5 female acts who could change the tune

It’s bad enough that every artist to notch a No. 1 song on Billboard’s Hot 100 this year has been a man. But consider that it has been a year since a female- led song topped the charts, stretching back to Sia’s Cheap Thrills last August, and 2017 looks even more depressing for women. Thankfully, several big- name female artists have albums in the fall, with a number of others teasing forthcoming music. With plenty of time left in 2017, it seems unlikely that at least one female- fronted single won’t top the Hot 100. USA TODAY’s Maeve McDermott wonders whether one of these names can break the streak.

KESHA

The world is still waiting to hear Rainbow, Kesha’s first album since 2012 ( out Friday). The Hot 100 has loved the singer’s past singles, with Tik Tok, We R Who We R and Timber, her song with Pitbull, all reaching No. 1 over the years, and seven additional songs landing in the top 10. While her anthemic new ballad Prayer is quite a departure from her raucous past singles, fans rallying around her comeback would love to see Kesha earn 2017’ s first female- led No. 1 song.

FIFTH HARMONY

Similarly, the girl group has a lot to prove with its self- titled album ( out Aug. 25), their first release as a foursome following Camila Cabello’s departure last year. 5H came close to a No. 1 single last summer with Work From Home, their pop hit with Ty Dolla $ ign that reached No. 4. Fifth Harmony’s lead single, Down, didn’t gain quite as much traction, but that doesn’t mean future tracks can’t succeed on the charts.

MILEY CYRUS

What kind of sound can Miley fans expect from the singer when her sixth album, Younger Now, drops Sept. 29? The singer went beats- heavy for 2013’ s Bangerz, hitting No. 1 with We Can’t Stop, before dropping off the charts with her Dead Petz in 2015. If Younger Now sounds anything like Malibu, the top 10- charting pop track she shared from her new album, Cyrus might strum her way to a No. 1 song once more.

SELENA GOMEZ

Gomez has hinted at a forthcoming album while staying mum on an actual release date, instead releasing well- received new songs such as Bad Liar and Fetish, and collaborating with Kygo on It Ain’t Me, which peaked at No. 10. Gomez came close to the No. 1 spot with past singles Same Old Love and Good For You, which both reached the top 5 of the Hot 100, but has yet to claim the top spot.

DEMI LOVATO

Lovato hasn’t confirmed a release date for her new album, but she’s promised fans a release in 2017, meaning new music may be just months away. Her new single, Sorry Not Sorry, peaked at No. 23, following past chart success from songs such as Cool for the Summer and Heart Attack. Like Gomez, Lovato has never hit No. 1, which could change later this year.