Music Box is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on August 31, 1993, by Columbia Records. In an attempt to appeal to a wider audience, Carey sought a radio-friendly approach for Music Box.
Music Box saw Carey working with both new and returning producers and songwriters, including Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Robert Clivillés, Walter Afanasieff, David Cole, and Daryl Simmons. It is a pop and R&B album infused with soul, gospel, dance, and jazz. It consists mainly of sentimental ballads and uptempo dance tracks. Despite the involvement of multiple producers, most of the songwriting was handled by Carey and Afanasieff, who had previously collaborated on Emotions (1991), continuing a partnership that would conclude with Butterfly (1997). She also experimented with different production techniques, including a more live-oriented sound and a more restrained use of her upper register.
Music Box was promoted with the North American Music Box Tour—her debut concert tour—and five singles. The first two, "Dreamlover" and "Hero", spent eight and four consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, respectively. They were nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 36th (1994) and 37th (1995) Annual Grammy Awards, respectively. The international third and fourth singles, "Without You" and "Anytime You Need a Friend", were commercially successful worldwide; "Without You" became her most successful song globally. In the US, "Without You" and "Never Forget You" were issued as a double A-side single that reached the top three of the Hot 100.[a]
On release, Music Box received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who praised Carey's vocal performance and some of the songs but criticized its mellow, formulaic, and subdued lyricism. Retrospective reviews have been more positive; many have underscored its significance in her career. The album topped the charts in fifteen countries, including Australia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it topped the Billboard 200 for eight non-consecutive weeks and was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America. Music Box remains Carey's bestseller and one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide.
