WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.580 Welcome curious minds to another deep dive. We're 00:00:03.580 --> 00:00:05.679 here to cut through the noise and get you truly 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:08.779 informed on topics you're keen to explore. Today, 00:00:08.779 --> 00:00:11.640 we're taking a deep, really fascinating look 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:14.400 at a figure who has dominated charts, screens 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:17.539 and cultural conversations for Well, over a decade 00:00:17.539 --> 00:00:20.800 now, Ariana Grande. We've poured through a wealth 00:00:20.800 --> 00:00:22.960 of information, loads of articles, research, 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:25.179 our own notes, too, to bring you a comprehensive 00:00:25.179 --> 00:00:27.219 understanding of her incredible journey. And 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:29.100 this isn't just going to be a chronological list 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:31.179 of achievements. You know, it's more an exploration 00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:33.119 of the pivotal moments that shaped her, the records 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:35.039 she didn't just break, but absolutely shattered. 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:37.240 And also the surprising way she's influenced 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:40.240 music, business and even, yeah, social discourse. 00:00:40.579 --> 00:00:43.320 Indeed. And what's truly insightful here isn't 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:46.229 solely her extraordinary vocal talent. though 00:00:46.229 --> 00:00:48.750 obviously that's huge. It's also the strategic 00:00:48.750 --> 00:00:51.189 evolution of her artistry, her groundbreaking 00:00:51.189 --> 00:00:53.509 impact on the modern streaming landscape, which 00:00:53.509 --> 00:00:56.409 you really can't overstate, and also how she's 00:00:56.409 --> 00:00:59.350 navigated intense public scrutiny while somehow 00:00:59.350 --> 00:01:01.750 maintaining this powerful sense of authenticity. 00:01:02.250 --> 00:01:04.650 So we're going to dissect her trajectory, connect 00:01:04.650 --> 00:01:06.950 the dots between her creative choices and her 00:01:06.950 --> 00:01:09.689 commercial juggernaut status, and uncover why 00:01:09.689 --> 00:01:11.650 she's rightly considered one of the most influential 00:01:11.650 --> 00:01:14.739 artists of our era. Exactly. So settle in and 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:16.959 get ready to discover the surprising facts and 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.379 key insights behind the phenomenon that is Ariana 00:01:19.379 --> 00:01:22.099 Grande Butera. Our mission today is to give you 00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:24.200 that shortcut, that real deep understanding, 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:26.340 to being truly well informed about an artist 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:28.709 who has profoundly made her mark. Okay, let's 00:01:28.709 --> 00:01:31.049 unpack this then. Even at a very young age, it 00:01:31.049 --> 00:01:33.230 seems abundantly clear that Ariana Grande Butera 00:01:33.230 --> 00:01:36.129 was, well, destined for the stage. Born June 00:01:36.129 --> 00:01:39.909 26, 1993 in Boca Raton, Florida. And she comes 00:01:39.909 --> 00:01:41.849 from a family with pretty strong entrepreneurial 00:01:41.849 --> 00:01:44.170 spirit, right? Oh, absolutely. Her mother, Joan 00:01:44.170 --> 00:01:46.829 Grande, is the CEO of Host McCann Communications. 00:01:47.010 --> 00:01:48.930 It's a marine communications equipment company. 00:01:49.329 --> 00:01:51.909 Been in the family since 64. And her father, 00:01:52.189 --> 00:01:54.969 Edward Butera, owned a graphic design firm. So, 00:01:55.209 --> 00:01:57.439 yeah. the only that background. And she's got 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:59.939 Italian heritage, Sicilian and a bruiser's roots. 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:02.819 Plus an older half brother, Frankie Grande, who's 00:02:02.819 --> 00:02:04.579 also pretty well known as an entertainer. Right. 00:02:04.659 --> 00:02:06.700 Her parents separated when she was quite young, 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:09.000 maybe eight or nine. But she had this really 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:13.000 close bond with her maternal grandmother, Marjorie 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:15.819 Grande, whoever one knows as Nana. Yeah, Nana 00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:18.419 is a legend. OK, so her early performance experiences, 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:22.020 they weren't just like school plays. They were 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:25.219 incredibly diverse. Get this at just eight years 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:28.699 old. She sang the Star Spangled Banner at a Florida 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:31.479 Panthers hockey game. Eight. Incredible. And 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:34.020 not just a one off. She was deep into community 00:02:34.020 --> 00:02:36.400 theater, too, with the Fort Lauderdale Children's 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.060 Theater. She played the title role in Annie, 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.699 which is demanding, plus roles in The Wizard 00:02:41.699 --> 00:02:44.039 of Oz, Beauty and the Beast. Wow. But it wasn't 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:46.680 all formal stuff either. She was singing in karaoke 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.180 lounges on cruise ships. Yeah. And performing 00:02:49.180 --> 00:02:52.439 with actual orchestras. South Florida's Philharmonic. 00:02:52.650 --> 00:02:55.789 The Florida sunshine pops. So you see, this wasn't 00:02:55.789 --> 00:02:57.810 just a kid with a good voice. This was someone 00:02:57.810 --> 00:03:01.330 actively, deeply cultivating their craft from 00:03:01.330 --> 00:03:03.330 day one. That's a really good way to put it. 00:03:03.330 --> 00:03:05.770 It shows that foundation was solid. Exactly. 00:03:06.370 --> 00:03:08.590 The real insight from those early years isn't 00:03:08.590 --> 00:03:10.750 just the talent, it's the deliberate cultivation, 00:03:10.889 --> 00:03:13.689 like you said. Those varied experiences, formal 00:03:13.689 --> 00:03:17.189 theater, cruise ships, orchestras, they forged 00:03:17.189 --> 00:03:19.509 this unique adaptability and stage presence. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.240 You can see how that early exposure influenced 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:25.000 her later vocal style, her comfort on stage. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.539 It really prepared her for the pivots later in 00:03:27.539 --> 00:03:29.699 her career. Right. It wasn't just a sudden thing. 00:03:29.740 --> 00:03:32.159 It was built over years. It establishes that 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:34.280 performing was fundamental to her, not just some 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:36.840 passing interest. Absolutely. And that passion, 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:39.259 specifically for music, was incredibly focused 00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:42.280 from early on. As a teenager, she moves to Los 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:44.680 Angeles. She's just 14, meeting with managers. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:48.340 And her vision is already laser sharp. She tells 00:03:48.340 --> 00:03:51.000 him she wants to record an R &B album. At 14, 00:03:51.139 --> 00:03:53.039 can you imagine being the manager hearing that 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:55.659 pitch? Right. Predictably there was skepticism. 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:58.080 Managers were apparently like, uh, who's going 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:00.740 to buy a 14 -year -old's R &B album? Yeah, not 00:04:00.740 --> 00:04:04.120 exactly the standard path. But that dream, that 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:06.819 specific sound she wanted, it just stuck with 00:04:06.819 --> 00:04:10.020 her. And around that same time, 2008, before 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:13.370 the TV fame, she makes her Broadway debut. cast 00:04:13.370 --> 00:04:16.290 as cheerleader Charlotte in the musical 13. Right, 00:04:16.410 --> 00:04:18.970 so she's already on Broadway, proving her performance 00:04:18.970 --> 00:04:21.649 chops on a major stage. But yeah, her heart was 00:04:21.649 --> 00:04:24.889 clearly set on that R &B path, even then. That 00:04:24.889 --> 00:04:27.509 artistic vision was defined super early. Long 00:04:27.509 --> 00:04:30.149 before most of us knew her name, it really underscores 00:04:30.149 --> 00:04:32.670 that determination. It really does. And it's 00:04:32.670 --> 00:04:35.149 a recurring theme, that clarity of purpose, despite 00:04:35.149 --> 00:04:38.290 industry expectations or trends. It shows her 00:04:38.290 --> 00:04:40.730 R &B aspirations weren't some later addition. 