It seems the music industry has hit a point of crisis for British stars, who are now failing to perform well in the global charts.
For years, the likes of Ed Sheeran and Adele, and more recently, Harry Styles, have dominated the scene with their hits.
However, for the first time in two decades, British acts have not made it into the worldwide annual charts of the year’s top 10 bestselling singles or albums.
The list, published by IFPI, a body representing the recording industry worldwide, did not feature any UK acts last year either.
In stark contrast, just two years ago, stars from the UK occupied seven out of the 20 entries in the end-of-year singles and albums charts.
The major chart shake-up certainly isn’t for lack of trying from British stars, who have taken the internet and streaming platforms by storm over the last 12 months with catchy tunes.
Alas, despite Houdini hitmaker Dua Lipa, Brat queen Charli XCX, and legendary band Coldplay all putting out new music, they did not make the cut.
In fact, the highest ranking for a British artist came from singer and producer Artemas with I Like The Way You Kiss ME, which was the 15th most popular song of 2024.
US artists dominated the top spots, with Benson Boone claiming the number-one song with his TikTok viral hit Beautiful Things.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso came in second, while others in the top 10 included Hozier’s Too Sweet and Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.
Meanwhile, Grammy-winning songwriter Taylor Swift was behind the best-selling album in the world with The Tortured Poets Department.
Sabrina and Billie Eilish completed the top three, while Noah Kahan and SZA also featured.
Global best-selling singles of 2024
- Benson Boone – Beautiful Things
- Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
- Teddy Swims – Lose Control
- Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
- 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
We could be about to see another switch, though, as Korean and Latin acts are hot on the heels of American performers.
In 2024, four of the world’s top 10 best-selling albums came from South Korean boy bands specifically.
There were actually two entries from one band, Seventeen, who sold mega numbers with 17 Is Right Here in eighth place and Spill The Feels at six.
According to Billboard’s UK editor, Thomas Smith, 2024 was ‘one of the most competitive years in recent memory to release music’, given how many major names dropped tracks, from Taylor, who also completed her Eras Tour, and Beyonce.
He adds that the landscape for the UK ‘isn’t great’ in terms of making a splash internationally, admitting that we’re ‘not far off’ calling it an ‘existential threat’.
‘It’s concerning that it’s going down—it feels like quite rapidly.’
Global best-selling albums of 2024
- Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department
- Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard And Soft
- Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
- Enhypen – Romance: Untold
- SZA – SOS
- Seventeen – Spill The Feels
- Morgan Wallen – One Thing At A Time
- Seventeen – 17 Is Right Here
- Noah Kahan – Stick Season
- Stray Kids – ATE
But there could still be hope, as 2025 has ‘got off to a great start’ for the UK.
Later this year, we’re anticipating new releases from the likes of former 1D star Harry, which could give the UK the boost it needs on the global music scene.
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