IFPI's 2022 Global Single Award

Harry Styles wins IFPI Global Single Award for As It Was

IFPI, the organisation that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, has announced that As It Was by Harry Styles is the winner of IFPI’s Global Single Award for 2022.

The IFPI Global Single Award is presented to the artist with the world’s best-selling single of the year across all digital formats – including paid subscription streaming, ad-supported platforms, and single-track downloads.

As It Was is Harry Styles’ first IFPI Global Single Award – but marks the tenth anniversary of his other IFPI Award wins with previous band One Direction who topped the first ever IFPI Global Recording Artist Chart and also the IFPI Global Album Chart back in 2013. Harry led a strong performance from UK artists in the latest annual chart. He is joined by fellow British acts Glass Animals, whose sleeper-hit single Heat Waves features at #2; Elton John and Dua Lipa whose collaboration Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) is at #4 and further tracks from Ed Sheeran (Shivers #7, Bad Habits #10), Adele (Easy On Me #13) and Dua Lipa’s Levitating (ft. DaBaby) at #12.

For the first time the Top 20 sees four songs performed predominantly in Spanish feature – global star Bad Bunny appearing twice, at #9 with his collaboration with Chencho Corleone, Me Porto Bonito, and at #11 with his solo hit Tití Me Preguntó. Fellow Puerto Rican artist Farruko made his debut appearing in the IFPI Global Singles Chart with his single Pepas landing at #18, while Colombian star Karol G also debuted with her single PROVENZA at #20.

The latest IFPI Global Singles Chart also shines a light on the reimagination and rediscovery of classic songs on the global stage. Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) charted at #16 following its appearance on Netflix’s breakout show Stranger Things in 2022, while Elton John and Dua Lipa’s reimagined version of a medley of Elton John’s hits, Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) charted at #4.

Frances Moore, Chief Executive of IFPI, said: “Congratulations to Harry Styles, and all of his team, on winning IFPI’s Global Single of the Year Award. Harry first received an IFPI Award as part of One Direction when we first launched the IFPI Global Recording Artist Chart 10 years ago, so it’s an honour to present him with an award this year for his stellar single As It Was which has soundtracked the year for so many music fans around the world.

“It’s wonderful to see such a diverse mixture of songs in the Global Singles Chart this year – some familiar tracks from the previous year that continued to grow in 2022, amongst plenty of new tracks and some reimagined older tracks – all going to show that record companies are working hard to find new ways to ensure music fans around the world have access to such a wide range of music year on year.”  

The Press Release is available here: IFPI Global Single Award 2022