Trending on Billboard A combination of factors — including a surging independent sector, a varied release schedule and some big albums shifting from current status to catalog — has made the first quarter of 2026 an aberration in comparison to the recent history of U.S. recorded-music market share.  Still, some things don’t change: As has been the case for much of the past half-decade, big albums from Taylor Swift ( The Life of a Showgirl ) and Morgan Wallen ( I’m the Problem ) helped drive REPUBLIC to an industry-leading market share, ending the first quarter with a 9.98% current share, defined as albums released in the past 18 months, according to Luminate.…