Taylor Swift Makes History With Her Fifth IFPI’s Global Recording Artist Award

While her career goes back to the early 2000s, 2024 marked a massive year for Taylor Swift. Wanting to add to the already 200 million albums she sold, the singer released her latest album with The Tortured Poets Department. And the same year, she looked to continue her worldwide The Eras Tour. That was just the start as she also added more awards to her mantle. Appearing to stand on top of the entire music industry, the IFPI awarded Swift the Biggest-Selling Global Recording Artist of the Year for a fifth time. 

For those who might not know how the IFPI worked, the organization went far beyond a singer’s popularity as it factored in sales and streaming throughout the year. Swift first won the award back in 2014. She returned to the top in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Marking her third consecutive year winning, she beat out Drake and SEVENTEEN. Drake held the award twice before in 2016 and 2018. As for BTS, they won it in 2020 and 2021. 

Speaking about the accomplishments of Swift, the CEO of IFPI, Victoria Oakley, said in a statement, “We are immensely proud to award the IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Award to Taylor Swift for the fifth time, as she continues to redefine the limits of global success.” She added, “This has been a huge year for Taylor, and it has been incredible to see the extent to which fans all over the world are connecting with her superb catalog of music.”

[RELATED: 4 Stunning Songs Taylor Swift Wrote Before the Age of 16]

The One Person Who Said No To Taylor Swift

Although a top name in the entertainment industry, it appears that Swift doesn’t have a great deal of power when it comes to Lorne Michaels. The mind behind Saturday Night Live, the producer recently discussed wanting to work with Swift back in 2015. 

Apparently, the writers came up with an idea that centered around a skit making fun of Swift’s group of friends. It was a play on the “Bad Blood” music video. But Swift wasn’t having it as she called Michaels, wanting him to cut the skit entirely. Not allowing a guest to dictate his show, Michaels insisted, “Taylor, I do not negotiate with terrorists.” He then ended the conversation by hanging up.

Thankfully, Swift didn’t take offense as she sent flowers with a note reading, “I hope there’s no bad blood” after the skit aired. 

(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)