The achievement marks the sixth time Swift has claimed the prestigious title, having previously led the rankings in 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024. It is also her fourth consecutive year at No. 1 — a dominant run unmatched in recent history. The last act to surpass her on the annual chart was BTS, who secured the top spot in 2020 and 2021.
A Record-Breaking Year
Swift’s 2025 triumph was powered by the massive global success of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, released in October. The album shattered multiple records, spending 12 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
It also posted the largest opening week in history by equivalent album units, earning 4.002 million units — surpassing the previous record held by Adele’s 25, which debuted with 3.482 million units in 2015.
The album’s lead single, The Fate of Ophelia, dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks. In an unprecedented feat, all 12 tracks from the album simultaneously occupied the top 12 positions on the Hot 100 — a milestone no other artist has achieved.
Strong Global Competition
Swift led a competitive field in 2025, finishing ahead of artists including Stray Kids, Drake, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish.
Elsewhere in the Top 20, Tyler, the Creator secured his first appearance inside the upper tier at No. 12, buoyed by touring behind his 2024 album Chromakopia and the surprise release Don’t Tap The Glass. Japanese rock outfit Mrs. Green Apple made their debut at No. 13.
Several established stars also returned to the ranking following strong release cycles and global tours, including Lady Gaga (No. 10), Ed Sheeran (No. 18), SZA (No. 19), and Justin Bieber (No. 20).
How the IFPI Chart Works
The IFPI, which represents more than 8,000 record labels worldwide, compiles data across streaming platforms, digital downloads and physical sales in every country. Using its proprietary methodology, the federation converts global consumption figures into a unified ranking that reflects an artist’s entire body of work — not just new material released during the calendar year.
Further details, including the results of the IFPI’s Global Single Chart and Global Albums Chart, are expected to be released later this week.
With another year at the summit, Swift’s reign over the global music marketplace shows no signs of slowing — reinforcing her status as one of the most commercially dominant artists of the modern era.
Top 20 IFPI Global Artist Chart 2025
| Position | Prior Year | Artist |
| 1 | 1 | Taylor Swift |
| 2 | 5 | Stray Kids |
| 3 | 2 | Drake |
| 4 | 7 | The Weeknd |
| 5 | 20 | Bad Bunny |
| 6 | 9 | Kendrick Lamar |
| 7 | 13 | Morgan Wallen |
| 8 | 10 | Sabrina Carpenter |
| 9 | 4 | Billie Eilish |
| 10 | Re-entry (2020) | Lady Gaga |
| 11 | 11 | Ariana Grande |
| 12 | NEW | Tyler, The Creator |
| 13 | NEW | Mrs. GREEN APPLE |
| 14 | 3 | SEVENTEEN |
| 15 | 8 | Eminem |
| 16 | 19 | Linkin Park |
| 17 | 6 | Zach Bryan |
| 18 | Re-entry (2023) | Ed Sheeran |
| 19 | Re-entry (2023) | SZA |
| 20 | Re-entry (2021) | Justin Bieber |