How a Wave of Ascendant Pop Stars Could Define the Next Decade of Music

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While 2019 may not have been an explosive year in pop music, it teed up the personalities and story lines that could define the next decade in listening. A new generational gap opened up, one separating the veteran stars of the '10s--think Beyoncé, Drake, Rihanna and Taylor Swift--from a new crop of ascendant artists like Billie Eilish, Lizzo and Post Malone. A quiet year for the former group included live albums, B-side compilations and a focus on nonmusical pursuits.