The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has chosen K-pop superstars BTS as the 2021 Global Recording Artist of the Year, becoming the first Korean act to bag the award for two straight years.
According to IFPI, the award is based on “an artist’s or group’s worldwide performance across digital and physical music formats during the year, from streams to vinyl, and covers their entire body of work.”
“BTS’ phenomenal success over the last year is a testament to their creativity, hard work and ongoing commitment to continuing to find ways to bring their music to the world. By performing in three different languages, they demonstrate their extraordinarily unique global appeal and their dynamic and passionate fanbase has helped to make them the first artists in history to top the Global Artist Chart in two consecutive years,” said Frances Moore, IFPI chief executive.
She added, “We would like to wish RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook and all who work on their team huge congratulations on winning the Global Recording Artist of the Year Award and on another year of brilliant success.”
In 2018, BTS ranked No. 2 in the IFPI Global Artist Chart. For the 2021 Global Artist Chart, BTS ranked first followed by Taylor Swift, Adele, Drake, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Seventeen and Olivia Rodrigo.
“2021 saw BTS continue their world dominance. ‘Butter,’ which was released in May 2021, was an instant success and charted at #1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart for seven consecutive weeks. In July, the group’s new single ‘Permission to Dance’ also debuted at #1 on Hot 100, replacing themselves at the top spot,” according to IFPI.
It added, “In September, Coldplay and BTS released a new single ‘My Universe’ which also charted at #1 in the US. In Asia, BTS released their Japanese language greatest hits album ‘BTS, THE BEST’ which topped the Oricon Year End Album Chart – the first time a non-domestic act has done so in 37 years. The CD release of ‘Butter’ topped the Gaon year-end charts in South Korea, incredibly the sixth year in succession that BTS have managed this feat, with six separate releases.”
IFPI Top 10 Global Recording Artists of 2021
Previous winners of the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year
2020 – BTS
2019 – Taylor Swift
2018 – Drake
2017 – Ed Sheeran
2016 – Drake
2015 – Adele
2014 – Taylor Swift
2013 – One Direction