00:04:41.189 --> 00:04:43.290 They were core to who she was as an artist from 00:04:43.290 --> 00:04:45.389 the beginning. OK, so that R &B dream had to 00:04:45.389 --> 00:04:47.990 wait just a little bit longer. The next big step 00:04:47.990 --> 00:04:51.449 was Nickelodeon. In 2009, she gets cast in Victorious. 00:04:51.709 --> 00:04:54.370 And she's reunited with her 13 co -star, Elizabeth 00:04:54.370 --> 00:04:57.050 Gillies. Yeah, playing Cat Valentine. That character 00:04:57.050 --> 00:05:00.209 became iconic. The show ran from 2010 to 2013. 00:05:00.689 --> 00:05:04.189 And playing Cat, the adorably dim -witted character, 00:05:04.410 --> 00:05:06.829 as they described her, it came with challenges, 00:05:07.589 --> 00:05:09.810 like the hair dye. Oh, the red hair. She had 00:05:09.810 --> 00:05:11.730 to dye it constantly, like every other week. 00:05:12.089 --> 00:05:13.569 That was major damage. She's spoken about that. 00:05:13.569 --> 00:05:16.879 I bet. But the show is huge. Premiered in March 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:20.819 2010 to 5 .7 million viewers. That's massive. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.680 Absolutely. Instant teen idol status pretty much 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:25.860 overnight. But even with all that TV success, 00:05:26.339 --> 00:05:28.879 music was still number one for her. She explicitly 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:31.639 said, acting is fun, but music has always been 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:33.759 first and foremost with me. And she backed that 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:36.480 up. started working on her debut album in August 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:40.079 2010, right after Victoria's Season 1 finished 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:42.379 filming. And she was smart about it, using YouTube, 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:45.800 uploading covers of Adele, Whitney, Mariah Carey, 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:48.139 her idols. Right, and that's what got her noticed 00:05:48.139 --> 00:05:50.740 by Republic Records. A friend of the CEO, Monty 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:52.319 Lipman, saw one of those videos. Incredible. 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:54.220 Shows the power of putting yourself out there. 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:57.000 Definitely. And she kept busy with Nickelodeon 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:59.399 Beyond Victorious, too. Voice work, other small 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:02.120 roles. Yeah, Snowflake, The White Gorilla, Winx 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.560 Club, starred in a snow -white Christmas panto, 00:06:04.740 --> 00:06:07.579 the TV movie Swindle. And when Victorious ended, 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:10.740 Cat Valentine lived on in the spinoff, Sam and 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:13.939 Cat. Right, with Jeanette McCurdy. That character 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:16.879 was just too popular to let go. So if you step 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:20.420 back and look at this period, it's really a master 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:23.850 class in strategy. She used that huge Nickelodeon 00:06:23.850 --> 00:06:26.329 platform to build an audience, a massive young 00:06:26.329 --> 00:06:28.910 fan base. While simultaneously kind of behind 00:06:28.910 --> 00:06:31.290 the scenes. Exactly, diligently working towards 00:06:31.290 --> 00:06:34.730 her primary goal. Music, it gave her recognition, 00:06:35.149 --> 00:06:36.990 prepared her for the public eye. Even with the 00:06:36.990 --> 00:06:39.610 tough stuff like the hair dyeing, it showed commitment. 00:06:39.750 --> 00:06:42.610 Totally, a commitment to her real passion, even 00:06:42.610 --> 00:06:45.350 amidst that whirlwind of TV fame. Okay, now this 00:06:45.350 --> 00:06:47.550 next chapter, this is where things really shift 00:06:47.550 --> 00:06:50.009 into high gear musically. That R &B album she 00:06:50.009 --> 00:06:52.959 dreamt of at 14, it finally happened. August 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:56.660 30, 2013, yours truly drops. And it wasn't just 00:06:56.660 --> 00:06:59.579 like a respectable debut, it was massive. Straight 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:01.860 to number one of the Billboard 200. Yeah, 138 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:03.800 ,000 copies per suite. That's a huge statement 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:06.100 for a debut. And it charted top 10 internationally, 00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:08.819 too. And the sound. That retro -inspired pop 00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:12.000 and R &B, the 50s doo -wop influence. It was 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:14.120 so distinct. Very much her own thing, right from 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:16.860 the start. The lead single, The Way, featuring 00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:19.759 Mac Miller. Instant hit. It viewed top 10 on 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:22.420 the Hot 100, peaked at number nine. That song 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:24.819 really announced her arrival as a serious vocalist. 00:07:24.899 --> 00:07:28.300 Totally shifted the perception from TV star to 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:30.680 music artist. And there were other great singles, 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:34.220 too. Baby I, right there, with Big Sean. Mm -hmm. 00:07:34.920 --> 00:07:37.240 Though The Way did have that lawsuit attached 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.379 to it, the one from Minor Music over a lyric 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:41.540 sample. Right, that's true. Small bump in the 00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:44.120 road. But she also dropped the Christmas Kisses 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:46.899 EP later that year. Keeping the momentum going. 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:50.649 But yours truly was the main event. It was that 00:07:50.649 --> 00:07:54.329 declaration. She was here. R &B infused pop, 00:07:54.490 --> 00:07:56.769 incredible voice. Yeah, the comparisons to Mariah 00:07:56.769 --> 00:07:58.990 Carey started almost immediately. And understandably 00:07:58.990 --> 00:08:01.230 so. Given the vocal range and the R &B leaning, 00:08:01.850 --> 00:08:04.470 it marked that critical pivot. A clear statement 00:08:04.470 --> 00:08:06.709 of artistic identity. And she didn't waste any 00:08:06.709 --> 00:08:08.509 time building on it. Less than a year later, 00:08:08.790 --> 00:08:11.670 August 2014, my everything comes out. Another 00:08:11.670 --> 00:08:16.009 number one debut on the Billboard 200. 169 ,000 00:08:16.009 --> 00:08:18.490 copies first week. Just solidified her power. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:20.800 And this album showed more versatility, didn't 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:23.879 it? Exploring EDM, dance pop, electro sounds. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:25.980 Absolutely. She wasn't just sticking to one formula. 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:29.339 And the lead single, Problem with Iggy Azalea, 00:08:29.579 --> 00:08:32.700 just wow. Total monster hit. Peaked at number 00:08:32.700 --> 00:08:35.460 two in the US, number one UK, New Zealand. And 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:38.289 the digital sales were insane. Haya's first week 00:08:38.289 --> 00:08:41.370 digital sales of 2014 made her the youngest woman 00:08:41.370 --> 00:08:44.629 to debut with over 400k downloads. Eighth best 00:08:44.629 --> 00:08:47.350 -selling digital single globally that year. Just 00:08:47.350 --> 00:08:49.289 massive. And the hits just kept rolling off that 00:08:49.289 --> 00:08:51.830 album. Break Free with Zedd. Number four in the 00:08:51.830 --> 00:08:55.350 US. Then Bang Bang with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj. 00:08:55.509 --> 00:08:59.009 Number one UK. Number three US. And Diamond Certified. 