Hit Girls: Britney, Taylor, Beyoncé, and the Women Who Built Pop’s Shiniest Decade

From Britney Spears and Beyonce to Taylor Swift and Rihanna, women commanded the pop music scene during the 2000s. Their singular hits and innovative personal styles led the way. Reporter and Every Single Album podcast host Princiotti analyzes these celebrated artists, identifying what set them apart from performers of previous decades as they blazed a trail for those who followed. She precisely delves into the essence of this pop music category, acknowledging its relationship to rock, hip-hop, and R&B while describing its expansion into new, unique pathways. Focusing on a representative group of star performers, both as individuals and artists, she looks at their distinctive contributions, including as role models for young women. Princiotti’s knowledge is impressive, as is her ability to place it all within the context of the era—especially her analysis of the vast role that emerging technology and social media played in giving rise to this unique blend of pop music and celebrity as it reflected and impacted contemporary culture.