Taylor Swift named most influential female artist of century

Taylor Swift has been named the most influential female artist of the 21st century by Billboard. This recognition comes from her hit songs and her strong stance on women's rights in the music industry. Rihanna follows Swift in second place, despite not releasing an album since 2016. Beyoncé rounds out the top three. Other notable artists on the list include Adele, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande. The rankings are based on performance on the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts. Swift's latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, debuted at number one and set a record for the most Hot 100 hits in a week. She now holds the record for the most number one albums by a female artist. In addition to her music success, Swift has won 14 Grammy Awards. She is also the first artist to win Album of the Year four times. Her Eras Tour set multiple records, showcasing her popularity. Swift has advocated for artists' rights by rerecording some of her earlier albums. In 2019, she expressed her desire to help new artists make their way in the industry. Mariah Carey, who previously topped the Hot 100 in four decades, is now ranked 12th on this new list. Other artists like Britney Spears and Billie Eilish are ranked 14th and 15th, respectively. SZA, Avril Lavigne, and Christina Aguilera follow in the 18th, 19th, and 20th spots.