00:08:59.179 --> 00:09:02.379 First all -female collaboration ever to achieve 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:04.679 that. That's historic. Incredible. And that gave 00:09:04.679 --> 00:09:07.159 her three top ten singles on the Hot 100 at the 00:09:07.159 --> 00:09:09.379 same time, right? Only Adele had done that before 00:09:09.379 --> 00:09:11.919 her as a female lead artist. Precisely. Problem, 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:14.460 break free, bang bang, chart domination. And 00:09:14.460 --> 00:09:16.419 then Love Me Harder with the weekend hit number 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:18.759 seven. That was her fourth top ten single in 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:21.720 2014 alone. The most by any artist that year. 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:24.679 She was just unstoppable. And we can't forget 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:27.100 Santa Tell Me from that same year. which has 00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:29.320 become this modern Christmas classic. Totally. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:32.139 Hitting the top five on the hot 100 years later 00:09:32.139 --> 00:09:34.539 shows incredible staying power for a holiday 00:09:34.539 --> 00:09:37.899 song. So everything really cemented her as a 00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:41.059 global force capable of crossing genres and just 00:09:41.059 --> 00:09:43.960 churning out hits? Yeah, it showcased her versatility, 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:47.200 her collaboration skills. It locked in her status 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:50.159 as a major commercial powerhouse. The agility 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:53.279 was key. Now this next period involves stepping 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:57.139 into more mature sounds, but also facing an incredibly 00:09:57.139 --> 00:10:00.059 difficult, pivotal moment. She started recording 00:10:00.059 --> 00:10:03.000 Dangerous Woman, her third album, in 2015. It 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.340 was originally called Moonlight. Right. The initial 00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:07.700 lead single was Focus, which hit the top ten, 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:10.500 but then they pivoted to the title track, Dangerous 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:13.019 Woman. And Dangerous Woman also debuted in the 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:15.679 top 10, making her the first artist ever to have 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:17.720 the lead single from their first three albums 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:20.179 debut top 10. That consistency is just remarkable. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.220 And her SNL hosting gig around that time was 00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:24.600 fantastic. Oh, yeah, she killed it. The impressions 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:26.899 Whitney, Celine, Brittany were amazing, plus 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:30.100 performing Dangerous Woman and Be Alright showcased 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:33.159 her range musically and comedically. The album 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:35.820 itself debuted at number two on Billboard, number 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:38.159 one elsewhere. Got a Grammy nom too. Yeah, best 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:40.669 pop vocal album. And Side to Side with Nicki 00:10:40.669 --> 00:10:43.009 Minaj was another huge hit from it, her eighth 00:10:43.009 --> 00:10:47.690 top 10. But then, May 22, 2017, the Manchester 00:10:47.690 --> 00:10:50.409 Arena bombing. Yeah, a horrific tragedy of her 00:10:50.409 --> 00:10:52.610 concert. 22 people killed, hundreds injured, 00:10:52.909 --> 00:10:55.230 just unthinkable. She immediately suspended the 00:10:55.230 --> 00:10:57.950 tour, understandably. Yeah. But her response 00:10:57.950 --> 00:11:01.289 was extraordinary. The One Love Manchester benefit 00:11:01.289 --> 00:11:05.029 concert, just two weeks later. June 4th. Bringing 00:11:05.029 --> 00:11:07.090 together artists like Liam Gallagher, Justin 00:11:07.090 --> 00:11:09.929 Bieber, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus. It was such 00:11:09.929 --> 00:11:12.129 a powerful statement of unity and resilience. 00:11:12.289 --> 00:11:14.769 And it raised 23 million dollars for the victims 00:11:14.769 --> 00:11:16.769 and families. An incredible amount. The city 00:11:16.769 --> 00:11:19.450 named her their first honorary citizen. She even 00:11:19.450 --> 00:11:21.529 reportedly turned down a damehood, feeling it 00:11:21.529 --> 00:11:24.509 was too soon. Wow. She handled an unimaginable 00:11:24.509 --> 00:11:27.350 situation with such grace and strength. The tour 00:11:27.350 --> 00:11:30.149 resumed later that summer. That moment, Manchester. 00:11:30.710 --> 00:11:33.799 It transcends music. It raises that important 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:36.700 question about artistry and responsibility. Her 00:11:36.700 --> 00:11:39.519 response wasn't just charity. It was profound 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:43.620 solidarity, healing, leadership under the worst 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:46.940 possible pressure. Absolutely. It cemented her 00:11:46.940 --> 00:11:49.039 place as more than just an entertainer. She became 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:51.259 a symbol of compassion for many. And following 00:11:51.259 --> 00:11:53.639 that trauma, you really see her channeling that 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:55.919 vulnerability into her next musical phase. Right, 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:58.019 sweetener. She'd started working on it with Pharrell 00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:01.409 Williams back in 2016. The lead single, No Tears 00:12:01.409 --> 00:12:04.950 Left to Cry, came out in April 2018. Such a powerful, 00:12:05.250 --> 00:12:07.690 uplifting return. And it debuted at number three 00:12:07.690 --> 00:12:10.330 on the Hot 100, extending that incredible record 00:12:10.330 --> 00:12:12.789 lead single from her first four albums, debuting 00:12:12.789 --> 00:12:16.509 top 10. Only artist ever. Sweetener itself debuted 00:12:16.509 --> 00:12:19.529 at number one, got rave reviews, and it won her 00:12:19.529 --> 00:12:22.250 her first Grammy. Yes, best pop vocal album. 00:12:22.409 --> 00:12:24.690 A huge moment. God is a Woman was another top 00:12:24.690 --> 00:12:26.590 10 hit from it, too. And nine songs from the 00:12:26.590 --> 00:12:28.990 album charted simultaneously on the Hot 100 shows 00:12:28.990 --> 00:12:31.159 the depth. of the record. Plus the docu -series, 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.440 Dangerous Woman Diaries, gave insight into the 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:35.580 tour, making Sweetener, and, yeah, processing 00:12:35.580 --> 00:12:38.379 Manchester. But then came Thank U! Next, and 00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:40.580 this felt like a whole different level of control 00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:43.539 and raw honesty. Oh, completely. November 2018, 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:46.539 she just drops the single Thank U! Next, completely 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:49.460 unannounced. And it exploded. Instantly. Debuted 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:52.220 at number one on the Hot 100, her first U .S. 00:12:52.419 --> 00:12:55.000 chart topper. Spent seven weeks there, certified 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.399 8x platinum now, it was a cultural phenomena. 00:12:57.500 --> 00:13:00.100 The music video, too? Broke YouTube records, 00:13:00.179 --> 00:13:03.039 most watched in 24 hours, fastest to 100M views 00:13:03.039 --> 00:13:06.120 on Vivo. Spotify records, too. Fastest to 100M 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:08.639 streams, most streams for a female artist in 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:12.159 24 hours, until she broke that herself with Seven 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:15.679 Rings. Right, Seven Rings, January 2019, another 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:17.620 unannounced drop, another debut at number one, 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:19.740 her second in a row. And that spent eight weeks 00:13:19.740 --> 00:13:21.460 at number one. Became her biggest hit on the 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:24.000 chart, eventually certified diamond, just incredible. