The lasting impact of
Music
Exploring the legacy of Leading Modern Singers from distinct cultures
Historically, Music has played an integral role in connecting and influencing human civilization across ages. From the ritual chants of ancient times to captivating symphonies of classical composers and the evolving genres of the current digital age, music has continued influencing individuals and even the masses entirely. Its rhythmic power can profoundly impact us emotionally, morally, and culturally. Its therapeutic influence allows us to feel someone’s words in our souls and the melody mysteriously communicates with us. Music is the ultimate source of unraveling individualistic thoughts, serving as a powerful medium to express deep uncommunicable emotions, reflect thoughts, release stress, and promote harmony. Music is a fundamental essence of human existence, letting us experience deep insights into our own minds and those around us.
In today’s rapidly changing capitalistic world, the music industry has become a powerful social adhesive holding individuals together across the globe. With the rise of globalization and technological development, musical symphonies are shaping trends and orchestrating impact across varied cultures. As a Universal language, Music is breaching borders, surpassing cultural stereotypes, and inspiring generations to foster global unity. Certainly, through the rapidly evolving digital music industry, modern singers from distinct backgrounds and cultures are inspiring people and setting new trends globally. Apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music are not only contributing to outclassing the music trends of all times but also ending generational-long cultural stereotypes with emerging genres. From classical music to Hip-Hop, Rap, and Pop Music, today’s music consumption trends encapsulate all genres of music. This article covers some notable cultural backgrounds that are outshining global trends in contemporary times.
English Singers:
Taylor Swift
During the 20th century, the English music industry celebrated multiple globally influential musicians like John Lenon, Elton John, Sting, Rod Stewart, and even Michael Jackson. These legendary singers thrived towards a massive following worldwide despite the lack of technological development. However, the digital age has transformed the global trends of the musical industry.
Taylor Swift, often hailed as the ‘Queen of Pop,’ has left a benchmark on today’s musical landscape. Starting her musical journey in the country music genre in 2006, she shifted to pop music and explored rock, indie folk, and electronic styles, showcasing her commitment to breaching genre boundaries. Her versatile pop music features autobiographical storytelling with deep emotions, often inspired by her personal experiences. Her deep authentic lyrics with mesmerizing storytelling voice, persuade both youngsters and adults globally. With 11 original studio albums, 4 re-recorded albums, 5 EPs, and 4 live albums, Swift has achieved record-breaking success and gathered multiple awards, including 14 Grammys.
Global Following and Impact:
Taylor Swift’s global influence regards her “The Music Industry” in pop culture. Her ability to excel in both the album era and the streaming era highlights her versatility and adaptability in the rapidly evolving music industry. Swift’s musical prowess extends beyond dominating contemporary music trends. Her unwavering following and influence globally have made her a subject of academic research, media studies, and cultural analysis.
Taylor Swift is the highest-selling music artists of all time, the richest female musician, and the first billionaire in history with music as the main source of income US$1,300,000,000. In 2023, her Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour drew an estimated $1.04 billion in gross ticket sales, becoming the first tour in history to hit the billion-dollar milestone.
As a global icon, Taylor has strategically utilized her platform to shed light on various social and political issues. She has challenged the music industry’s stereotypes blatantly and disregarded misogyny. Her outspoken advocacy for gender equality and women empowerment evidently reflects her driving stance on significant issues.
Despite her massive popularity, Taylor is not free from controversies. Critics often call her a product of cultural imperialism, questioning her being a typical white American woman, with blonde hair and a perfect-toned body. Additionally, she has been criticized for setting her ex-boyfriends through her songs for commercial gains. Yet, this criticism hasn’t stopped her from outshining. Swift has been the most streamed artist of all time globally on Spotify. Her continuous evolution has denounced these criticisms.
Competition in the Digital Era:
In contemporary times, Billie Eilish can be regarded as a prominent and competitive entity opposite Taylor Swift. At 22 years old, Billie Eilish is the youngest music singer of current times, carrying nine Grammys and multiple award nominations. Her unique music style explores dark themes, resonating with youth. Despite her young age, Billie has become a major force in the music industry, with record-breaking albums and billions of views, showcasing her as the next influential music singer of all time.
