Top 10 Music Icons of the 2020s
Music is experiencing a post-pandemic renaissance. New artists are emerging and changing the music landscape, while established artists reinvent themselves to stay relevant for the next decade. Ten music icons have made a lasting impression in the last two years, and we can’t stop thinking about how they’ll influence the rest of the roaring 20s. Here’s our breakdown of the Top 10 Music Icons of the 2020s.
100 Gecs
Hyperpop music icons Laura Les and Dylan Brady, released their first album, 1000 Gecs, in 2019; however, their impact is sure to be felt most heavily in the 20s. Brady and Les combine pop, punk, emo, hardcore, metal, EDM, glitchcore, and noise in ways that no other bands have done before. They have laid the foundation for an entirely new wave of music and artistry that will likely infiltrate mainstream music before the 20s are over. Les and Brady are original trendsetters in every sense of the word. We predict their impact will grow over the 20s and solidify them as music icons forever.
Image: https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-100-gecs-video-for-new-song-mememe/Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga has been a music icon since 2008, and she’s not letting the 20s escape her! She came back onto the scene in May 2020 with her latest album Chromatica and remix album Dawn of Chromatica. Influenced by Hyperpop artists like 100 Gecs and Charli XCX, Gaga included many new collaborators on her remix album, including Moodkiller, Lil Texas, and Rina Sawayama.
Image: https://www.theplayground.co.uk/lady-gagas-dawn-of-chromatica-remix-album-is-a-bonkers-blueprint-for-the-future-of-pop-music/Meg Thee Stallion
Meg Thee Stallion became a music icon in 2016 and laid a solid foundation for an unstoppable 20s. She started the decade hot with her hit single “Savage,” which went viral on Tiktok and received the Beyonce remix treatment. She continued her winning streak with the release of her album “Good News” in November 2020 which debuted at the #2 spot on the Billboard hot 100. We can’t wait to see what Meg has in store for us next.
Image: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/11/magazine/megan-thee-stallion-interview.htmlOlivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo already cemented herself as one of the hottest new music icons of the 20s because of her chart-topping album Sour with smash hits “good for you” and “driver's license.” Safe to say, we expect big things from her in the future and are happy to see her fueling a new era of pop rock.
Image: https://www.vogue.com/article/olivia-rodrigo-unknown-pop-star-behind-worlds-biggest-songDorian Electra
Dorian Electra is one of the most original artists of the 20s, with unforgettable style and lyrical genius; you don’t want to overlook this artist. Electra released their second self released album in 2020, My Agenda, which took the pop world by storm. Exploring exciting themes like gender, queerness, Furries, gaming, and Mountain Dew, nothing is off-limits for them. We’re excited to watch them grow as a music icon over the next decade.
Image: https://open.spotify.com/artist/202HZzqKvPsMHcbwnDZx7uKanye (Ye) West
Ye has been producing music since the mid-90s and continues to reinvent himself as a music icon nearly 25 years later. At this point, Ye has influenced mainstream fashion, politics, performance art, and religion. With Donda and Donda 2, Kanye reinvented himself, music, art, and performance all at once, no small feat. We look forward to seeing how Kanye influences the world next.
Image: https://www.biography.com/musician/kanye-westCharli XCX
Charli XCX is on track to put out two albums in two years with her upcoming album Crash. Charli is praised for being a hyperpop music icon, having paved the way for many artists like 100 Gecs and Dorian Electra, who are gaining popularity in the new decade. However, in 2022 Charli has promised to re-invent herself as a mainstream pop princess, veering away from her familiar sound with a highly anticipated new album.
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_(Charli_XCX_album)Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift has been a music icon since the early 2000s and dropped some of the biggest albums of the millennium, but the 20s may still be her most significant decade yet. Swift released her sister albums Folklore and Evermore in 2020 to critical acclaim, but this was just the beginning. In an unprecedented turn of events, Taylor took control of her work shrouded in ownership controversy and re-recorded and released “Taylor’s Version” of many of her hit songs and records. As a result, Taylor’s taking the reigns of her career and re-inventing herself for a new decade of chart-topping hits.
Image: https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/taylor-swift-plans-to-re-record-her-hits-heres-what-she-might-be-facing-923019/Karol G
Karol G is a reggaeton and Latin music icon who has been growing a massive fan base since 2017. She’s put out hits with Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Nicki Minaj, and The Jonas Brothers and just wrapped up a world tour. Karol G is one to watch over the next decade and is sure to break into the mainstream American music scene soon.
Image: https://remezcla.com/music/karol-g-posts-video-singing-rbd-anahi-dulce-maria-react-tras-de-mi/Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish re-introduced herself as a music icon in 2021 with her second album, Happier Than Ever. The new album stands in stark contrast to her dark first album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Eilish began her career with a totally different persona. In the twenty-teens, she was known for her emo-goth style and black and neon green hair. However, in 2021, Billie re-invented herself with a more uplifting album and platinum blond hairstyle to boot. We can’t wait to see where life takes Billie next and how she will re-invent herself with her third album.
Image: https://www.billieeilish.com/