What Defines A Successful Musician?

Success in music could be defined as selling millions of records and creating multiple number one hits. It could also be defined as impacting the music industry with new trends and iconic ideologies or reinventing culture. Influential female musicians encompass both definitions of what it means to be successful in music, plus they continue to push the boundaries of cultural norms and expectations.

In addition to their many accomplishments, many of these women have overcome huge hurdles in the music industry revolving around sexism, gender discrimination, and racism. They also provide a noteworthy addition to our society and culture through their songs, stories, lyrics, award acceptance speeches, and socio-political activities.

Below is a list of 10 extremely influential female musicians born throughout the twentieth century. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but rather a starting point. And while the list focuses specifically on top female musicians, there are female producers, composers, songwriters, scholars, educators, and journalists whose work and dedication has also been pivotal to the music industry.

Discover their unique contributions to not only the music industry, but their impact on culture and society as we know it.

Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996)

To this day, Ella Fitzgerald is still considered the Queen of Jazz and the First Lady of Song – her sound, tone, voice, style, and freestyle scatt are her unprecedented contributions to the world of jazz.

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)

Possibly the most well-known soul artist of all time, the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was not only a talented musician, song writer, actress and pianist, but a civil rights activist and Pulitzer Prize winner.

Barbra Streisand (1942)

One of the few artists to be awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT), Streisand’s career spans over seven decades, making her one of the longest standing entertainers in the industry.

Diana Ross (1944)

Leading The Supremes to the height of their fame in the 1960s, Diana Ross’s solo career was equally as successful in music, television/film, and on the stage. Named the Female Entertainer of the Century, Ross secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1988 for having more top hits than any other female musician in the industry.

Madonna (1958)

The Queen of Pop is considered to be one of the most influential women of all time, impacting the music world not only with the reinvention of sound but also pop culture, fashion, politics, sexuality, religion, and business. She is known to have full control over her entire career and is the most successful solo artist in US history.

Celine Dion (1968)

Considered one of this century’s top pop vocalists, Celine Dion sings not only in her native Canadian French and English, but has also sung in Spanish, Italian, German, Latin, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese, easily making her one of the most globally accessible female musicians ever.

Lady Gaga (1986)

Known for her ability to push creative boundaries through her music, songwriting, and acting, Lady Gaga has sold millions of records and albums since the start of her career in the early 2000s. Named as Billboard’s Woman of the Year and listed on Time’s 100 Most Influential People list, she actively fights for LGBT rights, the improvement of mental health, and bullying prevention.

Beyonce (1981)

Rising to fame as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child, one of the most successful female groups of all time, Beyonce’s solo career took off in early 2000. Since then, she has become one of the top-earning females in the industry with awards including 28 Grammys, 26 MTV Video Music Awards, 24 NAACP Image Awards, and 31 BET Awards. Many of her lyrics explore themes like female empowerment, womanhood, and infidelity.

Adele (1988)

One of the youngest British musicians to see such massive success, Adele was only 19 when her debut album reached global recognition. She continues to break touring attendance records and holds the record for the world’s best-selling album of the 21st century.

Taylor Swift (1989)

One of the world’s most media-followed singer-songwriters of the 21st century, Taylor Swift continues to push boundaries with her combined style of pop, country, rock, folk, and electronic music. With over 200 million sales worldwide, she draws on experiences from her own life and receives widespread criticism and recognition.