Taylor Swift was not too long ago ranked the second biggest pop star of the twenty first century by Billboard journal, which has regularly revealed its checklist by way of a sequence of articles. Based on Billboard, the rating highlights “the artists who’ve most outlined pop stardom for the final 25 years.”
The journal positioned Rihanna at No. 3, Drake at No. 4, Girl Gaga at No. 5, and Britney Spears at No. 6. Swift’s rating is notably 5 spots above Ye (previously Kanye West), with whom she has had a long-standing feud. Different outstanding artists under Swift embody Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Adele, and Usher.
Beforehand, Swift was named Billboard’s Prime Artist of 2023. In an accompanying piece, Billboard author Hannah Dailey defined Swift’s affect, stating that by “honouring all of the traits that made her totally different,” she managed to “gravitationally bend tradition to her will” and emerge as one of many world’s most undisputed pop stars, regardless of beginning her profession in nation music. Dailey acknowledged that Swift’s second-place rating would possibly spark controversy however argued that it highlights her immense cultural impression.
“The truth that controversy will doubtless tear by way of the web over her being only one small area under No. 1 is simply one other testomony to her energy,” Dailey wrote, including that Swifties doubtless would not keep upset for lengthy, contemplating her comparatively late entry into pop music.
This recognition caps off a monumental 12 months for Swift. In February, she made historical past as the primary artist to win the Grammy for Album of the 12 months 4 instances. She was additionally named Time journal’s 2023 Particular person of the 12 months and, as of October, was acknowledged by Forbes because the richest feminine musician with a web price of $1.6 billion. Moreover, her Eras Tour turned the highest-grossing live performance tour of all time. Her newest album, The Tortured Poets Division, broke information in April by incomes over 300 million streams on Spotify every day.
Billboard has but to disclose the highest spot on its checklist, however many followers speculate it can go to Beyonce, who has not appeared within the rankings to date. As predicted, a few of Swift’s followers voiced disappointment on social media, with one person on X calling the rating a “joke” and insisting Swift deserved the highest spot. Others, notably those that anticipate Beyonce to be No. 1, felt the rating was honest.
“Taylor has been greater lately, however Beyonce has been enormous because the very starting of this century,” wrote one Reddit person who recognized as a fan of each artists.