The IFPI has published the Official Biggest-Selling Global Artist of the Year 2025. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry tracks music industry sales worldwide and once a year provides a snapshot to measure the artists’ success across the globe.
Selected Few
Eminem has long become a constant feature on this list. There are only six names that have been ranked within the world’s Top 20 for six years now, and Marshall is one of them. Him together with Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, Drake, SEVENTEEN, and The Weeknd appeared on the chart in each of the five previous years, while others dip in and out of the ranking.
However, 2025 was not the best year for Eminem. On this new list, he dropped to No.15 from No.8. Of course, in 2024, he had a new album to run his sales up, and it clearly affected his position. It seems that “The Death of Slim Shady” did not have enough momentum to carry Em through 2025. Yet still, Em was ranked higher before, even between the albums. His previous placements are: No.5 in 2017 and 2018, No.6 in 2020, No.8 in 2024, and No.11 in 2019 and 2022. Even in 2023, when Marshall slid further down from the Top 10, he kept his position at the very top of the rap ranking, together with Drake.
Rap Artists on the Rise
Nowadays, hip hop receives more public recognition and more artists successfully aim to increase their international sales. Drake remains the best selling rap artist in the world, followed by Kendrick Lamar, who last year was ranked at No.9, right after Eminem, but now sits at No.6. This year marks a list debut for Tyler the Creator, who landed at No.12.
The competition gets tighter, which is good for the genre. At the same time, it shows that maintaining the same level of recognition for Eminem might be more difficult if he continues acting like a legacy artist, disconnected from the industry and not engaged in long promotional cycles for his new releases.
Hopefully, the following year will see Marshall rise through the ranks on the back of a new album that fans cannot wait to see released.
Top 20 IFPI Global Artist Chart 2025:
