Probably got years wrong, so feel free to correct. My criteria used is the year they debuted if they had a very successful year or the actual year when they made a big impression, mainly in the charts. That's why some artists are in years after their actual debut. Hope it is clear! Also, for artists that began in a group or band, I put the years of debut or breakthrough of said band or group, not when they went solo. 

 

 

2024: Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter

2023: SZA

2022: Rosalía 

2021: Olivia Rodrigo

2020: Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Bad Bunny

2019: Billie Eilish

2018: 

2017: Dua Lipa, Cardi B

2016: Halsey

2015: The Weeknd

2014: Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran

2013: Ariana Grande, Lorde

2012: Lana del Rey, Carly Rae Jepsen, Frank Ocean, One Direction 

2011: Adele, Nicki Minaj,

2010: Bruno Mars, Kesha, Justin Bieber, Drake

2009: Selena Gomez

2008: Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato

2007: Miley Cyrus

2006: Taylor Swift

2005: Rihanna

2004: Kanye West

2003: Kelly Clarkson

2002: Avril Lavigne

2001: P!nk, Shakira

2000: Coldplay, Enrique Iglesias

1999: Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Eminem, Christina Aguilera

1998: Britney Spears, NSYNC

1997:

1996: Gwen Stefani, Spice Girls

1995: 

1994: Celine Dion

1993: 

1992: 

1991: 

1990: Mariah Carey

1989: 

1988: Kylie Minogue

1987: 

1986: Janet Jackson

1985: Whitney Houston

1984: Madonna

1983: Prince

1975: Donna Summer

1970: Michael Jackson

1965: Cher

Edited August 24, 20242 yr by MALAMENTE

I feel like 2023 is Tate McRae since that's when 'greedy' became her biggest hit and she got called 'the next Britney Spears'

2023 should be SZA. Obviously CTRL was a moment but SOS was a pretty big commercial breakthrough for her.

 

2019/20 should have Harry Styles too

9 minutes ago, glitch said:

2023 should be SZA. Obviously CTRL was a moment but SOS was a pretty big commercial breakthrough for her.

 

2019/20 should have Harry Styles too

Added SZA, you are right! 
 

About Harry, I instead added One Direction in 2012 since that was their really big year for them and like I said about the criteria I used, I rather add the year of debut or breakthrough of the band/group if said artist was in one! 

Jay Z 2004? He had 6 #1 albums by then

Edited August 24, 20242 yr by tost1

4 minutes ago, tost1 said:

Jay Z 2004? He had 6 #1 albums by then

I meant Kanye! I was thinking of Jay Z when I was doing it and probably typed his name instead lol sorry

I'd put Rosalía in 2022 instead of 2018. MOTOMAMI was a much bigger success than El Mal Querer was

1983: Prince

 

Although he had a few minor hits between 1978-1982 it was Little Red Corvette in 1983 that was really his breakthrough.

Sabrina for this year too

maybe add Ice Spice or Glorilla in 2022 if there's no one else, they're not as big as the others though tbh

2014: Charli XCX

2024: Charli xcx

Stevie Wonder for 1963.

Beatles and Supremes for 1964.

Chicago and CCR for 1969.

Elton John alongside Michael Jackson in 1970.

Andy Gibb for 1977.

New Edition alongside Madonna in 1984.

Debbie Gibson for 1987.

Edited August 24, 20242 yr by pride4jc1222

Ava Max Sweet but Psycho 2018, or her debut album Heaven & Hell 2020, which has 4.7 billion streams on Spotify

2018: Bradley Cooper

Disagree with a few of these. 

 

SZA's first album has been charting since it debuted and was 3x platinum before she even released SOS 

Taylors Breakout year was 2008. I remember Fearless was massive my sophomore year

 

2003 should be Beyoncé and not Kelly Clarkson. Kelly may have debuted that year but 2003 was arguably Beyoncé's solo year compared to Destiny's Child in 1999. 

2004: Gwen Stefani

2006: Fergie, Nelly Furtado

2017: Post Malone

2018: Camila Cabello

Ariana should be 2014.

2018: Travis Scott

2024: Playboi Carti (people might say 2020 but idk, this feels like his year he just needs to drop)

2022: Zach Bryan

2021: Rod Wave, Morgan Wallen

1988: New Kids on the Block

1990: Wilson Philips

1991: Nirvana, Natalie Cole (she was successful before then but 1991 was so humungous it seems like a breakthrough but ik people would disagree and say it's 1977)

 

 

Someone I'm unsure about is Reba McEntire, it's either 1986 or 1990... 1990 seems like more of her breaking through to the wider US market but 1987 was her first successful Country year so idk... Genre specific.