Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance’ Arrives at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums Chart

Beyoncé’s Renaissance album, which was released in July by Parkwood/Columbia Records and debuted atop the all-genre Billboard 200, as well as Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top R&B Albums, now arrives on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart at No. 1 (on the list dated Nov. 26). The set’s arrival on the list follows a reevaluation of its album genre chart categorization by Billboard, after Renaissance’s further embrace by the dance community in the months following its release.

Upon its release, the 16-track album launched a quartet of hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart (“Break My Soul,” “Pure/Honey,” “Summer Renaissance,” and “Thique”). Since then, the album spawned a new dance hit in its second single, “Cuff It.” The song debuted on the Hot Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart dated Nov. 19 at No. 28, following its explosion as a viral dance phenomenon (termed the “Cuff It” Challenge). The disco-leaning track was co-written by dance icon Nile Rodgers, who also plays bass on it.

Starting in September, “Cuff It” was added to dance-focused playlists across all major streamers, including Amazon, Apple Music and Spotify. Beyond “Cuff It,” further album cuts picked up new dance playlist adds in the months following the album’s release.

Plus, on Nov. 15, Renaissance garnered a Grammy Award nomination for best dance/electronic music album, while its lead single “Break My Soul” earned a nod for best dance/electronic recording. Both represent Beyoncé’s first nominations in the categories, which began in 2005 and 1998, respectively. (The album’s songs also got a trio of nominations in the Grammy Awards’ R&B field.)

Renaissance is Beyoncé’s third entry on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart, following two remix compilations: 4: The Remix (No. 11, 2012) and Above and Beyoncé (No. 2, 2009).

Billboard genre chart categorization is determined by Billboard’s charts department, using genre classifications provided by content creators as guidelines, along with consideration of how projects are promoted and marketed — at streaming services, radio and beyond. Renaissance was initially categorized, after discussions with Columbia, for Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top R&B Albums charts.