As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to celebrate the artists who shaped the musical landscape with their groundbreaking work and meteoric rises. This year brought us a vibrant mix of talents, each carving out their unique space in the industry, from pop and R&B to Latin and country-infused sounds. Among the standout names, Chappell Roan captured hearts with her unique persona and dynamic performances. Her smash hit “Good Luck, Babe!” catapulted her to international fame, while her debut album, The Rise and Fall of Midwest Princess, cemented her as a pop powerhouse. Similarly, Tyla, dubbed the “Queen of Popiano,” continued to break records with her self-titled debut album, earning her a Grammy and accolades from fans and critics alike. Sabrina Carpenter solidified her superstar status with Short n’ Sweet, which dominated global charts and garnered six Grammy nominations. Meanwhile, R&B sensation Teddy Swims captured listeners with his raw, soulful voice, turning the sleeper hit “Lose Control” into one of the year’s defining anthems. Emerging stars like FloyyMenor brought a fresh perspective to Latin music with his viral hit “Gata Only,” while country artist Shaboozey made history with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” tying the all-time Billboard Hot 100 record. Rising pop talent Benson Boone charmed audiences worldwide with his debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, and a show-stopping performance as an opener for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. These artists, and the stories behind their breakout successes, highlight the evolving music industry and its embrace of diverse voices. Read on to explore how these rising stars made their mark on 2024.
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Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan is undoubtedly the biggest surprise of 2024. However, her musical journey began back in 2017 when she released her debut single, “Good Hurt.” In 2022, she served as the opening act for Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour Tour, a role she reprised this year for the Guts World Tour. In the meantime, Chappell’s life has completely transformed.
In early 2022, she launched her independent career with the single “Naked in Manhattan.” Later that year, she released what would become a fan favorite: “Femininomenon.” This was followed by a string of new releases in 2023, including “Casual,” “Kaleidoscope,” “Red Wine Supernova,” and “Hot To Go!” All of this hard work culminated in the release of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of Midwest Princess.
Chappell’s career reached new heights earlier this year with her smash hit, “Good Luck, Babe!” The song achieved massive success, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming her first track to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. The incredible success of “Good Luck, Babe!” introduced Chappell’s music to a wider audience, propelling her debut album up the charts and solidifying the 26-year-old as one of the biggest pop stars of the year.
Chappell’s impact extends far beyond her music. Her live performances have drawn large crowds, setting attendance records at several festivals, including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Fest.
As for what’s next, Chappell’s future looks brighter than ever. Her longtime producer and collaborator Dan Nigro has confirmed that she is already working on her sophomore album. She even gave fans a sneak peek of what’s to come during her recent performance on Saturday Night Live.
Tyla
Dubbed the Queen of Popiano, Tyla achieved her breakthrough in 2023 with the viral hit “Water.” This year, she further cemented her status as a global African star. “Water” not only earned her first Grammy Award but also made her the inaugural winner of Best African Music Performance and the youngest African artist ever to win a Grammy.
In March 2024, Tyla released her highly anticipated self-titled debut studio album. The record produced several hit singles, including “Art” and “Jump.” A few months later, she expanded the tracklist with a deluxe edition, featuring another standout track: “Push To Start.”
Tyla’s music has been widely celebrated, earning her numerous accolades. In addition to her Grammy for “Water,” she won two BET Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, three MTV EMAs, and an MTV VMA.
Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter was already a well-known singer before 2024, but this year she cemented her status as a true pop star. The 25-year-old artist, who had her breakthrough in 2022 with the viral hit “emails i can’t send,” dominated 2024 with her sixth album, Short n’ Sweet. The album is packed with smash hits, including the summer anthem “Espresso,” as well as “Please Please Please,” “Taste,” and “Juno.”
Carpenter earned six Grammy nominations, including all four major categories: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Short n’ Sweet topped the Billboard 200, while its singles dominated the UK Singles Chart. Notably, she became the first artist in 71 years to spend 20 weeks atop the UK Singles Chart in a calendar year, with “Taste” breaking records as the longest-running UK number one of 2024. Additionally, “Espresso” closed the year as the most streamed song on Spotify, amassing over 1.6 billion streams.
Teddy Swims
Teddy Swims, 32, began his musical journey over a decade ago as a member of several bands in Atlanta. Toward the end of the 2010s, Teddy started sharing covers on YouTube, including renditions of songs by Lewis Capaldi, Michael Jackson, and Shania Twain. These covers amassed millions of views and garnered significant attention, eventually leading to the release of his debut single, “Night Off.”
In the early 2020s, Teddy released three EPs: Unlearning, Tough Love, and Sleep Is Exhausting. His career skyrocketed with the sleeper hit “Lose Control” from his debut album, I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) (2023). The song began gaining traction earlier this year, debuting at No. 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 before making an extraordinary climb to No. 1.
“Lose Control” showcased Teddy’s powerful vocals to millions of new fans, securing him a spot among the biggest breakout artists of 2024. The R&B singer is now preparing to release I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) in 2025.
FloyyMenor
The Latin music scene welcomed a rising star in teenager FloyyMenor. Born Alan Felipe Galleguillos, the Chilean singer rapidly became an international sensation with his viral hit “Gata Only.” The song climbed to the top five on the Billboard Global 200 chart and dominated various South American charts. Riding the wave of its success, FloyyMenor released his debut EP, El Comienzo, last summer, solidifying his status as a promising talent in Latin music.
Shaboozey
Shaboozey, 29, experienced a remarkable breakthrough in 2024. Though his career began a decade ago, with two LPs already under his belt, this year marked a pivotal turning point. A member of Beyoncé’s team discovered his then-unreleased track “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and recognized his unique talent. This led to Shaboozey contributing to Beyoncé’s first country album, Cowboy Carter, which helped him gain widespread recognition.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” was officially released in April and quickly became the biggest hit of 2024 in the U.S. The song made history by spending 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tying Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road as the longest-leading chart-topper ever. Following this success, Shaboozey released his third studio album, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, which included standout tracks like “My Fault” featuring Noah Cyrus—a collaboration we’ve ranked among the best of the year.
Shaboozey’s extraordinary breakthrough earned him five Grammy nominations, including Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
Benson Boone
This year saw the meteoric rise of Benson Boone, the 22-year-old sensation who first gained attention on TikTok by sharing singing videos. In 2021, he auditioned for American Idol and later signed with Dan Reynolds’ label, Night Street Records. Since then, Benson’s star has only risen, reaching new heights in 2024 with his chart-topping hit “Beautiful Things” and the release of his debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades.
Benson’s undeniable talent caught the eye of none other than Taylor Swift, who invited him to open the London shows of her Eras Tour. Over the course of the year, he collected his first major accolades, including two Billboard Music Awards and an MTV VMA. He’s now a nominee for Best New Artist at the upcoming Grammy Awards, solidifying his place as one of 2024’s brightest stars.
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