official chart Billboard: Top 5 female artists of the year since 1977 | 2023 UPDATE: Taylor #1

[Feanor]

 

Here are the 5 biggest female solo artists on Billboard's Top Artists YEC since 1977...

 

Methodology (acc. to Billboard's site):

Radio Airplay + Sales Data + Streaming Data

 

 

2023

1. Taylor Swift

2. SZA

3. Miley Cyrus

4. Olivia Rodrigo

5. Beyoncé

 

 

2022

1. Taylor Swift

2. Doja Cat

3. Adele

4. Dua Lipa

5. Olivia Rodrigo

 

 

2021

1. Olivia Rodrigo

2. Taylor Swift

3. Ariana Grande

4. Doja Cat

5. Dua Lipa

 

 

2020

1. Taylor Swift

2. Billie Eilish

3. Dua Lipa

4. Megan Thee Stallion

5. Doja Cat

 

 

Here are the top 5 female artists of the year of the 2010s:

 

2019

1. Ariana Grande
2. Billie Eilish
3. Taylor Swift
4. Halsey
5. Cardi B

 

2018

1. Taylor Swift
2. Cardi B
3. Camila Cabello
4. Ariana Grande
5. Dua Lipa

 

2017

1. Ariana Grande
2. Rihanna
3. Halsey
4. Taylor Swift
5. Lady Gaga

 

2016

1. Adele
2. Beyoncé
3. Rihanna
4. Ariana Grande
5. Selena Gomez

 

2015

1. Taylor Swift
2. Meghan Trainor
3. Nicki Minaj
4. Ariana Grande
5. Selena Gomez

 

2014

1. Katy Perry
2. Beyoncé
3. Taylor Swift
4. Iggy Azalea
5. Ariana Grande

 

2013

1. Taylor Swift
2. Rihanna
3. P!nk
4. Miley Cyrus
5. Katy Perry

 

2012

1. Adele
2. Rihanna
3. Taylor Swift
4. Nicki Minaj
5. Katy Perry

 

2011

1. Adele
2. Rihanna
3. Katy Perry
4. Lady Gaga
5. Nicki Minaj

 

2010

1. Lady Gaga
2. Taylor Swift
3. Rihanna
4. Katy Perry
5. Susan Boyle

 

 

Here are the top 5 female artists of the year of the 2000s:

Spoiler

2009

1. Taylor Swift

2. Beyoncé

3. Lady Gaga

4. Miley Cyrus

5. Britney Spears

 

 

2008

1. Rihanna

2. Alicia Keys

3. Taylor Swift

4. Leona Lewis

5. Miley Cyrus

 

 

2007

1. Fergie

2. Carrie Underwood

3. Beyoncé

4. Avril Lavigne

5. Gwen Stefani

 

 

2006

1. Rihanna

2. Mary J. Blige

3. Beyoncé

4. Kelly Clarkson

5. Carrie Underwood

 

 

2005

1. Kelly Clarkson

2. Mariah Carey

3. Gwen Stefani

4. Ciara

5. Fantasia Barrino

 

 

2004

1. Alicia Keys

2. Beyoncé

3. Britney Spears

4. Norah Jones

5. Sheryl Crow

 

 

2003

1. Christina Aguilera

2. Beyoncé

3. Norah Jones

4. Avril Lavigne

5. Shania Twain

 

 

2002

1. Ashanti

2. P!nk

3. Avril Lavigne

4. Jennifer Lopez

5. Shakira

 

 

2001

1. Jennifer Lopez

2. Janet Jackson

3. Alicia Keys

4. Dido

5. Faith Hill

 

 

2000

1. Christina Aguilera

2. Faith Hill

3. Britney Spears

4. P!nk

5. Celine Dion

 

 

Here are the top 5 female artists of the year of the 1990s:

Spoiler

1999

1. Britney Spears

2. Shania Twain

3. Cher

4. Whitney Houston

5. Sarah McLachlan

 

 

