Taylor Swift was recently ranked the second greatest pop star of the 21st century board magazine, which has gradually revealed its list through a series of articles. According to Billboard, the ranking “highlights the artists who have most defined pop stardom over the past 25 years.”
The magazine placed Rihanna at number 3, Drake at number 4, Lady Gaga at number 5, and Britney Spears at number 6. Swift’s ranking is notably five places higher than Ye (formerly Kanye West), with whom she has dated. Long standing enmity. Other major artists below Swift include Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Adele and Usher.
Earlier, Swift was named Billboard’s Top Artist of 2023. In an accompanying article, Billboard writer Hannah Daly explained Swift’s influence, stating that by “honoring all the qualities that made her different,” she managed to “bend the culture to her will” and Despite starting her career in country music, she has emerged as one of the world’s most undeniable pop stars. Daly acknowledged that Swift’s second-place ranking could spark controversy but argued that it highlights her immense cultural influence.
Daly wrote, “The fact that controversy over his falling just one short spot from No. 1 would dominate the Internet is yet another testament to his power.” He also said Swifty probably wouldn’t be bothered for long, considering her relatively late age. Enter pop music.
The recognition caps an important year for Swift. In February, she made history as the first artist to win the Grammy for Album of the Year four times. She was also named as Time Magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year and, as of October, was recognized by Forbes as the richest female musician with a net worth of $1.6 billion. Additionally, their Eraz Tour became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. Their latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, broke records in April by earning more than 300 million streams per day on Spotify.
Billboard has not yet revealed the top spot on its list, but many fans are speculating that it will go to Beyoncé, who has not yet appeared in the ranking. As predicted, some of Swift’s fans expressed disappointment on social media, with one user on X calling the ranking a “joke” and insisting that Swift deserved the top spot. Others, especially those who expected Beyoncé to be No. 1, felt the ranking was fair.
“Taylor has grown up in recent years, but Beyoncé has been huge since the beginning of this century,” wrote a Reddit user who identified as a fan of both artists.
