So much has changed since those scary days leading up to Y2K. We saw the Twin Towers fall on 9/11; we elected a Black President who was followed into the White House by Donald Trump; there were a series of seemingly endless wars; and we all now seem to live “connected” lives, 24-7. Of course, music, too, has changed just as profoundly.

            At the turn of the century, the CD was still king, but then came Napster, iPods and iTunes, mp3 players, and the rise of the digital downloads; yet, by the 2010s, online streaming began to emerge and this new on-demand technology, exemplified by YouTube and Spotify, is the way 80% of us now get our music—on our phones, no less. As of 2019, CD sales accounted for a mere 9% of music revenue (though, oddly enough, old-fashioned vinyl has been making a comeback). In addition, as Billie Eilish and her brother showed us a few years ago, it is now possible to create world-class music from your own bedroom on your home computer, bypassing the giant industry-connected studios and, in many cases, the big labels, altogether. It’s a brave new world, indeed.

            What have we been listening to these past 23 years? Genres had been blurring for some time, but that trend has continued and accelerated. Still, for organizational purposes only, here are some of the artists, in their relative genres, who have made some of the most popular and celebrated music: from the R&B world we’ve been listening to Usher; Alicia Keys; for a few years, Amy Winehouse and Frank Ocean; and, massively, Rihanna, Beyoncé, and, the past few years especially, the Weeknd. By the start of the new millennium, hip-hop had surpassed rock as the most listened to genre, and the best-selling rapper was Eminem, followed closely by JAY-Z and the ever-controversial Kanye West, now known as Ye. Drake, who truly blurs the genre lines, has been a massively successful streamed artist, while Kendrick Lamar has been one of the most critically acclaimed. Lil Wayne, the Black Eyed Peas, 50 Cent, Nas, Outkast, and Nicki Minaj have also reached millions.

            Despite attempts to write it off, rock is still with us—Coldplay, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, and Maroon 5 have been among the most successful of the new century. From the realm of pop we’ve witnessed the massive success of Britney and the two Justins, Bieber and Timberlake; of boy bands NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, of Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles, of Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Pink, Adele, and Miley Cyrus; and, of course, the Beatlesque popularity of Taylor Swift. Country has seen a host of dominant performers, from ’90’s holdovers Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, George Strait, and Tim McGraw, along with the emergence of Carrie Underwood. And no, this list is not exhaustive, it is, however, representative.

            –Steve Williams (11/2/23) Greatest Recording Artists Blog Post #59