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{{Short description|Billboard artist ranking}} {{Short description|Billboard artist ranking}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Billboard''{{'}}s Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Billboard''{{'}}s Greatest Pop Stars}}
]
"'''The Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century'''" is a ranked list of the 25 most important and impactful popular music artists of the 21st century, compiled by '']'' in 2024. The list is based on a variety of factors, such as cultural importance, industry influence and overall omnipresence over the first 25 years of the century.
The '''Greatest Pop Stars''' is an annual list ranking the most important and impactful ] in the ], selected by a panel of editors of '']'' magazine. It differs from the ] chart, which ranks artists based on statistical performances on the ]. The Greatest Pop Stars list is based on a more variety of factors, such as cultural importance, industry influence and overall omnipresence over ]. The list was first published in 2019, with retrospective annual rankings back to 1981, the year ] premiered, which ''Billboard'' noted as the start of "modern pop stardom". In 2024, ''Billboard'' published the Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list, a ranking of 25 most important and impactful popular music artists from 2000 to 2024, with ] being listed at number one.
⚫ ] is named No. 1 Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century.]]


== History and criteria == == History ==
American music magazine '']'' had previously named the greatest pop star of every year since 1981, with essay tributes for each artist. In 2024, to mark the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, ''Billboard'' decided to make a list of the artists who have defined popular culture, music and stardom, and been the "most important and most impactful" over the past 25 years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=2024-08-14 |title=The 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century: Honorable Mentions |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-stars-21st-century-honorable-mentions |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=2024-10-16 |title=Best Pop Singers, Rappers & Groups of 21st Century |url=https://www.billboard.com/p/best-pop-stars-21st-century/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2019, American music magazine '']'' began publishing a list of the greatest pop star of every year since 1981, with essay tributes for each artist.<ref name="annual"/> The first year of 1981 was chosen as "the year that forever changed modern stardom", with the premiere of ] which established ] as an essential element for ] iconicity.<ref name="annual"/> In 2024, to mark the end of the first quarter of the ], ''Billboard'' decided to make a list of the artists who have defined popular culture, music and stardom, and been the "most important and most impactful" over the past 25 years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=August 14, 2024 |title=The 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century: Honorable Mentions |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-stars-21st-century-honorable-mentions |access-date=November 29, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=November 16, 2024 |title=Best Pop Singers, Rappers & Groups of 21st Century |url=https://www.billboard.com/p/best-pop-stars-21st-century/ |access-date=November 29, 2024 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>


⚫ == Criteria ==
⚫ ''Billboard'' launched the project in on August 14, 2024, releasing a list of 25 ]s. From August to December, ''Billboard'' incrementally rolled out the full ranked list. For each artist, an essay was released recapping their careers and explaining why they have "exemplified pop greatness" over the period, as well as podcast and video discussions of the chosen stars’ careers and legacies.<ref name=":0" />
The Greatest Pop Stars list is not exclusively determined using chart positions, streams or sales numbers. It also uses factors such as acclaimed works, music videos, live performances, social media presence, cultural importance, industry influence and overall omnipresence. The 21st century list are measured over the years of 2000 to 2024.<ref name=":0" /> ''Billboard'' used the term "pop star" in a broad definition, not only ] type ] soloists like ] and ], but also other ] types of performers such as ], ], ], or ].<ref name="annual"/>


==List of artists==
The Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list is not mathematically determined using chart position, streams or sales numbers. The ranking is determined using factors such as acclaimed works, music videos, live performances, social media presence, cultural importance, industry influence and overall omnipresence. These factors are measured over all 25 years of the century so far.<ref name=":0" />
=== By year ===

