ugh!!!! i was a huge Backstreet Boys fan!!! if i’m not mistaken they are the best selling boy band of all time. the millennium tour was my first concert. You also forgot New Kids On The Block and New Edition

This is why I say Madonna >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Janet

Janet was only big LOCALLY for a decade. Madonna is GLOBAL for over 3 DECADES

Brandy was definitely a pop culture phenomenon in the 90′s.

@jake You cannot put beyonce on this list for the same ou cannot put Janet on there…because their careers GREW like beyonce was a DC which wasn’t really a pop phenomena as a group and I am a huge bey fan but read the requirements of the list before arguing that beyonce should be on there…i mean the sad thing is some of those on this list wish they had beyonce’s career and longevity… some of their careers ended just as fast as it started

BTW Brit was cute for the first 6 years. Now she’s just a local singles act. Check the sales.

The only thing I disagree with is the fact that Janet Jackson was left off this list! I get what you’re saying, but Janet was still a huge phenomenon!

I think that Beyonce was huge for R&B, not necessarily pop which is why I can see why she was omitted from this list. Janet, did have two albums out where she was at a standstill but on her third album is when she broke through the glass ceiling.

@jewerely girl – Were you around when Britney rose to fame? Beyonce couldn’t compete with that on her debut. Britney was channeling Madonna with sales and cultural impact. Let’s be realistic.

How is Beyonce not a pop culture phenomenon when she had the best hit of the 00s with crazy in Crazy in Love which spawned its own dance, she has a word in the dictionary “bootylicious”, She has 4 consecutive albums, blockbuster films, more Grammies at 30 than most artist will see in a life time, she has a damn millennium award, has a tour that grossed 100+ million in sales…and oh yeah “Single Ladies” in it self was a pop culture phenomenon that started a youtube craze. Trent girlfriend you and this blog are forever pressed. You have Boys II men (who are way more R&B than Beyonce) on here but not Beyonce…shit you have Backstreet Boyz on her but no Nysnc* ….Bitch bye.

LOFL @ that weak Madonna stan. This goes more to show why talentwise Janet>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Madonna. Because Janet and her sisters were proof that you couldnt get the fame just from having the same last name as Michael, and putting it on a album with no direction or good music. Janet had to work hard and earn that success with her music, her moves and her ideas. And she didnt have to sleep around like some artist (1 artist) gloats about. And Janet went to have more #1′s on more charts than Madonna (check the facts), better music and better dance moves (well really no contest there).

Clearly Janet’s first two albums flopping does not mean she’s never been a “pop culture phenomenon” she actually ruled the damn field.

@Majah, but she was in the industry as a actor and performer for almost 10 years before she went to music, and when she went to music it didnt just take off like it does for pop phenomenons, she had to establish her image and sound and thats what kicked things off for her, she became 1, but I think this article is mostly about the artist who came out of nowhere and all the sudden have these massive monster hit’s.

I’m not so sure that I would have included Gaga. I’m not arguing as to whether or not Beyonce should be here but I will say that there was a time when she was a bench mark for others. People wanted to sing, dance and look like Beyonce. Don’t deny it because it is true. Even today there are “bigger” names like Gaga but people still mention Bey in every conversation. She has the whole industry’s respect and there is something to be said about that.

What about Rihanna, I have decided to argue for her, her first song went number 2 (1/2 toptens), 2/4 top tens of her second album, 6/7 top 10′s off the third, 3/5 top tens off the fourth, 4/7 for the 5th, and 2/4 for the 6th.

If you add that up counting collaborations thats 22 top tens and 11 number ones, all of her albums have debuted in the top 10 and she has sold over 25 million albums worldwide! Along with an estimated 100 million singles sold, Rih should definitely be up there!

Trent, I love this post!

No Beyonce should not be there. Why?? her and DC didn’t come out on fire, they had to work at it they were trying for years, and When Beyonce came out as a solo artist Britney and Christina was still at the top, Britney’s reign didn’t let up until her break down. I can understand Janet because her first two album were flops. But you say people that were destined for stardom and we knew that Beyonce was going to be a star, and we knew Janet was going to be a star.

Please..Rihanna isn’t on this list bc her debut is Gold, and her 2nd album, 3rd 2xplat. She wasn’t multiplatinum from the get-go. Check the requirements….Rihanna is just a singles artist.

Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera! Duh!!!!!

Trent leaving Beyonce out was only because of the single which was released from the Goldmember Soundtrack “Work it Out” he tweeted that the other day. I think that’s quiet unfair reasoning because Beyonce doesn’t represent that as the start of her solo Career. Crazy In Love now to this day is considered the best Pop song of the 2000s over any artist who released something around that time. Beyonce also had 4 TOP 5 singles, 2 movies, Endorsements, 5 Grammys in one night, 12m albums WW. She took over that year having everyone do the Uh Oh dance, how many people dance to Just Dance, or Britney’s songs which I clearly don’t know.
I took my time to go and read GaGas wiki, it stated that it took her time to build up on the success for Just Dance and her single s following that Eh Eh nothing Else flopped . GaGa is a great artist but Trent leaving Beyonce out over one petty single that she don’t claim is unfair. Let’s talk about artist that have that same flair Mariah doesn’t have it.
Elvis is a thief why is he even on here?
Trent I know you claim you give your OPINION but this list complete bogus.

*Trent is a bitch…i got his name mixed up with Sam, his ex-lover from his previous employment and part of the reason he hates Beyonce so much.

I dont 100% agree with this definition of a pop culture phenomenon. Artists can grow to become huge forces in pop culture you dont have to blow from the jump. That is why Janet, Beyonce and Rihanna should be on this list.
Janet Jackson a pop icon regardless of the fact that she wasnt a hit from the very beginning.
Beyonce as a solo artist exploded. Crazy in love made history and she’s been consistent ever since.
Rihanna’s success is still a shock with her lack of talent but she’s been getting herself in the music history books since 2007 and doesnt seem to be slowing down..

Pop is whats popular. Undestood…………. Mariah,Boys ll Men & Whitney are/were that ……………. Also, for the ones that seem to lack reading comprehension, he said instant success. Beyonce was in a group, then she went solo. Their first album wasn’t a huge one although it did go plat. Rihanna wasn’t an instant success either. The keyword is “Instant”, success………….

lmao wow my Janet got attacked for no reason damn, that reason why she’s not listed is so invalid I’m sorry that was just shade…