charts discussion Billboard crowns Taylor Swift the "Greatest Pop Star of '23" –> redefined pop stardom

[Feanor]

 

 

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Billboard's staff counts down our picks for the 10 best and most impactful pop stars of 2023

 

[…]

 

We’ll be counting down our top 10 over the course of next week, with our top two being revealed on Friday (Dec. 15). 

Billboard

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Honorable mentions

Gunna

Jung Kook

NewJeans

Sabrina Carpenter

Sexyy Red

Shakira

Travis Scott

Troye Sivan

Victoria Monét

Zach Bryan

 

Rookie of the Year - Peso Pluma

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Before that, a tribute to the artist who crashed the mainstream for the first time in the biggest way this year: Mexico’s rapidly growing superstar Peso Pluma, one of the year’s preeminent global hitmakers.

 

Comeback Artist of the Year - Miley Cyrus

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First, a salute to the artist who made the most impressive comeback this year: pop icon Miley Cyrus, who found herself back atop the top 40 world for the first time in a decade.

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The Top 10…

Spoiler

#10 - Drake

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At No. 10, we remember the year in Drake — a veteran superstar whose current work longtime fans are increasingly divided over, but who can still always just point to the scoreboard for proof of his rap and pop supremacy.

 

#9 - Doja Cat

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At No. 9, we remember the year in Doja Cat — a consistently challenging and successful pop star who rarely makes it easy for her fans, but continues to build one of the most vital and rewarding careers in 2020s pop.

 

#8 - Bad Bunny

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At No. 8, we remember the year in Bad Bunny — who, with his unrelenting impact on the global music scene, continues to shape the fabric of contemporary pop culture.

 

#7 - Olivia Rodrigo

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At No. 7, we remember the year in Olivia Rodrigo — who avoided the sophomore slump and continued to define both pop and rock stardom for her generation with one of the year’s most acclaimed albums.

 

#6 - Karol G

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At No. 6, we remember the year in Karol G — who reached new heights as a recording and touring artist and confirmed herself as one of the biggest stars on the planet.

 

#5 - Morgan Wallen

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At No. 6, we remember the year in Morgan Wallen — who put up mind-boggling stats all year, but was still surprisingly invisible at times.

 

#4 - Ice Spice

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At No. 4, we remember the year in Ice Spice — who, while still in the earliest stages of her career, became a vital and inescapable part of 2023 pop culture.

 

#3 - Beyoncé

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At No. 3, we remember the year in Beyoncé — who, 25 years into her superstardom, proved once again that whenever she puts her imprint on a year, she needs to be mentioned among the handful of greatest active pop stars.

 

#2 - SZA

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At No. 2, we remember the year in SZA — who had the best 12 months of her career and confirmed herself as one of the inner-circle stars of 2020s pop music.

 

#1 - Taylor Swift

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 At No. 1, we remember the year in Taylor Swift — who, quite simply, spent all year doing things we’ve never seen a pop star do before.

 

Taylor Swift becomes the first pop star the Billboard Staff has crowned the "Greatest Pop Star" for 3 non-consecutive years.  

 

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Billboard Staff's pick of "The Greatest Pop Star" of every year since 1981…

(detailed breakdowns of every choice in the linked article)

Spoiler

1980s…

Spoiler

1981 - Blondie

 

1982 - John Mellencamp

 

1983 - Michael Jackson

 

1984 - Prince

 

1985 - Madonna

 

1986 - Whitney Houston

 

1987 - Bon Jovi

 

1988 - George Michael

 

1989 - Madonna

 

1990s…

Spoiler

1990 - Janet Jackson

 

1991 - Mariah Carey

 

1992 - Nirvana

 

1993 - Janet Jackson

 

1994 - Boyz II Men

 

1995 - TLC

 

1996 - Alanis Morissette

 

1997 - Puff Daddy

 

1998 - Backstreet Boys

 

1999 - Britney Spears

 

2000s…

Spoiler

2000 - *NSYNC

 

2001 - Jennifer Lopez

 

2002 - Eminem

 

2003 - Beyoncé

 

2004 - Usher

 

2005 - Kanye West

 

2006 - Justin Timberlake

 

2007 - Rihanna

 

2008 - Lil Wayne

 

2009 - Lady Gaga

 

2010s…

Spoiler

2010 - Katy Perry

 

2011 - Adele

 

2012 - Rihanna

 

2013 - Miley Cyrus

 

2014 - Beyoncé

 

2015 - Taylor Swift

 

2016 - Justin Bieber

 

2017 - Ed Sheeran

 

2018 - Drake

 

2019 - Ariana Grande

 

2020s…

Spoiler

2020 - BTS

 

2021 - Taylor Swift

 

2022 - Bad Bunny

 

2023 - Taylor Swift

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2023 by Feanor

[Cruel Summer]

Gosh! I wonder who the top two could possibly be! 

[Strawberry Bubble]

Taylor DOMINATED this year like no other pop star 

[Feanor]

5 minutes ago, Cruel Summer said:

Gosh! I wonder who the top two could possibly be! 

My prediction for the remaining 6 slots:

#6 - The Weeknd

#5 - Luke Combs

#4 - Beyoncé

#3 - SZA

#2 - Taylor Swift

#1 - Morgan Wallen

(because Billboard is very obsessed with him lately)

 

[Kanes]

11 minutes ago, Cruel Summer said:

Gosh! I wonder who the top two could possibly be! 

2. Taylor Swift

1. Tate McRae

Edited December 13, 2023 by Danes

[liam13]

congrats to soon-to-be-revealed #1 artist of the year

[FolkLover1989]

16 minutes ago, liam13 said:

congrats to soon-to-be-revealed #1 artist of the year

 

40 minutes ago, Cruel Summer said:

Gosh! I wonder who the top two could possibly be! 

It will be Morgan Wallen

They love him a lot

[vuelve88]

Not Shakira being grouped with Troye Sivan and Sabrina Carpenter after her amazing year. 

[Rev8]

Kind of surprised MJ made it only once (along with..Whitney?)

[liam13]

5 minutes ago, FolkLover1989 said:

 

It will be Morgan Wallen

They love him a lot

Time's POTY is taking it me fears

[Maroonx]

#1 is gonna be Nicki...  

[Wolf Alice]

4 hours ago, Feanor said:

#1 - Morgan Wallen

 

4 hours ago, FolkLover1989 said:

 

It will be Morgan Wallen

They love him a lot

He is #5 

[Badgalbriel]

Damn, I wonder who that is!

[Feanor]

Updated the OP with #6 and #5 being revealed.

 

1 hour ago, Wolf Alice said:

 

He is #5 

Well…

 

I guess #1 is between SZA and Taylor then.

[Feanor]

#4 - Ice Spice and #3 - Beyoncé revealed.

 

The finale is tomorrow.

[Gerardo]

SZA is #2 and Taylor is #1, I’m surprised they didn’t put The Weeknd not even in honorable mentions, he had Die For You as a #1 hit, huge hit with Creepin and his tour

[Wolf Alice]

On 12/14/2023 at 1:53 AM, Feanor said:

Updated the OP with #6 and #5 being revealed.

 

Well…

 

I guess #1 is between SZA and Taylor then.

And Taylor takes it 

[Pink Whitney]

Ice Spice being considered “the greatest” at anything is such a damn kii

[Tropez]

53 minutes ago, Pink Whitney said:

Ice Spice being considered “the greatest” at anything is such a damn kii

Not Ife already having a OIH

[WeFoundWill]

I mean yes

 

Payola Kook here is crazy tho