Music is a part of our daily lives, and some artists come into it to stay forever. Generation Z is definitely loyal to their favorite artists—when they release a song, it becomes a hit, shapes identities, breaks barriers, and becomes our personal soundtrack. Here are 5 artists who, beyond their massive success, are also defining what Gen Z is all about:

1. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s journey began in 2006 as a teenage country singer with songs like “Our Song” and “Tim McGraw”—in the same year, she already landed on the Billboard 200. In 2008, with her second album, Taylor started shifting toward pop while still embracing her country roots. That’s when hits like “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me” took over the radio stations. Since then, she’s only grown. Today, she has 11 original studio albums and 4 re-recorded ones. Taylor is a singer, songwriter, businesswoman, director, and producer—and she’s built a fan base that’s almost impossible to measure. From 2023 to 2024, her The Eras Tour made history with its massive global impact.

2. Drake

Before music, Drake started out as an actor in 2001, gaining recognition through the Canadian teen series Degrassi: The Next Generation. Even while acting, he had a passion for rap. In 2006, he released his first mixtape Room for Improvement independently, followed by Comeback Season in 2007, which started gaining public attention. In 2009, everything changed—Drake dropped “Best I Ever Had,” which exploded and caught Lil Wayne’s attention. He then released his debut album Thank Me Later, which hit number one on the Billboard charts in 2010. Now with 8 studio albums, Drake is one of the most-streamed artists worldwide, constantly breaking records and winning countless awards.

3. Billie Eilish

Raised in an artistic family, Billie Eilish always had the freedom to explore music. At just 13 years old, in 2015, she recorded “Ocean Eyes”—written by her brother Finneas O’Connell, who’s now her creative partner. The song went viral and led to her signing a record deal. She later released major singles like “Don’t Smile at Me,” “Happier Than Ever,” and “Bad Guy.” At just 23 years old, Billie has already won 5 Grammys and, in 2020, became the youngest person in history to win all four major Grammy categories in one night: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist.

4. Bad Bunny

Born in Puerto Rico, Bad Bunny started as a teenager uploading trap and reggaeton songs on SoundCloud. He quickly caught people’s attention and released “Soy Peor” in 2016, which spread rapidly on streaming platforms and social media. By 2017, he was collaborating with big names like J Balvin and Daddy Yankee, becoming one of the leading figures in Latin trap and reggaeton—and one of the most influential Latin artists globally. In 2020, he released El Último Tour Del Mundo, the first all-Spanish album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Today, he’s known not just for his music, but also for his bold lifestyle and social activism.

5. Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo started as an actress in 2016 on the Disney Channel show Bizaardvark and gained more attention in 2019 through the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. While acting, she began writing songs and, in 2021, released the phenomenon “Drivers License.” The track quickly hit No. 1 in multiple countries. Her debut album SOUR followed shortly after and was a massive success, with hits like “Deja Vu” and “Good 4 U” winning fans over. Despite being early in her music career, Olivia has already won Grammys for Best New Artist, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Pop Solo Performance. She’s one of the most influential Gen Z voices today, continuing her rise with her second album GUTS, currently on tour.

Gen Z doesn’t just listen to music—they connect with the lyrics and the artists. These names shape identities, spark conversations, and give young people powerful emotions and memories. However you look at it, the impact of these artists is massive—and still growing.