Most Global Recording Artist of the Year (IFPI) awards won

Taylor Swift (USA) has been named International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Global Recording Artist of the Year six times: in 2014, 2019 and 2022–25. Swift’s latest award, announced on 18 February 2026, follows another year of “exceptional worldwide engagement across streaming, physical and digital formats” with the release of her 12th original studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, and the documentary of her tour, The End of an Era.

IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Top 10 (2025): 1. Taylor Swift (USA); 2. Stray Kids (South Korea); 3. Drake (Canada); 4. The Weeknd (Canada); 5. Bad Bunny (Puerto Rico); 6. Kendrick Lamar (USA); 7. Morgan Wallen (USA); 8. Sabrina Carpenter (USA); 9. Billie Eilish (USA); 10. Lady Gaga (USA).

Taylor Swift was also ranked third in 2015 and 2017 and second in 2020–21.

Now in its 13th year, the IFPI’s Global Recording Artist of the Year has been won twice by Drake (2016 and 2018) and BTS (2020–21). One Direction (2013), Adele (2015) and Ed Sheeran (2017) have also received the accolade.

Swift also topped the IFPI’s Global Album Chart for 2025 with The Life of a Showgirl, with last year’s No.1 album, The Tortured Poets Department, at No.20. Meanwhile, Showgirl’s lead single, “The Fate of Ophelia”, registered 890 million chart units to land at No.19 on the 2025 Global Single Chart.