In some ways, pop itself is shrinking. The Sizzling 100 is at present populated by nation musicians (Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs), purveyors of regional sounds (Rema, Peso Pluma) and rap stars (Travis Scott, Gunna). Except for a number of holdouts like Swift and Miley Cyrus, relics of an period wherein mainstream music was dominated by world-beating megawatt pop stars, there are few pop singers on the charts proper now.

For different modern pop stars, the act of releasing music itself feels incidental to their celeb standing. Lately, Kesha — one of many dominant business forces of the 2010s, securing 10 High 10s within the first 4 years of her profession — has turn out to be recognized much less for her music than for her longtime authorized battle with the producer Dr. Luke; nonetheless a Twitter (now generally known as X) and tabloid fixture, her music is commonly the least-discussed factor about her. “Gag Order,” her newest album, debuted at No. 187 in Could, promoting the equal of 8,300 copies its first week.

After which there may be Charli XCX, who spent a big portion of her profession making outré, abrasive data with a bevy of collaborators from the worlds of hyperpop and experimental digital music. As soon as a real business prospect — through the early years of her profession, Charli scored a handful of Sizzling 100 High 10s, together with the No. 1 Iggy Azalea collaboration “Fancy” — it appeared, for some time, as if Charli had willfully recused herself from the pop music Olympics, maybe as a approach of insulating herself towards the major-label trade’s callous and sometimes merciless whims.

Because it turned out, it was truly far less complicated than that: She was simply taking an aesthetic detour. Her mainstream-skewing fifth album “Crash,” launched final 12 months, was described by Charli herself as her “principal pop lady second” and debuted at No. 7, her highest Billboard 200 place but. This month, her single “Velocity Drive,” written for the “Barbie” soundtrack, turned her first Sizzling 100 entry in 9 years. It drove the purpose dwelling: She is usually a big-time pop star, if she so chooses.

This text is supported by Vital Minded, an initiative to put money into the work of cultural critics from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.