Part 2/9:

Billboard’s selection of Beyoncé as the top pop star of the 21st century challenges expectations, especially given Taylor Swift’s enormous commercial success in recent years. The reasoning behind the decision, as Billboard explained, revolves around Beyoncé’s full 25-year influence, evolution, and cultural impact. Their editorial team emphasized that their criteria extend beyond just album sales, streams, and touring dominance, instead focusing on the lasting influence and evolution Beyoncé has demonstrated since her debut in the early 2000s.