Billboard Hot 100: Where Are All The Women?

Historically, 2017 has marked a low point for women on the Billboard Hot 100. In the first 8 months of the year, a mere 14% of Billboard top 10 hits had been by women, without the presence of a man. This is the lowest percentage since Nielsen Music began recording the Hot 100 data in 1992. Overall, there has been 17 men represented at the #1 spot on the Hot 100 (18 if you include Justin Bieber twice for his multiple appearances), compared to only 2 women.

However, things seem to be changing with the recent success of “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift, and “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” by Cardi B, which both hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Both of these songs are significant in their own way, with Swift becoming the first woman to hit #1 in 2017, and Cardi B becoming the first solo female rapper to hit #1 since Lauryn Hill with Doo Wop (That Thing) in 1998. While the tides seem to be changing for the better for women on the Hot 100, it’s still hard to ignore the 8 month drought. In an attempt to make up for this drought, here’s a playlist of badass songs by badass women that we feel deserved better. Listen to the playlist below!