12 Signs That Women Ruled the World of Entertainment in 2023

Beyoncé released an anthemic song in 2011, “Run the World (Girls),” that became a top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It probably would have resonated even more strongly if she had put it out this year. Everywhere you looked in 2023, women were running the entertainment world.

That was true on the record charts, at the movies, at stadium shows, at awards shows, and more. Taylor Swift dominated the year just about as completely as The Beatles in 1964, Elton John in 1975, Bee Gees in 1978, Michael Jackson in 1983 and Adele in 2011. She topped the Billboard 200 with three albums in 2023 – more than any other artist — with Midnights (a carryover from 2022), Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

Swift also led the Hot 100 with three hits – again, more than any other artist. She led with “Anti-Hero” (a carryover from 2022), “Cruel Summer” and “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) [From the Vault].”

To cite just one more example of women’s dominance in 2023, Barbie is the No. 1 box-office hit of 2023. That joy-bomb of a film was directed and co-written by a woman (Greta Gerwig), stars and is co-produced by a woman (Margot Robbie) and is based on a fashion doll created by a woman (Ruth Handler).

Here are 12 signs that women ruled the world of entertainment in 2023. Note: I drew from Gary Trust’s chart recap, 23 Billboard Chart Feats for 2023, in preparing this report.