Tyler, The Creator: Apple’s 2025 Artist of the Year

Tyler, The Creator has been named the 2025 Artist of the Year at the annual Apple Music Awards for his significant impact on both music and culture. Apple praised Tyler for his world-building and character exploration in his albums Chromakopia and Don’t Tap The Glass, which quickly topped the Apple Music charts upon release. Fans streamed Tyler’s music for over 4.5 billion minutes in the past year, marking his most successful year to date.

Zane Lowe, Apple Music’s global creative director, commended Tyler for his creativity and risk-taking, stating that he continues to inspire both his peers and fans. Tyler expressed his gratitude to his listeners for their support and recognition, emphasizing the importance of supporting artists who think outside the box.

Apple also highlighted Tyler’s upcoming feature-film debut in Marty Supreme and his five Grammy nominations for his 2025 albums. This year marks the sixth installment of the Apple Music Awards, with previous winners including Billie Eilish, Lil Baby, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny, and Taylor Swift.

The Apple Music Awards originally included categories such as Breakthrough Artist, Songwriter, Album, and Song, but now solely focuses on the Global Artist of the Year. Each award features a custom Apple silicon wafer suspended in glass, symbolizing the craftsmanship behind music creation.

Apple has curated special playlists celebrating the music of the past year and hinted at surprises for fans with Tyler, The Creator in their recent Shazam history. The awards ceremony pays tribute to the artists who have shaped the music landscape, with Tyler joining a prestigious list of past recipients.