For many music artists, starting or entering the music industry is very difficult to make a good shot. There were other artists who did very well with their first single but turned out as one-hit wonder. However, there were artists who did very well with this debut single and their album did well too.
Since 1995, there were some artists which did very well with their first albums. Some had maintained their success but not everyone did well in their succeeding releases. Most in the list below were pop artists, do there were those with rock and R&B sound. Pop music just had a major change with bubblegum pop rose to popularity.
Alanis Morissette
Alanis may already had releases back then in her own country, her first album internationally became the biggest selling album by a newcomer. Based on estimates listed in Wikipedia, her debut album “Jagged Little Pill” became a record setter as it sold about 33 million. Her second album went #1 too but due to changes in music landscaped, it sold below than predecessor.
The Fugees
The Fugees is leading the hip-hop scene in 1996 via “The Score” album. It was multi-platinum worldwide when it became one of the biggest sellers in 1996, which was also assisted by their successful cover of “Killing Me Softly”. They haven’t released a follow-up after that.
Spice Girls
Spice Girls led the music scene during this era because of their contribution not just through record sales but also in pop culture. Their debut album “Spice” was believed with sales of 30 million (according to Wikipedia) scored 4 UK number 1s and 3 US top 5s. Their second album was very successful as well, though, it became their last studio album when Geri Halliwell departed from the group.
Hanson
The Hanson brothers priorly released independent albums but success came in 1997 when their first mainstream album “Middle of Nowhere” went multi-platinum by which its success was attributed to the stellar hit “Mmmbop”. Despite their success, no other albums from them became as successful.
Savage Garden
The Australian duo scored success with debut single “I Want You”, however, bigger succeed came with the ballad “Truly, Madly, Deeply” when it settled to the top. The album then caught up in sales and became one of the top sellers of 1998.
Aqua
The cartoonish songs and videos of Danish pop group Aqua made them very popular. Apart from “Barbie Girl” which had estimated 8 million in sales helped their first LP “Aquarium” go multi-platinum worldwide. They also had multiple hit songs for the album. However, their second album was just moderately successful.
All Saints
The four-piece British girl group was said to be the rival of Spice Girls, though, success of the Spices was never matched by All Saints. Still, they became successful with their self-titled album which went multi-platinum in UK and Europe. It received a platinum award from RIAA which helped the album’s status after the hit “Never Ever”. Their second album had limited success.
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia became a household name with her global smash “Torn”. Her album “Left of the Middle” became as successful with platinum and multi-platinum successes elsewhere. It took several years for her to release her second album which was less successful.
Lauryn Hill
Despite the success of The Fugees, the members of the group pursued solo careers like Lauryn Hill did. Her debut album ” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill had multi-million sales which was preceded by her successful hip-hop jam “(Doo Wop) That Thing”. She never released a studio album after that.
Britney Spears
It was 1999 when young female pop artists became popular which was first led by Britney Spears. Her song “…Baby One More Time” was extremely popular as well her album with the same title. The album estimatedly sold 30 million as claimed according to Wikipedia. She became a legend with her prolonged success and her succeeding albums went multi-platinum and had multiple number 1 albums.
Christina Aguilera
Coming from the same genre with Spears when she released her first album, Christina Aguilera was believed as Spears’ closest competitor. Christina never failed as her debut single went to number one worldwide. Her self titled album, according to the number of sales in her website, had sold 17 million which is a hefty amount of records. She had successful album right after too.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez became famous with her single “If You Had My Love” which spent several weeks at number 1. Her album “On the Six” became multi-platinum. She remained successful with all her other albums.
Some facts from Wikipedia