1998

1. Shania Twain

2. LeAnn Rimes

3. Celine Dion

4. Janet Jackson

5. Monica

 

 

1997

1. LeAnn Rimes

2. Jewel

3. Toni Braxton

4. Celine Dion

5. Sheryl Crow

 

 

1996

1. Alanis Morisette

2. Mariah Carey

3. Celine Dion

4. Tracy Chapman

5. Toni Braxton

 

 

1995

1. Sheryl Crow

2. Madonna

3. Brandy

4. Melissa Etheridge

5. Mary J. Blige

 

 

1994

1. Mariah Carey

2. Toni Braxton

3. Janet Jackson

4. Celine Dion

5. Aaliyah

 

 

1993

1. Janet Jackson

2. Reba McEntire

3. Mariah Carey

4. Wynonna

5. Gloria Estefan

 

 

1992

1. Mariah Carey

2. Bonnie Raitt

3. Amy Grant

4. Vanessa Williams

5. Paula Abdul

 

 

1991

1. Mariah Carey

2. Whitney Houston

3. Paula Abdul

4. Amy Grant

5. Madonna

 

 

1990

1. Janet Jackson

2. Paula Abdul

3. Taylor Dayne

4. Madonna

5. Sinead O'Connor

 

 

Here are the top 5 female artists of the year of the 1980s:

Spoiler

1989

1. Paula Abdul

2. Madonna

3. Debbie Gibson

4. Karyn White

5. Anita Baker

 

 

1988

1. Debbie Gibson

2. Whitney Houston

3. Tiffany

4. Belinda Carlisle

5. Taylor Dayne

 

 

1987

1. Whitney Houston

2. Madonna

3. Janet Jackson

4. Anita Baker

5. Jody Watley

 

 

1986

1. Whitney Houston

2. Madonna

3. Sade

4. Janet Jackson

5. Barbra Streisand

 

 

1985

1. Madonna

2. Tina Turner

3. Whitney Houston

4. Sade

5. Cyndi Lauper

 

 

1984

1. Cyndia Lauper

2. Madonna

3. Tina Turner

4. Linda Ronstadt

5. Laure Branigan

 

 

1983

1. Laura Branigan

2. Stevie Nicks

3. Pat Benatar

4. Olivia Newton-John

5. Jane Fonda

 

 

1982

1. Olivia Newton-John

2. Juice Newton

3. Diana Ross

4. Stevie Nicks

5. Pat Benatar

 

 

1981

1. Pat Benatar

2. Kim Carnes

3. Barbra Streisand

4. Diana Ross

5. Juice Newton

 

 

1980

1. Donna Summer

2. Pat Benatar

3. Dionne Warwick

4. Anne Murray

5. Linda Ronstadt

 

 

And here are the top 5 female artists of the year of the late 1970s:

Spoiler

1979

1. Donna Summer

2. Anne Murray

3. Olivia Newton-John

4. Barbra Streisand

5. Gloria Gaynor

 

 

1978

1. Linda Ronstadt

2. Donna Summer

3. Dolly Parton

4. Olivia Newton-John

5. Yvonne Elliman

 

 

1977

1. Linda Ronstadt

2. Donna Summer

3. Thelma Houston

4. Rita Coolidge

5. Barbra Streisand

________________________

 

 

Most No. 1 placements

Taylor Swift (7)

Runner-up:

Adele & Mariah Carey (3)

 

Most top 3 placements

Taylor Swift (13)

Runner-up:

Rihanna (8)

 

Most top 5 placements

Taylor Swift (14)

Runner-up:

Beyoncé, Madonna & Rihanna (8)

________________________

 

 

How have your favorite female artists performed over the years?

 

 

Edited November 21, 2023 by Feanor

[bluebirdsforever]

Yes Taylor yes longevity 

[ariananext]

relevant girls only 

[Brando]

Taylor

And she will also place in Top 3 this year

 

See when you consistently serve quality 

[Green]

56 minutes ago, Feanor said:

 

So with Billboard's chart year coming to an end this week, Billboard will soon reveal their annual Top Artists list, which will mean we will see, who were the biggest female artists of 2020.

