Pop music has definitely dominated this year. Thanks to the likes of Drake, Ice Spice, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift, it has been a good year for music this 2023.
Now, Billboard has ranked its ten greatest popstars of 2023. But unlike last year, the publication revealed that the ranking is not "mathematically determined" by statistics like streaming activity, downloads, sales, and even chart position. While they factor in, cultural importance, impact, and social media presence are also key in to the overall decision.
Check out the list below.
Billboard Greatest Popstars of 2023
Drake starts off the list at No. 10. Coming off from a successful November 2022 debut of "Her Loss," Drake followed it up with "For All The Dogs," which also earned him his 13th No. 1 album of his career.
Albeit controversial, Doja Cat's 2023 is a memorable one. From releasing "Scarlet," to making headlines for her fashion and personal choice of humor, Doja Cat had everyone on her toes on her next big move. Her hits "Paint The Town Red," "Attention," "Demons," and "Agora Hills" are all major earworms!
Bad Bunny at No. 8 is still a monumental feat! Coming from the top spot last year, Bad Bunny is still one of the hottest and most popular Latin acts on the planet right now. His presence in the global music scene this year cements his impact on American pop culture too, amassing huge streaming activity and sold-out shows everywhere he goes.
Olivia Rodrigo might be one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now. Harnessing her Disney Channel magic had been one of her greatest assets, doubled with her songwriting prowess and charisma - Rodrigo's impact on this generation, definitely needs to be studied. Her sophomore album "Guts" is monumental on its own, a challenging climb for someone who had released one of the greatest debut albums in decades.
Next to Bad Bunny, Karol G had a remarkable year! The Colombian pop star had the biggest Latin tour this year and two record-breaking albums. She dominated the Latin music awards circuit with her album, "Mañana Sera Bonito" and its "Bichota Season" reissue.
Morgan Wallen has been shunned for his huge impact on the music industry because of his former controversies. Undeniably, his record-breaking accomplishments as a country singer had yielded ripples in pop music, making his No. 5 placement on the list justifiable.
At No. 4 is Ice Spice. The burgeoning rapper from the Bronx saw her life change before her very eyes. From being invited to the MET Gala to having four tracks at the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 - two of which are from a collaboration with Nicki Minaj and one from Taylor Swift - everyone would be envious of her shot to fame.
No. 3 is Music royalty, Beyoncé. Undeniably, the impact of "Renaissance" and the "Renaissance" tour merits a high placement alone, not to mention she became the most awarded and nominated artist in the history of Grammy Awards this year.
SZA takes the No. 2 spot for all the right reasons. The impact of "SOS" and her tour is one of the biggest things that happened in 2023. Her record-breaking streak on the Billboard R&B charts has her at par with Janet Jackson, which is an unbelievable accomplishment in itself.
Taylor Swift becoming Billboard's Greatest Pop Star of 2023 need not be explained. The world even thinks that it did not need Billboard to tell something so obvious - her impact on economics, literature, cinema, music, and entertainment, in general, merits her high placement on the rank.
