Taylor Swift has been named IFPI’s Biggest-Selling Artist of the Year for 2025, marking her fourth consecutive year at the top. The superstar has won the award a record six times.
IFPI’s Global Artist of the Year Award is calculated according to an artist’s or group’s worldwide revenues across streaming, download and physical music formats during the calendar year and covers their entire body of work.
Swift saw another landmark year of worldwide engagement in 2025 with the release of her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, and the documentary of her tour, The End of an Era.
IFPI noted on Wednesday (February 18) that Swift has now won the award as many times as all other artists combined over the past 10 years.
“Taylor Swift’s sixth IFPI Global Artist of the Year award is a truly historic achievement.”
Victoria Oakley, IFPI
The pop superstar’s latest win follows her previous IFPI Global Artist victories in 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively.
“Taylor Swift’s sixth IFPI Global Artist of the Year award is a truly historic achievement,” said Victoria Oakley, CEO, IFPI.
“The IFPI Global Artist Chart is comprised of remarkable artists across the globe and also represents the teams and long-term commitment behind each release, ensuring fans around the world can connect with music in meaningful ways.”
As per Billboard, citing Luminate data, The Life of a Showgirlsold over 3.4 million copies in its first week in the US alone – breaking the record for the most albums sold in a week in the United States. Those figures represent pure album sales (which include physical and digital purchases).
The Life of a Showgirl debuted at the top of the US albums chart last October with 4.002 million equivalent album units (which takes into account pure album sales as well as streaming activity).
Across the wider IFPI Global Artist Chart, Stray Kids achieved their highest ever ranking at No.2, their third consecutive year in the global Top five, ahead of Drake at No.3 and The Weeknd at No.4.
Bad Bunny came in at No.5, recording his sixth consecutive year on the chart and joining an exclusive group of artists, including Taylor Swift, Drake, SEVENTEEN, The Weeknd, and Eminem, to appear on the chart in each of the last five years.
The IFPI says the achievement highlights the importance of “sustained artist development and global release strategies”.
Elsewhere, Tyler, the Creator made his first appearance on the chart at No.12, while Japanese group Mrs. GREEN APPLE entered the chart for the first time at No.13 following the success of their anniversary album, 10.
Lady Gaga returned to the chart for the first time since 2020 at No.10, with Ed Sheeran (No.18), SZA (No.19), and Justin Bieber (No.20) also re-entering the rankings.
IFPI will release the results of the IFPI Global Single Chart and IFPI Global Album Chart later this week.Music Business Worldwide
