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The chart is based mostly on sales (both at retail and digital) of albums in the United States. Its previous names include the Billboard Top LPs (1961–1972), Billboard Top LPs & Tape (1972–1984), Billboard Top 200 Albums (1984–1985), and Billboard Top Pop Albums (1985–1992). The chart grew from a weekly top 10 list in 1956 to become a top 200 in May 1967, and acquired its present title in March 1992. Often, a recording act will be remembered by its " number ones", those of their albums that outperformed all others during at least one week.
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It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists.
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It is published weekly by Billboard magazine. The Billboard 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States.
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