International music organization IFPI crunched all the data for 2017 to declare that Ed Sheeran comes out on top as the Global Recording Artist Of The Year on the strength of ÷ (Divide) and his hit single "Shape Of You," winner of Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance respectively at the 60th GRAMMY Awards. This is the first time the winner has had the year's top album and top single at the same time, helping Sheeran edge out previous winners Drake, coming in second place, followed by Taylor Swift, whose Reputation smash was released late in the year, in Nov.
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This year's other top artists include Kendrick Lamar in fourth place followed by Eminem, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Imagine Dragons, Linkin Park and The Chainsmokers.
"Each artist has a unique impact on the music industry through the talent and energy they are channeling through their work," said IFPI Chief Executive Frances Moore. "I congratulate them all for such a successful year."
The IFPI Global Recording Artist award was first given for the year 2013 to the band One Direction. Subsequent winners of the global prize are Taylor Swift in 2014, Adele in 2015, and Drake for 2016.
