Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour has come to an end with her last three shows at BC Place in Vancouver. It’s impossible to ignore the tour’s unprecedented impact on music and culture. And with this, it’s time to talk about where Swift stands as one of the greatest pop artists of all time.
The Eras Tour broke all kinds of records in its historic two-year run. The tour became the highest-grossing tour of all time in December 2023, grossing over US$1 billion in revenue. Moreover, Swift became the highest-earning female musician of all time, and also set a new single-day ticket-sale record.
Before we get to determine whether or not Swift belongs in the conversation about the best pop stars of all time, we need to discuss how she stacks up with the artists in her generation.
In terms of artistry, it’s hard to argue that Swift is above Beyoncé and her 32 Grammys, the most ever received by an artist. However, when it comes to star power, no one even comes close to Swift, which evens things out. It’s hard to choose between these two artists for the best pop star in the 21st century, but there’s no doubt they are the top two, with Rihanna and Lady Gaga behind them.
Now it’s time to stack these two stars against the so-called King of Pop, the one and only Michael Jackson.
Jackson’s Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time to this day. There is no question of the overall impact that this man had, not only in music but in culture. It’s hard to fathom what his impact would have been like if he could have taken advantage of social media like Swift and Beyoncé have.
However, both Beyoncé and Swift have emerged as the most influential pop stars of the 21st Century. Beyoncé has made history with her Grammy wins. Swift has 14 Grammys and has a commercial success perhaps bigger than anyone in history, only comparable to The Beatles and Jackson.
So, while Jackson’s status as the King of Pop is unlikely to be surpassed in terms of his cultural impact, given that Swift is still in her 30s, she has a lot of time to become the biggest pop star ever—especially if she capitalizes on the fame she’s gained with her latest tour. For now, Jackson remains king, however, his throne is no longer unchallenged.