News October 27, 2015

5SOS, Iggy Azalea make Forbes’ 2015 list

Former Editor

Sydney’s most ubiquitous pop export of 20145 Seconds of Summer, and Mullumbimby-born Iggy Azalea –the year’s most contentious rapper –have both placed in Forbes' annual 30 under 30 in Music for 2015.

Sandwiched between LA singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko and Venezuelan producerArca,Azalea sits at #4 on the list, while 5SOS make #29, between Laneway festival artist FKA Twigs and UK artist Charli XCX – who features on Azalea’s breakout single Fancy.

Azalea’s inclusion kicks off what’s expected to be another year full of accolades. In 2014 she picked up two American Music Awards (Favourite Artist – Rap/Hip Hop and Favorite Album – Rap/Hip-Hop), won Song of the Year for Fancy on Apple's Best-Of 2014, the Best Song EMA andthe Best Pop MTV Video Music Award for her feature of Ariana Grande’s Problem, the Breakthrough Artist ARIA for her debut LP The New Classic, three Teen Choice Awards and five Billboard Music Awards.

In December, in what sparked perhaps the most widespread criticism of her work, Azalea was nominated for four Grammy Awards (Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo, Best New Artist, Best Rap Album), joining Sia and Keith Urban as the three Australians to receive nods. And last Wednesday took out the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Hip-Hop Artist, beating out Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj.The 57th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 8.

Just six months after 5SOS began dabbling with pop song covers on YouTube, the Sydney quartet had amassed 50,000 Facebook fans, 100,000 Twitter followers and more than five million YouTube views. Needless to say, the band had a banner 2014 adding an American Music Award, an ARIA, a Billboard Music Award, an MTV Award, five EMAs, two Teens Choice, a Teen Icon, a Nickelodeon Kids Choice and an MTV Video Music Award to their growing list of accolades. Last week 5SOS also took out a People’s Choice Award, for Favourite Breakout Artist and their debut single on a major label (EMI in Australia) She Looks So Perfect, was the most heard airplay track for 2014 and #20 on ARIA’s year-end chart for 2014. 5SOS currently have 5.68 million Twitter followers and 8.5 million 'likes' on Facebook.

Aiding Forbes in compiling the list wasLady Gaga's ex-managerTroy Carter (Atom Factory), artist Taylor Hanson and Jody Gerson, Universal Music Publishing Group new Chairman and CEO.

Forbes 30 Under 30

1.Florida Georgia Line

2.Afrojack

3.Jhené Aiko

4.Iggy Azalea

5.Arca

6.Azalia Banks

7.Hit-Boy

8.Martin Garrix

9.Will Griggs

10. Hozier

11. Haim