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:26.919 Then the album, Thank You. Next follows in February 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:30.120 2019, debuts at number one, obviously, her fourth 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:31.919 number one album. And her second number one album 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:34.399 in less than six months. Shortest gap for a woman 00:13:34.399 --> 00:13:36.919 at the time. It broke streaming records to largest 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:39.559 streaming week for a pop album for any female 00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:42.580 album. 307 million streams in a week. And then 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:45.299 the chart feed that blew everyone's minds, holding 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:47.580 the top three spots on the Hot 100 simultaneously. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:49.860 Seven Rings, break up with your girlfriend. I'm 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:53.840 bored. And thank you. Next. First solo artist 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:57.360 since The Beatles in 64 to do that. Unreal. Plus 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.139 she broke the record for most simultaneous top 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:02.879 40 hits for a female artist with 11 tracks charting. 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:04.919 Yeah, thank you. Next wasn't just music, it was 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:07.840 a cultural moment. The candor, the release strategy, 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:11.259 she was absolutely paving her own way. It was 00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:14.500 a masterclass, truly. transforming personal pain 00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:16.799 into relatable anthems, taking control of the 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:19.120 narrative, disrupting the industry norms. It 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:21.559 showed a new level of artistic maturity and business 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:24.500 savvy. And that momentum carried right into 2019 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:26.960 and 2020, where she really solidified her status 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:29.539 as this go -to collaborator. Yeah, first co -exec 00:14:29.539 --> 00:14:31.620 producing the Charlie's Angels soundtrack in 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:34.460 2019. And releasing Boyfriend with Social House, 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:36.539 which topped the Rolling Stone chart for women. 00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:39.500 Then 2020 was just hit after hit with collaborations. 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.649 Stuck with you with Justin Bieber in May. A charity 00:14:42.649 --> 00:14:44.970 single for COVID relief, which was great and 00:14:44.970 --> 00:14:47.340 it debuted at number one on the Hot 100. Making 00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:49.620 her the first artist whose first three number 00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:52.580 ones all debuted at the top. That's a crazy stat. 00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:55.879 It really is. And then just weeks later, she's 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:58.399 on Lady Gaga's Rain On Me. Which also debuted 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:00.580 at number one, breaking the record again for 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:03.259 most number one debuts. And they won a Grammy 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:06.340 for it. Best pop duo group performance. Just 00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:08.840 stacking up the accolades. Then October 2020, 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:12.220 her sixth album, Positions. Another number one 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:15.360 debut on the Billboard 200. Her fifth. And that 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:18.120 set another record fastest accumulation of three 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:20.519 number one albums by a woman. The title track, 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:24.759 Positions, also debuted atop the Hot 100, her 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:27.000 fifth chart topper. Which made her the first 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.120 artist ever to have five number one debuts on 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:31.379 the Hot 100. And the first, whose first five 00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:33.299 number ones all debuted at the top. She just 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:35.840 kept rewriting the record books. Wild. And 34 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.500 plus 35 became a huge hit too, especially the 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:40.539 remakes with Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion. 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:43.110 Reached number two. And she even replaced herself 00:15:43.110 --> 00:15:45.629 in number one on the pop airplay chart and held 00:15:45.629 --> 00:15:48.590 the top two spot solo. Unprecedented stuff. So 00:15:48.590 --> 00:15:51.389 this period really shows her not just as a solo 00:15:51.389 --> 00:15:53.990 star, but as someone who elevates every project 00:15:53.990 --> 00:15:57.009 she joins. Absolutely. Her consistent record 00:15:57.009 --> 00:15:59.529 breaking debuts demonstrate this unparalleled 00:15:59.529 --> 00:16:03.009 commercial appeal. This ability to connect instantly 00:16:03.009 --> 00:16:06.370 with a massive audience. She's a hit maker, solo 00:16:06.370 --> 00:16:08.700 or collaborating. And this latest chapter, it 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:12.259 shows Ariana evolving yet again, musically, professionally, 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:15.740 embracing new sounds and circling back to acting. 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:17.659 Right, starting with a Save Your Tears remix 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:20.679 with The Weeknd in April 2021. Another number 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:23.919 one on the Hot 100 and the Global 200 made her 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:26.179 the first woman with multiple number ones on 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:28.480 that global chart. And that collab tied her with 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.600 Paul McCartney only artist with three number 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:32.679 one duets on the Hot 100. Incredible company. 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:36.500 Then, March 2024, Eternal Sunshine, her seventh 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:38.659 album. And this felt like a fresh direction. 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:41.299 Definitely. Her first real deep dive into dance 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:43.799 and house music influences. And it was met with 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:45.740 universal acclaim. Critics called it one of her 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.779 most mature, sophisticated records. The lead 00:16:47.779 --> 00:16:50.419 single, Yes, And. Debuted at number one, Hot 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:53.360 100 and Global 200. Keeping the streak alive. 00:16:53.629 --> 00:16:56.309 And the second single, We Can't Be Friends, Wait 00:16:56.309 --> 00:16:58.950 For Your Love, also debuted at number one. Which 00:16:58.950 --> 00:17:00.889 gave her the record for the woman with the most 00:17:00.889 --> 00:17:04.430 hot 100 number one debuts. Seven now. And with 00:17:04.430 --> 00:17:07.609 Eternal Sunshine and Thank You, next, she's the 00:17:07.609 --> 00:17:10.049 first woman with two albums to produce multiple 00:17:10.049 --> 00:17:13.450 number one single debuts. Just wow. The consistency 00:17:13.450 --> 00:17:16.470 is staggering. But alongside this musical shift, 00:17:16.910 --> 00:17:19.450 she also signaled a focus shift towards acting. 