BTS Named IFPI’s Global Recording Artist of 2020

On Thursday, Mar. 4, IFPI crowned BTS as the 2020 IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year award. Keep on reading to learn more about the prestigious award.

BTS Named IFPI's Global Recording Artist of 2020

On Mar. 4, BTS was named IFPI's Global Recording Artist of the year, beating out big names such as Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weeknd, Bullie Eilish, and more. This prestigious award is given to artists after determining their worldwide popularity across streaming, physical and digital sales, including vinyl, downloads, and CDs.

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This is a huge award for BTS. They are the first and only artists to snag the Global Recording Artist of the Year award that performs primarily in a language other than English and is the first all-Korean act and first Asian act, in general, to be so highly praised by the organization.

BTS is definitely not slowing down and smashing record with every release.

Until BTS, all the recipients of the awards have hailed from either North America or the United Kingdom. In 2019 and 2014, Taylor Swift was the Global Recording Artist of the year. In 2018 and 2016, the award was bestowed to Drake. In 2017, it went to Ed Sheeran. In 2015, Adele was named the Global Recording Artist of the Year. The last boy band to take home the award was One Direction in 2013.

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BTS came close to winning the trophy back in 2018, finishing in second place behind Drake. In 2019, BTS came in seventh place.

BTS's Achievements in 2020

2020 was, undoubtedly, BTS's year, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, the group took the number one spot on the Billboard 200 charts with "Map of the Soul: 7," their fourth number one album in less than two years. It is one of the most-pre-ordered albums of all time, according to IFPI. It is also the best-selling album in South Korean history. The Japanese version of the album, "Map of the Soul: 7 - The Journey," sold over 500,000 copies within just two days.

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BTS also became the first all-Korean act to lang a Billboard Hot 100 number one hit with "Dynamite," and also broke numerous YouTube and Spotify records. "Dynamite" earned BTS their first Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Duo/Group Performance," making BTS the first Korean ever nominated.

Before the year ended, BTS dropped "BE," which immediately debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, making it BTS's fifth number one album. Their song, "Life Goes On," also hit number one in the Billboard Hot 100, making it the first Korean-language track to hit number one in the United States.

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Congratulations, BTS!

IFPI Top 10 Global Recording Artists of the Year (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

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Written by Alexa Lewis