Beyonce and Rihanna as Examples of Powerful Women in The Pop Industry

Pop Music is a distinguished genre of music that uses elements from other styles such as dance, urban, Latin, rock and country. Originally derived from Rock and Roll in the Western world around 1950’s, it is the largest genre of consumed music today and is played on television, in stores, on the radio, on commercials and in social areas such as malls and clubs. Popular songs that produce the most hits, copies, attention and chart listings are considered Pop songs because they all share similarities which are proven to gain the most attention. Famous Pop artists such as The Beatles, Madonna, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson all ring bells when their names are mentioned. Today, artists are often displayed on advertisements and promotions such as perfume advertisements and clothing ads to contribute to the exposure effect of catchy and hot trends and styles as well. In a world of talented pop artists, two world famous Pop artists that have major influence on society and the music industry as a whole are Rihanna and Beyonce. Beyonce and Rihanna are on two different ends of the spectrum in terms of personality, but are both icons in the music world. Several factors make these pop stars so appealing; their huge fanbases, their undeniable sex appeal, their uniqueness and style, their lavish lifestyles and most importantly, their natural talent.

Rihanna and Beyonce are two of the richest and globally known female artists in the pop industry. They can be compared in both lifestyle and music and have millions of faithful followers following their every move. The famous “BeyHive”, for example, is the name given to Beyonce’s fan base of over 200 million people who will stop at nothing to protect their queen. In comparison, Rihanna’s fans, known as the Rihanna Navy, has helped her be the holder of the most single awards since the awards were created in 1958, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The most powerful people in the world are those who are both admired and respected. Having large and strong fan bases ensure that the artists’ names and actions are always acknowledged, any products created by them are fully supported and that their music always has listeners. In other words, the artist may be the vehicle, but the fans are the fuel to the engine.

Perhaps one of the most undisputed reasons as to why Beyonce and Rihanna are so appealing to mainstream media is because of their sex appeal. Their bodies, personas, lyrics, videos and shows scream sexy. For example, Rihanna’s notoriety for her sex appeal hit its peak when she released her hit single, S&M, in 2010 which was primarily focused on sex, bondage and sadomasochistic sexual practices. She was also named as Esquire magazine’s Sexiest Woman Alive in 2011. Beyonce was recently named the Second Most Beautiful Woman in the world, according to the Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi and was praised as she dripped sex appeal in videos such as Dance for You, Partition and Drunk in Love. It is no secret that looks and sex appeal matter in the pop industry. Fortunately, Beyonce and Rihanna both have that trait mastered.

Another characteristic that contributes to pop stars’ appeal, specifically Rihanna’s and Beyonce’s, is their unique personality and trendy style. Rihanna breaks rules in this area and is a fashion icon at heart. She is an integral part of the fashion world and is known for her eclectic style, trendy outfit ideas and involvement in the beauty industry. She even recently opened her own makeup line called Fenty Beauty which is now worth $3 billion dollars as of 2018. Whether it is the brands she endorses, such as Puma and Sephora beauty, or her makeup and bold outfits, Rihanna has a major influence over what is considered hot in today’s fashion world. Beyonce’s fashion plate consists of a sexy and edgy play on style. She can be half naked on stage and still be seen as classy, and lavish on the red carpet to perfectly display her diva persona. Being a fashion trendsetter has always been a huge factor in the fabrication of pop music. They are both admired in the eyes of fashionnistas, models and businesses around the world and it keeps them on a pedestal separate from others.

Today’s society is obsessed with luxurious lifestyles that are portrayed on social media. Rap artists are notorious for the cars, mansions and expensive clothing, but Pop stars are also idolized in terms of lifestyle comparisons. Rihanna lives a seemingly enjoyable life. She is often seen partying, drinking and surrounded by rumors of promiscuousness, but she has recently been all about business. Her social network sites are full of photos of her friends, family, vacations and hobbies. Her personal dating life and living lifestyles are kept private for the most part and left up to the media to make assumptions. Beyonce, on the other hand, lives more of a lavish lifestyle. She and her husband, Jay Z, hold the title as the world’s “Power Couple” and together have a net worth of over $1 billion dollars, which they spend like it is water. From extravagent parties and weddings to vacations every day, Beyonce certainly lives the “perfect” life. Although everybody has hidden battles that they go through, Rihanna and Beyonce seem to live the lives that millions of women can only dream of living; neverending sources of money, ultimate freedom and the self fulfilled love and power of women. Pop culture feeds off of this type of portrayal which both negatively and positively affects its audience.

Lastly, and most importantly, all big pop artists share one thing in common despite any other difference- talent. Pop artists are held to standards of having music that is energetic, exciting, fitting of what’s “in”, and simple enough for your average listener. Beyonce is known to be one of the greatest singers in history, having a background that stems back into childhood. She is a talented singer who can adjust to consumers’ interests and own a stage with her godly stage presence. Rihanna’s talent is a lot more subtle, but just as effective. Her barbadian accent and style is prevalent in all of her music and is extremely distinctive. She has also mastered the technique of captivating her audience with her relatable lyrics and exciting shows- exactly what pop artists are known for.

It is no secret that music has an effect on mass population. Super stars tend to have more influence on a person’s life than the people around them which is why music and media can be so dangerous. Beyonce and Rihanna are two examples of powerful women in the pop industry who embody the very characteristics that make pop music so appealing. Their admired lifestyle, undisputed talent, drop dead beauty and keen sense of individuality is what the world loves and is exactly what the pop culture industry search for.