Adele dethrones Taylor Swift to become world's biggest-selling artist

The "runaway global sensation" has been named IFPI Global Recording Artist of 2015

(Getty)

The plaudits just keep on coming for Adele - she's now been crowned the biggest-selling music artist of 2015 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

Amassing the success of musicians over the previous year, Adele's victory follows the release of her third studio album, 25, on 20 November.

The record since went on to become the fastest-selling in British history, reaching the top of the charts and remaining there until David Bowie album Blackstar knocked her off in January following the icon's death.

2014 victor Taylor Swift was knocked into third place with Ed Sheeran rising to second.

"Hello," the first single from 25, became the first song to be downloaded over a million times in one week - its music video also became the fastest to reach a billion YouTube views.

Justin Bieber and One Direction round out the top five.