News March 5, 2021

BTS awarded IFPI Global Recording Artist of 2020

K-pop superstars BTS have become the first Asian act to receive the coveted IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award.

The annual honour recognises an act’s worldwide popularity across both streaming and sales, including downloads, CDs and vinyls.

Previous recipients of the award have included last year’s winner Taylor Swift, as well as the likes of Drake, Ed Sheeran, Adele and One Direction.

Notably, BTS’ IFPI award cements them as not only the first Asian recipients but the first to primarily perform in a language other than English.

It’s safe to say the group’s selection has been a long time coming, given they came second in the competition in 2018, and seventh in 2019.

This year, Swift was the runner-up to BTS, followed by Drake, The Weeknd and Billie Eilish. The top 10 was then rounded out by Eminem, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Juice Wrld and Justin Bieber.

As reported by Billboard, BTS enjoyed one of their most successful years in 2020.

Not only did their seventh studio album Map of the Soul: 7 reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in April 2020, but their latest album Be achieved the same feat just seven months later.

On top of that, they also received a Grammy nod for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with single ‘Dynamite’.

Meanwhile, Be debuted at No.2 in Australia and also featured a track co-written and produced by Aussie electronic duo Cosmo’s Midnight.

In a statement (via Billboard) IFPI CEO Frances Moore described BTS as a “global phenomenon.”

“They have had another outstanding year, releasing three albums, and continually finding creative and engaging ways to share their story with the world,” she said.

“They truly show the power that music has to bring joy and happiness to people the world over.”

IFPI Top 10 Global Recording Artists of 2020

1. BTS
2. Taylor Swift
3. Drake
4. The Weeknd
5. Billie Eilish
6. Eminem
7. Post Malone
8. Ariana Grande
9. Juice Wrld
10. Justin Bieber