IFPI Chart Crowns BTS The #1 Global Recording Artist Of The Year 2020

After a year of incredible success with multiple hit albums and singles, BTS has officially been named the 2020 Global Recording Artist of the Year by the IFPI!

Every year, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (more commonly known as the IFPI) tallies up worldwide sales and streams across three charts: the Album Chart, the Singles Chart, and the Global Artist Chart. The latter combines total album and single sales (digital and physical) with streaming engagement to determine which artists were the year’s biggest superstars.

BTS first appeared on the IFPI Global Artist Chart in 2018, when they ranked no.2 overall. The group placed right behind Drake, narrowly missing the top spot. Love Yourself: Answer reached second place on the IFPI Top 10 Albums of the Year, while Love Yourself: Tear came third.

In 2019, Map of the Soul: Persona reached third place on the IFPI Top 10 Albums of the Year. However, since they only released one album that year, BTS ultimately placed at no.7 on the IFPI Global Artist Chart.

But this year, the group is blowing their past records out of the water. In 2020, BTS enjoyed unprecedented success with multiple album releases. As of February this year, worldwide sales for Map of the Soul: 7 reached 6.6 million units, while BE has sold 3.5 million units to date. On top of that, the group achieved their first ever no.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Dynamite”, following up with “Life Goes On”.

With so many successful releases under the belt, it comes as no surprise that BTS has topped the IFPI Global Artist Chart, becoming the 2020 Global Recording Artist of the Year!

The IFPI chart named 2020 a “historic year for the band” with numerous broken records both in South Korea and around the world. They beat out Taylor Swift, Drake, and The Weeknd for the top spot.

#1 @BTS_bighit – @BTS_twt are officially IFPI’s Global Recording Artists of 2020! It was a historic year for the band which saw 3 album releases and multiple charts and sales records broken domestically and globally. #IFPIGlobalArtistChart pic.twitter.com/hdNSGSDsD1

— IFPI (@IFPI_org) March 4, 2021

Not only is this a huge achievement for BTS, it also marks a major step for Asian artists in the worldwide music industry. Previously, only British, American, and Canadian artists have topped the IFP Global Artist Chart, making BTS the first Asian and first non-English singing act to ever reach no.1.