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Pop music is an enduring influence in contemporary society. As a commercial genre defined by mainstream visibility, it shapes social identity and reflects human culture. More than one sound, modern pop music puts multiple genres into a melting pot to create something accessible. While pop music has been around for many decades, it’s transformed from a broad descriptor to a recognized genre and dominant cultural force.
Pop songs, albums, and artists are crucial to the human story, and the following stars are the most influential of all.
What Defines a Pop Artist?
The following elements describe the central pillars of modern pop:
Catchy, Repeatable Hooks
Without a hook, pop music wouldn’t have the power to grab your attention or the cohesion to stay in your memory. Musical hooks come in many forms, from instrumental melodies to identifiable lyrics, vocal flows, and catchy rhythms. A pop hook is the most recognizable part of any pop song. It’s as unique as a fingerprint, and it sticks around in your head whether you like it or not.
Strong Visual Presence
Contemporary pop music is all about style. While good music is always front and center, pop stars need a recognizable presence on the global stage. From album covers to social media, the pop industry works hard to create a strong image for each artist. Consistency is not everything, however, with pop longevity dependent on changing things up and keeping things authentic — year after year.
Strategic Collaborations
Over recent decades, the global pop industry has learned to leverage the power of relationships. Pop stars collaborate with each other all the time to keep styles fresh through the power of connection. People gain new fans by working with other pop music artists, integrating new sub-genres, cultures, styles, and sounds. There isn’t a single male/female artist that works alone in the world of pop.
Chart Performance
It almost goes without saying, but pop music is commercial by definition. Without consistent chart performance and streaming power, even the biggest artist in the world would struggle to stay relevant. The biggest pop stars can experiment with new genres and styles from time to time, but their longevity and integrity is dependent on how many records they sell and stream to their fan base.
Mass Cultural Relevance
Cultural relevance is not just about sales figures; it depends on something much less tangible. The biggest pop stars don’t just shift numbers — they influence culture through fashion, art, and politics. Artists like Taylor Swift create a feedback loop between personal identity and culture, sharing individual stories to reflect the wider world.
More than an isolated genre, modern pop is defined by musical connections and cultural momentum. Pop blends genres from across time and space, including R&B, hip-hop, indie, EDM, and Latin. The Weeknd is a good example here, with his synthwave revival keeping music fresh by borrowing from the past. Social media platforms also have a huge influence on pop culture, as viral moments on TikTok can reshape careers and change culture overnight.
30 Biggest Pop Music Artists Right Now
- The most popular singer in the world, Taylor Swift, transforms emotive personal stories into shared cultural moments.
- Olivia Rodrigo is the Gen-Z pop voice. She blends pure pop sounds with confessional songwriting and rock/folk influences.
- With her commanding presence, Dua Lipa merges ’70s disco with ’80s synth-pop and ’90s club music to create pop gems.
- Ariana Grande uses her powerful four-octave vocal range to create cultural moments much bigger than herself.
- Billie Eilish has an authentic, dark pop sound. Her introspective lyrics and fresh sound helped her rise to fame as a teenager.
- The best pop singer according to many, Beyoncé combines powerful vocals with artistic innovation and cultural relevance.
- With his distinct falsetto voice and moody R&B sound, The Weeknd shaped the sound of pop music in the new millennium.
- From One Direction to a popular solo career, Harry Styles has built a personal brand based on musical flamboyance.
- SZA explores heartbreak, sexuality, and self-image. She’s the perfect example of vulnerability delivered as strength.
- From bubblegum pop to future rap, Doja Cat is a genre-bending singer with chameleon sounds and surreal street style.
- From Disney princess to global pop star, Sabrina Carpenter is a popular artist and Billboard chart sensation.
- Bad Bunny is the face of Latin pop, informing massive commercial hits with South American music and reggaeton beats.
- Drake is a Canadian rapper with several record-breaking hits, and he’s also famous for his feud with Kendrick Lamar.
- From country sweetheart to new pop icon, Miley Cyrus is another Disney starlet who took on the world of pop music.
- Rihanna is a singer, businesswoman, and actress. This global sensation merges pure pop sounds with R&B, dance, and hip-hop.
- Lady Gaga is the modern face of art pop. Her avant-garde fashion and unique style are only matched by her powerful vocals.
- Bruno Mars bought funk back to pop, with his retro style and extended vocal range selling more than 150 million records.