 

In the meantime, here are the 10 biggest female solo artists and female-led bands on Billboard's Top Artists YEC since 2006 (the year this ranking was first published)

 

 

 

 

Billboard has been publishing that ranking since the 80's

 

 

BILLBOARD TOP 5 FEMALE SOLO ARTISTS BY YEAR

 

1980

1. Donna Summer
2. Pat Benatar
3. Dionne Warwick
4. Anne Murray
5. Linda Ronstadt

 

1981

1. Pat Benatar
2. Kim Carnes
3. Barbra Streisand
4. Diana Ross
5. Juice Newton

 

1982

1. Olivia Newton-John
2. Juice Newton
3. Diana Ross
4. Stevie Nicks
5. Pat Benatar

 

1983

1. Laura Branigan
2. Stevie Nicks
3. Pat Benatar
4. Olivia Newton-John
5. Jane Fonda

 

1984:

1. Cyndi Lauper
2. Madonna
3. Tina Turner
4. Linda Ronstadt
5. Laura Branigan

 

1985:

1. Madonna
2. Tina Turner
3. Whitney Houston
4. Sade
5. Cyndi Lauper

 

1986:

1. Whitney Houston
2. Madonna
3. Sade
4. Janet Jackson
5. Barbra Streisand

 

1987:

1. Whitney Houston
2. Madonna
3. Janet Jackson
4. Anita Baker
5. Jody Watley

 

1988:

1. Debbie Gibson
2. Whitney Houston
3. Tiffany
4. Belinda Carlisle
5. Taylor Dayne

 

1989:

1. Paula Abdul
2. Madonna
3. Debbie Gibson
4. Karyn White
5. Anita Baker

 

1990:

1. Janet Jackson
2. Paula Abdul
3. Taylor Dayne
4. Madonna
5. Sinead O’Connor

 

1991:

1. Mariah Carey
2. Whitney Houston
3. Paula Abdul
4. Amy Grant
5. Madonna

 

1992:

1. Mariah Carey
2. Bonnie Raitt
3. Amy Grant
4. Vanessa Williams
5. Paula Abdul

 

1993:

1 – Janet Jackson
2 – Reba McEntire
3 – Mariah Carey
4 – Wynonna
5 – Gloria Estefan

 

1994:

1 – Mariah Carey
2 – Toni Braxton
3 – Janet Jackson
4 – Celine Dion
5 – Aaliyah

 

1995:

1 – Sheryl Crow
2 – Madonna
3 – Brandy
4 – Melissa Etheridge
5 – Mary J. Blige

 

1996:

1. Alanis Morissette
2. Mariah Carey
3. Celine Dion
4. Tracy Chapman
5. Toni Braxton

 

1997:

1 – LeAnn Rimes
2 – Jewel
3 – Toni Braxton
4 – Celine Dion
5 – Sheryl Crow

 

1998:

1 – Shania Twain
2 – LeAnn Rimes
3 – Celine Dion
4 – Janet Jackson
5 – Monica

 

1999:

1 – Britney Spears
2 – Shania Twain
3 – Cher
4 – Whitney Houston
5 – Sarah McLachlan

 

2000:

1 – Christina Aguilera
2 – Faith Hill
3 – Britney Spears
4 – Pink
5 – Celine Dion

 

2001:

1 – Jennifer Lopez
2 – Janet Jackson
3 – Alicia Keys
4 – Dido
5 – Faith Hill

 

2002:

1 – Ashanti
2 – Pink
3 – Avril Lavigne
4 – Jennifer Lopez
5 – Shakira

 

2003:

1 – Christina Aguilera
2 – Beyoncé
3 – Norah Jones
4 – Avril Lavigne
5 – Shania Twain

 

2004:

1 – Alicia Keys
2 – Beyoncé
3 – Britney Spears
4 – Norah Jones
5 – Sheryl Crow

 

