Billboard's 21 Under 21: See Who Made the 2025 List

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2 days ago

Billboard's annual 21 Under 21 list snapshots the next generation of rising artists — but in 2025, the inescapable teen superstar has become increasingly rare. Ten years ago, this list was stocked full of acts who were already household names: Lorde, Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony and 5 Seconds of Summer. In 2021, Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish were both on the list. This year, however, such future stars are still ascending to ubiquity.
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'There's not a centralization of key platforms where people are finding artists,' says Mike Weiss, vp of music/head of A&R at UnitedMasters. 'Everything is more niche. To become a superstar, it takes time to build from community to community and expand that base.'
That process is typically 'a lot longer now,' says Tyler Brown, co-founder of indie label Heatwave Records, relative to the peak years when he worked at Syco Entertainment on The X Factor. In previous decades, stars were minted by the TV shows and radio stations that served as the central source of music discovery. Major labels had the marketing resources and relationships to inundate these formats, sending listeners scrambling to cough up cash for records or CDs or downloads.
Today's fans are spread across a range of streaming services and social media platforms, each with its own priorities and approach to music. In this fractured environment, 'there's no button to push' to blitz everyone simultaneously, says Jonathan Daniel, co-founder of Crush Music, which manages Miley Cyrus and Lorde, among others. 'It's so much less of a monoculture.' As a result, this year's 21 Under 21 leans lighter on pop than in previous years, with a handful of talent rooted in country music — plus, the first dancehall act to make it onto the list. —Elias LeightNames Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia, YoonchaeAges 20, 19, 22, 19, 22, 17Label HYBE x GeffenPublisher HYBE x GeffenManagement HYBE x Geffen
Last year, when KATSEYE gave its first live performance at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena for the annual K-pop festival KCON, the group's Megan remembers it as 'chaotic but so much fun.' It was the first test of the members' bond, with the girl group now saying strong communication is the key to navigating music industry madness. 'We had to learn to be there for each other,' Sophia says. 'We're able to just come up to one another, good or bad, and say, 'Hey, I feel this way.' ' The HYBE x Geffen act will showcase that growth this spring with its second EP, Beautiful Chaos, which follows 2024's SIS (Soft Is Strong) that spawned the Mainstream Top 40 hit 'Touch.' As Manon teases: 'This next era is really authentic to who we are.'
What are you most proud of when you look back at this past year?
Lara The MAMA Awards. That was our first time doing a big dance break as a group with dancers; there were cheerleaders and a full-on production. Every time I look back on that, I'm like, 'Oh, my God. We did that.'
What has been the key to success in your first year as a group?
Sophia The biggest thing that we really learned together is communication. We care so deeply about each other, and this is something that we're all so passionate about — this isn't just our job. We're so lucky to do something that we all grew up obsessed with. We've learned that it's something we can connect through and that we have to be honest with each other all the time. At the end of the day, it's the six of us against the world.
Megan We really found our flow with each other and how each of us works in different scenarios. When we do performances [now], we're like, 'OK, Megan needs to prepare in the corner, Yoonchae needs her own time, Sophia needs to warm up,' and then we all come together. So thanks to that communication, we all know each other so well and so deeply.
What can you share about what inspired your upcoming EP?
Manon I always say this, but I feel like [fan army] the EYEKONS and [us] are the same people. We think the same; what they like, we like, and what we like, they like.
Sophia We are always on Weverse; we're lurking through Instagram and Twitter. We literally see everything that the fans post and hear them, so hopefully, they'll like what we're coming out with.
What's the best advice you would give aspiring young musicians?
Yoonchae To believe in yourself and do whatever you want.
