Taylor Swift has once again clinched the coveted title of IFPI’s 2023 Global Recording Artist of the Year Award, as announced by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the global representative body for the recorded music industry.
This prestigious accolade, unique in its methodology, is determined based on an artist’s or group’s cumulative worldwide sales across streaming, downloading, and physical music formats throughout the calendar year, encompassing their entire discography. The recipient of the award is the artist who secures the top position on IFPI’s Global Artist Chart, which was unveiled concurrently.
This year’s announcement marks the 11th iteration of the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award, with Taylor Swift emerging as the frontrunner for the most victories in this category, having previously clinched the title in 2014, 2019, and 2022. Swift’s latest triumph follows a remarkable year characterized by the dominance of three albums—namely, “Midnights” and the Taylor’s Version releases of “Speak Now” and “1989”—all of which soared to the pinnacles of various charts. Additionally, her record-breaking Eras tour garnered widespread acclaim, reigniting interest in her entire catalog across streaming platforms worldwide. This resurgence was exemplified by the unexpected resurgence of the track “Cruel Summer,” originally released in 2019, which surged to the top of charts globally four years later.
In a landmark year for Korean music, K-Pop sensations SEVENTEEN and Stray Kids secured the second and third positions, respectively, in the chart. Notably, four K-Pop acts featured in the Top 10, with TOMORROW X TOGETHER claiming the #7 spot and NewJeans at #8. Furthermore, IVE and NCT Dream made their inaugural appearances in the IFPI Global Artist Chart Top 20, securing positions #12 and #15, respectively.
Making significant debuts in the IFPI Global Artist Chart were US country star Morgan Wallen, who clinched the #6 spot following the resounding success of his 2023 release “One Thing At A Time,” and Lana Del Rey, who broke into the Top 10 for the first time, surpassing her previous high of #17 in 2014. Beyond the Top 10, Japanese luminaries King & Prince, alongside US artists SZA and Zach Bryan, made their maiden appearances in the IFPI Global Artist Chart. Overall, eight of the Top 20 artists in 2023 made their inaugural foray into the chart.
Lewis Morrison, Director of Charts and Certifications at IFPI, expressed profound pride in awarding Taylor Swift the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award for the fourth time, hailing her as a singular talent who continuously pushes the boundaries of global success. Morrison also lauded the influx of first-time chart entrants and the resurgence of established acts, underscoring the evolving landscape of the global recorded music industry and the steadfast commitment of record companies to nurture enduring, international careers for their artists.