2005:

1 – Kelly Clarkson
2 – Mariah Carey
3 – Gwen Stefani
4 – Ciara
5 – Fantasia Barrino

 

2006:

1 – Rihanna
2 – Mary J. Blige
3 – Beyoncé
4 – Kelly Clarkson
5 – Carrie Underwood

 

[Ribs]

24 minutes ago, Feanor said:

Most #1 placements

Taylor Swift (4)

Runner-up: Adele (3)

 

Most top 3 placements

Taylor Swift (9)

Runner-up: Rihanna (8)

 

Most top 10 placements

Taylor Swift (13)

Runner-up: Rihanna (11)

Why did this SENT me 

[MingYouToo]

I understand these are facts but  not this just basically being Taylor domination after Taylor domination

 

Truly the biggest female artist in the United States of ALL TIME

[MALAMENTE]

Taylor

[Feanor]

8 minutes ago, Green said:

 

Billboard has been publishing that ranking since the 80's

 

Oh damn, I didn’t know that they did since their website only goes back to 2006.

Let me add these names later.

 

Thanks for the list.

[slw84]

12 minutes ago, Green said:

 

Billboard has been publishing that ranking since the 80's

 

 

BILLBOARD TOP 5 FEMALE SOLO ARTISTS BY YEAR

 

1980

1. Donna Summer
2. Pat Benatar
3. Dionne Warwick
4. Anne Murray
5. Linda Ronstadt

 

1981

1. Pat Benatar
2. Kim Carnes
3. Barbra Streisand
4. Diana Ross
5. Juice Newton

 

1982

1. Olivia Newton-John
2. Juice Newton
3. Diana Ross
4. Stevie Nicks
5. Pat Benatar

 

1983

1. Laura Branigan
2. Stevie Nicks
3. Pat Benatar
4. Olivia Newton-John
5. Jane Fonda

 

1984:

1. Cyndi Lauper
2. Madonna
3. Tina Turner
4. Linda Ronstadt
5. Laura Branigan

 

1985:

1. Madonna
2. Tina Turner
3. Whitney Houston
4. Sade
5. Cyndi Lauper

 

1986:

1. Whitney Houston
2. Madonna
3. Sade
4. Janet Jackson
5. Barbra Streisand

 

1987:

1. Whitney Houston
2. Madonna
3. Janet Jackson
4. Anita Baker
5. Jody Watley

 

1988:

1. Debbie Gibson
2. Whitney Houston
3. Tiffany
4. Belinda Carlisle
5. Taylor Dayne

 

1989:

1. Paula Abdul
2. Madonna
3. Debbie Gibson
4. Karyn White
5. Anita Baker

 

1990:

1. Janet Jackson
2. Paula Abdul
3. Taylor Dayne
4. Madonna
5. Sinead O’Connor

 

1991:

1. Mariah Carey
2. Whitney Houston
3. Paula Abdul
4. Amy Grant
5. Madonna

 

1992:

1. Mariah Carey
2. Bonnie Raitt
3. Amy Grant
4. Vanessa Williams
5. Paula Abdul

 

1993:

1 – Janet Jackson
2 – Reba McEntire
3 – Mariah Carey
4 – Wynonna
5 – Gloria Estefan

 

1994:

1 – Mariah Carey
2 – Toni Braxton
3 – Janet Jackson
4 – Celine Dion
5 – Aaliyah

 

1995:

1 – Sheryl Crow
2 – Madonna
3 – Brandy
4 – Melissa Etheridge
5 – Mary J. Blige

 

1996:

1. Alanis Morissette
2. Mariah Carey
3. Celine Dion
4. Tracy Chapman
5. Toni Braxton

 

1997:

1 – LeAnn Rimes
2 – Jewel
3 – Toni Braxton
4 – Celine Dion
5 – Sheryl Crow

 

1998:

1 – Shania Twain
2 – LeAnn Rimes
3 – Celine Dion
4 – Janet Jackson
5 – Monica

 

1999:

1 – Britney Spears
2 – Shania Twain
3 – Cher
4 – Whitney Houston
5 – Sarah McLachlan

 

2000:

1 – Christina Aguilera
2 – Faith Hill
3 – Britney Spears
4 – Pink
5 – Celine Dion

 

2001:

1 – Jennifer Lopez
2 – Janet Jackson
3 – Alicia Keys
4 – Dido
5 – Faith Hill

 

2002:

1 – Ashanti
2 – Pink
3 – Avril Lavigne
4 – Jennifer Lopez
5 – Shakira

 

2003:

1 – Christina Aguilera
2 – Beyoncé
3 – Norah Jones
4 – Avril Lavigne
5 – Shania Twain

 

2004:

1 – Alicia Keys
2 – Beyoncé
3 – Britney Spears
4 – Norah Jones
5 – Sheryl Crow

 

2005:

1 – Kelly Clarkson
2 – Mariah Carey
3 – Gwen Stefani
4 – Ciara
5 – Fantasia Barrino

 

2006:

1 – Rihanna
2 – Mary J. Blige
3 – Beyoncé
4 – Kelly Clarkson
5 – Carrie Underwood

 

Thank you. Can't we just merge the thread which started this and include the recent years

[chaneloberlin]

Taylor 

Her fans are insuferrable but I guess they can be because the stats... the numbers... the sales don't lie

 

Rihanna too serving longevity 

In fact all the '10s girls that are still here today and still selling well is an achievement in itself.

 

We all got crowns

[SlaylorSwift]

Is she?

45 minutes ago, Feanor said:

Most #1 placements

Taylor Swift (4)

Runner-up: Adele (3)

 

Most top 3 placements

Taylor Swift (9)

Runner-up: Rihanna (8)

 

Most top 10 placements

Taylor Swift (13)

Runner-up: Rihanna (11)

____________________________

 

How has your fave artist performed over the years?

 

Pretty good I guess? 

[Swiftie07]

Taylor pretty much has the 2020 on lock. 

[duybeeGAshantiGA]

Ariana  the New Pop Princess indeed.

 

Also  Ashanti used to be on TOP !!!

2002:

1 – Ashanti
2 – Pink
3 – Avril Lavigne
4 – Jennifer Lopez
5 – Shakira

[cityfolk]

Ariana top 5 every year since 2014 and #1 twice  Taylegend's DOMINATION 

[Feanor]

Updated with all the top 5 female artists from prior to 2006

[bluebirdsforever]

1 hour ago, cityfolk said:

Ariana top 5 every year since 2014 and #1 twice  Taylegend's DOMINATION 

Ariana coming AGAIN this year too 

[cityfolk]

24 minutes ago, bluebirdsforever said:

Ariana coming AGAIN this year too 

I think it'll be

 

1. Dua

2. Billie

3. Taylor

4. Gaga

5. Ariana or Cardi

[MusicBiz234]

Taylor, Ari, and Rih.  quality talent always wins (even though im disappointed with positions)

[SwiftLover]

Donna Summer serving bops, quality, melanin & success. 

 

Taylor stomping, as per usual. 

 

The OSCAR winning girl MIA during her re-peak 

 

Beyonce getting blocked at #2  like 5 times 

[MusicBiz234]

1 hour ago, cityfolk said:

I think it'll be

 

1. Dua

2. Billie

3. Taylor

4. Gaga

5. Ariana or Cardi

Interesting, I think the names are right but...

 

1. Dua

2. Taylor

3. Ari

4. Billie

5. Gaga/Cardi

[TrieLz]

Beyonce never on top? 

 

can’t wait for the 2020 list 

[peterstyles13]

Taylor's dominance is truly unprecedented 

[Technicolor]

8 hours ago, Green said:

 

 

1988:

1. Debbie Gibson
2. Whitney Houston
3. Tiffany
4. Belinda Carlisle
5. Taylor Dayne

 

 

 

Talent only 

[Cute]

taylor and adele relevant gurls only