00:17:19.990 --> 00:17:21.930 Right. Saying she'd likely scale back the pop 00:17:21.930 --> 00:17:24.660 music output a bit. And she proved that commitment 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:28.000 with Wicked. Starring as Glinda in the huge 2024 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.420 film adaptation. And she got incredible reviews, 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.980 even an Oscar nomination. Yeah. And she was credited 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:36.099 as Ariana Grande Butera for the film, which was 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:38.039 a nice touch, linking back to when she first 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:40.220 saw the show as a kid. Took extensive acting 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:42.640 and singing lessons for it, too. Really dedicated 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:44.819 herself to the role. And the film was a massive 00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:47.200 success, right? Highest grossing musical adaptation 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:51.720 ever. Over $750 million worldwide. Huge. And 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:54.019 her SNL hosting gig to promote it got the show 00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:56.579 its best ratings in years. And then she released 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:58.819 the deluxe Eternal Sunshine with a short film, 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:02.039 her directorial debut. It really shows this evolution 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:06.420 into a multifaceted artist. Pop star, acclaimed 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:09.130 actress. now director. It's not your typical 00:18:09.130 --> 00:18:11.789 pop star trajectory at all. No, it's a strategic 00:18:11.789 --> 00:18:14.450 diversification, leveraging that early theater 00:18:14.450 --> 00:18:17.589 background, showing real artistic growth beyond 00:18:17.589 --> 00:18:21.230 just music. It suggests a more mature, self -directed 00:18:21.230 --> 00:18:24.609 artist defining her own path, moving beyond expectations. 00:18:24.890 --> 00:18:26.710 So beyond the charts and the acting, let's dig 00:18:26.710 --> 00:18:29.529 into her artistry itself. Her hands -on approach 00:18:29.529 --> 00:18:32.049 is pretty remarkable. Her music is generally 00:18:32.049 --> 00:18:34.750 pop and R &B, but she's consistently woven in 00:18:34.750 --> 00:18:37.869 other elements, EDM, hip hop, and especially 00:18:37.869 --> 00:18:40.130 trap, right? Yeah, the trap influence became 00:18:40.130 --> 00:18:41.730 really prominent, particularly starting around 00:18:41.730 --> 00:18:44.329 the Christmas and Chill EP and grew from there. 00:18:44.730 --> 00:18:46.329 A lot of that comes through her collaboration 00:18:46.329 --> 00:18:48.349 with producer Tommy Brown. They've worked together 00:18:48.349 --> 00:18:50.410 on every single album. And she's praised him 00:18:50.410 --> 00:18:52.910 for always bringing diverse beats, saying none 00:18:52.910 --> 00:18:54.529 of the beats he plays may ever sound the same. 00:18:54.549 --> 00:18:57.589 That synergy is key. Absolutely. But what really 00:18:57.589 --> 00:18:59.890 sets her apart is her level of creative control 00:18:59.890 --> 00:19:02.210 and technical involvement. This is fascinating. 00:19:02.349 --> 00:19:04.609 She actually learned to sound engineer and produce 00:19:04.609 --> 00:19:08.089 her own vocals. Yes, because she loves being 00:19:08.089 --> 00:19:09.990 hands -on. And apparently, it was Mac Miller 00:19:09.990 --> 00:19:12.470 who first taught her Toe Tools, the recording 00:19:12.470 --> 00:19:15.410 software. Wow, that's a great detail. And her 00:19:15.410 --> 00:19:17.809 collaborators noticed this deep involvement. 00:19:18.250 --> 00:19:20.329 Right. Songwriter Justin Tranter talked about 00:19:20.329 --> 00:19:23.349 being inspired by how engaged she is, from the 00:19:23.349 --> 00:19:25.329 writing, to the vision, to the storytelling, 00:19:25.490 --> 00:19:28.309 and to even engineering and comping her own vocals. 00:19:28.650 --> 00:19:31.710 So she's not just showing up to sing. She's deeply 00:19:31.710 --> 00:19:34.250 involved in crafting the whole sound. Exactly. 00:19:34.329 --> 00:19:36.849 That level of... creative control is crucial. 00:19:37.230 --> 00:19:39.609 It ensures her artistic vision stays consistent 00:19:39.609 --> 00:19:42.170 even as she explores different genres. She's 00:19:42.170 --> 00:19:44.230 an architect of her sound. And then there's the 00:19:44.230 --> 00:19:46.970 voice itself, it's legendary, described as a 00:19:46.970 --> 00:19:49.829 soprano. With a four octave vocal range apparently 00:19:49.829 --> 00:19:53.029 and that whistle register those incredibly high 00:19:53.029 --> 00:19:55.430 notes she can hit. Yeah, the comparisons to Mariah 00:19:55.430 --> 00:19:57.690 Carey have been there from the start mainly because 00:19:57.690 --> 00:20:00.779 of that range and control. BBC News called her 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:02.859 one of pop's most intriguing and gifted singers 00:20:02.859 --> 00:20:06.220 with unrivaled vocal control. John Perelis at 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:08.740 The New York Times had a great description. Her 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:12.420 voice can be silky, breathy or cutting, always 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:15.700 supple and airborne, never forced, shows the 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:19.059 versatility. And her main influences are exactly 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:22.839 who you'd expect. Mariah Carey, her favorite 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:25.559 human being on the planet, she said. And Whitney 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:29.259 Houston. two absolute titans. Plus others like 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:32.319 Destiny's Child, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:35.960 even Madonna for paving the way. And Judy Garland, 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:38.420 interestingly, for her storytelling through song. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:41.579 Yeah, shows an appreciation for emotional delivery, 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:43.859 not just technique. Now, there was some criticism 00:20:43.859 --> 00:20:46.140 early on about her enunciation, right? There 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:48.279 was, yeah, something she acknowledged and said 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:51.009 she worked on. And critics definitely noted improvement, 00:20:51.329 --> 00:20:53.569 especially on Eternal Sunshine, attributing it 00:20:53.569 --> 00:20:55.769 partly to the intense vocal training for Wicked. 00:20:55.930 --> 00:20:58.230 Right. It shows the continuous dedication to 00:20:58.230 --> 00:21:00.369 refining her instrument, even after achieving 00:21:00.369 --> 00:21:03.450 massive success. Her voice is central to everything. 00:21:03.529 --> 00:21:05.869 And not just vocal influences, though. Musically, 00:21:06.049 --> 00:21:08.529 she cited others like India Airy. Whose music 00:21:08.529 --> 00:21:10.430 makes her feel like everything is going to be 00:21:10.430 --> 00:21:14.349 OK. And Brandi Norwood for her incredibly on 00:21:14.349 --> 00:21:17.759 point. Riffs. And Imogen Heap is a huge one for 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:20.119 her, right? Yeah. Called Heap her favorite musician, 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:23.660 praised her intricate song structure. That eclectic 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:25.359 taste definitely informs her own willingness 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:28.319 to experiment. But here's a really key insight 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:30.319 into her strategic thinking, her independence. 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:33.119 She talked about rappers' release strategies. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:36.990 Yes. This is fascinating. She admired how rappers 00:21:36.990 --> 00:21:39.490 could just drop music unexpectedly. She told 00:21:39.490 --> 00:21:42.150 Billboard she felt pop women were held to different, 00:21:42.369 --> 00:21:45.069 stricter standards than men. Bruh, I just wanna 00:21:45.069 --> 00:21:48.029 drop music the way these boys do. That was her 00:21:48.029 --> 00:21:50.430 quote. And that directly led to the surprise 00:21:50.430 --> 00:21:53.849 release of Thank You Next. Exactly. The ringer 00:21:53.849 --> 00:21:56.029 called it more of a Drake move than an Ariana 00:21:56.029 --> 00:21:58.960 Grande move at the time. It was a deliberate 00:21:58.960 --> 00:22:02.099 choice to challenge those traditional pop rollouts, 00:22:02.359 --> 00:22:04.579 take control of her narrative. It shows a really 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:06.960 savvy understanding of the modern music landscape 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:10.180 and a strong desire for creative autonomy, not 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:12.160 just following the rules, but changing them. 