BTS Included in List of World's Best Selling Artists in 2021 — Are They #1?

IFPI has named BTS as one of the world's best-selling artists in 2021. Did the boy group secure first place on the list?

Read on to know more.

BTS Named One of World's Best Selling Artists in 2021 + Makes History as First Artist to Achieve THIS

On Feb. 24, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has officially unveiled the list of the world's best-selling artists for the year of 2021.

IFPI is a non-profit organization that stands for the recording music industry worldwide. Every year, it gives the "Global Recording Artist of the Year" award to a recording artist with the highest total of album-equivalent units, which include streaming, music downloads, and physical album sales around the world.

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Recently, the 2021 Global Recording Artist of the Year was given to BTS as they topped IFPI's Global Artist Chart. The other artists in the top 10, in order, are Taylor Swift, Adele, Drake, Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, SEVENTEEN, and Olivia Rodrigo.

This marks the second time that BTS ranked first on the list of best-selling artists in the world. The septet previously secured first place in the 2020 edition, making history as the first Asian artist to win the award.

Impressively, BTS is the first artist in history to be awarded IFPI's Global Recording Artist of the Year for two years in a row. Although international artists like Taylor Swift and Drake have topped the list multiple times, they weren't in succeeding years.

What makes this achievement more notable is that the South Korean stars didn't release any work in an album format in 2021. It can be recalled that the group only dropped the CD version of their English hit "Butter," which sold a whopping 1,975,364 copies in the first week of release.

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On Twitter, IFPI shared a video of BTS receiving their award for becoming the world's best-selling artist in 2021. The group's leader RM said, "We're truly honored to receive this IFPI 2021 Global Recording Artist of the Year award. I heard this is the first time ever any artist to receive Artist of the Year for two years in a row, so we're blessed for such a significant honor."

IFPI Chairman Frances Moore congratulated the South Korean act and said, "The incredible success BTS achieved over the past year is a testament of their creativity, hard work, and continued dedication to finding ways to bring their music to the world."

Congratulations to BTS on becoming the Global Recording Artist of the Year for the second time!

BTS' 'Butter' Becomes First Hit to Score THIS Feat on Billboard Hot Trending Songs Chart

In other news, BTS continuously rules Billboard's Hot Trending Songs chart with their mega-hit "Butter."

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For the week ending on Feb. 26, "Butter" once again reigned as No. 1 on the Billboard social chart after leading in Twitter mentions of four million which were tallied from Feb. 11 to 17.

This Grammy nominee has now spent a total of 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Trending Songs chart, powered by Twitter, earning the title of the first hit to stay atop the tally that long.

Watch BTS' "Butter" music video here to celebrate the group's new Billboard achievement!

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Written by Mhaliya Scott