Taiwanese pop singer Jay Chou (周杰倫) had the best-selling album in the world last year, the first Mandopop singer to achieve the feat, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) said on Tuesday.
The IFPI announced its Global Album Sales Chart top 10 in a post on Twitter, with the 44-year-old singer — who was born in what is now New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口) — topping the list with his Greatest Work of Art album.
South Korean boy band BTS’ Proof and Midnights by Taylor Swift were second and third respectively.
Photo courtesy of JVR Music
“Congratulations again to the “King of Mandopop” & this year’s IFPI #GlobalAlbumSalesChart winner Jay Chou (周杰倫)! Here he is receiving his IFPI Global Album Sales Chart award for ‘Greatest Works of Art’ his fifteenth studio album & this year’s Global Album Sales Chart No.1!” it wrote in a subsequent post that included a photograph of the artist.
“This is a historical moment for Mandopop. This is beyond my imagination. Thank you all. This proves that music may come in different languages, but art transcends language,” Chou said via JVR Music after the announcement, crediting his fans for the achievement.
Chou released Greatest Work of Art, his 15th studio album, in July last year after fans had waited six years since the release of Jay Chou’s Bedtime Stories in 2016.
Photo courtesy of JVR Music
That Chou’s career has spanned more than 20 years is a testament to his talent, said IFPI chief executive officer Frances Moore, who praised Chou for establishing deep friendships with fans around the world through his songs.
This is the second time Chou has appeared on an IFPI list this year. On Feb. 23, he was ninth on its Global Recording Artist of the Year 2022 rankings and the first Mandarin-language singer ever to make the list, which was topped by Swift.
Photo courtesy of HT Entertainment Co Ltd via CNA
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