The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) honored boy band Seventeen as the highest-charting K-pop artist in its annual album sales chart.

IFPI released the top 10 artists on its 2021 Global Album Sales Chart, which “combines global sales of physical albums and digital album downloads to rank the top albums in a calendar year.”

IFPI’s top 10 Global Album Sales Chart 2021 (left) and K-pop boy band Seventeen (IFPI, Instagram)

Seventeen’s “Attacca,” released on Oct. 22, 2021, placed third in the top 10 while “Your Choice,” released on June 18, 2021, grabbed eighth place.

“Your Choice” sold more than 1.3 million copies in the first week of release and “Attacca” charted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales and No. 13 on the Billboard 200.

BTS’ “BTS, The Best” ranked fourth in the 2021 Global Album Sales Chart. BTS and Seventeen are both under HYBE.

The IFPI said the “Global Album Sales Chart highlights the continuing importance of Asia, particularly sales of physical albums, with K-Pop stars BTS (#4) and SEVENTEEN (who featured twice in the chart at #3 and #7 [#8]) featuring prominently, while Japanese group Snow Man’s first studio album Snow Mania S1 charted at #9.”

IFPI Top 10 Global Album Sales Chart 2021

1. Adele – 30

2. ABBA – Voyage

3. Seventeen – Attacca

4. BTS – BTS, The Best

5. Ed Sheeran – +

6. Justin Bieber – Justice

7. Taylor Swift – Red

8. Seventeen – Your Choice

9. Snow Man – Snow Mania S1

10. Taylor Swift – Fearless

IFPI also released the top 10 Global Digital Singles of 2021 with BTS’ “Butter” ranking fourth with 1.76 billion global subscription streams equivalent.

Top 10 Global Digital Singles of 2021

1. The Weeknd – Save Your Tears – 2.15 billion (global subscription streams equivalent)

2. The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – STAY – 2.07 billion

3. Dua Lipa – Levitating – 1.88 billion

4. BTS – Butter – 1.76 billion

5. Olivia Rodrigo – drivers license – 1.73 billion

6. Justin Bieber (ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon) – Peaches – 1.72 billion

7. The Weeknd – Blinding Lights – 1.61 billion

8. Olivia Rodrigo – good 4 u – 1.61 billion

9. Lil Nas X – MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – 1.60 billion

10. Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits – 1.57 billion

IFPI earlier announced that BTS is the 2021 Global Recording Artist of the Year, becoming the first Korean act to bag the award for two straight years.

Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2022/03/03/seventeen-named-highest-charting-k-pop-artist-on-ifpis-2021-global-album-sales-chart/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=seventeen-named-highest-charting-k-pop-artist-on-ifpis-2021-global-album-sales-chart)