How The Kid LAROI became one of ‘the biggest artists in the whole wide world’ in 2021

Things are moving at mashing speed for The Kid LAROI.

In January, Elton John told the 18-year-old (Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard) that he was “going to be one of the biggest artists in the whole wide world”. How right he was.

That prediction has certainly come true, with The Kid said to epitomise the 21st-century rock star.

In one week alone, he had two wins at the ARIAs –  the inaugural Artist of the Year and Best Pop Release for ