Who will clinch the title for the UK's 1000th number one album?

This Sunday's chart-topper will be named the UK's 1000th number one album. Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Jake Bugg and JLS are all in the running

The race to be named the 1000th UK number one album has begun, with Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Jake Bugg and JLS all in the running for the landmark title.

Yesterday saw Lady Gaga score her third consecutive chart-topper with Artpop, but whether she will hold her reign long enough to make history in the 57-and-a-half years of the UK's Official Albums Chart remains to be seen.

Click here or'view gallery' to see the artists with the most UK number ones

Almost 3,000 different album charts have been published since Frank Sinatra's Songs for Swingin' Lovers became the very first number one album in July 1956.

The 1971 postal strike prevented a rundown being published for a few weeks, but George Harrison was retrospectively crowned for his only solo studio album to reach the top, All Things Must Pass.

The Beatles are the undefeated kings of six decades of the official chart, with 15 number ones and 174 weeks at the summit.

Elvis Presley has totted up 63 weeks in the top slot while Madonna has notched up the second biggest albums tally with 12 records spanning 30 weeks in total.

The number of albums to top the chart each decade has risen, from just 17 in the 50s to 56 in the 60s, 147 in the 70s, 182 in the 80s, 215 in the 90s and 269 in the 00s. The 1000th number one of all time will be the 114th of the current decade.

"This is a hugely significant landmark in the history of the music industry," said Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company.

"While the Official Singles Chart is the fast-moving, barometer of pop music tastes, the Official Albums Chart reflects the broader tastes of British music fans and their attachment to outstanding song collections."

Iconic albums to have topped the chart over the years include The Beatles' Revolver (1966), Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982), Queen's A Night At The Opera (1975), and Adele's 21 (2011).