Fair warning: through no fault of the author, the following article includes references to the musical creations of The Chainsmokers.
With that in mind, let's find out where Kendrick Lamar and others landed on the just-released ranking of best-selling global recording artists. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) released their 2017 list Monday. According toVariety, an unknown artist by the name of Ed Sheeran has taken the top spot.
Drake, 2016's best-selling artist, comes in at No. 2. Taylor Swift, Lamar, and Eminem round out the top 5. "This year's Global Top 10 really is a 'who's who' of popular music," IFPI chief exec Frances Moore said. "Each artist has a unique impact on the music industry through the talent and energy they are channeling through their work."
Sheeran's Divide was apparently last year's best-selling album globally, having attained multi-platinum status in 36 different markets. Divide single "Shape of You" was somehow the year's best-selling single.
Anyway, here's the full top 10, including those aforementioned Chainsmokers:
- Ed Sheeran
- Drake
- Taylor Swift
- Kendrick Lamar
- Eminem
- Bruno Mars
- The Weeknd
- Imagine Dragons
- Linkin Park
- The Chainsmokers
Lamar landing this honor with next year's ranking is very much a possibility. In addition to the continued success of Black Panther: The Album, Lamar's 2018 will also include taking the Top Dawg Entertainment experience on the road for the Championship Tour. The two-month tour also features SZA, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Lance Skiiiwalker, and more.
