Due to COVID-19, there was a decline in the production of pop music, which slowed album releases. But, the pop genre is returning with new Girlpop artists. Young musicians like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Tate Mcrae and Madison Beer are leading this genre to top spots on charts. These talented women are reviving pop music while adding a youthful feminine touch to each album. Each girl has gained a cult following in no time from their outfits, merchandise and incredible musical talent.
Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album “Sour” was released in 2021 and her fame was immediate. Her most famous song “Driver’s License” was a hit and stayed as the number-one song in the United States for 8 consecutive weeks. In September of 2023, Rodrigo released her sophomore album “Guts,” which debuted at number one and remained there for some weeks. The blend of rock and pop makes this dramatic teenage album a fun listen with authentic lyrics. From upbeat and angry to slow and gloomy, Rodrigo does it all in her albums. Another girly appeal is her creative style and incorporation of the color purple in almost everything she does. Rodrigo’s wild ballads and specific style make her one of the main reasons that Girlpop music is extremely popular.
Sabrina Carpenter’s new album “Emails I Can’t Send” has succeeded with the help of TikTok. Carpenter creates location-personalized endings for her most popular song “Nonsense” on her tour. These outros go viral on Tiktok daily and have caused her to gain supporters at great speed. Carpenter also has influenced popular choreographed dances to her songs that gain lots of recognition on social media. She has been an opener for Taylor Swift on her international leg and has also recently performed at IHeart Radio’s JingleBall. Carpenter’s hyper-feminine style and dreamy sets make her appealing to everyone. Sabrina Carpenter’s pop hits have taken over the internet and put her on the map.
Tate Mcrae and Madison Beer have been gaining popularity quickly. Beer has been making music since 2018 and released an album in 2021 and 2023. Her fanbase is not nearly as large as Carpenters or Rodrigos but her fans are loyal and obsessive. Her social media platform is substantial and videos of her tour flooded TikTok causing her fanbase to grow. Her songs have strong beats and creative emotional lyrics in both her upbeat and slower songs. Tate Mcrae is a newer artist who has taken the industry by storm. Her song “Greedy” became instantly popular on media platforms and her new album “Think Later” is extremely successful. Her dancing skills and unique voice made her instantly appealing to fans and she had her debut at number four. Her range within the pop genre is impressive and her stage presence makes for an extremely successful and captivating career ahead of her.