In 2023, InMusic introduced the Most Influential Artist of the Year honor with a clear mission: to recognize not just commercial success, but true cultural impact. While charts, sales, and streaming performance remain important factors, this annual distinction goes further, highlighting artists who shaped conversations, trends, fashion, fan behavior, and global pop culture beyond the music industry itself.
Each December, InMusic selects 32 artists across genres and generations. Fans then vote through Instagram Stories, turning the final result into a direct reflection of public sentiment and cultural resonance. Since its launch, the list has become a yearly snapshot of music’s evolving power structure.
Below is a complete history of every artist who has claimed the InMusic Most Influential Artist title so far.
2023: Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift inaugurated the tradition in historic fashion. In 2023, her influence reached levels rarely seen in modern music. Already one of the most successful artists of all time, Swift transformed the industry through scale, strategy, and fan engagement.
She released two re-recorded albums, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version), reclaiming ownership while breaking streaming and sales records. At the same time, she launched The Eras Tour, a career-spanning celebration of her entire discography. The tour became a global phenomenon, eventually turning into the highest-grossing concert tour in music history and the first to surpass $2 billion in revenue.
The impact extended far beyond ticket sales. Cities experienced measurable economic boosts from Swift’s tour stops, while fan culture reached levels often compared to Beatlemania. Her catalog streams exploded, making her the first female artist to surpass 110 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Older songs, particularly “Cruel Summer,” surged back to the top of radio charts years after their original release.
Swift’s influence crossed into film as well. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert movie became the highest-grossing concert film of all time, earning more than $250 million globally and securing a Golden Globe nomination for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. By the end of 2023, Taylor Swift was not just dominating music — she was reshaping entertainment economics.
2024: Charli xcx
If 2023 belonged to legacy dominance, 2024 was defined by cultural reinvention — and no artist embodied that better than Charli xcx. The British pop innovator experienced the most successful and culturally resonant year of her career with the release of her sixth studio album, BRAT.
Upon release, BRAT instantly became a phenomenon. Critics praised its fearless production and club-ready minimalism, awarding it a Metacritic score of 95, the highest for any album released in 2024. Commercially, the album topped the UK Albums Chart and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, marking Charli’s strongest chart performance to date.
More importantly, BRAT escaped traditional album cycles and became a lifestyle moment. The internet quickly crowned the season “BRAT Summer,” as tracks like “Von Dutch” and “Apple” fueled viral trends across TikTok, fashion circles, and nightlife culture. The album’s neon-green aesthetic became instantly recognizable, influencing everything from memes to runway looks.
The momentum continued into fall with a remix edition featuring major collaborations with Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, and Lorde, expanding the album’s reach without diluting its identity. Charli then took the era on the road with the Sweat Tour, co-headlining with Troye Sivan.
By year’s end, Charli xcx had collected multiple honors, including Billboard Music Awards, UK Music Awards, and Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year. Her cultural takeover culminated in two Grammy wins at the 2025 ceremony.
2025: JISOO
The most recent InMusic Most Influential Artist title belongs to JISOO, marking a landmark moment for K-pop’s global evolution. In 2025, the BLACKPINK member balanced solo artistry, group dominance, and cross-industry success with remarkable precision.
Her year began with the release of Amortage, her debut solo mini-album. The project showcased a refined, emotionally rich sound, with standout tracks like “Earthquake,” “Your Love,” and “Hugs & Kisses.”
Soon after, JISOO reunited with BLACKPINK for their long-awaited comeback. The group’s single “Jump” ignited global excitement and set the stage for the Deadline World Tour, an all-stadium trek that quickly became one of the most successful tours of the year.
JISOO’s influence extended beyond music. Acting remained a central pillar of her career in 2025. She starred in the Prime Video K-drama Newtopia and the fantasy film Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, expanding her presence into global film and streaming audiences.
Later in the year, she surprised fans with “Eyes Closed,” a poignant ballad duet with ZAYN. The song resonated deeply, earning the title of Best Song of the Year through InMusic’s fan vote. By the end of 2025, JISOO had proven herself not only as a K-pop icon, but as a multidimensional cultural figure with worldwide influence.
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