The seven-member boy band has led a global K-pop craze since 2013 with its upbeat songs and dances, building a huge and loyal fan base around the world.

Last year, its singles “Butter”, “Permission to Dance”, and “My Universe” – a joint release with Coldplay – all topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

BTS continues to enjoy success at home in South Korea, and their Japanese-language greatest hits album, “BTS, THE BEST”, topped Japan’s Oricon Year End Album Chart at the close of last year, the first for a non-domestic act in 37 years, Ifpi said.

“By performing in three different languages, they demonstrate their extraordinarily unique global appeal,” Ifpi chief executive Frances Moore said in a statement.

“Their dynamic and passionate fan base has helped to make them the first artists in history to top the Global Artist Chart in two consecutive years.”

The award, presented by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, is calculated according to a music act’s performance across digital and physical formats.

US singer Taylor Swift came in at No. 2 on the chart, also for the second year in a row, followed by British star Adele in third place.