- Taylor Swift named the second most influential pop star of the last 25 years
- Billboard is expected to name Beyonce the great popstar of the 21st century
- Swift is set to conclude her Eras Tour early next month
Taylor Swift was beaten out by Beyonce, who is due to be named the greatest pop star of the 21st century.
As expected, her faithful army of Swifties jumped to their keyboards to defend their favourite, shocked that she hadn’t reached the top.
Billboard dubbed the list, which also features Rihanna, Britney Spears and Drake, as being made up of “artists who have most defined pop stardom for the last 25 years.”
Billboard’s Hannah Dailey praised Swift for being “able to forcefully, gravitationally bend culture to her will and become one of the world’s biggest undisputed pop stars, despite her eight-year late start in country music.”
She correctly called the outpouring of criticism that would inevitably follow but cited Swift’s late start in the century.
The Swifties defend Taylor Swift
Swifties, the nickname for Swift’s fans, came out in full force for their favorite.
They argued about her back catalogue and widespread pop culture impact. Much was made about the legacy of The Eras Tour.
Read more: Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay differences
In addition, they pointed out how she was influencing the next generation of pop superstars. Gracie Abrams, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Griff are singers who have cited Swift’s impact on them.
“Taylor Swift increased the salary cap of a billion-dollar industry by simply showing her face at a game. She’s dominating the charts. Her tour outsold. Boosted economies worldwide. Legendary artists praise her constantly. Don’t tell me shit about impact lol,” one person noted on social media.
“Not to mention the next generation of Pop girlies are all singer songwriters who play guitar, they are all emulating her, how’s that for impact?” another replied.
Some defended Beyonce for getting it
Some people were quick to reiterate Billboard’s rationale. They highlighted how Beyonce had been going for a lot longer than Swift. Along with her Destiny’s Child stint, she has released eight solo studio albums. Her discography, which includes Lemonade, Renaissance, and Dangerously In Love, has made her the most Grammy-awarded artist in history.
One person wrote, “Y’all forget Beyoncé was part of one of the BIGGEST R&B GROUPS IN THE WORLD. People forget she’s been here since the 90s. She’s been here SMASHING billboard before Taylor Swift. Like don’t play with her.”
Some were over the whole Taylor Swift versus Beyonce debate
“Muting the words “billboard” “taylor swift” “beyonce” until further notice,” another posted.
Others just mused about how important Taylor Swift was to them
Conceding it doesn’t really matter what some magazine said about their idol, some fans were just grateful they got to have her records like 1989, Fearless, Speak Now and her latest offering The Tortured Poets Department to stream endlessly.
One person wrote, “Who cares if taylor swift isn’t billboard’s #1 greatest pop artist of the century, all that matters is that she’ll be #1 on my spotify wrapped (whenever they decide to finally release it)”
Also any Swiftie knows that Beyonce and Swift are pals and probably unbothered themselves.
