Adele Is Billboards Top Artist Of 2011

First Published: December 9, 2011 1:15 PM EST Credit: Getty Premium Caption Adele performs on stage at Paradiso in Amsterdam on April 8, 2011NY, N.Y. -- If there is a best-of list for music this year, its a safe bet to put Adele on top. Billboard has declared her the No. 1 artist of 2011. Rihanna was No. 2, followed by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga andLil Wayne. The list, announced Friday, takes into account album sales, charting singles, radio airplay and other factors. Rounding out the list was Bruno Mars at No. 6, Nicki Minaj at No. 7, Taylor Swift at No. 8, Justin Bieber at No. 9 and Chris Brown at No. 10. Adeles album 21 was the best-selling of the year with 4.8 million sold. Following 21 on the list: Swifts Speak Now, Gagas Born This Way, Jason Aldeans My Kinda Party and Susan Boyles The Gift. Adele also had the most popular song with Rolling in the Deep. LMFAOs Party Rock Anthem featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock was No. 2, Perrys Firework was No. 3, her E.T. with Kanye West was No. 4 and Pitbulls Give Me Everything featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack&Nayer was No. 5. Adele was the top female artist. Lil Wayne was the top male. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.