Daniela It's important to not let others decide your path.Age 20Label Columbia RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Disruptor Management
In April, Murph made her Coachella debut — and it's one of her proudest moments from the past year. 'Seeing the show and production and everything at that level was such a pinch-me moment,' she says. During the set, she welcomed collaborators Polo G (last year's 'Heartbroken' with Diplo) and Koe Wetzel ('High Road,' which was also released in 2024 and scored Murph her highest-charting Billboard Hot 100 hit at No. 22) onstage, spotlighting how she walks the line of hip-hop and country. 'There are so many outside influences and opinions both online and in real life, it can become really hard to not get distracted or confused,' Murph says. 'I've noticed I'm always the most successful when I follow my gut and do what feels right in my soul.'Age 20Label Darkroom Records/Interscope ­RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Mogul Vision
Alternative artist d4vd has released a steady stream of singles since the arrival of his 2023 debut EP, Petals to Thorns, priming fans for his anticipated debut full-length. In late April, after he performed at Coachella for the first time, Withered finally arrived, featuring Kali Uchis on single 'Crashing.' Reflecting on his timeline, the artist says he's most proud of his output: 'I released a handful of amazing singles and synchs back-to-back while maintaining consistent high quality with each record… There's no formula because the internet is changing every day, so I just make great music and promote it in ways that feel natural and true to me.'Age 18Label Jton Music/Columbia RecordsPublisher BuVisionManagement Jton Music
In the last year, Nigerian singer-songwriter Madi says she has 'been able to connect with more people through my music, perform on bigger stages and really step into my sound.' She performed in Uganda and Algeria last fall and this January released her debut studio album, I Am the Blueprint. Its standout track, 'Feeling Alright,' reached No. 15 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs list, becoming her highest-charting entry. In April, she won songwriter of the year at The Headies, which annually celebrate accomplishments across the Nigerian music industry. 'Seeing my hard work pay off and knowing that my music resonates with people means everything to me,' she says. 'Staying true to who I am and pushing through the doubts has been key.'Age 19Label BuVision/Columbia RecordsPublisher Kobalt MusicManagement Mixed Management + Dallas Sessoms
Lately, Ian's whirlwind success has made him feel more like Jim Carrey's character in The Truman Show than the former college rugby star he was while attending Clemson University less than two years ago. 'Putting yourself out there consistently is difficult,' says the artist born Ian Smith. 'You're beating a dead horse sometimes.' After emerging with his debut project, Valedictorian, last summer, the hip-hop rookie scored his first Hot 100 hit, 'Hate Me' (with Lil Yachty), while his viral 'Magic Johnson' — his ode to the Los Angeles Lakers great — topped the Bubbling Under Hot 100. With his 2024 debut full-length, Goodbye Horses, starting at No. 86 on the Billboard 200, the 19-year-old is only warming up, with his eyes set on more wins: 'I feel like the bar is in heaven.'
What has been your key to success?
Talking to my mom and dad and sister. That is numero uno. You meet so many people in the music industry, and unless you're coming into it with a whole squadron of your boys from day one who will stick by you at every moment of your career, it's easy to get in your head about the people that you're meeting and who you want to keep around. There's no stress in that regard with family ever.
What's your best advice for aspiring young artists?
I need a lot of advice at this point in my career, so it's difficult to confidently give out any good pointers to anyone looking to do what I'm doing. I will say: You are absolutely not the only person who doesn't know what you're doing — unless you do, in which case, shout out, keep it up. That's great. But nobody knows what the fuck is going on at any point in time. As long as you love making music and that's your purpose, I don't think you run into much difficulty.
How do you deal with criticism at your age?
You have to be able to recognize the difference between constructive criticism and something that's just coming from a place of hatred. Sometimes, the person commenting is just trying to attack your character because, for whatever reason, they don't feel comfortable enough with themself.
What was it like working with Chief Keef and Lil Yachty this early in your career?
