The rise of ‘Pop Girls’, ‘Recession Pop’ and how the faltering economy is making space for great music.

Throughout human history we have used various means for escapism when external factors, such as a failing economy were looming in our lives. One of these forms of escape being music. Following the 2008 global economic downturn many began to observe a common theme between the music being produced at the time. Sonically the popular tracks generally had higher BPMS to encourage dancing. Lyrically many of the songs also directing listeners to dance and had other affirming phrasing which helped with the escapism. Popular songs of the time that demonstrate these criteria are, ‘TikTok’ by Kesha, 

“Don't stop, make it pop, D.J., blow my speakers up Tonight, I'ma fight 'til we see the sunlight Tik tok, on the clock, but the party don't stop, no” 

‘Just Dance’ by Lady Gaga, 

“Just dance Gonna be okay, da-da-doo-doot-n Just dance Spin that record, babe, da-da-doo-doot-n Just dance Gonna be okay” 

 ‘I got a feeling’ by the Black-Eyed Peas. 

“I got a feeling That tonight's gonna be a good night” 

In more recent years there has been a rise in the popularity and success of a larger range of female popular music artists. I would like to speculatively propose that there is an intersecting factor that links this success with the corresponding rise of ‘recession pop’.  

It is first important to acknowledge the other factors that have facilitated the success of so many amazing female pop stars in the past few years. In an article by the Harvard Gazette, there was a discussion about some of the factors at play which have been impacting the industry from the early 2020’s, with a focus on the music year in 2023. “Many women in music had great years, not just Swift and Beyoncé. Miley Cyrus, SZA (and Swift) had three of the four most popular songs of 2023 and were top 10 artists of the year, according to Billboard.”  

The achievement of these milestones is almost having a snowballing or cyclical effect, as women in the industry as producing music encouraging sisterhood and empowerment. These sentiments are then positively received by a wider audience of music listeners; especially women, which then propels the artists success. By creating music by women and for women and collaborating or giving opportunities to other female artists, this level of relatability and authenticity shines through allowing for subsequent commercial success.  

“I attribute the success of women to other women. Not just other women in the industry, but female consumers.”  

“Not only that, I attribute it to women in the industry supporting each other, hiring other women, using other women as producers and songwriters.” - Tonya Butler, Harvard Gazette 

Briefly touching on 2024, major artists such as Swift and Beyoncé released highly successful projects with Taylor Swift’s, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ and Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’. Other significant pop album releases were ‘Hit me Hard and Soft’, by Billie Eilish and ‘Short & Sweet’ by Sabrina Carpenter. All albums that were nominated for Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammy awards.  

Furthermore, 2024 gave rise to female artists who may have been in the industry for a while but hadn’t reached significant commercial success. This was evident with the aforementioned ‘Short and Sweet’, by Sabrina Carpenter. Part of her mega success with this album was her support from Taylor Swift and the exposure she received as the support act on Swifts ‘Era’s tour’.    

Another artist who had a significant 2024, was Charlie XCX with her album and cultural phenomenon ‘BRAT’.  In an article by UK publication Little Black Book, they attribute part of her success with this industry wide shift amongst female artists.  

“Not too long ago, music for teenage girls was being written by male record label execs and assigned to younger male talent. That is no longer the case, as a surge of incredibly talented women, who have autonomy over their own music and the marketing of it, storm the charts.” 

Charlie XCX. (2024). BRAT album cover [photograph]. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brat_%28album%29

Charlie XCX created a clear concept of a ‘BRAT summer’ to align with her album release. It had a clear aesthetic both visually and sonically. The album cover being lime green a colour associated with raves or parties and the sentiment being to subvert expectations and do what you want. The heavy dance pop sonically encouraging a sense of escapism, the idea of dancing to avoid facing personal problems. By attributing this sense of agency to a sonically cohesive synth/ dance pop album, Charlie XCX was able to create a blueprint for the persona of the kind of person who listens to this music. It wasn’t a matter of just listening to a song or album, it became a way of life.  

It’s clear that social and cultural shifts have allowed female artists more agency over their imagine and the music they produce. This is also particularly evident in the rapid success of Chappel Roan with her album ‘Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ and Doechii’s success with her rap album ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’. Both artists having a unique artistic vision. Without the current cultural landscape these artists may not have seen the same success as both are openly queer.  

Lady Gaga. (2025). MAYHEM album cover [photograph]. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayhem_%28Lady_Gaga_album%29

In 2025, a significant album released by an artist synonymous with recession pop is ‘Mayhem’ by Lady Gaga. This album is the intersecting body of work that perfectly exemplifies why female artists are currently having such success and its connection to economic factors such as recession. In a Vogue article the interviewer posed this question to Gaga; 

“There’s been this conversation lately about “recession pop,”—the idea being that the best pop always comes out of the most challenging times. Was that something you thought of, bringing levity to your fans?” 

It is clear in her response that Gaga did not intend on making an album including all of the recession pop attributes, rather she noted that; 

“Everything changed for me after the Fame Monster era: After that happened, my mission as an artist changed, and it became more about making people happy, and less about my personal mission as an artist. My personal mission became making the public smile as much as possible. So when I was making Mayhem, I wanted it to be a good time, and not all about me.... So while I did not plan for this to be recession pop, it is a feeling of mine when I’m making music: I want to be there for people.” 

Gaga’s focus on creating joy with her music and the release corresponding with an economic downturn unintentionally achieves the objective of ‘recession pop’ and gives space for its consumers to escape from their lives and the challenges they are facing.  

It will be interesting to observe the kinds of popular music being celebrated over the next few years after the fall out of our current economic state.  

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References: 

Allaire, C. (2025, March 6). On “Mayhem,” Lady Gaga Crafts Perfect Pop for a Chaotic World. Vogue. https://www.vogue.com/article/lady-gaga-mayhem-pop-album-interview 

gazettebeckycoleman. (2024, January 30). Watershed moment for women in music business? Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/01/watershed-moment-for-women-in-music-business-grammys/ 

LBB Editorial. (2024, August 14). Pop Music Is “brat” and Bigger Than Ever, and Here’s Why. Lbbonline.com; Little Black Book. https://lbbonline.com/news/pop-music-is-brat-and-bigger-than-ever-and-heres-why 

Iasimone, A. (2024, March 24). Sabrina Carpenter Shares Eras Tour Photos, Reflects On “Taybrina Era.” Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sabrina-carpenter-taylor-swift-eras-tour-taybrina-photos-1235640249/ 

McFall, M. R. (2025, April 9). What is “Recession Pop?” Viral Trend Takes Off. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/recession-pop-trend-kesha-lady-gaga-economy-2057334 

Why is recession pop so damn good? | Ensemble Magazine. (2024). Ensemblemagazine.co.nz. https://www.ensemblemagazine.co.nz/articles/recession-pop-music 

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