] was named the first Greatest Pop Star (1981).]]
⚫ == List ==
] was named the Greatest Pop Star three times (2015, 2021, and 2023).]]
The full ranked list of the 25 greatest pop stars of the 21st century are as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bond |first=Nick |date=2024-11-27 |title=Winners and losers in ranking of greatest pop stars of the 21st century |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/winners-and-losers-in-ranking-of-greatest-pop-stars-of-the-21st-century/news-story/f58cd681b525d1cb1e2a83e3948865bd |website=news.com.au}}</ref>
The following artists are crowned the Greatest Pop Star of the year by ''Billboard''. ], ], ], ], and ] are the only acts to top multiple years, with Swift remains the only one to top three different ]s.<ref name="annual">{{cite magazine|first1=Trevor |last1=Anderson |first2=Katie |last2=Atkinson |first3=Griselda |last3=Flores |first4=Gil |last4=Kaufman |first5=Jason |last5=Lipshutz |first6=Joe |last6=Lynch |first7=Gail |last7=Mitchell |first8=Andrew |last8=Unterberger |first9=Christine |last9=Werthman |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/billboard-greatest-pop-stars-year/|title=The Greatest Pop Stars By Year: 1981-2024 (Updated Staff Picks)|date=November 26, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 5, 2025}}</ref>
{{div col}}
*1981: ]
*1982: ]
*1983: ]
*1984: ]
*1985: ]
*1986: ]
*1987: ]
*1988: ]
*1989: Madonna
*1990: ]
*1991: ]
*1992: ]
*1993: Janet Jackson
*1994: ]
*1995: ]
*1996: ]
*1997: ]
*1998: ]
*1999: ]
*2000: ]
*2001: ]
*2002: ]
*2003: ]
*2004: ]
*2005: ]
*2006: ]
*2007: ]
*2008: ]
*2009: ]
*2010: ]
*2011: ]
*2012: Rihanna
*2013: ]
*2014: Beyoncé
*2015: ]
*2016: ]
*2017: ]
*2018: ]
*2019: ]
*2020: ]
*2021: Taylor Swift
*2022: ]
*2023: Taylor Swift
*2024: ]
{{div col end}}


=== 21st century ===
⚫ ] was named the Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century.]]
⚫ ''Billboard'' launched the project in on August 14, 2024, releasing a list of 25 ]s. From August to December, ''Billboard'' incrementally rolled out the full ranked list. For each artist, an essay was released recapping their careers and explaining why they have "exemplified pop greatness" over the period, as well as podcast and video discussions of the chosen stars' careers and legacies.<ref name=":0" /> The full ranked list of the 25 greatest pop stars of the 21st century are as follows:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bond |first=Nick |date=November 27, 2024 |title=Winners and losers in ranking of greatest pop stars of the 21st century |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/winners-and-losers-in-ranking-of-greatest-pop-stars-of-the-21st-century/news-story/f58cd681b525d1cb1e2a83e3948865bd |publisher=]}}</ref>
{{Div col begin}}
# ] # ]
# ] # ]
Line 39: Line 91:
# ] # ]
# ] # ]
{{div col end}}


=== Honorable mentions === ==== Honorable mentions ====
The 26-50th greatest pop stars on the 21st century were listed alphabetically as honorable mentions.<ref name=":0" />{{Columns-list|*] The 26th through 50th greatest pop stars on the 21st century were listed alphabetically as honorable mentions.<ref name=":0" />{{Columns-list|*]
*] *]
*] *]
Line 62: Line 115:
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*] *]
*]|colwidth=15em}} *]|colwidth=15em}}


== Controversy == ==Statistics==
] dominated ''Billboard''{{'}}s Greatest Pop Star lists, showing the omnipresent of women within ] in post-] era.<ref name="annual"/> Madonna became the first act to be named the Greatest Pop Star twice (1985 and 1989). Women were also ranked highly on the 21st century list as only three men made into the top ten, with ], ], ] appearing in the top three.
''Billboard''<nowiki/>'s ranking of certain artists was met with some criticism, including:


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
* After American singer-songwriter ] was placed at number 2 on the list, her fans sent a barrage of ] to ], the assumed number-one pick. This included hundreds of social media posts with ], derogatory comments, and ] aimed at Beyoncé. Beyoncé's fans and others on social media criticized these behaviors, leading to the ] #SwiftieRacism trending on X. Many called out the long-standing culture of racism within ], and voiced the need for more responsible ] and greater accountability in ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Art |first=Pop Culture & |date=2024-11-29 |title=Swiftie racism against Beyoncé after Billboard ranking controversy, #SwiftieRacism trends on X |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2512684/swiftie-racism-against-beyonce-after-billboard-ranking-controversy-swiftieracism-trends-on-x |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jennn |first=London |date=2024-11-28 |title=Beyoncé’s Beehive Swarms Racist Taylor Swift Fans Over Top Pop Nod |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/beyonces-beehive-swarms-racist-taylor-swift-fans-over-top-pop-nod/?utm_content=cmp-true |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=AllHipHop |language=en-US}}</ref>
|+Appearances by types of artists
* Taylor Swift fans also criticized ''Billboard'' for including a clip from ]'s 2016 music video for "]", which included a nude wax figure resembling Swift, in a tribute video. In response, ''Billboard'' removed the clip and apologized on social media.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-28 |title=Taylor Swift fans enraged as Billboard uses Kanye’s 'Famous' naked clip in her tribute video; apology issued |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/taylor-swift-fans-enraged-as-billboard-uses-kanyes-famous-naked-clip-in-her-tribute-video-apology-issued/articleshow/115779468.cms |access-date=2024-11-29 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>
! scope="col" | List
* After Canadian singer ] was placed at number 8 on the list, his wife, American model ], commented on ]: "''Billboard'' is a fucking joke as per usual!"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Craighead |first=Olivia |date=2024-11-22 |title=Hailey Bieber Is Defending Justin’s Honor in the Comments |url=https://www.thecut.com/article/hailey-bieber-slams-billboards-pop-star-ranking.html |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=The Cut |language=en}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Male
* Canadian singer-songwriter ] (number 18) criticized the omission of ], who was included as an honorable mention, posting on ]: "Where is Lana on that billboard's greatest pop star list?"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Will |date=2024-11-22 |title="Where is Lana?": The Weeknd is miffed at Del Rey’s absence from Billboard’s Greatest Pop Stars of the Century list |url=https://www.musicradar.com/artists/where-is-lana-the-weeknd-is-miffed-at-del-reys-absence-from-billboards-greatest-pop-stars-of-the-century-list |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=MusicRadar |language=en-GB}}</ref>
! scope="col" | Female
! scope="col" | Group
! scope="col" | Total
|-
| Greatest Pop Stars By Year
| 15
| 21
| 8
| '''44'''
|-
| Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century
| 12
| 11
| 2
| '''25'''
|-
|}

== Controversy ==
After Taylor Swift was placed at number 2 on the 21st century list, some ] were accused of sending racial abuse to Beyoncé, the assumed number-one pick. The hashtag #SwiftieRacism later trended on ], with some Swifties facing backlash for racist behavior in the past.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 29, 2024 |title=Swiftie racism against Beyoncé after Billboard ranking controversy, #SwiftieRacism trends on X |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2512684/swiftie-racism-against-beyonce-after-billboard-ranking-controversy-swiftieracism-trends-on-x |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130162635/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2512684/swiftie-racism-against-beyonce-after-billboard-ranking-controversy-swiftieracism-trends-on-x |archive-date=November 30, 2024 |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift's Fans Make Racist Comments For Beyonce, Internet Calls Out #SwiftieRacism |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/english/taylor-swifts-fans-make-racist-comments-for-beyonce-internet-calls-out-swiftieracism/videoshow/115816210.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241129214151/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/english/taylor-swifts-fans-make-racist-comments-for-beyonce-internet-calls-out-swiftieracism/videoshow/115816210.cms |archive-date=November 29, 2024 |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jennn |first=London |date=November 28, 2024 |title=Beyoncé's Beehive Swarms Racist Taylor Swift Fans Over Top Pop Nod |url=https://allhiphop.com/news/beyonces-beehive-swarms-racist-taylor-swift-fans-over-top-pop-nod/?utm_content=cmp-true |access-date=November 29, 2024 |website=]}}</ref> Various Swifties also criticized ''Billboard'' for including a clip from Kanye West's 2016 music video for "]", which included a nude wax figure resembling Swift, in a tribute video to Swift, although the video in question was covered in detail in the article about Kanye West. In response, ''Billboard'' removed the clip and apologized on social media.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift fans enraged as Billboard uses Kanye's 'Famous' naked clip in her tribute video; apology issued |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/taylor-swift-fans-enraged-as-billboard-uses-kanyes-famous-naked-clip-in-her-tribute-video-apology-issued/articleshow/115779468.cms |access-date=November 29, 2024 |newspaper=] |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


] {{Billboard}}

] ]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 03:27, 10 January 2025

Billboard artist ranking

The Greatest Pop Stars is an annual list ranking the most important and impactful music artists in the United States, selected by a panel of editors of Billboard magazine. It differs from the Billboard Year-End Top Artist chart, which ranks artists based on statistical performances on the Billboard charts. The Greatest Pop Stars list is based on a more variety of factors, such as cultural importance, industry influence and overall omnipresence over popular music. The list was first published in 2019, with retrospective annual rankings back to 1981, the year MTV premiered, which Billboard noted as the start of "modern pop stardom". In 2024, Billboard published the Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century list, a ranking of 25 most important and impactful popular music artists from 2000 to 2024, with Beyoncé being listed at number one.

History

In 2019, American music magazine Billboard began publishing a list of the greatest pop star of every year since 1981, with essay tributes for each artist. The first year of 1981 was chosen as "the year that forever changed modern stardom", with the premiere of MTV which established music videos as an essential element for popular music iconicity. In 2024, to mark the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, Billboard decided to make a list of the artists who have defined popular culture, music and stardom, and been the "most important and most impactful" over the past 25 years.

Criteria

The Greatest Pop Stars list is not exclusively determined using chart positions, streams or sales numbers. It also uses factors such as acclaimed works, music videos, live performances, social media presence, cultural importance, industry influence and overall omnipresence. The 21st century list are measured over the years of 2000 to 2024. Billboard used the term "pop star" in a broad definition, not only top-40 type pop music soloists like Madonna and Michael Jackson, but also other popular music types of performers such as rappers, singer-songwriters, rock bands, or R&B groups.

List of artists

By year

Blondie was named the first Greatest Pop Star (1981).
Taylor Swift was named the Greatest Pop Star three times (2015, 2021, and 2023).

The following artists are crowned the Greatest Pop Star of the year by Billboard. Madonna, Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift are the only acts to top multiple years, with Swift remains the only one to top three different calendar years.

21st century

Beyoncé was named the Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century.

Billboard launched the project in on August 14, 2024, releasing a list of 25 honorable mentions. From August to December, Billboard incrementally rolled out the full ranked list. For each artist, an essay was released recapping their careers and explaining why they have "exemplified pop greatness" over the period, as well as podcast and video discussions of the chosen stars' careers and legacies. The full ranked list of the 25 greatest pop stars of the 21st century are as follows:

  1. Beyoncé
  2. Taylor Swift
  3. Rihanna
  4. Drake
  5. Lady Gaga
  6. Britney Spears
  7. Kanye West
  8. Justin Bieber
  9. Ariana Grande
  10. Adele
  11. Usher
  12. Eminem
  13. Nicki Minaj
  14. Justin Timberlake
  15. Miley Cyrus
  16. Jay-Z
  17. Shakira
  18. The Weeknd
  19. BTS
  20. Bruno Mars
  21. Lil Wayne
  22. One Direction
  23. Bad Bunny
  24. Ed Sheeran
  25. Katy Perry

Honorable mentions

The 26th through 50th greatest pop stars on the 21st century were listed alphabetically as honorable mentions.

Statistics

Female musicians dominated Billboard's Greatest Pop Star lists, showing the omnipresent of women within popular music in post-Madonna era. Madonna became the first act to be named the Greatest Pop Star twice (1985 and 1989). Women were also ranked highly on the 21st century list as only three men made into the top ten, with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Rihanna appearing in the top three.

Appearances by types of artists
List Male Female Group Total
Greatest Pop Stars By Year 15 21 8 44
Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century 12 11 2 25

Controversy

After Taylor Swift was placed at number 2 on the 21st century list, some Swifties were accused of sending racial abuse to Beyoncé, the assumed number-one pick. The hashtag #SwiftieRacism later trended on Twitter, with some Swifties facing backlash for racist behavior in the past. Various Swifties also criticized Billboard for including a clip from Kanye West's 2016 music video for "Famous", which included a nude wax figure resembling Swift, in a tribute video to Swift, although the video in question was covered in detail in the article about Kanye West. In response, Billboard removed the clip and apologized on social media.

References

  1. ^ Anderson, Trevor; Atkinson, Katie; Flores, Griselda; Kaufman, Gil; Lipshutz, Jason; Lynch, Joe; Mitchell, Gail; Unterberger, Andrew; Werthman, Christine (November 26, 2024). "The Greatest Pop Stars By Year: 1981-2024 (Updated Staff Picks)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  2. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (August 14, 2024). "The 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century: Honorable Mentions". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  3. Unterberger, Andrew (November 16, 2024). "Best Pop Singers, Rappers & Groups of 21st Century". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  4. Bond, Nick (November 27, 2024). "Winners and losers in ranking of greatest pop stars of the 21st century". News.com.au.
  5. "Swiftie racism against Beyoncé after Billboard ranking controversy, #SwiftieRacism trends on X". The Express Tribune. November 29, 2024. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  6. "Taylor Swift's Fans Make Racist Comments For Beyonce, Internet Calls Out #SwiftieRacism". The Times of India. November 29, 2024. Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  7. Jennn, London (November 28, 2024). "Beyoncé's Beehive Swarms Racist Taylor Swift Fans Over Top Pop Nod". AllHipHop. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  8. "Taylor Swift fans enraged as Billboard uses Kanye's 'Famous' naked clip in her tribute video; apology issued". The Economic Times. November 28, 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
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