The Princesses of Pop
Pop music is back and the women of the genre are showing no signs of stopping. The resurgence of this genre is not simply because of the infectious melodies but also the powerful and inspiring messages these artists are delivering through their work.
In some capacity, pop music has been around for ages. But somewhere between the early 2000s and now, it seemed as though we had lost the ever-so-iconic, mega superstars like Gwen Staffani, Brittany Spears, and Avril Lavigne’s hold on the music industry. In recent years, however, women in pop have been inescapable. Girls just want to have fun again – and this new era of pop is the soundtrack.
These icons are reaching for the stars and enrapturing generations. Taylor Swift is on year two of selling out stadiums for arguably one of the flashiest, most incredible tours of all time (not to mention that it’s over three hours long). Sabrina Carpenter’s catchy pop tunes are playing on repeat on every radio station, in every store, and in girls' bedrooms all over the world. Chappell Roan is reeling in crowds bigger than the headliners at music festivals such as Boston Calling.
Catchy tunes like “Greedy” by Tate Mcrae, “Good Luck, Babe” by Chappel Roan, “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, or “Get Him Back” by Olivia Rodrigo are taking over the internet, and for good reason. They get on stage and entertain – take Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella last April as an example. Her debut performance of her hit song, “Espresso,” took over the internet. They have stage presence and we are loving it. These women are forming the zeitgeist of this era in music.
For lots of these stars, their influence goes deeper than just music. They are empowering young women and being activists for social and political issues. 21 year old, three-time Grammy Award winner Olivia Rodrigo has formed the initiative “Fund 4 Good” which works in conjunction with The Guts World Tour to donate a portion of all ticket sales to local nonprofits that champion girls’ education, support reproductive rights and prevent gender-based violence. (EI Foundation)
Billie Eilish is another shining example. She has been increasingly active in the never-ending fight to end climate change and push for sustainability. Most recently she helped fund and launch REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project, whose goal is to help with the elimination of carbon emissions within the music industry. She brought this to life by using solar-powered batteries on her set when she headlined the Lollapalooza music festival in 2023. Eilish, along with other musicians, is setting a new precedent for what it means to use your platform for good. These are just a couple examples of the ways in which these illustrious women in pop are trailblazers of this generation.
Aside from their admirable activism, these pop icons are beacons of confidence and creativity who produce music that is relatable, uplifting, and energizing for girls all over the world, which is admirable in and of itself. There is indispensable value in inspiring young women.
Pop receives a lot of unwarranted flak. People may get tired of hearing the same synthy songs blaring through every speaker or cringe at their favorite childhood TV star succeeding as a pop musician, but there is a reason these women are topping the charts week after week and selling out stadiums all over the world.
Seeing successful women in the music industry is inspiring regardless of whether you like the music or not. So next time you hear these artists on the radio, turn up the volume and understand that they’re not just making music – they’re making a difference.