Brandy was ending her huge era with Never Say Never and the top female was then definitely Christina Aguilera. I remember that era like it was yesterday, being in middle school watching TRL everyday. Britney had one hit song and a hit album. Christina had 4 top ten hits (3 #1's) and a hit album. Britney's singles weren't Billboard hits before the digital era, aside from BOMT.
Just remembered that Christina also had the first #1 on Billboard Hot 100 in the new millennium with 'What A Girl Wants' and was awarded Best New Artist that year at the Grammy's.
Literally what Kelly Rowland's first single was released in 2002, and Rihanna just had a quick lil single in 2005. People didn't really start to know her as a name until 2006.
2000 - Britney Spears
2001 - Alicia Keys
2002 - Avril Lavigne
2003 - Christina Aguilera
2004 - Ciara/Jessica Simpson
2005 - Kelly Clarkson
2006 - Fergie/Nelly Furtado
2007 - Beyonce
2008 - Rihanna
2009 - Lady Gaga
2010 - Lady Gaga
2011 - Adele
2012 - Taylor Swift (tough year tbh, nobody stood out until Taylor in Q3/Q4
2013 - Lorde/Miley Cyrus
2014 - Taylor Swift/Ariana Grande/Lorde
2015 - Taylor Swift
2016 - Beyonce/Rihanna
Kelly Rowland's first single was released in 2002, and Rihanna just had a quick lil single in 2005. People didn't really start to know her as a name until 2006.