Photo by Gustavo Spindula via Uplash.

Redesigning Pop 

At the core of this resurgence is how pop stars have fundamentally redesigned the genre, blending sounds and aesthetics from various subcultures and expanding its reach. Charli XCX, often regarded as a pioneer in this modern iteration of pop, has embraced chaotic, experimental elements to produce songs that are simultaneously mainstream and subversive. Her 2022 mixtape CRASH, often labeled “bratty pop,” challenged the polished image of female pop stars. Charli XCX’s blend of rebellion, humor and irony in her work offers a counter-narrative to the notion that female pop artists must conform to a certain image to succeed.

The concept of “brat summer” tied to Charli XCX’s work has become emblematic of a new kind of feminism in pop culture: one that embraces imperfection, loudness and a certain unapologetic messiness. Interestingly, the aesthetic and themes surrounding “brat summer” have also made their way into political campaigns. Politicians, especially women, have adopted elements of this rebellious, punk-like pop persona to stand out and challenge patriarchal norms in the political sphere. 

The Queer Pop Renaissance

The rise of openly queer pop artists has been another significant aspect of this pop resurgence. Singers like Renee Rapp and Chappell Roan are not only making waves in the industry but also creating spaces for queer identities to flourish in mainstream music. These artists embody a growing acceptance of fluidity in both gender and sexuality, pushing the boundaries of traditional pop narratives.

Renee Rapp, who started in musical theater, brings an emotionally charged authenticity to her pop music, blending personal stories of queerness with universal themes of love and heartbreak. Her music resonates with young listeners who are navigating their own identities, offering a sense of solidarity and empowerment. Similarly, Chappell Roan, known for her flamboyant performances and unapologetic queerness, brings joy and celebration to her music, making queer identity not just something to fight for but something to celebrate on grand stages.

These queer pop stars are flipping the script on how women, especially queer women, are perceived in the music industry. Historically, female pop stars have been hypersexualized and scrutinized under a misogynistic lens, but these artists reclaim their narratives, pushing against harmful stereotypes and asserting autonomy over their music, image and message.

Taylor Swift: A Global Force of Change

One cannot talk about the modern pop landscape without mentioning Taylor Swift, whose world tour in 2023 became more than just a musical event; it was a cultural phenomenon. What makes Swift’s resurgence so powerful is how she has managed to wield her platform to speak against misogyny and double standards in the industry. From reclaiming her master recordings to writing songs that address the public’s obsession with her dating life, Swift’s career has been a testament to perseverance in an industry that often seeks to tear women down. Her Eras Tour in 2023 became a symbol of empowerment, showcasing the various phases of her career. 

Swift’s influence also sparked conversations about gender disparity in the music industry. The fact that her tour became the highest-grossing by a female artist in history was not just a commercial success, it was a significant cultural moment that pushed back against the narrative that women in pop are disposable or merely trend-chasers.

Rising Voices, Challenging Norms

Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter represent another facet of pop music’s resurgence. Rodrigo’s debut album SOUR was a massive success, largely because of its raw, unfiltered portrayal of teenage angst, heartbreak, and identity. Rodrigo’s songwriting taps into the universal experiences of young women, amplifying voices that are often dismissed as “hormonal” or overly emotional. By doing so, she challenges the industry’s tendency to devalue the voices and stories of young women.

Sabrina Carpenter, often caught in the media whirlwind surrounding Rodrigo, turned the attention into an opportunity to showcase her own talents and complexities. Carpenter’s music has evolved from her Disney roots to something more mature, reflecting the struggles young women face when trying to carve out their own identities in a world that seeks to define them.

Both Rodrigo and Carpenter navigate the complexities of modern femininity and womanhood, using their music as a platform to confront misogynistic tropes. Their success underscores a broader trend in pop music where young female artists no longer feel the need to adhere to industry expectations. Instead, they are shaping their own paths, with full control over their voices and images.

Pop Music in Economic Uncertainty  

Another aspect that has pushed forward this pop resurgence is the idea of pop as “recession music.” Pop music, compared to other forms of entertainment, is relatively affordable and accessible. Even in difficult financial times, people can listen to music on the radio, through streaming services or via social media. This low-cost access to music makes pop a go-to form of entertainment during recession.

In times of economic uncertainty, people often turn to accessible forms of entertainment to escape the stresses of daily life. Pop music, with its infectious hooks, glittering production and uplifting energy, offers an immediate sense of relief.

Conclusion

The resurgence of pop stars and the redesign of pop music during the current economic recession reflects both cultural and economic realities. Pop stars like Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and queer artists like Renee Rapp and Chappell Roan are not just dominating the charts—they are redefining what pop music can be in a time of crisis. Their ability to blend themes of empowerment, escapism and rebellion with accessible, emotionally resonant music has made pop the perfect soundtrack for a generation grappling with economic uncertainty, societal shifts and personal challenges.

While there is some debate over the estimates of exactly how much money Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has made, it is expected to break the record for the highest-grossing tour of all time at over $1 billion, with shows that impacted local economies to an extent comparable to The Super Bowl. Her concerts have become so sought after that the average resale price of tickets has reached $3,801 apiece. Due to the sheer number of fans expected to tailgate, legal guidelines have been put in place preventing fans without tickets from gathering outside of concert venues in multiple locations as a safety precaution. This was largely prompted by her performing three sold-out shows at The Linc in Philadelphia to an estimated 200,000 ticket holders, during which an unprecedented estimate of 57,000 people without tickets gathered outside the venue to hear the artist perform. Even the Taylor Swift’s Era’s Tour concert film has already made $129.8 million in just the first two weeks in theaters, breaking a record for the first independently released movie to break $100 million in the first two weekends in theaters.

Taylor Swift holds other records as the youngest artist to receive a Grammy for Artist of the Year in 2010, the first artist to sell over a million copies in the first week for five consecutive albums and the first female artist in history to reach over 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify. According to Billboard, 1 of every 5 vinyl records sold last year in the U.S. was a Taylor Swift album. Her influence is so large that NFL tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce, saw a 400% spike in jersey sales after Taylor Swift was photographed with the football player’s mother at a game. 

Not only is this artist breaking records in popularity, but she is also completely changing the industry and setting a new precedent for artists and record labels for years to come. Most notably, Taylor Swift has become widely known for re-releasing her own music to take ownership of her art, which is conventionally owned by the record label rather than the artist. Along with setting a new precedent for what is possible as an independent artist, Taylor Swift has used her platform to champion artists’ rights and advocate for others. For example, she leveraged Apple Music to pay royalties to artists during their initial launch by threatening to keep her music off the platform if they refused. Taylor Swift has also taken a direct approach to combating what she sees as unfair practices in the music industry, such as when a New York judge denied popstar, Kesha, permission to record new music outside her record label, prompting Swift to donate $250,000 to Kesha to assist with any court costs or financial needs during her legal battle. 

Taylor Swift has not only taken a novel approach to music distribution but to fan engagement too. Swift has used unconventional methods to promote her work and interact with her listeners, such as meetup treasure hunts, a bingo-themed release announcement via social media livestream, and connecting with fans directly both online and in person. Taylor Swift made a notable appearance on Once Upon a Prom in 2008 when she was 18 years old, escorting a fan to his senior prom. 

What makes Taylor Swift so unique is not only her level of influence, popularity, wealth, or even her progressive business model but what she does with her status as a superstar. Specifically, Taylor Swift has exhibited a long-running pattern of using her wealth to help fans. Some examples of this include donating $10,000 to cover a fan’s cancer treatment, another $10,000 to a fan with autism to cover suggested service accommodations, $15,000 to a 19-year-old fan to help pay her mother’s medical costs, $50,000 to a single mother of five grieving the loss of her husband, $70,000 in books to her hometown library and a whopping $1 million to tornado relief efforts in Nashville. 

In addition to these isolated instances, Taylor Swift has made payments towards student loan debt amongst fans and various charitable donations to victims of sexual assault, hurricane survivors, animal shelters and food banks. One food bank reported they can provide nearly double the food after receiving Taylor Swift’s donations. Swift even secretly donated rent assistance and stimulus money to fans during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was only made public after one recipient revealed via Twitter that she received $3,000 from Taylor Swift after posting about her financial stressors during the pandemic.

In addition to charitable donations, Taylor Swift has been known for offering unusually high compensation for crew members and staff. Following the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift offered each of the fifty truck drivers on tour a bonus of $100,000 each, as well as offering bonuses to other tour crew members. While the amounts of some of the bonuses are currently undisclosed, some sources estimate their sum to be around $55 million when including the bonuses provided to truck drivers.

Taylor Swift’s continuous effort to responsibly distribute her wealth is not the only social contribution the artist hopes to make. In recent years, Swift has used her influence to encourage fans to engage in electoral politics and bargained with her family, management team and label to break her political silence. This transparency was especially courageous given the death threats and security risks she faced. In recent years, the artist has defended LGBT+ rights and endorsed Joe Biden in opposition to Donald Trump in 2020. On Sep. 19, 2023, Taylor Swift posted to Instagram encouraging her fans to register to vote, which contributed to more than 35,000 new registrations that day. This figure shows a 23% increase compared to the previous year. 

On account of Taylor Swift’s popularity, widespread appeal, artistic merit, connection to fans, acts of philanthropy, respect for workers, political advocacy, and forward-thinking approach to music distribution and artist rights, it is reasonable to expect Taylor Swift’s name in headlines for years to come. A new precedent has been set for artists, labels, and fans alike as Taylor Swift helps shape the future of the industry.