- The 21st century has witnessed the transformation of music from CD sales to digital purchases, leading to the advent of the streaming era.
- From 2000 to 2024, American music has witnessed the rise of numerous superstars across various genres.
- Taylor Swift, the best-selling and most-awarded artist of her generation, has been declared the top artist of the 21st century by Billboard.
The 21st century has witnessed a significant transformation in the music industry, transitioning from the era of CD sales to digital purchases, and ultimately evolving into the streaming age driven by technological advancements.
Over the span of 24 years (2000 – 2024), American music has experienced the rise of numerous superstars across various genres.
One artist who has distinguished herself over the past decade as the highest-selling and most-acclaimed performer of her generation is pop icon Taylor Swift, who has been recognized by Billboard as the leading artist of the 21st century.
In a comprehensive ranking that evaluates the chart performances of all artists throughout the 21st century, Taylor Swift has emerged as the foremost act, surpassing many of the most successful artists of this period.
Recently, Billboard honored her as the preeminent pop star of the 21st century, acknowledging her as the most commercially successful artist of the last two decades.
Canadian superstar Drake holds the second position, having been recognized as the top rapper of the 21st century due to his prolific output of hit singles, which includes 13 No. 1 songs, placing him in a tie for third on the all-time list alongside the late Michael Jackson.
Although she appears to have stepped back from music, Rihanna boasts an impressive record with 14 No. 1 songs, ranking her third on the all-time list for most No. 1 hits and third among the top artists of the 21st century.
Post Malone ranks fourth, attributed to his remarkable achievement of 10 RIAA diamond-certified songs, making him the artist with the highest number of such accolades.
Eminem, a stalwart of hip-hop, occupies the fifth position, with his enduring career contributing to his status as one of the best-selling artists of the century.
The remaining artists in the top ten include Beyoncé at sixth, The Weeknd at seventh, Justin Bieber at eighth, Bruno Mars at ninth, and Usher at tenth.
