Billboard named Taylor Swift as the No. 2 artist on its Greatest Pop Stars of 2025 list, marking yet another top-tier finish in a decade where she has never dropped outside the top five. The ranking, revealed as part of Billboard’s annual editorial project, followed two weeks of countdowns that also included Honorable Mentions, Rookie of the Year, and Comeback of the Year selections. According to Billboard’s editors, Swift’s 2025 stood out for both scale and substance, combining major career achievements with sustained chart dominance. After completing the global Eras Tour in December 2024, she entered the new year with a lighter public presence, aside from appearances at the Grammy Awards and the Super Bowl, before reemerging in a series of defining moments that shaped the pop landscape.
One of the most significant developments came in May, when Swift finalized the purchase of her original master recordings, ending a years-long dispute that began with the 2019 sale of Big Machine Records and the subsequent transfer of her catalog to Shamrock Holdings. Through a letter published on her official website and a verified social media post, Swift shared that reclaiming ownership of her life’s work was deeply emotional and long sought after. The acquisition triggered renewed interest across her catalog on the Billboard 200, with particular momentum around Reputation, which surged into the chart’s top five. Billboard credited the success of her re-recordings and the Eras Tour for strengthening her position both creatively and commercially.
How Taylor Swift’s 2025 Albums, Appearances, and Chart Records Cemented Her Billboard No. 2 Finish
Swift’s influence extended well beyond catalog ownership. Her re-recorded albums continued to redefine industry standards, with Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) all debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Several From the Vault tracks also opened at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, reinforcing her ability to turn past material into present-day events. In June, she made a surprise onstage appearance at Travis Kelce’s Tight Ends and Friends concert in Nashville, signaling another active chapter in her year.