Incredible, mind-blowing, sensational. I listened to both of them so much in middle and high school. They just ran my world. It was crazy to think about being in the back seat of the car, looking out the window, picturing myself as the one who made the Chief Keef or Lil Yachty song that I was listening to. Then, being able to step in and not just work with them but enjoy working with them, interact with them and see how they might act in real life was crazy.Age 20Label Interscope RecordsPublisher Universal Music Publishing GroupManagement Pamela Cornejo
Música mexicana star Cornejo's Coachella debut in April follows a string of major achievements for the 20-year-old star. They include performing at the 2024 Houston Rodeo where he sang in front of 70,000 people, which he says is a milestone he's most proud of. But it's not his only one: Last August, the singer-songwriter scored his first No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart with Mirada, his third full-length. The set led to two legs of his Mirada tour, the second of which began in April. He credits his success to 'staying humble, grounded and knowing you have a team that truly has only the best intentions for you.'Age 20Label Artist Partner GroupPublisher Artist Partner GroupManagement Venice Management
After making her Hot 100 debut in 2024 with the flirty pop-rap track 'Tell Ur Girlfriend,' Philadelphia artist Bankz has spent the past year building on that success. She released her debut album, After 7, in May 2024; signed an Under Armour deal in December; and kicked off 2025 with her latest single, 'Baddie Decisions.' While she has maintained her momentum, Bankz is equally focused on prioritizing her mental health. 'It's very hard to work on something at a high level constantly and not feel overwhelmed sometimes,' she says. 'I think when you challenge yourself in ways you haven't before, there's no way of anticipating an outcome. But consistency and resilience have made me great.'Age 19Label Lone Star/Santa AnnaPublisher Kobalt PublishingManagement 7s Management
Country artist Blankenship achieved a major milestone when his broken-hearted single 'Maxed Out' — from his 2024 EP, Younger Years — was certified gold. 'Just the feeling of knowing that all those people listened to that song and connected to it like they did was insane and meant the world,' he says. The Livingston, Tenn., singer-songwriter is currently on the festival circuit, as well as supporting such acts on tour as Wyatt Flores and Whiskey Myers. As his career takes off, he cautions fellow young artists of one thing: 'Don't let other people make the decisions you want to make.'Age 18Label Street Mob RecordsPublisher Street Mob PublishingManagement Luis Lopez
Pacas had an unlikely assist ­early in his career from none ­other than Drake. Last October, the Mexican-born singer teamed with the superstar and Fuerza Regida for 'Modo Capone' after Drake DM'd Pacas on Instagram. The song hit No. 11 on Hot Latin Songs. Four months later, Pacas and Drake reteamed on 'Meet Your Padre' from the latter's joint album with PartyNextDoor. The song arrived in February, peaking at Nos. 63 and 103 on the Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200, respectively. In between his collaborations, Pacas (born Cristian Humberto Ávila Vega) released his debut album, Que Sigan Llegando Las Pacas, fueled by the raw emotion of corridos tumbados and urban sierreño. The 15-song set peaked at No. 6 on Top Regional Mexican Albums and No. 7 on Top Latin Albums. As he continues to forge his path in música mexicana — having already been co-signed by Peso Pluma, Junior H and Tito Double P — Pacas says he's already working on his next project, called Cristian, which he produced and promises will be 'a more personal album.'
What does it signify to have two collaborations with Drake so early in your career?
More than anything, I respect him. We all know how many years of a career he's had, and the fact that he's collaborating with me, even though I'm only two years into my career, is truly something incredible. I met him in person, but we keep in touch through Instagram — we say hello from time to time. Drake's professionalism and his years of a career are evident.
What's the biggest challenge for a young artist in today's industry?
Being young, I sometimes feel like my age is a great advantage. I feel like many of the people who listen to my music are my age, and I also feel like many people can relate.
What has been your key to success?
The natural way I've pursued my career and the fact that I always do it with my heart. I feel that to be famous, you have to be on another level. We're known, but not yet famous.
What's your advice for aspiring young artists?
To let themselves be guided by their emotions. Never let other people make them think differently, because the world can be changed with great ideas.Age 17Label RECORDS Nashville/ColumbiaPublisher Universal Music Publishing GroupManagement Starstruck Entertainment
Myers' career has surged over the past year: In January, he made his Hot 100 debut with 'Ends of the Earth' at No. 94, and he also released his debut album, The Select (which fuses his blues, country and rock influences), which he followed with a tour. 'I've been headlining the biggest rooms of my career so far on The Select Tour, and I'm just so grateful,' he says. 'The connection people have had with my music is the driving force that [allows] me the opportunity of living out my dreams. The response has been nothing short of life-changing.'Age 19Label Warner RecordsPublisher Self-publishedManagement The System
With two hits on the Hot 100, fast-rising radio traction and frequent appearances on daily streaming charts, the 19-year-old Lower East Side native born Shane Boose is enjoying a meteoric rise thanks to his singles 'Back to Friends' and 'Undressed.' The former peaked at No. 55 while the latter reached No. 83; both songs riff on alt-rock hallmarks from a generation ago that have been absent from the mainstream for years. 'My favorite band of all time is Radiohead,' Sombr says, 'and I'm a big fan of Jeff Buckley, Phoebe Bridgers, The 1975. I listen to a ton of alternative music — it's my genre.' Despite Sombr's breakthrough, his career has been years in the making; after his 2022 single 'Caroline' went viral, Warner Records signed him in 2023. 'I'm a really hard worker,' he says. 'I like to think that, if you really put in the hours and manifest what you want, it will happen.'Age 19Label High IQ/EMPIREPublisher EMPIREManagement Jentry Salvatore
310babii emerged at the forefront of the West Coast's next wave of hip-hop stars with his 2024 breakthrough single — and Hot 100 debut hit — 'Soak City (Do It),' but now his chief concern is transitioning from high school graduate to full-time artist. 'I'm most proud of not dropping out of school and being able to graduate with my class on time last year,' he says. All the while, he was learning outside of the classroom, too: 'The biggest challenge for a young artist in today's music industry is becoming educated on the ins and outs to different contracts and agreements to artist development and more,' he says. 'It's not about getting hot for a moment but having your business in order and maintaining a career.'Age 18Label Music Soup/Darkroom RecordsPublisher WWP PublishingManagement Pretty Sweet Management
After breaking through with 'Arkansas Diamond,' Wyatt released his debut EP, Til the Sun Goes Down, last November, which he wrote, produced and recorded in his childhood home. He followed with a pair of collaborations with fellow rising country act Bayker Blankenship on 'Sunday Supper' and 'Jailbreak.' This year, the high school senior is balancing academics with live shows on his headlining Til the Sun Goes Down tour and, in June, will open for Zach Bryan at BST Hyde Park in London.
