What Were the Top Songs of 2023? — Here’s a Peek at the Best-Selling Singles Last Year

IFPI announces the winner of the Global Single Award for 2023, while DMN takes a peek at the top songs and best-selling singles of the year.

It’s 2024, (wow, already?) and recorded music industry organization IFPI has announced the winner of the IFPI Global Single Award for 2023. The 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. Here’s the winner, as well as the other top contenders for best-selling singles of the year.

Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” swooped in for the No. 1 spot in this year’s IFPI Global Single Chart — her first appearance in the organization’s Top 10. The track, which won two Grammy Awards, was released in January 2023 and hit No. 1 simultaneously in 29 markets worldwide. It finished the year at the top of the 2023 charts in markets such as the UK, France, and Australia.

The Top 10 also saw first-ever IFPI Global Chart appearances for artists from Nigeria, with Rema’s “Cam Down” featuring Selena Gomez at No. 2, and Mexico, with Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma’s “La Bebe” at No. 6. These tracks reflect the global rise of Regional Mexican and Afrobeats throughout the year.

Meanwhile, IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year, Taylor Swift, appeared twice in the Top 10, with “Anti-Hero” at No. 9 and “Cruel Summer” at No. 7 — the latter released in 2019, but saw a massive resurgence in popularity thanks to its feature at Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour.

“We are delighted to present the IFPI Global Single Award to Miley Cyrus, who produced the song of 2023 with ‘Flowers,’” says Lewis Morrison, Director of Global Charts & Certifications at IFPI. “Topping the charts in so many countries simultaneously, the song — along with its message of empowerment — resonated across the world and is the definition of a truly global hit. Congratulations to Miley and her team for this incredible achievement.”

“It is also fantastic to see so many nationalities and genres represented in the IFPI Global Single Chart,” Morrison continues. “It is a wonderful reflection of the wide range of extraordinary artists that — working in partnership with their record labels — are finding international success.”

Top Songs of 2023