Beyoncé is the biggest pop star of the century (now explain that to Taylor Swift fans)

The 43-year-old singer was ahead of Swift, Rihanna, Drake or Lady Gaga. Billboard officials justified the decision.

The list of and 25 greatest pop music artists of the 21st century. Or the first 25 years of the century.

Right here, the list of the original discussion. Because the 21st century began in 2001; In other words, it will only be 25 years old in a year, not now.

But, moving on from this part, from the moment the magazine announced – last week – that Taylor Swift came in 2nd placeand looking at the names below, it was easy to find out who was going to be chosen as the greatest artist.

Sim, Beyoncé. The 43-year-old singer, born in the USA, was chosen as the biggest pop star of the 21st centuryuntil now.

Of course the protests of the fans de Taylot Swift have spread around the world, and through social media, over the last few days.

Maybe that’s why Andrew Unterberger, deputy editor of the Billboard website, wrote one this Tuesday, the explain the decision.

Right at the beginning the reference appears: “Although Taylor Swift be the bigger pop star of the century us numbers – from album sales to broadcasts to touring dominance – Beyoncé is at the top of the editorial list chosen by our team, based on your 25 years of influence, impact and evolution“.

Then, other numbers: Beyoncé has topped the Billboard Hot 100 sales chart 12 times; the first was in 2000 (still in Destiny’s Child) with , the last was this year, in 2024, with .

“She was still a adolescent with his career managed by his father when Say My Name reached number one; she was a 42 year old womanmarried and mother of three when Texas Hold ‘Em got there – and between the two, There was never a moment when Beyoncé wasn’t *BEYONCÉ*”, explains manager Andrew Unterberger,.

The magazine’s director recalls that “there are no eras of failure” for Beyoncéthere was no period in which she “had missing for five years”, or none “error of course” that has not been immediately and emphatically corrected. “There are just varying degrees of victory over more than two decades.”

“A greatness of Beyoncé as a pop star is immediately obvious on its surface and worthy of extensive exploration in its vastness,” he continues.

Getting back to Swift’s fans (even though he never said it directly), Andrew admits that Taylow Swift would easily top the list if Billboard just followed the numbers. And he believes that, in 2025, it will top many of the sales lists from the same period of the century.

Taylor appeared later than Beyoncé – she is younger – but she managed to arrive more often to the topo from the sale of albums than Beyoncé; e equalized nos singles who led sales.

However, continues Andrew Unterberger, No one has a longer or more complete track record than Beyoncé when the discussion is about greatness – and specifically about greatness for the 21st century.

“It’s incredibly impressive that Taylor made this an argument after missing the entire first quarter (her first album came out in 2006), but only Beyoncé has spent the entire last 25 years exemplifying greatness in every form imaginable”, he clarifies.