Solo stars have stolen the stage — literally

In 1995, bands occupied 41% of the charts; by 2023, that number had plummeted to just 4%. Meanwhile, solo artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have turned music into a personal brand-building machine, powered by social media and streaming platforms. Add in collabs—which hit a high of 42% of the charts in 2018—and it’s clear: the golden era of bands is fading.