BTS are this year's winners of IFPI's Global Artist of the Year Award.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) represents the global recorded music industry. The award is given to the artist with the best worldwide performance across all musical formats throughout the year – digital streams, vinyl, CDs, cassettes, etc.

Like an old friend, BTS' BE brings comfort in the simplest way: through music and encouraging words – album review

BTS released 3 record-setting albums in 2020 - Map of the Soul: 7, their Japanese album, Map of the Soul: Journey, and BE. Map of the Soul: 7 went on the become one of the most pre-ordered albums of all time, while Map of the Soul: Journey is currently the best-selling album by a male foreign artist in Japan. BE, their latest album, with their Grammy-nominated hit single 'Dynamite' and Billboard Hot 100 track 'Life Goes On,' went #1 in three different continents. 

“BTS are 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," Frances Moore, IFPI's Chief Executive shared. "They truly show the power that music has to bring joy and happiness to people the world over.

Infographic from IFPI

The feat makes BTS the first Korean act to win the award, after coming in second in 2018 and seventh in 2019. 

Rounding up the Top 10 in the Global Artist Chart are Taylor Swift, Drake, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Eminem, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Juice WRLD, and Justin Bieber.