Since its launch in 2019, Apple Music’s Artist of the Year award has become one of the platform’s most influential honors, celebrating artistry that shapes global culture, sets streaming trends, and drives the conversation in modern music. Recognizing not only commercial success but also artistic evolution and cultural impact, the award captures the spirit of an industry increasingly defined by data, global reach, and cross-genre innovation. Winners are chosen by Apple Music’s editorial team, blending analytics from listeners in more than 100 countries with qualitative insights into each artist’s creative footprint. Below is a complete look at every Artist of the Year recipient and what set them apart.
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2019: Billie Eilish
Apple Music’s inaugural honoree arrived at a pivotal moment in pop. At just 17, Billie Eilish became a global phenomenon with her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, an avant-pop project built on hushed vocals, shadowy atmospheres, and minimalistic production shaped alongside her brother Finneas. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, produced the international No. 1 hit “Bad Guy,” and earned more than one billion Apple Music streams in its first year. Apple praised Eilish as “a voice of her generation.”
2020: Lil Baby
In 2020, Atlanta rapper Lil Baby delivered a breakthrough that resonated across charts and culture. His second album My Turn became the longest-running No. 1 rap album on the Billboard 200, while songs like “Emotionally Scarred,” “Woah,” and “The Bigger Picture” dominated playlists during a turbulent year. Apple highlighted his dual impact: streaming dominance—over two billion Apple Music streams—and his public voice in the social justice conversation that followed the killing of George Floyd.
2021: The Weeknd
The Weeknd’s 2021 win reflected a rare level of global ubiquity. His album After Hours became a streaming behemoth, breaking Apple Music pre-add records for a male artist and producing “Blinding Lights,” now one of the most-streamed songs in the history of the platform. His Super Bowl LV halftime performance expanded his cultural footprint, while his signature fusion of pop, R&B, and alternative continued to define the sound of contemporary mainstream music. Apple credited him as an artist who reshaped the global pop landscape with singular vision.
2022: Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny made history as the first non-English-language winner. His album Un Verano Sin Ti became the most-streamed album worldwide that year, topping Apple Music’s charts in 37 countries and dominating global playlists across the summer. Already Spotify’s most-streamed artist for a third consecutive year, he used his momentum to amplify Latin music on the world stage.
2023: Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s 2023 win capped one of the most successful years in modern music history. Her record-breaking Eras Tour surpassed the $1 billion mark, becoming the highest-grossing tour of all time. On Apple Music, she achieved unmatched visibility, with 65 songs appearing in the Global Daily Top 100 within the first 10 months of the year. Albums like Midnights and 19899 (Taylor’s Version) continued her run of unprecedented streaming longevity.
2024: Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish became the first repeat Artist of the Year winner in 2024, propelled by her critically acclaimed third album Hit Me Hard and Soft. The project reached No. 1 on Apple Music’s all-genre chart in 138 countries. Her Oscar- and Grammy-winning single “What Was I Made For?” extended her impact into film and cultural discourse.
2025: Tyler, The Creator
Tyler, The Creator’s 2025 win highlighted hip-hop’s experimental future. The rapper-producer delivered two defining projects: Chromakopia, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in October 2024, and Don’t Tap the Glass, a dance-focused EP released in mid-2025. Songs like “Sticky” and “Noid” earned major streaming traction. Apple honored his boundary-pushing approach, blending rap, funk, alt-pop, and conceptual storytelling.
2026: Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean’s 2026 was simply memorable. It marked her full emergence as a global star, powered by the enduring success of her sophomore album, The Art of Loving. The record topped the UK Albums Chart multiple times and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The LP features some of Dean’s biggest hits to date. “Man I Need” became her first UK No. 1 and a Hot 100 top-two hit, while “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” and “Nice To Each Other” carried their momentum into 2026. Additionally, her collaboration with Sam Fender on “Rein Me In” set a longevity record as the longest-running UK No. 1 single. On February 1, she won the Grammy for Best New Artist.
Olivia Dean is the first UK artist to receive this honor.
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