The music industry has a familiar name at its summit once again. IFPI has officially crowned Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl as the Biggest-Selling Global Album of 2025. This achievement isn't just a single win; the album swept the top spots on the Global Album Chart, Global Album Sales Chart, and the Global Vinyl Album Chart.
Swift’s dominance in the physical realm remains unparalleled. For the fourth consecutive year, she has shattered the global vinyl sales record, proving that her audience's appetite for tangible media is only growing. This success stems from a meticulously crafted release strategy that balanced high-end physical formats with a massive digital presence.
While Swift took the gold, the global charts highlighted a diverse musical landscape. The K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack captured the #3 spot, fueled by cross-media hype. Meanwhile, Japanese rockers Mrs. GREEN APPLE broke into the global top ten for the first time with their anniversary collection, 10.
The physical sales sector remains a stronghold for K-Pop. Groups like Stray Kids and SEVENTEEN claimed the #2 and #3 spots respectively on the Sales Chart, emphasizing the genre's mastery of fan engagement. The data also revealed a rising tide of regional diversity, with a significant increase in Chinese and Japanese releases appearing in the top twenty.
Streaming habits told a slightly different story. Morgan Wallen’s I’m The Problem topped the Streaming Album Chart, marking his second win in three years. He was followed closely by Bad Bunny, whose digital-first strategy for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS kept him at the forefront of global consumption.
The vinyl revival also showed staying power beyond Swift. Sabrina Carpenter and Kendrick Lamar saw massive success in the format, while Radiohead’s OK Computer made a surprise return to the top twenty. IFPI CEO Victoria Oakley noted that these results reflect a truly globalized market where artists from all genres and nations are finding ways to connect with fans across every available format.
