The pop arena has never before been primed for a showdown of such epic proportions. As soon as Katy Perry returned to the spotlight with her single “Roar” last month, Lady Gaga snatched the girl-next-door’s blue wig by dropping her own track, “Applause,” within two days. When it was announced that Gaga would open the MTV Video Music Awards and Perry would close, fans bit their nails in anticipation of which star would triumph. But seemingly out of nowhere, Miley Cyrus twerked her way into becoming the hottest topic in America. Now, legendary loose cannon Britney Spears has announced a new album of her own. We’ve ranked the buzz surrounding each woman, using a scale of 1 to 5 — and uncovered a league of upstarts (plus a few old-timers) hoping to claw their way into the ring.
WINNER! THE RADIO DARLING
KATY PERRY, “PRISM” (OCT. 22)
What we know: After tying Michael Jackson for most No. 1 singles off one album — five from 2010’s “Teenage Dream” ruled the Billboard Hot 100 — Perry returned to the top this month with “Roar.” It nearly tripled first-week sales of Lady Gaga’s single, “Applause,” released two days later. This week, Perry dropped “Dark Horse,” a moody banger. Billboard editor Joe Levy, who has heard “Prism,” says it’s full of “interesting dance tracks. She’s updating classic ’80s and ’90s sounds.”
What we don’t know: Not much is secret, including that Dr. Luke and Max Martin, who co-wrote and produced most of Perry’s hits, are back.
Anticipation level: 5/5
DJ Tommie Sunshine says fans are excited Perry’s stepping away from radio’s omnipresent electronic dance music (EDM): “What a bold move to put out a low-tempo anthem [with ‘Roar’].”
Style status: 4/5
Since Perry’s first Vogue cover in July, her red-carpet persona has matured past blue hair. “It’s less costumey,” says people.com style director Andrea Lavinthal of looks such as Perry’s Ungaro dress at the VMAs. Though Anna Wintour might not approve of the singer’s accessory, a gold grill.
Ubiquity index: 5/5
Elvis Duran, host of Z100’s “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show,” says, “Almost every cut on [‘Prism’] has huge hit potential.”
THE PROVOCATEUR
LADY GAGA, “ARTPOP” (NOV. 11)
What we know: Gaga tweeted this week about the meaning behind “ARTPOP”’s first single, “Applause”: “What [I] create doesn’t live on unless there’s an audience to remember it.” Ironic, then, that the campy electro tune hasn’t matched the success of rival Perry’s “Roar.” (It’s reached No. 4.) At a recent iTunes Festival performance, Gaga debuted several new songs, including the hip-hop-inspired “Jewels and Drugs,” featuring T.I., and the ballad “Swine.”
What we don’t know: We still haven’t heard half the album, which includes production by Zedd (the DJ with his own hit, “Clarity”).
Anticipation level: 4/5
The fact that we can’t yet comprehend what Gaga’s doing actually ups the excitement. “Whatever we think she should do, she’ll do something else,” says Duran. “Like with a magician, it defeats the purpose if you find out how they do the trick.”
Style status: 5/5
Whether she can top the meat dress remains to be seen. But that might just be a good thing. “Instead of being toted around in an oversize egg, she’s paring it down, which is more shocking,” says Post deputy fashion editor Anahita Moussavian. “Her current V magazine cover says it all: bedhead, a nude lip and a neutral manicure. I barely recognized her!”
Ubiquity index: 3/5
“I love ‘Applause,’ but it did take a few listens,” admits Duran. Part of the problem may be how vital visuals are to Gaga’s appeal. “She led her album with a club song, not a pop track, and with a song that needed its video to seem brilliant,” adds Levy.
THE THROWBACK
BRITNEY SPEARS, TITLE TBD (DEC. 3)
What we know: The album’s release will align with the debut of Spears’ two-year residency at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, Dec. 27. Released this week, the up-tempo song “Work Bitch” finds the singer dusting off her kooky British accent. Will.i.am executive-produced the album; William Orbit, who revitalized Madonna’s career with 1998’s “Ray of Light,” is also involved. Spears has said the lyrics reference her recent breakup with fiancé Jason Trawick, and that her favorite track is the Sia-penned “Perfume.”
What we don’t know: Will Will.i.am’s touch be magic or tragic? Sure, he’s cranked out all those earworms with the Black-Eyed Peas, but they’re not exactly critically lauded. Still, Levy notes: “Working with a single producer is smart, because it creates a coherence. Frankly, that’s never been there [for Britney].”
Anticipation level: 3/5
America has a soft spot for Spears. “The public gives her leeway because her breakdown was sensational,” says Sam Lansky, senior editor of the music site Idolator.com. “Her ascent back seemed so difficult, people are still rooting for her.”
Style status: 1/5
At least the Uggs are gone. “Britney has found a formula in her bandage dresses and platform pumps,” Lavinthal says. “She might have stock in Hervé Léger.”
