Adele 30’s blockbuster was named global album of the year less than a month after it won three BRIT Awards.
The 33-year-old Easy On Me singer was crowned winner of the 2021 Global Albums for All Formats by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
She led Olivia Rodrigo, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd to take the annual award.
Her long-awaited fourth studio album marks her return to music after a six-year gap.
Recognized: Adele’s 30s was crowned winner of the global ranking for all album formats for 2021 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
The album, released in November, candidly explores the themes of divorce, motherhood and heartache.
In an interview with Apple Music, Adele talked about how her divorce from her ex-husband Simon Koneki, becoming a mother and reuniting with her estranged father before his death affected the album.
Adele joined Olivia Rodrigo and Justin Bieber in the top three of the Global Album All Format 2021.
19-year-old Rodrigo secured second place with his album Sour, and 28-year-old Bieber was third with Justice.
30: The 33-year-old singer of The Easy On Me heads Olivia Rodrigo Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran and The Weeknd to take the annual award
Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd, Dua Lipa, The Kid Laroi, Abba, Morgan Wallen and Doja Cat finished in the top 10.
The global chart for all album formats records physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming platforms during the calendar year.
Adele also took the coveted gong for album of the year at the BRIT Awards last month, along with the song of the year for Easy On Me and the Artist of the Year award.
Her album reached number one in more than 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, where she spent five weeks at the top of the official album charts.
During the week of the album’s release, Adele doubled the charts in the official singles chart with two songs from the album – Easy On Me at number one and Oh My God at number two.
In the United States, 30 became Adele’s third album to top the Billboard 100.
The album now tops all three IFPI global album charts – the Global Album All Format Chart, the Global Album Sales Chart and the first-ever Global Vinyl Album Chart.
ABBA’s Voyage, the Swedish supergroup’s first album in 40 years, took second place in the Top 10 of worldwide album sales, followed by Attacca of the K-pop group SEVENTEEN.
Harry Style’s Fine Line and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors finished the top three.
Since its release, 30 have surpassed more than five million equivalent physical albums in less than two months.
Francis Moore, IFPI’s chief executive, said: “It was great to get Adele back and play music in the second half of last year.
“Her dominance in all three IFPI album charts speaks to her unique talent for songwriting, her iconic voice and unwavering worldwide popularity.
“We are excited to award Adele and her entire team the IFPI Global Album All Format Award and send our congratulations for a stellar year.”
IFPI has unveiled the first global ranking of vinyl albums for the 2021 Awards to reflect the continuing resurgence of the format.
Winner: Adele’s fourth studio album received high acclaim after she won three BRITs at the O2 Arena
Adele’s fourth studio album has received a string of accolades since its release, with the singer winning three BRITs at the O2 Arena last month.
She took it home the first gong for performer of the year without sex, after the men’s and women’s categories were removed and also won Song of the Year award and coveted album of the year.
When she accepted her Artist of the Year award, she responded to the Awakening ceremony by insisting she “loves being a woman artist” after bosses bowed to calls to remove the awards from the gender categories.
Adele also tearfully dedicated her Album of the Year award for 30 to her son Angelo, nine, and her ex, Simon Koneki, because the record was “really for them” before admitting to releasing something so personal”.
Adele defeated the hot contender Ed Sheeran in the “Artist of the Year” category – which now includes all artists, regardless of gender – after they both released long-awaited albums at about the same time last year.
BRITs: She took home the first genderless gong of the year and won the song of the year award and coveted album of the year
During her speech, Adele told the audience, “I understand why the name of this award has changed, but I really love being a woman and being a woman artist, as she mentioned the changes the awards board made at the ceremony.”
At the BRIT Awards, the singer also sparked rumors that she was engaged to Rich Paul, as she wore a huge diamond on her ring finger.
Although she refused to confirm whether she was engaged, the singer was later spotted wearing a lowered ribbon on her ring finger.
When asked about rumors during a performance on the Graham Norton Show, Adele thinks, “If it was, would I ever tell someone if I was or wasn’t?”
Wow: At the BRIT Awards, Adele also sparked rumors that she was engaged to Rich Paul as she wore a huge diamond on her ring finger
However, she revealed that she wants to have another baby – her first with her husband.
Hinting at family plans, she said, “It takes me a while to recharge and I want to have more children – I feel like I’ve caught up on my dream nine years ago when I had a son.” [Angelo, with ex-husband Simon Konecki].
Rich, who manages NBA star James, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, among other athletes, has been with Adele since early 2021.
Hitmaker Adele and Rich went public with their romance in the NBA Finals in Phoenix, Arizona in July.
Rumors: Although she declined to confirm whether she was engaged, the singer was later spotted (pictured with Rich Paul) wearing a lowered ribbon on her ring finger