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:15.160 OK, let's talk about her public image. Her style 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:17.000 evolution alone has been really interesting to 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:19.859 watch. Definitely. Early on, she cited Audrey 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:23.740 Hepburn as an influence. More modest, age appropriate, 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:26.119 as some described it. But she later said she 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:29.339 found that a little boring, right? And started 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:32.539 drawing from 50s, 60s actresses like Anne Margaret, 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:36.220 Nancy Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe. Yeah, by 2014, 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:39.109 there was a clear shift. She embraced the short 00:22:39.109 --> 00:22:42.490 skirts, crop tops, the signature knee -high boots 00:22:42.490 --> 00:22:44.890 for performances. And the playful stuff too. 00:22:44.930 --> 00:22:48.569 The cat ears, the bunny ears sometimes, the oversized 00:22:48.569 --> 00:22:50.829 hoodies. But nothing became more iconic than 00:22:50.829 --> 00:22:52.750 the high ponytail. The ponytail, it's almost 00:22:52.750 --> 00:22:54.930 its own entity. Gets more attention than anything 00:22:54.930 --> 00:22:57.329 else she wears sometimes. And the backstory is 00:22:57.329 --> 00:22:59.210 interesting too. It wasn't just a style choice 00:22:59.210 --> 00:23:01.109 initially. Right, because of all the red hair 00:23:01.109 --> 00:23:03.950 dye for Victoria's damaging her hair so badly. 00:23:04.109 --> 00:23:06.450 She started wearing extensions and defaulted 00:23:06.450 --> 00:23:08.259 to the ponytail to m - manage it while her hair 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:10.880 recovered. It became her signature look out of 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:13.519 necessity almost. And now it's instantly recognizable, 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:15.940 copied everywhere. It really tracks her journey 00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:19.640 from teen star to confident woman. And navigating 00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:22.200 public scrutiny has been a constant part of that 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:24.839 journey. She learned to manage her image pretty 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:27.779 effectively over time. Back in 2014, there were 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:30.839 those reports about alleged diva behavior being 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:34.490 impolite. Which she shut down as weird, inaccurate 00:23:34.490 --> 00:23:36.970 depictions, saying she wouldn't let others control 00:23:36.970 --> 00:23:39.690 her image, setting a boundary early on. Then 00:23:39.690 --> 00:23:42.529 came the donut gate incident in 2015. That was 00:23:42.529 --> 00:23:44.250 memorable. Yeah, the security footage of her 00:23:44.250 --> 00:23:46.470 licking donuts and saying, I hate Americans. 00:23:46.549 --> 00:23:49.890 Yeah. Not her finest moment. She apologized quickly, 00:23:50.109 --> 00:23:52.170 first linking it to concerns about obesity, then 00:23:52.170 --> 00:23:55.569 a more direct video apology for behaving corely. 00:23:55.829 --> 00:23:59.049 And she handled it with some humor later, parodying 00:23:59.049 --> 00:24:02.250 it on SNL. Smart way to play move past it it 00:24:02.250 --> 00:24:05.009 shows growth and she admitted in 2020 that she'd 00:24:05.009 --> 00:24:06.970 held back from interviews for a while fearing 00:24:06.970 --> 00:24:09.730 misinterpretation or the diva label which demonstrates 00:24:09.730 --> 00:24:13.009 a very thoughtful Cautious approach to media 00:24:13.009 --> 00:24:15.589 engagement learning from past experiences despite 00:24:15.589 --> 00:24:17.849 these bumps her connection with fans Especially 00:24:17.849 --> 00:24:21.670 online is massive. Oh huge one of the most followed 00:24:21.670 --> 00:24:26.039 people on Instagram globally First woman passed 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:29.039 150 million, then 200 million followers. Fifth 00:24:29.039 --> 00:24:31.700 most followed artist on Spotify. Second most 00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:35.579 subscribed female solo act on YouTube. The numbers 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:37.660 are staggering. But she's also deliberate about 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:40.180 how she uses social media. Deleting her Twitter 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:43.279 account in 2021 was a big move. Yeah, explaining 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.339 she wanted to communicate directly with fans 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:47.579 without messages being twisted by people who 00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:50.160 don't speak our language. Prioritizing that healthy 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:53.299 relationship to my fans and to art, as she put 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:56.519 it, while still being very much an on -the -internet 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:58.880 person. It shows a really active engagement with 00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:01.200 the challenges of modern fame trying to maintain 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:03.460 authenticity. And beyond the music and image, 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:05.319 she's built this incredible business empire. 00:25:05.380 --> 00:25:07.920 She's a serious entrepreneur. Seriously, the 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:10.640 fragrance line alone is mind blowing. Launched 00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:13.559 with Lux brands back in 2015. And has generated 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:16.079 over a billion dollars in global retail sales 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:18.640 since then. One billion. It's the most searched 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:21.599 celebrity fragrance brand out there. 18 fragrances 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:24.599 so far. Ari, Sweet Like Candy, Moonlight. Clout 00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:27.079 was apparently a massive seller at Ulta. Yeah, 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:29.579 supposedly sold one bottle every 11 seconds at 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:33.599 its peak. Crazy. Plus, thank you. Next, R .E 00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:36.519 .M., which won an award. God is a woman. And 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:38.519 then she launched her own makeup line, R .E .M. 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:41.519 Beauty, in November 2021. Distributed through 00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:44.680 Ulta and Sephora. And it quickly won Best New 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:47.440 Brand at the Allure Awards. Shows it has real 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.940 credibility. Definitely. And that's on top of 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:52.019 countless other endorsements and collaborations 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:54.839 over the years. Coach Handbags, Emmy Viva Glam, 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:57.819 Lipsy London Fashion, those Brookstone cat ear 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:59.779 headphones. The character in a Final Fantasy 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:03.079 game, Reebok Ambassador, American Express, Starbucks, 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:07.180 Cloud Macchiato, Givenchy, Swarovski. The list 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:09.420 goes on. And the reported figure of earning $1 00:26:09.420 --> 00:26:12.559 .6 million per sponsored Instagram post just 00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:14.740 shows the power of her personal brand. It really 00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:17.240 does. Her business ventures aren't just side 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:19.640 projects. They show a sophisticated understanding 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:22.420 of brand extension, direct consumer engagement. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:25.079 Her name alone drives massive retail success. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.660 Something else that's been consistent throughout 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.500 her career is her commitment to giving back, 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:30.839 starting really young. Yeah, it's quite inspiring. 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:33.599 At just 10 years old, she co -founded this youth 00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:36.200 singing group in South Florida called Kids Who 00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:38.660 Care. And they weren't just singing for fun. 