In a surprising shift in the global music scene, British pop acts have failed to secure a spot in the global Top 10 albums and singles charts for the first time since 2003. The 2024 charts, released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), were largely dominated by US superstars and K-pop acts.
Benson Boone, a US singer, claimed the top spot in the global singles chart with “Beautiful Things,” while Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” took No.1 in the album rankings. British artists like Coldplay, Charli XCX, and Dua Lipa were notably absent from the lists, although UK talent Artemas made a modest appearance with his single “I Like the Way You Kiss Me,” which ranked 15th.
Jo Twist, CEO of the British record industry body BPI, acknowledged the decline in UK representation, attributing it to the absence of prominent British names in 2024. However, she emphasized the success of emerging British talents like Charli XCX, Artemas, and Jordan Adetunji. Twist noted that the competitive global music landscape has made it harder to break new talent, but stressed that the global charts do not tell the full story.
“There was still plenty to be excited about, as a new generation announced itself – not least Charli XCX, who enjoyed a breakthrough year globally, alongside international chart success for emerging artists such as Jordan Adetunji, Artemas, and Good Neighbours, while the likes of Lola Young and Myles are now rapidly building an international following,” Twist shared with the BBC.
The rise of K-pop bands like Seventeen, Enhypen, and Stray Kids, alongside US acts such as Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter, marks a significant shift in the global music landscape. This change is reflected not only in global charts but also in the UK charts, where no British artist made the Top 10 in 2024, the first such occurrence since at least 2005.
Despite the concerns, music experts such as Billboard’s UK editor, Thomas Smith, remain hopeful for the UK music scene’s future. “In terms of where the UK is at, it isn’t great. I wouldn’t say it’s an existential threat just yet, but we’re probably not far off,” he said. “It’s concerning that it’s going down – it feels like quite rapidly. But then, on the flip side, this is all cyclical.”
As UK acts look to recover, the upcoming Brit Awards are set to highlight rising stars, including Charli XCX, Ezra Collective, and The Last Dinner Party, who may help usher in a new wave of British talent to the global stage.
