He's on the charts throne for the first time - Taylor Swift and Howard Carpendale rewrite Germany's music chart history
The German music charts have seen a major shake-up this week. After the Carnival season, international pop acts have returned to dominate the singles chart. Meanwhile, veteran artist Howard Carpendale has achieved a career milestone on the album charts at the age of 78.
For the first time ever, female artists occupy the entire top five of the German singles chart. Leading the way is Taylor Swift, whose track Opalite has climbed to number one. This marks her second chart-topper in Germany.
On the album charts, Howard Carpendale's Zeitlos has reached number one for the first time in his six-decade career. The achievement comes after his albums and singles spent a combined 1,140 weeks in the top 100. Zeitlos also gives him his tenth top-five album in Germany.
The German album charts have evolved significantly since the 1980s. Once dominated by rock and pop, they now feature hip-hop, electronic music, and artists from non-English-speaking countries. Influential acts like The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Eminem helped shape this diversity, while recent years have seen Korean groups such as BTS make an impact. European stars like Adele and The Weeknd have also played a key role in broadening the range of music on the charts.
The latest chart movements highlight both new trends and enduring success. Female artists now lead the singles chart, while Howard Carpendale's long career continues to break records. The shift reflects Germany's growing musical diversity, with global acts influencing the market more than ever.