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:41.240 They performed at charity events and raised over 00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:43.960 half a million dollars by 2007. Incredible for 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:47.490 kids. And then in 2009, through Broadway in South 00:26:47.490 --> 00:26:50.470 Africa, she and her brother Frankie went to Google 00:26:50.470 --> 00:26:52.990 Ethu. Right, teaching music and dance to children 00:26:52.990 --> 00:26:55.450 there. That kind of hands -on work early on must 00:26:55.450 --> 00:26:58.589 have been formative. Absolutely. It shows philanthropy 00:26:58.589 --> 00:27:00.690 wasn't just something she adopted later with 00:27:00.690 --> 00:27:03.170 fame. It was ingrained from a young age. It built 00:27:03.170 --> 00:27:05.839 that foundation for her later activism. And as 00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:08.859 her platform grew, her advocacy expanded to cover 00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:11.680 a really wide range of social and political issues. 00:27:11.880 --> 00:27:14.519 Yeah, quite consistently. Anti -bullying campaigns 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:17.400 early on, like Delete Digital Drama. Animal rights 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:19.900 advocacy, famously speaking out against SeaWorld 00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:22.299 after watching Blackfish. And she promotes pet 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:24.900 adoption constantly. Performed at Stand Up to 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:27.519 Cancer in memory of her grandfather. Connecting 00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:30.160 personal loss to public action. And she's been 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:33.039 a very staunch feminist. That essay she wrote 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:35.519 on Twitter about misogyny and double standards 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:38.079 in media coverage. That got a lot of attention, 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:41.519 calling out the focus on female artists' relationships 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:44.579 over their work. Very powerful. Huge supporter 00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:47.279 of LGBT rights, too. Performing at Pride events, 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:49.759 supporting Miley Cyrus' Happy Hippie Foundation. 00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:52.559 And she's cited her brother Frankie being gay 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:54.579 as part of why she left the Catholic Church. 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:57.700 Makes her advocacy very personal. Released Better 00:27:57.700 --> 00:28:00.359 Days with Victoria Monet for Black Lives Matter 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:03.579 in 2016. Participated in the Concert for Charlottesville, 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:06.500 March for Our Lives. Donated proceeds from a 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:08.960 tour show to Planned Parenthood. She doesn't 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:11.500 shy away from taking a stand. During COVID, she 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:14.339 donated directly to fans, supported Project 100 00:28:14.339 --> 00:28:17.220 for families in need, sent gifts to kids in Manchester 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:19.619 hospitals at Christmas. Signed open letters for 00:28:19.619 --> 00:28:22.099 the Equality Act against book bands. Partnered 00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:24.460 with BetterHelp to give away millions in therapy. 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.839 Launch the Protect and Defend Trans Youth Fund, 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:29.720 pledging to match donations up to $1 .5 million. 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:32.880 Sign the Bans Off Our Bodies ad for abortion 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:36.400 rights. Politically, she's been clear with endorsements. 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:40.200 Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, spoken 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:42.619 out against Trump policies, supported impeachment 00:28:42.619 --> 00:28:44.559 calls, signed to the artist's store ceasefire 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:47.519 letter regarding Gaza, shared fundraisers for 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:50.339 humanitarian aid. It's a broad and consistent 00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:52.660 engagement. It really highlights this thread 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:56.019 of activism woven through her whole career, evolving 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:59.140 from personal causes to taking stands on major 00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:01.660 social and political issues often rooted in her 00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:05.039 own values or experiences. She uses her platform. 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:07.279 And related to that, she made a really powerful 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:09.480 call regarding mental health in the entertainment 00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:13.750 industry. Yes, in February 2025. advocating for 00:29:13.750 --> 00:29:16.289 therapy for young entertainers, suggesting weekly 00:29:16.289 --> 00:29:18.529 appointments be built into contracts. That feels 00:29:18.529 --> 00:29:20.809 particularly significant coming from her, given 00:29:20.809 --> 00:29:24.069 her own openness about PTSD and anxiety after 00:29:24.069 --> 00:29:26.029 Manchester. And her history of being in therapy 00:29:26.029 --> 00:29:28.230 since she was young, after the parents' divorce. 00:29:28.430 --> 00:29:31.369 So it's not just talk, it's using her lived experience 00:29:31.369 --> 00:29:34.170 to push for systemic change in her industry. 00:29:34.529 --> 00:29:36.750 What kind of impact did that have? It's potentially 00:29:36.750 --> 00:29:39.470 huge. It raises that critical question about 00:29:39.470 --> 00:29:41.809 the industry's responsibility to young talent. 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:45.839 Her advocacy is deeply personal, informed by 00:29:45.839 --> 00:29:48.539 her own journey. It shows real leadership, trying 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:50.519 to create a more supportive environment based 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:53.089 on what she knows are immense pressures. It's 00:29:53.089 --> 00:29:54.910 about changing the system from within. Okay, 00:29:54.990 --> 00:29:57.890 let's talk legacy. The numbers alone are just 00:29:57.890 --> 00:30:00.250 staggering. She's rewritten the rulebook for 00:30:00.250 --> 00:30:03.089 success in the digital age. Undeniably one of 00:30:03.089 --> 00:30:05.490 the best -selling artists ever. Over 90 million 00:30:05.490 --> 00:30:08.490 records sold worldwide, estimated. And all her 00:30:08.490 --> 00:30:10.609 studio albums are certified platinum or higher 00:30:10.609 --> 00:30:13.029 in the U .S. Every single one charted for at 00:30:13.029 --> 00:30:15.849 least a full year on the Billboard 200. That's 00:30:15.849 --> 00:30:17.950 longevity. My Everything is her biggest certified 00:30:17.950 --> 00:30:21.230 album. Forex Platinum. Thank you. Next is her 00:30:21.230 --> 00:30:24.109 longest charting. 171 weeks. Incredible staying 00:30:24.109 --> 00:30:26.450 power. In the US, she's the fifth highest certified 00:30:26.450 --> 00:30:29.289 female artist for digital singles. Overall, 25th 00:30:29.289 --> 00:30:31.029 highest certified artist. And the straining numbers 00:30:31.029 --> 00:30:33.109 are just astronomical. One of the most streamed 00:30:33.109 --> 00:30:35.410 artists of all time. First female artist to pass 00:30:35.410 --> 00:30:39.069 90 billion global streams back in 2021. Most 00:30:39.069 --> 00:30:41.450 streamed female artist of the 2010s on Spotify 00:30:41.450 --> 00:30:43.650 and Apple Music. Currently second most streamed 00:30:43.650 --> 00:30:47.470 woman ever on Spotify. Sixth overall. Over 54 00:30:47.470 --> 00:30:50.160 billion streams there alone. First woman with 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:52.400 one and two billion streams on a single album. 00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:55.240 First artist with five albums hitting four billion 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:57.519 streams each. Holds the record for most songs, 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.779 over a billion streams for a female artist on 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:02.839 Spotify. 