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Arab Singers
Nancy Ajram
Arab music holds a diverse range of culturally rich music styles and genres from the Arab world. During our childhood, many of us garnered the Arabic symphony introduction from our favorite English Film ‘Aladdin.’ Although, the featured Arabian music was a Western interpretation. However, it introduced the global audience to Arabian music. Prominent Middle Eastern Artists like Umm Kulthum, popularly known as ‘Star of the East’ and Abdel Halim Hafez, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, and Fairuz have played pivotal in spreading Arabian music to a global level. With technological advancements, Arabic artists now rule digital platforms, shaping the Arab music industry regionally and globally.
Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram, referred to as ‘the Queen of Arab Pop’ is considered to be the globally influential Middle Eastern musician. There was a time when the Arab world didn’t allow a woman to have the freedom to hold her space in the entertainment industry especially pop music, due to conservative beliefs. Yet, Nancy Ajram built her name in the Arab music industry with her exceptional voice, shattering stereotypical norms. Beginning her journey as a child TV star, later released her first album at age 15 followed by 12 studio albums. Nancy holds an inspiring impact on Arab pop culture with her unique blend of traditional Arab Music with Pop music. Nancy has a significant following all over the globe, spanning over 80 million followers across social media platforms. She holds several platinum awards, three World Music Awards. and three Murex d’Or Awards.
Global Following and Impact:
Nancy Ajram’s collaboration with global star Marshmello, “Sah Sah’, became the first Arabic-language track to enter Billboard’s Dance/Electronic chart, taking her to bridge cultural gaps
through music. She is also the first and only female spokesperson of the global iconic company Coca-Cola in the Arab world, releasing several promotional Coke anthems that became instant smash-hits. She has been actively engaged in Philanthropy and humanitarian work, contributing through her voice for underprivileged children. Through her versatile adaptability to the constantly evolving music industry, Nancy maintains a substantial fan following across the Middle East and beyond.
Competition in the Digital Era:
Arab music has many prolific singers, dominating digital platforms in contemporary times. Competing in the dynamic music industry, Nancy Fares has Lebanese Pop singer Myriam Fares as a significant contemporary competitor. Myriam, widely known as “The Queen of Stage”, has been significantly popular among Arab pop culture with her distinct electrifying performances. In 2022, the FIFA panel selected her as a performing artist representing the Arab world for the official FIFA Fan Festival anthem of the Qatar World Cup alongside global artists Nicki Minaj and Maluma. Myriam massive social media following of around 50 million, signifies her dominance over the contemporary Arab music industry.
Korean Singers:
BTS:
Korean music, commonly known as K-pop has gained recognition globally with its innovative melodies, impressive choreography, and visually captivating music videos. It covers distinct music genres like dance-pop music, Hip Hop and R&B. Korean music’s immense popularity has shattered massive popularity records around the globe. In contemporary times, one of the most influential Korean forces in global K-pop culture is BTS, a Grammy-nominated South Korean group. BTS is an acronym for Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene” carrying global stardom, since its debut in June 2013. The seven-member boy band includes RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook, known for their authentic and self-produced music, intricate choreography, top-notch performances, and fan interactions globally.
The BTS has established themselves as “21st century Pop Icons” breaking countless world records. Their songs often reflect global issues, youth problems, and mental health, having Rap as a significant element. The band has been recognized with numerous prestigious accolades like the Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. According to the Hyundai Research Institute, the band is estimated to bring more than $3.6 billion into the South Korean economy annually by performing multiple sold-out stadium shows across the world.
Global Following and Impact:
BTS has a dedicated global sensation with an immense fan base often known as ARMY – Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth, worldwide. It has more than 300 Million fans. As BTS has been actively engaged in philanthropy and humanitarian activism, the band has imparted a positive influence through multiple activities like the LOVE MYSELF campaign and the UN ‘Speak Yourself’ speech. BTS’s active interaction with their fan base fosters a sense of loyalty, unity, and community. BTS ARMY is known for contributing to charity-driven activities, and campaigns throughout the world.
The band has also challenged the stereotypes by becoming non-English global influencers while promoting Korean culture and language internationally. BTS also targeted cultural norms with the proliferation of Korean ‘Soft Power’. The emotional BTS and ARMY interaction deepens their crossing borders influence. BTS’s most popular songs include “Dynamite,” “Boy With Luv,” “Butter,” “Blood Sweat & Tears,” “FAKE LOVE,” “Spring Day,” “MIC Drop” (Steve Aoki Remix), “IDOL,” “DNA,” and “Permission to Dance,” each achieved billion of views, contributed to their global fame.
