Most of the world's superstars are singing urban music or street music of black American origin. France has a lot of black artists who are influenced by American music, but their music is primarily founded on African tribal culture. I don't think the French are very attracted to street music, so they're not producing many artists in that genre. Top stars (geniuses in their field) usually emerge from large populations of talent. The French are producing artists like Stromae, Indila, Christine and The Queens, Cœur De Pirate, Møme, Maître Gims, and Zaho whose style of music would have been familiar twenty or thirty years ago. Being an old guy, I'm drawn to that music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGaC2vGZV-E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=bMPbYz3E8B0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=ROChfigwihw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvluZOKDBUA