(Photo of Taylor Swift during Eras tour, courtesy of Inc. Magazine)
Who else could make this list but Taylor Swift? While Swift is an icon in the music industry, she has also performed on the big screen. Her past acting credits include Valentine’s Day (2010), The Lorax (2012), The Giver (2014), and Cats (2019). Her family moved to Nashville when she was 14 so she could live out her dreams of being a country singer. During a showcase in Bluebird Cafe in 2005, Swift captured the eye of Scott Borchetta, a record executive for Big Machine Records. Swift became one of the first signings for Big Machine. Her debut album, Taylor Swift, was released on October 24, 2006, peaking at number 5 on US Billboard 200. Taylor Swift’s second album, Fearless, put her on the map. At the 2009 VMA’s, Swift won Best Female Video for “You Belong With Me,” a song on Fearless. Her other albums include Speak Now (2010), Red (2012), 1989 (2014), Reputation (2017), Lover (2019), Folklore (2020), Evermore (2020), Midnights (2022), and The Tortured Poets Department (2024), as well as her re-recorded Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (2021), Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021),, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (2023), and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (2023).There is no end to the amazing songs Swift has sung, written, or co-written.
(Photo 1: The Eras Tour logo, courtesy of Facebook)(Photo 2: Taylor performing in the Eras Tour during the Lover sequence, courtesy of GRAMMY.com)
The Eras Tour began on March 17, 2023, and finished on December 8, 2024. This tour was nothing but remarkable. The tour consisted of 149 shows on 5 continents. It is the highest-grossing tour of all time; the first to surpass $1 billion in revenue. It runs about 3 1⁄2 hours long, and the setlist is composed of over 40 songs. In May 2024, the show featured added songs from her new release The Tortured Poets Department. Swift has performed in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. Many people have claimed the concert to be one of the best shows they’ve ever seen. Taylor Swift remains one of the most successful and famous people in the world , even claiming Time’s Person of the Year 2023.
(Photo of Ariana Grande at the 2024 Met Gala, image courtesy of Vanity Fair)
Ariana Grande has been in the public eye for many years as a singer and an actress. Her past acting credits include Victorious (2010-2013), Sam & Cat (2013-2014), Scream Queens (2015), Zoolander 2 (2016), Hairspray Live (2016), and Wicked (2024). She began her career as a Broadway actress in the musical 13, but her role of Cat Valentine on Victorious catapulted her to fame. In 2013, Grande released her first album, Yours Truly, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. A year later Grande released her second album, My Everything, which furthered her career as a pop star. On this album, she collaborated with singers like The Weeknd, Iggy Azalea, and Jessie J and Nicki Minaj in “Bang Bang,” for which Grande got her first Grammy nomination. Grande released Dangerous Woman in 2016, and later Sweetener in 2018, which also reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Sweetener also won Grande the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Thank u, next was released in 2019, and Positions, in 2020.
(Photo 1: Eternal Sunshine album cover, courtesy of The New Yorker)(Photo 2 Eternal Sunshine Tour, courtesy of X)
Grande released her 7th album, Eternal Sunshine in March 2024. Grande said that in between the release of Wicked Part 1 and Part 2, in which she stars as supporting role Glina, she would like to squeeze in a tour. Rumors have erupted that Ariana Grande has reserved a few stadiums for her tour, but nothing is confirmed as of now. Ariana Grande has a critically acclaimed voice and stage presence, contributing to her prosperous success.
(Photo of Tate McRae, courtesy of her Instagram account)
Tate McRae is an up-and-coming artist. The singer is only 21, but has worked in the arts industry for almost her whole life. She began as a talented dancer and a So You Think You Can Dance finalist. At age 17, her debut EP All The Things I Never Said contributed to her transition into a pop singer. Her hit single “You Broke Me First” made the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 17. In 2022, Mcrae released her debut album, I Used to Think I Could Fly. However, her huge success stems greatly from her sophomore album, Think Later, released in 2023. On this album, the hit songs “exes,” “greedy,” and “run for the hills” gained massive success. These songs not only have gained popularity on TikTok, but have also proven to be successful on the charts. “exes” reached the top 10 in Canada, and number 23 on Billboard Global 200 chart. Meanwhile, “greedy” peaked at number one on Billboard Global 200 and Canadian Hot 100.
(Photo 1: Think Later Tour, courtesy of Wikipedia)(Photo 2: Performance of “It’s ok I’m ok” in MSG, from Youtube)
Tate McRae began her “Think Later Tour” on April 17, 2024, in Dublin and has performed all over Europe and the US. During her break from her America and European leg of the tour, McRae performed at the We Can Survive 2024 concert alongside Justin Timberlake, New Kids on the Block, and other artists. In September 2024 Tate McRae released the single “It’s ok I’m ok” which is her highest-charting debut on Billboard Hot 100, reaching the top 20 in many countries. It’s safe to say that Tate Mcrae is going to be one of the future faces of the music industry.
