Tyler, The Creator named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year 2025
Over the past year, Tyler dominated streaming, shaped culture, and delivered some of his best work yet. Here’s why he’s Apple Music’s Artist of the Year.
Apple Music has officially crowned Tyler, The Creator as its Artist of the Year for 2025. It’s an achievement that celebrates his unique artistry that has influenced music culture over the past year.
He follows in the footsteps of Billie Eilish who won the award last year (and 2019), as well as Lil Baby (2020), The Weeknd (2021), Bad Bunny (2022), and Taylor Swift (2023).
Two albums for a record-breaking year
Tyler kicked off 2025 riding the success of his personal and introspective album CHROMAKOPIA, which instantly became his most successful release to date by first-day and first-week streams.
Then, mid-tour and without warning, Tyler surprise-dropped his ninth studio album DON’T TAP THE GLASS. A creative pivot from its predecessor, it topped Apple Music’s overall charts in more than 55 countries on release day.
Those albums helped Tyler have his biggest year ever on Apple Music. He racked up more than 4.5 billion minutes of listening from listeners around the world between November 2024 and October 2025. He also hit new peaks across worldwide plays, total listeners, and total hours streamed. Those are milestones that reflect his huge global reach and the loyalty of his fanbase.
To close out the year, Tyler wrapped up 2025 with six new Grammy nominations across both albums:
- Album of the Year – CHROMAKOPIA
- Best Rap Album – CHROMAKOPIA
- Best Alternative Music Album – DON’T TAP THE GLASS
- Best Rap Performance – Darling, I (from CHROMAKOPIA)
- Best Rap Song – Sticky (from CHROMAKOPIA)
- Best Album Cover – CHROMAKOPIA
Tyler’s influence beyond music releases
Tyler kept the momentum going throughout 2025 with his most ambitious and successful world tour for CHROMAKOPIA. Having been at one of the shows myself, it was pretty cool to say the least.
Meanwhile, he also headlined some of the year’s biggest festivals, including Governors Ball, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and Osheaga. He will also round out the year by headlining the festival he helped create himself, Camp Flog Gnaw, in its 11th edition.
Beyond performing on stage, Tyler is also gearing up to make his feature-film debut before the year ends. He’s appearing in Marty Supreme, a Josh Safie period drama starring Timothée Chalamet.
Reflecting on Tyler’s year, Apple Music’s Zane Lowe summed it up best:
“Tyler continues to prove that anything is possible. His creativity has been incredible all year. His creative risk-taking is only matched by the care he takes to present it, and he inspires his peers and fans now, just as he will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Wrapping up
Tyler, The Creator’s cultural influence continues to stretch far beyond just his music, with fashion, storytelling, and world-building all part of his legacy. This year, he took things up a whole new level.
With two successful albums, a record-breaking year of streaming milestones, and huge tour moments, Tyler is a deserving winner of Apple Music’s Artist of the Year.
“To everyone who listens to my music, thank you… This year, for my career, was the biggest so far. To be this year’s Apple Music Artist of the Year, it’s sick. I appreciate the love. I appreciate the recognition. It means a lot to me, especially for the music and things that I make. Please keep supporting folks who are a bit out of the box for how they do things; it means a lot to us.”
Tyler, The Creator speaking to Apple Music