YEAR IN REVIEW: Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, Miguel And More – Breakout Artists of 2010

2010 has been extremely kind to the ‘breakout artist.’ Many of them are landing superstar collaborations on their tracks, signing to major record labels, and performing amongst their peers at the most coveted award shows. The future looks bright as they ride the wave of fame right into 2011. While he may seem like a newbie to the scene, singer-songwriter Bruno Mars has been writing and producing hits for artists like Brandy, Cee-Lo, and Flo Rida for quite some time. Mars’ breakout moment came when he stepped from behind the scenes to lend his talents to the hook of the B.o.B hit single “Nothing on You.” Since then, he has received seven Grammy nods, all while releasing chart-topping songs like “Just the Way You Are” and “Grenade.” This has also been a fairy tale year for Roc Nation’s newest recruits Willow Smith and Alexis Jordan. Smith, refusing to rest upon her parents’ dynasty is building her own empire as “Whip My Hair” peaked at no. 11 on Billboard Hot 100. She is also slated to begin a European tour with Justin Beiber early next year. Not to be outdone, Jordan is receiving rave reviews for her first single as well. The track “Happiness” is Jordan’s way of “bringing something positive to the world.” The former America’s Got Talent sensation is taking audiences overseas by storm and America is next! With strong Latin and R&B influences, the melodic vocals of singer Miguel have landed him a spot as one of the undisputed breakout artists of the year. The release of his album ‘All I Want is You’ and hit single by the same name have both been receiving outstanding reviews. Miguel’s star quality is evident and he is currently touring with Usher’s celebrated OMG Tour. It may seem like Mike Posner came out of nowhere but he has been on the scene as an indie artist since his early Duke University days. His breakout opportunity came when his street album ‘A Matter of Time’ peaked at the top spot on iTunesU. Posner was so in demand that an extensive bidding war amongst record labels ensued until he found his home at J Records. With a newly released album that is climbing the charts, it’s clear that Posner’s moment has arrived. When speaking of the hottest new artists of 2010, no list would be complete without the self proclaimed ‘Harajuku Barbie’ herself – Ms. Nicki Minaj. Recently signed to Lil Wayne’s dynamic Young Money record label, this hitmaker has collaborated with nearly every major recording artist in the industry – not to mention the unparalleled success of her debut album ‘Pink Friday’. From a fan perspective, this has truly been the Year of the Barbie. These artists’ recent rise to superstardom leaves fans hopeful about their success in the upcoming year. But judging from their credentials, hitmakers like these are sure not to disappoint!