Only two rock acts make the IFPI Global Artist Chart 2025 top 20

by

Recent data for 2025 shows rock music is continuing to change. Unfortunately for fans of energetic, guitar-driven rock, the genre is moving in a very different direction. It’s not surprising that only two rock artists were among last year’s best-selling musicians.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) recently announced the top-selling artists worldwide for 2025. Their rankings are based on a comprehensive look at artists’ total sales – including streaming, downloads, and physical copies – from every corner of the globe. This involves analyzing a huge amount of information to get a true picture of global popularity.

The charts showcase current music trends from around the world. Once again, Taylor Swift is number one, marking her fourth year in a row and sixth time overall at the top of the global rankings.

Taylor Swift is currently number one, followed by Stray Kids at number two, Drake at three, and The Weeknd at four. Bad Bunny rounds out the top five. This ranking was before Bad Bunny’s very popular Super Bowl performance, which likely increased his popularity even further.

Rock music takes a fall in the IFPI Global Artist Chart 2025 top 20

I’ve included the complete IFPI Top 20 list at the end of this article, and the top five songs are a good indication of the overall trends. The chart features a wide variety of popular genres, mainly pop, R&B, rap, and hip hop. Reflecting global tastes, it also includes K-pop and Japanese artists. However, it’s clear that rock music isn’t as prominent, with very few songs making the top 20.

If we exclude a few country artists who lean towards rock, like Zach Bryan and Morgan Wallen, only two rock artists remain in the top 20. Even then, including them feels like a bit of a reach – those artists are Linkin Park and Mrs. GREEN APPLE.

Linkin Park leans more towards metal and alternative rock than typical mainstream sounds. Mrs. GREEN APPLE, a Japanese band, blends J-rock with funk, pop, and electronic elements, creating a unique sound that goes beyond just rock. They’re incredibly popular in Japan, but not as well-known internationally.

While classic rock albums still dominate all-time best-selling lists, their presence is shrinking on today’s charts. We’re seeing fewer and fewer rock albums maintain popularity over time, a trend I recently highlighted when discussing the Super Bowl halftime show. In fact, the last time a classic rock artist headlined that show was back in 2010, showing how tastes have shifted.

These charts simply show the current state of the music industry. The artists topping the IFPI’s global list are incredibly popular, with massive fan bases. While it might be disappointing for rock fans, it looks like these trends will continue for the foreseeable future, and rock isn’t likely to regain its dominance anytime soon.

Top 20 IFPI Global Artist Chart 2025:

Here’s a list of popular artists: Taylor Swift, Stray Kids, Drake, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Tyler, The Creator, Mrs. GREEN APPLE, SEVENTEEN, Eminem, Linkin Park, Zach Bryan, Ed Sheeran, SZA, and Justin Bieber.

Read More

2026-02-20 14:00