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For the first time in over two decades, no British artists secured a spot in the top 10 bestselling albums or singles globally, marking a stark shift in the international music landscape. According to new data from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), 2024 saw no UK act ranking higher than 15th in the year’s top-selling singles – a phenomenon not seen since 2005.
This marks a significant departure from the previous two decades, during which British artists consistently held ground in at least one of the top 10 categories. As recently as 2022, UK acts dominated the charts, making up seven of the top 10 entries across albums and singles combined. In contrast, the 2024 charts were largely ruled by American and South Korean superstars, including Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Seventeen, reflecting the powerful influence of US pop and K-pop on global listening habits.
The absence of British names is particularly surprising given the critical and cultural impact of homegrown talent in the past year. Artists like Charli XCX, Central Cee, and Ezra Collective enjoyed breakout moments and critical acclaim, yet failed to translate that momentum into top-tier global sales.
Jo Twist, CEO of UK record industry body BPI, addressed the shift in an interview with the BBC, acknowledging the increasingly competitive nature of the global music market.
“It’s undoubtedly becoming much harder to break talent in a hyper-competitive global music economy”, she explained. “British artists may have enjoyed stronger years on the international stage, which perhaps isn’t surprising given some of our biggest names were not in cycle in 2024.”
Twist also highlighted the double-edged sword of streaming’s dominance. While platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have democratized music discovery, they’ve also intensified competition by giving listeners instant access to artists worldwide.“Streaming has created many benefits, enabling more artists to succeed, but has also leveled the playing field for music markets around the world, opening up more challenges to the UK,” she added.
The evolving landscape poses important questions for the future of British music on the global stage. With a new generation of genre-bending, boundary-pushing UK artists waiting in the wings, it remains to be seen whether 2025 will mark a resurgence – or if the industry will need to rethink its strategies for global success.
See the lists below, in which the USA and South Korea are entirely in the lead (barring Ireland’s Hozier). Read the full IFPI report HERE.
Global bestselling singles of 2024:
1. Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
2. Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
3. Teddy Swims – Lose Control
4. Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
5. Shaboozey – A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Hozier – Too Sweet
Post Malone – I Had Some Help (feat Morgan Wallen)
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer
Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Global bestselling albums of 2024:
1. Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department
2. Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft
3. Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
4. Enhypen – Romance: Untold
5. SZA – SOS
6. Seventeen – Spill The Feels
7. Morgan Wallen – One Thing At A Time
8. Seventeen – 17 Is Right Here
9. Noah Kahan – Stick Season
10. Stray Kids – ATE
