some of the best times for me. Everyone involved made it possible and more importantly fun and memorable,’ she continued.

‘Thank you Atlantic, my team, and everyone who walks beside me with conviction. I love you.

‘To the fans you make my world go round. Making music for you brings immeasurable joy to my life. Forever.’

While Bass Persuades has since plunged to No. 157, Cyrus’ pop rivals are riding high on the Billboard charts this week. 

Taylor Swift returned to the top with The Life of a Showgirl, which was boosted by the release of its deluxe ‘Encore’ edition. 

Olivia Rodrigo’s You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So In Love follows at No. 2, proving its staying power after four months on the chart.

And Langley’s Dandelion, which Cyrus narrowly beat last week, falls just one spot to No. 3 after almost six months. 

Daily Mail has reached out to Atlantic Records for comment.  

Cyrus has struggled on the charts in recent years, with her prior album, last year’s Something Beautiful, also failing to become a commercial success.

The former Hannah Montana star has largely coasted off the success of her 2023 single Flowers, which is the biggest hit of her career and won Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2024.

Cyrus has refused to tour any of her music since 2014’s Bangerz world tour, although she has teased a potential residency in the future. 

She’s set to play two shows at the Hollywood Bowl this month, which resulted in a whopping 1.5 million fans queuing up in an attempt to snag one of the 18,000 tickets to the iconic venue. 

Speaking to Zane Lowe about the concerts, Cyrus admitted that she chose the Hollywood Bowl because she wanted to get home to bed immediately after performing and that she doesn’t need to go on a proper tour to sell tickets. 

‘I chose to do the show at the Bowl because I knew that my bed was only going to be like a 10-minute drive home by 11,’ she said.

‘I’ve learned now through the queue that my calculations are correct, and people will come to me. I don’t need to drive to you. Proven. That was a test. I win.’