Ed Sheeran Named Recording Artist of the Year

Having achieved multi-platinum status in 36 markets, Divide was the year’s top album, with Shape of You alone certified platinum in 32 markets. Earning nearly three million total album unit sales, Ed Sheeran is 2017’s artist of the year.

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry has been representing artist interests and publishing a list of the top artists for nearly 100 years. Given the considerable success of such tracks as Castle on the Hill, Galway Girl, and Perfect, Ed Sheeran won with unprecedented success.

Following Ed Sheeran, Drake won second place for the second year in a row, Taylor Swift took third despite only releasing her album, Reputation, in November, and fourth and fifth places went to Kendrick Lamar and Eminem respectively.