Top 10 best-selling albums worldwide of 2021
Image Credit: IFPI
This “All Format Chart” from IFPI is based on streaming services, digital downloads and vinyl sales over 2021.
IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, announce the best-selling albums of 2021 around the world with three new charts: Global Album All Format Chart 2021, Global Album Sales Chart 2021 and IFPI’s inaugural Global Vinyl Album Chart 2021. We’ll be looking at the All Format Chart which pulls together data from streams, digital downloads and physical sales. You can find all three charts on IFPI, which higlights the continued impact of music in Asia and strong growth of vinyl with an eclectic mix of old and new.
Adele’s fourth album 30 wins the IFPI’s Global Album All Format Chart after topping both Album Sales and Vinyl Album charts. Release in November last year, 30 marks the return of Adele after a six-year hiatus, following the release of 25 in 2015. This is unsurprising after the English singer/songwriter received the most streams of a song in a single day last year with the release of lead single Easy On Me.
It has been wonderful to have Adele back and releasing music over the second half of last year. Her dominance of all three IFPI Album Charts speaks to her unique song-writing talent, her iconic voice and unrelenting global popularity. We are thrilled to award Adele and all of her team the IFPI Global Album All Format chart award and send huge congratulations for a stellar year.
Frances Moore, Chief Executive, IFPI
Elsewhere, fellow UK star Ed Sheeran scored fourth place with his new album =, while newcomer Olivia Rodrigo’s SOUR achieved second place. ABBA released their first album after 40 years, with Voyage landing in eighth place.
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