Gotta give credit where credit is due. Billboard unveiled its prestigious “Top Women Artists of the 21st Century” ranking on Sunday (March 23), with global superstar Beyoncé claiming the No. 3 position. The list highlights the most influential female musicians of the past 24 years, placing Rihanna at No. 2 and Taylor Swift at No. 1, while Adele and Katy Perry followed at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.
According to Billboard, the rankings were determined by analyzing each artist’s performance on the Billboard 200 albums chart and Billboard Hot 100 songs chart from 2000 through 2024.
Beyoncé’s legendary career—spanning her early days with Destiny’s Child to her record-breaking solo work—solidified her place among music’s elite.
“Queen Bey broke out as a soloist in 2002, achieving chart heights with eight #Billboard200 No. 1s and nine #Hot100 No. 1s,” the publication noted in an Instagram post.
Moreover, Billboard emphasized that Beyoncé’s ranking reflects her “full 25 years of influence, evolution, and impact.” The outlet praised her unparalleled contributions to music, stating:
“The reasons why Beyoncé captured the top spot on our list were beyond numerous. Ranging from her 25 years of timeless albums and singles to her incalculable industry impact and influence on other artists, to her peerless raw talents as a singer and performer.”
The publication further highlighted her dominance across multiple facets of stardom:
“Few artists this period can match her in any of the most critical basic categories of pop stardom. Commercial success, performance abilities, critical acclaim and accolades, industry influence, iconic cultural moments—and absolutely no one can equal her in all of them.”