The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), an “organization that represents the recorded music industry worldwide,” named K-pop idol group BTS’ “Map of the Soul: 7” as the first winner of its Global Album All Format Chart Award.
This is the second time in a week that BTS have been recognized by IFPI after they were named the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year last week.
According to IFPI, Global Album All Format Chart Award is based on the “best-selling albums of the year across all consumption formats, spanning physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming platforms.”
“The fourth studio album from global superstars BTS, MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 broke records and topped charts all over the world after its release in February 2020. As well as unprecedented success in BTS’ home country of Korea, where the album broke the all-time sales record, MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 was a global hit, topping the charts in the world’s five largest music markets (USA, Japan, UK, Germany, France),” according to IFPI.
It added, “The album saw phenomenal physical sales across the world but was also a streaming hit – the YouTube premiere of the lead single ON was the biggest in the platform’s history, attracting over 1.5 million viewers. The album also reached #1 on the iTunes chart in over 90 countries.”
IFPI chief executive Frances Moore said, “We have introduced the Global Album All Format Chart to reflect the evolving landscape of the album format and to recognize how artists share their album projects in a variety of ways with their fans across multiple formats.”
“It’s an honor to be able to hand BTS their second IFPI Global Chart Award, following their success as Global Recording Artists of the Year. MAP OF THE SOUL : 7 broke chart records internationally and in Korea, and is yet another incredible body of work from a band that continues to delight music lovers globally,” she added.
In addition to “Map of the Soul: 7,” BTS’ “BE” album placed fourth in the 2020 Global Album All Format Chart.