What has been the key to your success so far?
Love and support from every which way brought me here. I have supportive fans, but as soon as [I] come back home, I have a supportive family as well.
Is it hard to balance home life with touring and ­recording?
It has been a little bit harder for sure, but I always do my best to manage. I'm still in high school, so I have my prom coming up pretty soon and I'm playing that as well.
You're working on new music. How has your music evolved?
[I've] got more singles coming, but I'm going to try to put out a bigger piece of work. My previous EP was me recording in my kitchen just playing all my stuff. I want to experiment with this [next] EP, to put a lot more production into my work.
What advice do you have for other artists wanting to build a career like yours?
Just make sure it's really what you want to do and that you're willing to make those sacrifices for it.Age 19Label UnitedMastersPublishers Sony Music Publishing Chile/Sony ATV Latin Music ­PublishingManagement Luis Arce
Last year was historic for Chilean newcomer FloyyMenor (born Alan Felipe Galleguillos). The then-18-year-old topped Hot Latin Songs with Cris MJ with their viral hit, 'Gata Only,' becoming the first Chilean artists to reach No. 1 on the chart since 1991. The song ruled the tally for 14 consecutive weeks, finished at No. 1 on the year-end Hot Latin Songs chart and won the Global 200 Latin song of the year at the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards and top Latin song at the Billboard Music Awards. 'There are several challenges that one faces being so young, such as having to mature quickly,' FloyyMenor says. 'You also have to learn how to navigate this industry and learn about contracts and legal terms… The key to success for me has always been believing in myself, being clear about my vision and not letting it go.'Age 20Label Warner RecordsPublisher SonyManagement Hallwood Media
Bond specializes in arresting, lyrically blunt dream-pop, a sound that helped her track 'Summer Song' become a viral hit last year and yielded a deal with Warner Records in February. The New York native says that 'finding a sound I like — and being stubborn about it' has been the key to her breakthrough, 'even if it takes some time and pisses people off.' After releasing the single 'Simple Girl' earlier this year, Bond is finishing up her debut album and will launch a U.S. headlining tour on June 1 — but is still making time for necessary detours. 'I went to the desert this year with my sister Olivia and my producer Jules [Apollinaire], and we spent two days working on an intro to a song that's not even coming out,' she says. 'I think it's important to let yourself spend time on even the littlest things.'Names Mila de la Garza, Lucia de la Garza, Eloise Wong, Bela SalazarAges 14, 18, 17, 20Label Epitaph RecordsPublisher Warner Chappell MusicManagement Fly South Music Group
Punk rockers The Linda Lindas celebrated the October release of sophomore album No Obligation with their first headlining tour. 'It's exciting for us to see how many people have been showing up and singing along,' Mila de la Garza says. 'We've come such a long way from our first show at the Hi Hat six years ago, so we are all proud of our growth.' No Obligation included the band's first album feature (with 'Weird Al' ­Yankovic), while in late 2023, the group appeared on Paramore's remix album, Re: This Is Why, covering 'The News.' 'When you become well known or established for a certain thing at such a young age,' Lucia de la Garza says, 'it doesn't make it the easiest to grow as an artist. We've had so much fun finding ourselves and our artistry outside of our one viral moment.'Age 19Label Motion Music/Atlantic RecordsPublisher Sony Music PublishingManagement Open Door Management, Minerva
Florida rapper Tyler has been working tirelessly since releasing his 2023 debut project, My Vision, which debuted at No. 2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. The following year, the results paid off, with his mixtape Mr. Skii boasting features from BossMan Dlow, Kodak Black and Veeze. 'I'm most proud of how my music has improved and how I have tried new and different flows that I haven't used before,' says Tyler, who spent most of last year touring with Atlantic Records labelmate A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. 'I am way better and more versatile than I was before… The more you practice, the better you get.'Age 19Label IIIXL/SoundCloudPublisher Baby Genius PublishingManagement Lailabug Productions
