Taylor Swift Breaks Record as IFPI’s Global Artist of 2023

Taylor Swift has again proven her unparalleled status in the music industry by winning the IFPI’s Global Artist of the Year award for 2023.

This marks the fourth time the 34-year-old American singer-songwriter has topped the IFPI’s global artist chart. The chart measures an artist’s or group’s worldwide sales across streaming, download, and physical music formats during the year, encompassing their entire work. The IFPI revealed that no other artist has achieved this feat since the award was launched 11 years ago.

Swift’s stellar performance in 2023 was driven by her critically acclaimed albums “Midnights” and the re-recorded versions of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” and “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” which all reached number one in the U.K. charts.

She also boosted her global popularity with her ongoing Eras Tour, which started in March 2023 in Glendale, California, and increased the demand for her catalogue on streaming platforms worldwide.

One of the examples was her 2019 song “Cruel Summer,” which became a worldwide hit four years after its release.

Lewis Morrison, IFPI’s director of charts and certifications, hailed Swift as a “singular talent” who “continues to redefine the limits of global success.” He also praised her “commitment to her craft and her fans.”

Swift’s achievements in 2023 were not limited to music. She also set a new Guinness World Record for the highest-grossing music tour ever with The Eras Tour, which earned more than a billion U.S. dollars in revenue.

She also brought her time to the big screen in cinemas worldwide, with the concert film smashing the records for ticket sales in the U.K. and Ireland on its opening day, according to Vue International.

In October, Swift made headlines again with the release of “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” which had the biggest opening week for any album released that year. And in 2024, Swift added another milestone to her career by becoming the first person to win Album of the Year four times at the Grammy Awards with “Midnights.”

The IFPI’s global chart also showcased the diversity and dynamism of the music industry, with K-pop groups Seventeen and Stray Kids taking the second and third spots, respectively.

Other artists who topped the charts include Canadian rapper Drake, Canadian singer The Weeknd, U.S. country star Morgan Wallen, and Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny.

Mr. Morrison expressed his enthusiasm over the various artists on the chart, highlighting the industry’s dedication to building global, long-term careers for its artists in a changing musical landscape.

Sola Adeniji

News Reporter, Freelancer, and content creator

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