Taylor Swift Tops IFPI List of Global Recording Artists

Taylor Swift awarded with the IFPI Global Recording Artist of 2014 Award. Photo: IFPI.com/Dave Hogan for Getty Images

International trade group IFPI has named Taylor Swift as Global Recording Artist of the Year for 2014. The annual accolade takes into consideration album sales across various mediums, including digital, CD and vinyl formats; singles, both downloaded and physical; on-demand audio streams and music videos. The chart includes all the music of each artist featured, not just one track or album. It uses track and album equivalents to combine measurements of downloads, physical sales and streams.

Swift’s fifth album 1989, has sold more than 8.6 million copies worldwide, and garnered two chart-topping songs, including “Blank Space” and “Shake It Off.”

“Congratulations to Taylor Swift,” said IFPI chief Frances Moore. “She merits this result as she is a hardworking and talented performer who has an amazing ability to connect with audiences worldwide. This IFPI award reflects the global popularity of recording artists across the diverse ways in which fans choose to listen to music today.”

The Top 10 Global Recording Artists for 2014 include:

1. Taylor Swift
2. One Direction
3. Ed Sheeran
4. Coldplay
5. AC/DC
6. Michael Jackson
7. Pink Floyd
8. Sam Smith
9. Katy Perry
10. Beyoncé