Casablanca– Taylor Swift has been named the world’s best-selling artist of 2025, according to the annual report by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
This is the sixth time Swift has reached this milestone, previously in 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and marks the fourth consecutive year she leads worldwide.
The main catalyst for this takeover was her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Dropping in October, the record didn’t just top the charts; it completely shattered modern-era first-week sales records globally, achieving metrics previously thought impossible.
Swift’s success goes beyond new material. Her ability to drive massive, cross-platform engagement across her entire discography is her superpower.
This was evident with her concert film, “The End of an Era” tour documentary, which drove billions of streams to her back catalog, reigniting global conversations about her previous eras.
The IFPI calculates the Global Recording Artist title by tallying an artist’s worldwide consumption metrics across their entire body of work, including streaming, digital downloads, and physical sales. This comprehensive approach measures total global influence.
In 2025, Stray Kids finished at No. 2, followed by Drake at No. 3 and The Weeknd at No. 4, marking strong performances from these industry heavyweights.
Yet, they simply couldn’t match Swift’s cumulative output.
The music industry must now accept an irrefutable truth: it is Swift’s world. Her unprecedented six titles are the definitive marker of a cultural and commercial era shaped entirely by her influence.