When Laila! performed her viral TikTok songs on YouTube channel On the Radar last summer, fans were finally able to put a face to her name — and her career took off from there. 'Like That' reached No. 3 on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 chart, while 'Not My Problem' hit No. 25 on Hot R&B Songs; a later remix featured 14 artists. She celebrated her streak with a 10-city North American tour and plans to hit Europe this summer. 'I'm really proud of myself,' she says about touring right after graduating high school. 'I didn't know that it would unfold this way. I thought I was going to have to get a regular job after high school.'
What are you most proud of so far?
I'm most proud of making my grandma proud of me and seeing her reactions to everything I'm doing, and my family. I feel like that's my biggest accomplishment, seeing how happy my family is.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned?
I've learned to take everything in and be in the moment. This is only the beginning, and these things are only going to happen once, you know?
What has been the key to your success?
[Social media is] probably one of the most important aspects because that's where I got my start by posting stuff on TikTok while I was still in high school, not knowing if anyone was going to see it or care about it. That's the main way I interact with my listeners and put new stuff out there. But I feel like this tour has given me the opportunity to make that social media interaction a real-life interaction, where I get to really talk to people and meet them and sign merch and take pictures and just have fun. It's really exciting to have that crossover because performing is becoming one of the most important things that I do, too.Names Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, HyeinAges 21, 20, 20, 19, 17Label ADORPublisher HYBE/Sony Music PublishingManagement ADOR
While NewJeans has made more headlines in recent months due to its legal battle with label home HYBE — and announced a break in activity in March — the past year demonstrated the continued fan enthusiasm for the K-pop quintet through chart impact. Second EP Get Up, which topped the Billboard 200 in 2023, earned an additional 227,000 equivalent album units last year, according to Luminate, and landed at No. 3 on the 2024 year-end World Albums chart and No. 50 on Top Album Sales. NewJeans' two single releases in 2024, 'How Sweet' and 'Supernatural,' earned 51.6 million and 41.2 million official on-demand U.S. streams, respectively, for the year. Plus, HYBE reports that the physical versions of both singles sold over 1 million copies globally, marking the group's fourth and fifth consecutive physical releases to reach the threshold.Age 19Label N/APublisher N/AManagement N/A
Ascendant Jamaican dancehall star Najeeriii has fine-tuned his style and sound since exploding onto the scene with 2023's 'Paddle Boat.' Book of Bob, his debut studio album, will arrive later this year, and the Portmore-based artist has used a steady stream of singles and collaborations — like 2024's RajahWild-assisted 'Life a Di Party' and '1Rifle' — to set the scene. Even so, he says that the biggest challenge for a young artist today is 'to be taken seriously.' But having already established himself as one of the genre's most promising voices, Najeeriii maintains that 'patience' is his best key to success: 'Learn your abilities,' he says, 'and utilize your strengths and weaknesses.'Age 15Label Prosper Entertainment/Warner RecordsPublisher Warner Chappell MusicManagement Prosper Entertainment
The 15-year-old country artist already has an impressive credit as co-writer of Quavo and Lana Del Rey's pop-country-trap hit, 'Tough,' and has now turned to his own career with the March release of his debut EP, First Dance, for which he co-wrote all seven songs. After performing at Stagecoach in April, Batson will join Lainey Wilson's Whirlwind tour in the fall. Through it all, he says the biggest challenge has been 'knowing if you are surrounding yourself with the right people, especially at a young age. That's why I love having my family so close to me during this process as we've made decisions together.'
This story appears in the May 17, 2025, issue of Billboard.
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