Will female artists maintain their dominance on global music charts through the end of 2026?

A mid-year report from Luminate indicates female artists, including Ella Langley and Olivia Dean in the US, and global superstar Taylor Swift, are leading streaming and album sales, sparking industry debate on whether this trend will continue for the rest of the year.

The top 3

  1. Most Cumulative Weeks at #1 on Billboard Hot 100: Mariah Carey holds the record for the most cumulative weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 by any artist, with a total of over one hundred weeks across 19 number-one singles, a record she extended in 2025 and 2026 with "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
  2. Female Artists with Most #1 Hits on Billboard Hot 100: Mariah Carey leads all female artists with 19 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, just one shy of The Beatles' all-time record, followed by Rihanna with 14 and Taylor Swift with 12.
  3. Highest-Grossing Female Music Tours of All Time: Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour' (2023–2024) is the highest-grossing tour by any artist, having surpassed $2 billion, while P!nk's 'Summer Carnival Tour' (2023–2024) and Beyoncé's 'Renaissance World Tour' (2023) also rank among the top-earning female tours.

Sources

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