Ubiquity index: 4/5
The rise of “Work Bitch” has just begun — but good luck getting the catchy title refrain out of your head. “Yet again, Britney is delivering a sound that’s under the radar and packaging it in a way that’s easily digestable,” says Lansky.
THE WILD CHILD
MILEY CYRUS, “BANGERZ” (OCT. 8)
What we know: A few months ago, the return of Cyrus might not have meant much to most. But her foam-finger-humping performance at the VMAs piqued curiosity. The hit “We Can’t Stop” proved intriguingly weird, and follow-up “Wrecking Ball” shot to No. 1 out of nowhere this past week. Cyrus’ first album since breaking up with Disney’s Hollywood Records is full of big-name producers: Mike WiLL Made It, Pharrell Williams, Cirkut and Dr. Luke.
What we don’t know: Perhaps the biggest mystery of Cyrus’ new album is the Britney Spears cameo “SMS (Bangerz).” The two not only share a manager, but also a passion for getting conservatives hot and bothered. Cyrus has described “Bangerz” as “dirty South hip-hop.” Recently, she guested on a Snoop Lion track (“Ashtrays and Heartbreaks”), but it’s unclear how much the infamous stoner has influenced her.
Anticipation level: 3/5
While there’s no denying that everyone is talking about Cyrus, how many people are talking about her music? Hype aside, Levy points to the fact that “We Can’t Stop” was hitting the top of the charts before the world ever imagined Miley in between Robin Thicke’s thighs. Meanwhile, the “Wrecking Ball” video — featuring a naked-except-for-boots Cyrus licking a hammer — broke the Vevo record for most views in 24 hours, with a whopping 19.3 million.
Style status: 2/5
Cyrus has impressed the fashion crowd with her chic jumpsuits, edgy hair and racy photo shoots, but Lavinthal says it doesn’t always work. “She dresses for the reaction,” says Lavinthal. “She has — I don’t want to say taste — but she does have fashion instincts.”
Ubiquity index: 5/5
Love her or hate her, you can’t escape her. “If I go on my show and talk about how much I love Miley, I have listeners [phoning] up and calling me Satan,” says Duran with a laugh. “She’s not ashamed to admit she’s out there to hype.” The way things are going (straight up the charts), Cyrus may just have the last laugh. “I don’t think there’s any confusion about the fact that she’s deliberately trying to court controversy,” says Lansky. “She’s doing it really effectively.”
EVEN MORE WOMEN VYING TO WIN YOU OVER
THE MINI MARIAH: Ariana Grande “Yours Truly” (out now)
The buzz: The Nickelodeon star released her debut album earlier this month and, so far, she’s gotten nothing but raves for her Carey-esque stylings.
THE LEGEND: Cher “Closer to the Truth” (Tuesday)
The buzz: At this point, there’s not a whole lot of hope for Cher on the Hot 100, but Levy says, “Cher is a kind of religion. For an artist of this stature, chart domination is not what it’s about.”
THE TAG TEAM: Icona Pop “This Is . . . Icona Pop” (Tuesday)
The buzz: After blowing up the charts with the inescapable dance-floor smash “I Love It,” this Swedish DJ duo hopes to become more than just a one-hit wonder.
THE SISTER ACT: Haim “Days Are Gone” (Sept. 30)
The buzz: The California-bred siblings have legions of hipster fans, and hot singles such as “Forever” and “The Wire” should make their debut an underground hit.
THE SURPRISE SMASH: Lorde “Pure Heroine” (Sept. 30)
The buzz: With the song “Royals,” the 16-year-old New Zealand unknown has broken out big-time, currently sitting at No. 3, just behind Cyrus and Perry on the Hot 100 chart. Says Levy, “I think we’re talking about an artist who [can] maintain a presence on both the alternative and pop charts.”
THE GIRL GROUP: Fifth Harmony “Better Together” EP (Oct. 22)
The buzz: One Direction and the Wanted proved the world has a taste for boy bands once again — and these ladies hope to reignite Spice Girl fever.
THE INDIE BABE: Sky Ferreira “Night Time, My Time” (Oct. 29)
The buzz: After teasing us with EPs, the alterna star releases her highly anticipated first album. But does her recent drug arrest (she was busted upstate for possession of Ecstasy) spell the end before Ferreira’s even really started?
THE REBEL: M.I.A. “Matangi” (Nov. 5)
The buzz: Following disagreements with her label, Interscope, M.I.A. threatened to leak the album herself — and finally landed a release date. “I don’t think M.I.A. has ever made an album that is uninteresting,” says Levy.
THE GRANDE DAME: Celine Dion “Loved Me Back to Life” (Nov. 5)
The buzz: “Loved Me Back to Life,” the lead single, has good buzz. “It’s catchy, modern, and actually has a shot at radio,” says Lansky. Not bad for Dion’s first English-language outing since 2007.