The 100 most important women in pop – ranks 100 to 98

Music knows no gender: the struck string, the kicked foot drum or the loop in the audio software – everything is completely gender-neutral. Nice thought, right?

But beyond the tone and beat, the charged theme certainly plays a role. Music, once it has left the instruments, is always context. Music depicts realities and also influences them.

There is no need to tell anyone today that pop and society have become more diverse over the decades. But anyone who likes to scratch their beard with all the movement and prefers to turn around again is a tradition-conscious pop culture canon. Countless lists are still topped by Dylan and the Beatles – Radiohead are still seen as young challengers here. This view may also have an appeal for some, but when it comes down to the argument that there are so few influential female musicians, then the lights dim.

We dedicate ourselves in the current MUSIKEXRESS hence all the influential women in the music business. As obvious as all of this may be, the impulses that female acts have given us in addition to their hits are still valuable. Keep it up, we’ve only just begun.

Here is a first teaser of the list of the 100 most important women in pop – places 100 to 98

100th place: Laurie Spiegel

Through guitar and banjo, the 78-year-old American ended up with computer music, which has had a decisive influence on her. She develops the composition software Music Mouse, sets Kepler and viruses to music, makes films, builds studios, her visionary work is a direct connection to Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin et al.

Without her: the aliens wouldn’t know how great machine music sounds on Earth.

(Ingo Scheel)

99th place: Kim Deal

The “Where Is My Mind?” siren, the song “Gigantic”, the bass on “Debaser”, the overall construct “Cannonball”, the incredibly good Beatles cover “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” – Kim Deal gives indie rock the magic. The limit of coolness: On the first Pixies records she calls herself Mrs. John Murphy.

Without her: Indie rock would just be one genre among many.

(André Bosse)

98th place: Ivy Queen

Ivy Queen is considered a legend of reggaeton from the very beginning. She was also one of the only female representatives of Latin American hip hop in the early 2000s. With her songs and battle rap skills, she defies hypermasculinity.

Without her: the doors for women in both genres would have been opened much later.

(Christin Rodrigues)

+++ Our current issue has been in stores since February 9th. There is a complete list of the 100 most important women in pop. Here we often share excerpts from the rankings. +++