Women In Music

Ariana Grande

Ariana has shown in recent years through her suffering just how much women can endure, how strong they can be and what they believe in. She is the frontrunner of this generation's pop genre. ... In her recent album she used songs to tackle anxiety, recovery from dark times, female sexual liberation and abuse. She is truly the voice of many.

Taylor Swift

It is not merely her clever lyrics, catchy melodies and undeniable business savvy that are responsible for her massive level of success. At the heart of what has drawn millions to her music is that, though she may be singing about herself, people see and recognize a piece of themselves and their own journey through listening to hers. Her music seems to say, 'This is where I'm at, this is how I feel. Have you ever been there?' I think even she has been surprised over the last decade-plus by how many people answer that question with a yes... For better or worse, when she speaks, people listen.

Rihanna

Rihanna has pushed the boundaries of all the genres her music can be classified under. She is truly pushing the bounds of what it means to be a woman in music.

Lady Gaga

When Lady Gaga rose to prominence there was absolutely nothing like her in mainstream pop, and a few years later, you saw a pop landscape full of would-be doppelgängers doing their best to keep up with her. As one of the first big artists of the 'Internet age,' her work set the standard for the next decade of female pop artists. And with her contrarian nature, she has continually zigged when we wanted her to zag, making for a diverse career with many years ahead of her.

Beyoncé

Beyoncé is a powerhouse. Her mere presence is enough to encourage young black girls to strive for greatness. She doesn't shy away from saying things as they are, and her focus on every detail of her music makes it that much more important.

Janelle Monáe

By coming out as 'a free-ass motherf*****' in 2018 and by labeling herself both 'young, Black, wild and free' as well as 'the American nightmare,' 'the American dream' and 'the American cool,' Janelle Monáe has transcended pop star status to become a veritable influencer of all things COOL: music, youth, queerness, Afro-futurism, masculine femininity and nonconformity to modes of being that are beyond outdated — they turn to fertile compost under Monáe's warm, watchful gaze.

Adele

Adele shattered expectations of what an album could mean in the 21st century, going above and beyond all her contemporaries in sales through the sheer force of her voice and her brilliant, universally felt songwriting.

Nicki Minaj

She entered an industry mainly occupied by men, shook it up and paved the way for others to come in.

Amy Winehouse

She may not have the biggest discography, but Winehouse's impact can be heard in almost every soulful song released after the mid-noughties. Without her honest lyrics and classic production, so many artists wouldn't be who they are today.