Competition in the Digital Era:
One of the leading competitors of BTS in the K-pop industry is BLACKPINK, a four-member Girls’ South Korean pop group, that carries massive global reach. The band comprises four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. Their songs also showcase catchy melodies, powerful performances, and captivating visuals. Their songs, like “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” “Kill This Love,” and “How You Like That,” have topped charts and broken records on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. The K-pop girl band has a global fan following with billions of views on YouTube. BLACKPINK has also collaborated with global artists like Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, and Selena Gomez. With its worldwide, BLACKPINK has been the strongest competitor of BTS with almost 370 million followers.
Indian Singers:
Arijit Singh:
The Indian music industry is renowned globally for its diverse and culturally rich storytelling, spanning intricate genres including classical (like Hindustani and Carnatic), folk music from various regions, Bollywood film music, devotional music (bhajans and qawwalis), contemporary pop, and rock. Globally recognized musicians like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Mohammad Rafi, and AR Rahman have made significant contributions to the Hindi music industry.
Currently, Indian playback singer Arijit Singh dominates the Hindi music industry. He is the first Indian singer to cross 100 million followers on Spotify, ranking third globally. Arijit has explored almost all Indian music genres, including romantic ballads, Sufi music, rock, pop, folk, classical, item numbers, and dance tracks with his versatile voice. He started his career as a reality show contestant. Later, one of the judges, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, chose Arijit to sing the song ‘All for One’ from the movie album ‘High School Musical 2’, which propelled his career further. Arijit made his Bollywood debut in 2011 with Mithoon’s composition ‘Phir Mohabbat’ from the film ‘Murder 2’, which garnered massive success. In 2013, his career reached new heights with the award-winning song ‘Tum Hi Ho’ from the movie ‘Aashiqui 2’, making him one of the country’s most beloved singers overnight. Arijit Singh has recorded over 485 Hindi songs with his soulful voice and has also frequently sung in other regional languages.
Global Following and Influence:
Arijit Singh boasts a global fan following of more than 100 million across social media platforms. He has performed in multiple concerts and tours beyond India, including in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Middle East. Arijit has won multiple prestigious awards, including an Indian National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards. With his substantial global following, he transcends cultural barriers and reaches audiences worldwide.
Competition in the Digital Era:
Many contemporary singers like Jubin Nautiyal and Vishal Mishra have gained recognition, but none have surpassed Arijit’s global success. Shreya Ghoshal, a prolific Hindi singer, is considered the most influential in comparison to Arijit Singh. Her ability to adapt to the versatile and constantly changing music landscape has made Shreya the leading singer of Hindi cinema. She has performed in almost all genres such as classical, pop, folk, indie, and R&B. Recently, she collaborated internationally with famous Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred on the song ‘Guli Mata’, transcending cultural barriers. The song received over 350 million views. Shreya Ghoshal has also received 21 honorary awards, including 5 National Awards, and has been nominated 46 times.
Conclusion:
With the rising introduction of countless streaming platforms, the music industry is now blooming relentlessly. There was a time when politicians, monarchs, and dictators were considered to be the definition of ‘Populism.’ But, in the current evolving world, the entertainment industry is now framing narratives, ideologies, and perceptions. Throughout history, musicians have dominated the human heart with mesmerizing musical instruments, relatable intense emotional lyrics, and charismatic vocals. Yet, it was impossible to break the cultural barriers during those times. But now, expressing your opinions and thoughts is easier than before. Every culture knows how all other cultures impact.
As they say “With great power comes great responsibility” These musicians possess global influence to regard and disregard anything that can threaten human social utility. They should be more careful than ever before uttering words or performing certain actions. Because people now see them as their ideals. The trend of global following has ended the typical notions of morality and social structures. It doesn’t care about any social and cultural barriers. If one certain culture is influenced by a global entity, then it will affect all other cultures too.
The 21st-century generation doesn’t care about traditional mindsets and values, they believe in their instincts, and creativity more than already decided norms. The level of effect these global celebrities are having on spending, engagement, revenue, and viewership is unprecedented in the current period. So, these global sensations need to use their platform strategically as within one click, they can bring chaos or peace immediately. With such multiple global problems, their one word can alter the history of humanity. Furthermore, these artists should also support each other and pave the way for rising artists to grow in this fast-moving world. Through the rightful use of these global digital platforms, humans can prosper and transition to a better world. Otherwise, humanity will lose without this utility.
