UK Pop Stars Shut Out of Global Bestseller Charts for the First Time in Two Decades

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For the first time in over 20 years, no British artist has made it into the top 10 of the IFPI’s annual list of the world's best-selling singles or albums. This marks a major shift for the UK music scene, which has long been a powerhouse in global pop.

According to the report from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the best-selling single of 2024 was Benson Boone’s Beautiful Things, while Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department took the top spot for albums. Boone’s breakout hit dominated charts across multiple countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany, while Swift’s album soared on the back of her record-breaking Eras Tour.

The highest-ranking British act was Artemas, whose viral hit I Like the Way You Kiss Me landed at No. 15. Notably absent from the global top 10 were established UK stars like Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Charli XCX, despite all of them releasing new material in 2024.

Adding to the concern, British artists also failed to secure a spot in the UK’s own top 10 most popular singles of the year—a phenomenon not seen in at least two decades. With the dominance of American and international acts, this raises questions about the global appeal of UK pop in the streaming era.