by George Awkard ‘25, Audrey Farris ‘25, Matilda Hawkins ‘27

Over the past year, the music industry has experienced a sonic boom of rising female pop stars who have taken the reins of the pop sphere and dominated the charts. Their music has served as a voice for women, promoting the ideals of female empowerment, self-confidence, and independence. These pop princesses have made it clear that they’re the future of the industry, building a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

As “children” of Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Gracie Abrams can credit some of their rise to fame to Swift after gaining worldwide recognition opening for her critically acclaimed Eras Tour. Carpenter, a former Disney Channel star, had her breakthrough in the pop industry with her infamous ‘Nonsense’ outros riddled with humor and wordplay, catching the attention of the internet. She was further boosted into the mainstream with her smash-hit “Espresso,” an empowering anthem about female independence. Now, Carpenter is selling out arenas across the country, solidifying her role as one of the most popular female pop artists of the year. Similar to Carpenter, Gracie Abrams was also boosted by the influence of Swift after featuring Swift on her track “us.” Abrams further catapulted into the public eye with her track “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” a pop ballad that admits her wrongdoings in a previous relationship, which climbed to No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Your ‘favorite artist’s favorite artist’ Chappell Roan exploded seemingly overnight. Whether people know her from her Statue of Liberty homage look at Governors Ball or from hearing “Casual” on TikTok, this young, queer icon is constantly making waves. With festival attendance hitting over 100,000, Roan has taken pop music to a whole new level and has been rumored to represent a new era of pop music. Roan built her career from the ground up completely independently, and it wasn’t until she served as an opener for Oliva Rodrigo’s GUTS Tour that she began to rapidly gain recognition. Not only has this “Midwest Princess” fought tooth and nail for her spot in the pop music industry, but she also doesn’t let anybody disrespect her. From yelling at impolite reporters to calling out fans for disrespecting her personal space, Roan has made a point to ensure that her boundaries as an artist are respected.

Some artists that grew to fame in the late 2010s but have flown under the radar over the past few years have come back into the pop spotlight by showcasing their musical versatility. Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish have been dominating the pop music industry since the start of their music careers. With both of their debut albums hitting the top charts and demolishing industry records, Rodrigo and Eilish opened the doors for the new generation of female pop artists. Rodrigo is most known for her breakup ballads that resonate with young women across the globe, expressing feelings that, while common, are underrepresented in modern pop. The emotional “bedroom pop”-esque sound isn’t the only thing she can nail, and some of her songs such as ‘get him back’ and ‘brutal’ feature a heavier “riot girl” vibe, showcasing not just her versatility as an artist but also the wide variety of emotions that young women experience. Eilish also shifts her sound often and creates quality music that her fans love. Her songs “NDA” and “xanny” appeal to those who enjoy an alternative dark-pop sound, but for many who enjoy mainstream pop, she has created upbeat tracks “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” and “Happier Than Ever.” Her ability to stay relevant with influential singles like “What Was I Made For?” and performing in sold out arenas across the globe proves that she will stand the test of time.

For those who don’t prefer the sound of the mainstream, other women in the music industry have success in their own right. Charli XCX has hit a complete 360 back into popularity with her newest album brat, influencing a trend that adolescents have coined “brat Summer.” Not only has this electro pop diva helped bring back club music to Gen-Z, but also has made neon green a huge trend for teenage girls. With her hit song “Apple” becoming viral on TikTok, this young female is showing a promising future in the music industry. Renee Rapp is another young female rising to fame, especially with her recent performance in “Mean Girls.” This young queer icon has created a safe space for girls like herself. With sonical influence from the 90s, her music has opened itself up to listening from older generations, along with the younger fans she has had already.