YOUTH MUSIC NAME LIL NAS X “THIS GENERATION’S BOWIE”

BILLIE EILISH IS GEN Z’S MADONNA

Like Madonna, Billie Eilish quickly rose to fame, becoming a household name recognisable in every corner of the globe. From writing the new Bond theme song, to reinventing her style and challenging gender boundaries, Eilish cemented her icon status amongst Gen Z listeners in a manner reminiscent of Madonna, when she won millions of hearts around the world decades ago. 

LIL NAS X IS GEN Z’S DAVID BOWIE

David Bowie was a pioneer of his generation as he tackled gender and social norms with his transformative looks and unrelenting commitment in pushing for equality, all while creating music for the ages. Today, we see Lil Nas X stepping into his role as Gen Z’s ultimate male musical icon. From his string of hit singles, to his powerful videos, Montero Lamar Hill has become an idol for young listeners, and an avid advocate for the queer community and people of colour more widely.

BTS ARE GEN Z’S ABBA

I challenge you to find a single music fan who doesn’t know ABBA - it’s impossible. The emblematic band, forever known for their catchy hits like ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’, have paved the way for young K-Pop musical group BTS to step into the scene and build their very own empire with a young audience. Just as ABBA covered a wide spectrum of themes in their multiple albums, BTS creates music that speaks to the struggles faced by the youth of today: from bullying, to mental health issues and everything in between - reaching millions of listeners.

HALSEY IS GEN Z’S CELINE DION

To an older audience, Celine Dion’s voice and musical style is recognisable from miles away. As the quintessential female vocalist of her generation, she won multiple awards and wrote timeless hits, like Titanic’s theme song, ‘My Heart Will Go On’. The same can be said about Gen Z top charter Halsey. Her slow and steady rise to fame has made her a force to be reckoned with today, as millions of listeners look up to her for her distinct vocals, relatable lyrics and, most importantly, her fight to abolish gender norms and her advocacy for mental health. 

RAG N BONE MAN IS GEN Z’S FRANK SINATRA

Every generation has its iconic voice, one you just won’t forget - and Gen Z is no exception. Whilst Frank Sinatra wowed crowds and graced films with his unforgettable voice, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man has stepped in to scratch the itch amongst young listeners as he achieves cult status with billions of views and streams.

CHILDISH GAMBINO IS GEN Z’S JOHN LENNON

Not only one of the most iconic musical legends, and part of arguably the biggest band of all time, John Lennon was also regarded as much for his endorsement of a wide range of progressive political causes and using his music to promote change. Similarly, Childish Gambino uses his music to address social injustice, with tracks such as ‘This is America’ also acting as powerful social commentary pieces.

LIZZO IS GEN Z’S LIZA MINNELLI

Known for her commanding stage presence and as an outspoken advocate of the LGBTQIA+ community, Liza Minnelli broke boundaries with her hold over stage and screen in Hollywood. Today, Gen Z female R&B icon Lizzo is continuing to break boundaries as she strives for body neutrality, as well as being known for her unique star quality, with young music lovers all over the world rocking to her instantly recognisable tunes, like ‘Good As Hell’ and ‘Truth Hurts’. 

STORMZY IS GEN Z’S DR. DRE

It’s no surprise that Dr. Dre is considered the Greatest Of All Time when it comes to rap and hip-hop music. As the man behind some of the genre’s biggest tunes, like ‘Still D.R.E’, he has also worked behind the scenes to help other household names in their rise to fame - like Eminem. Today, we are seeing Stormzy rise up the ranks as this generation’s icon. From his hits ‘Shut Up’ and ‘I’m Back’, to his fight for social justice, he is a role model for the young generation.