Billboard's 'Greatest Pop Stars' list 1999-2021 (Includes Britney, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and more)

[Jordan Miller]

Each year, Billboard declares one pop star the greatest. Here is their list starting from 1999 through present day. Thoughts? Who do you think will take the title in 2022?

Thoughts on the list, Exhale?

1999 Britney Spears
2000 NSYNC
2001 Jennifer Lopez
2002 Eminem
2003 Beyoncé
2004 Usher
2005 Kanye West
2006 Justin Timberlake
2007 Rihanna
2008 Lil Wayne
2009 Gaga
2010 Katy
2011 Adele
2012 Rihanna
2013 Miley Cyrus
2014 Beyoncé
2015 Taylor Swift
2016 Justin Bieber
2017 Ed Sheeran
2018 Drake
2019 Ariana Grande
2020 BTS
2021 Taylor Swift

[Moscow]

Another trash list based on chart points 🥱

Oops...I did it again broke the first female record of 1m+ in a week without any bundling or even radio hit reaching to BB top 5 yet 2000 year wasn't good enough for them to give her this position! This list is circulating since 2015 they never even change it! No thanks, next! 

[DignifiedLove]

For the most part, I agree with this list as I feel it’s distributed fairly equally. 2017 should belong to Kendrick and 2021 to Olivia or Adele. Other than that, it’s a pretty solid list.

[LickedABattery]

Not bad!

[britney_rocks]

Should’ve been 

1999 - Britney Spears

2000 - Britney Spears 

2001 - Britney Spears 

2002 - Britney Spears

2003 - Britney Spears 

2004 - Britney Spears 

[DignifiedLove]

5 minutes ago, Prachi said:

Another trash list based on chart points 🥱

Oops...I did it again broke the first female record of 1m+ in a week without any bundling or even radio hit reaching to BB top 5 yet 2000 year wasn't good enough for them to give her this position! This list is circulating since 2015 they never even change it! No thanks, next! 

To be fair, NSYNC had a phenomenal year in 2000. They basically doubled ‘Oops’ first week sales and were just as, if not more massive than Britney was that year. 

[Moscow]

1 minute ago, SUCCESSICA IS A QUEEN said:

To be fair, NSYNC had a phenomenal year in 2000. They basically doubled ‘Oops’ first week sales and were just as, if not more massive than Britney was that year. 

I agree, but both were seeing on neck to neck sales but yes NSYNC did great that year I will summon to this rest this list is very old and very chart based points I don't like chart based lists they aren't objective considering how much easier and joke it has become to chart these days. 

[Stefani]

"Greatest" is subjective, so this list is redundant right from the start. Billboard should just call it the "artists who payola'd their way to the top of the charts" list, instead.

[DignifiedLove]

9 minutes ago, Prachi said:

I agree, but both were seeing on neck to neck sales but yes NSYNC did great that year I will summon to this rest this list is very old and very chart based points I don't like chart based lists they aren't objective considering how much easier and joke it has become to chart these days. 

It’s not that heavily chart based. I mean to be a ‘great’, you must also have some sort of chart accolades to back it up. Look at JLO — her 2001 album technically flopped by early 2000s standards but she was arguably the biggest female artist aside from Britney that year. You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing her. Her global dominance in 2001 was something to be reckoned with  — from music to cinema to tabloids to fashion and so forth.

[MasterMindz]

Taylor Swift 

[jordeezy river red]

2021 feels more like Doja Cat to me

[Moscow]

12 minutes ago, SUCCESSICA IS A QUEEN said:

It’s not that heavily chart based. I mean to be a ‘great’, you must also have some sort of chart accolades to back it up. Look at JLO — her 2001 album technically flopped by early 2000s standards but she was arguably the biggest female artist aside from Britney that year. You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing her. Her global dominance in 2001 was something to be reckoned with  — from music to cinema to tabloids to fashion and so forth.

BB is very less credible  to me as they are always very chart based but then they are charts! And JLo album flopped 😱 I didn't know that. 

Bomt is in top 100 of best albums above is fearless and red and bomt alone sold more than these 2 🤧 I just never understood how BB can mix different eras together it doesn't show any good picture. 

[Freakshow__]

Beyoncé 2014? why? lol

2014 = TAYLOR SWIFT. Shake It Off was the biggest song in the whole world and 1989 SLAYED. 

[anthony7226]

'99-'04 should have been ALL Britney. Britney dominated sales, views, and TRL, as well as being the most influential. 

[IStandByWhatISaid]

2003 Beyonce? she wasn't a thing till next decade 

[Bunkywoo]

[Avatar]

1 hour ago, Prachi said:

Another trash list based on chart points 🥱

Oops...I did it again broke the first female record of 1m+ in a week without any bundling or even radio hit reaching to BB top 5 yet 2000 year wasn't good enough for them to give her this position! This list is circulating since 2015 they never even change it! No thanks, next! 

So did Nsync, and sold more 

[mfanbs]

how are eminem lil wayne kanye and drake pop?

[BoyDeChanel]

1999 Britney Spears
2000 Britney Spears
2001 Britney Spears
2002 Xtina
2003 Britney Spears
2004 Britney Spears
2005 Mariah Carey
2006 Nelly Furtado
2007 Rihanna
2008 Britney Spears
2009 Britney Spears
2010 Lady Gaga
2011 Adele
2012 Lana Del Rey

 

 

the correct list 

[scottmoorela]

Personally- I'd give 2005 to Madonna. Confessions was massive world wide..and Hung Up was teh top selling single world wide...but I'm good with the rest of your list!!