- Justin Bieber was a childhood star who grew up in the public eye. He represents the challenges that accompany pop fame.
- BLACKPINK is the new face of global pop music. This K-pop girl group blends soft feminine aesthetics with strong girl power.
- BTS is a K-pop boy band known for crafting diverse music styles and delivering powerful stadium performances.
- Tate McRae combines pure pop with dance and alternative sounds. Fans love her honest songwriting about self-discovery.
- Post Malone blends pop and hip-hop sounds with R&B and country. His mash-up sound and unique style remain relevant.
- Far from a manufactured figure, Charlie Puth is a Berklee College graduate with perfect pitch and great songwriting skills.
- Ed Sheeran is a beloved pop figure known for crafting catchy songs, with a loyal fan base and “everyman” persona.
- From Disney princess to pop star and mental health advocate, Selena Gomez is a huge star and successful global brand.
- Rosalía represents the new global face of pop music, blending flamenco rhythms with urban pop and hip-hop grooves.
- Troye Sivan initially gained popularity on YouTube, crafting dance-oriented pop that explores queer love and desire.
- Lana Del Rey is an authentic figure blending folk Americana sounds with intelligent lyrics and sublime songwriting.
- Hailing from Colombia, Karol G blends urban reggaeton rhythms and Latin sounds with global pop production.
- Ice Spice is a Gen-Z hip-hop artist who achieved viral success from her relaxed flow and signature drill sound.
Top Pop Stars by Era
Pop music emerged in the 1950s, thanks to new recording technologies and distribution methods. Early pop music borrowed from blues, rock, and soul, changing slowly into its very own genre. Over time, colorful instrumentation was used to capture audience attention, and electronics were added to bring something fresh to the table.
The following pop eras were all unique:
1960s–70s
This period in pop evolution saw the explosion of pop on the radio. Motown was a massive influence, creating catchy, pop-infused records that fused R&B, gospel, and jazz. These early decades were the start of the global pop phenomenon, which was developing around diverse pop music artists like ABBA, The Beatles, and Diana Ross. Some of the easiest karaoke songs for women come from this period.
1980s
The 1980s saw the ultimate pop revolution, with ’70s punk and funk infused with modern style to create synth-pop. Huge names like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince combined R&B, soul, and rock to create this new pop format. Thanks to MTV, music videos transformed pop music artists into mythical icons with visual appeal. Madonna’s most popular songs can still be heard on the radio to this day.
1990s
This was the decade of boy bands, pop divas, and emotional ballads. Pop music artists of the ’90s were greatly influenced by technology, with digital recording and distribution tools bringing polished production to the masses. Some of the biggest pop music artists in the ’90s were the Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, and Britney Spears. This era was responsible for some of the greatest dance party songs of all time.
2000s
It was a brand-new millennium, and pop music was leading the cultural charge. Digital downloads reshaped commercial success, with music leaning heavily on dance, R&B, and hip-hop. This was the decade of collaborations and hybrids, as pop music artists worked together to shape the new pop sound. Beyoncé and Rihanna were the most famous pop music artists of the decade, along with Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga. There were also some meme songs that broke the internet released during this decade.
2010s
The streaming era was here, and genre blending had become the new normal. Along with borrowing from other genres, pop became global with the growing fame of K-pop and J-pop acts. Pop fandoms grew exponentially throughout this decade, with Swifties the most obvious example. Taylor Swift’s full discography highlights her longstanding career. Other top pop music artists from this decade include Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, and Adele.
2020s
The face of pop continues to change, as cultural groundswells turn into global movements. Social media is having a huge influence, with Instagram and TikTok leading to viral moments and new discoveries. Prominent trends include minimalism, nostalgic genre revivals, and DIY aesthetics delivered by indie pop music artists. The most streamed artists from this era include famous singers like Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, and Dua Lipa.
The Lasting Impact Pop Music Artists Have on Culture
Pop music is often seen as bland, shallow, and without substance. This couldn’t be further from the truth, however, as pop artists shape music and culture on a massive scale. By merging genres and styles into digestible chunks, pop artists have a huge impact on the global story. From the 1950s to the present day, pop artists have shaped fashion trends, influenced social conversations, inspired internet memes, and affected global aesthetics.
Pop music is a reflection of each generation, condensing the moods and aspirations of everyday people into tangible products full of sounds, grooves, and emotions. As technology and audiences evolve, pop music artists will continue to redefine our cultural identity.