21 of them. Became the first woman with 00:31:02.839 --> 00:31:06.279 over 123 million monthly listeners on Spotify 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:10.240 in 2024. And even Santa Tell Me is the most streamed 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:12.779 2010s Christmas song. It's not just popularity. 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:16.400 its profound sustained impact. She's defined 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:18.299 what success looks like in the streaming era, 00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:21.319 a true architect of modern pop dominance. And 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:23.619 it's not just sales and streams. The awards and 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:26.079 critical recognition are extensive. Two Grammy 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:28.539 wins, including that best pop vocal album for 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:32.099 Sweetener. A Brit Award, 10 MTV VMAs, fifth most 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:34.440 for a woman. Three AMAs, two Billboard Music 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.019 Awards, including Top Female Artist, loads of 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:39.359 Kids' Choice, People's Choice, iHeartRadio, Teen 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:41.460 Choice Awards. Billboard recognized her early 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:44.000 as rising star in 2014, then woman of the year 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:46.940 in 2018, named her the biggest pop star of 2019. 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:50.599 IFPI listed her among the world's top 10 bestselling 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:53.220 artists three years running. And the acting acclaim 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:57.259 for Wicked Oscar. Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG nominations. 00:31:57.779 --> 00:32:00.299 That's huge crossover recognition. Plus Time 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:03.839 100 most influential twice. Wax figures everywhere. 00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:06.779 Nicknames like Princess of Pop, Princess of Christmas. 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:09.579 Rolling Stone ranking her among the 200 greatest 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:12.279 singers. Katy Perry calling her the best singer 00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:16.000 of our generation. That pure respect is significant. 00:32:16.279 --> 00:32:18.200 It shows she's not just commercially successful, 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:21.240 but genuinely respected for her artistry and 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:23.500 impact across the board. And the chart records. 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:26.599 They are just unprecedented, leading to nearly 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:29.039 40 Guinness World Records. Nine singles topping 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:32.420 the Billboard Hot 100, 23 top 10 songs total, 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:35.359 16 of those debuting in the top 10. And that 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:37.880 unique record, the lead single from her first 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:40.579 seven albums debuting top 10. No one else has 00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:42.480 done that. First artist whose first five number 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:44.759 ones debuted at the top broke the record for 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.920 most number one debuts overall. First female 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:49.319 artist to top the Global 200, Global Exelories 00:32:49.319 --> 00:32:51.940 OIS, and Hot 100 all at once. Tied the Beatles 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:53.900 record by holding the top three spots on the 00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:56.680 Hot 100 simultaneously. Surpassed Paul McCartney 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:59.500 for most number one duets. Fourth woman with 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:02.420 the most Hot 100 entries ever. Tied with Taylor 00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:04.680 Swift for most number one debuts. The Guinness 00:33:04.680 --> 00:33:07.839 records cover everything. Spotify records, fastest 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:10.480 UK chart tricks, replacing herself at number 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:13.240 one. It's relentless. This isn't just hitting 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:15.680 milestones. It's fundamentally altering the record 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:19.220 books, a testament to her talent, strategy, and 00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:21.579 connection with a massive global audience. And 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:24.579 finally, the ultimate validation, perhaps, influencing 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:27.579 other artists. Right. When your peers, especially 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:30.119 successful ones, cite you as an inspiration, 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:32.859 that speaks volumes. And the list is impressive 00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:35.880 and diverse. Billie Eilish, Chappell Rhone, Charlie 00:33:35.880 --> 00:33:38.589 Puth, Madison Beer, Meghan Trainor, Troye Sivan, 00:33:38.829 --> 00:33:41.430 Zara Larsson, even Jungkook from BTS, Lana Del 00:33:41.430 --> 00:33:44.730 Rey. It spans genres and styles. It shows her 00:33:44.730 --> 00:33:47.789 reach extends far beyond her own fan base, impacting 00:33:47.789 --> 00:33:49.990 the sound and approach of the next wave of musicians. 00:33:50.369 --> 00:33:52.869 That's a powerful legacy. Hashtag tag tag. So 00:33:52.869 --> 00:33:55.130 wrapping this all up, what does it all mean? 00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:58.359 From those early Boca Raton performances to shattering 00:33:58.359 --> 00:34:01.240 global records and starring in huge films, Ariana 00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:03.579 Grande's journey is just this incredible story 00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:06.460 of consistent talent, yes, but also strategic 00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:09.480 evolution and this unwavering commitment to her 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:12.480 craft and also to her values. She's clearly more 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:14.840 than just a pop star. She's a sharp businesswoman, 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:17.480 a vocal advocate, a true powerhouse in modern 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:19.920 entertainment, always redefining things. Absolutely. 00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:22.380 We've seen how she's constantly pushed artistic 00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:24.599 boundaries, rewritten the rules of commercial 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:27.239 success, in the streaming age and used her massive 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:30.360 platform for real social impact. Her story really 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:32.219 makes you think critically about what celebrity 00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:34.659 means today and the power an artist has to shape 00:34:34.659 --> 00:34:37.460 not just music, but culture itself. through her 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:40.239 choices, her control, her advocacy. So as you 00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:43.099 reflect on this incredible, really multifaceted 00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:44.780 career, we'll leave you with this provocative 00:34:44.780 --> 00:34:47.500 thought to mull over. In this constantly changing 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:50.420 media landscape, what new boundaries might an 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:52.960 artist like Ariana Grande with this unique mix 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:56.219 of vocal mastery, business drive, and deep social 00:34:56.219 --> 00:34:59.420 engagement explore next? And how might that continue 00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:02.340 to redefine what we even mean by the term superstar? 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:04.619 Thank you for diving deep with us today. We really 00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:06.139 hope you feel truly well -informed.