The Importance of "B" Pop Stars
Will Tate McRae make it out of the "Khia" Forum?
Not every pop star can be Taylor Swift or Beyoncé; and that’s ok. Frankly, not every pop star needs to even aspire to be an “A” pop star. The pop star ecosystem requires many “B” tier artists for the industry to survive.
Tate McRae released her third studio album, So Close To What, last Friday. It’s a perfectly adequate album. It has some songs I really like—“Greenlight” and “Dear God” are my favorites other than the singles—but it’s missing the standout moment that could have put her among the dominant artists in the music industry today.
I actually thought that her second album, THINK LATER, was going to be the one that would shoot her into superstardom. In some ways it did, since her hit single “Greedy” has over 1.6 billion streams on Spotify. I loved that album.
But instead of building on that rise, Tate McRae’s latest release might solidify her spot as a “B” pop star—at least for now.
What is a “B” pop star? You just know one when you see one. But there are some markers to distinguish them from “A” stars: fewer streams, less chart success, fewer awards, less name recognition, etc. They’re just not as big of an artist—at the moment—as the “A” pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. Maybe they’re still pretty new to mainstream music listeners, like Gracie Abrams, Doechii, and Tyla. Maybe it’s been a few years since they’ve had a hit, like Meghan Trainor, Camila Cabello, and Lorde. Or maybe they just never quite got to the very top, like Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, and Ellie Goulding. And of course there can be a range even within the “B” tier. The latest movers from “B” to “A” list are Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. Both had huge years.
Calling someone a “B” star shouldn’t really be an insult. After all, they are still major performers and most of them are still household names. I would actually argue they are the backbone of the music industry. Most of them are the ones fighting for opportunities and honing their singing or performance skills since they haven’t reached the pinnacle yet.
Plus, (I know this is going to sound snarky, but I actually mean it earnestly) we also need tour openers and we need artists to perform during the first half of the day at music festivals. Being a pop star is not a group project. For some to be on top, many others need to be in the middle. And nothing about this means the “B” artists can’t be great. They most certainly can be, and many are.
In ecology, a keystone species is an organism whose existence is necessary for the entire community’s survival. One example is the starfish. Without starfish to eat mussels and barnacles, they would decimate the population of seaweeds and likely destroy the entire ecosystem.
“B” pop stars are the keystone species of the music industry because the “A” stars can only do so much. Most top artists release a new album every 2-4 years. The music industry needs a whole bunch of other artists to release music during those break periods—and bring in a lot of revenue.
That brings us back to Tate McRae. The question remains where she’'ll end up. I hope she makes a move because I believe she has the talent to do so. (She can certainly out dance most of the “A” stars.) Now is the time to make smart creative and business decisions. For one, I would not host my next album release party in the parking lot of the K(h)ia Forum. (“Khia” pun intended.) Will she reach the top or will she remain a perennial “B” star? We’ll be watching.
Who do you think are some of the “B” pop stars today? Do you think Tate McRae will make it to the “A” list? What’s your take?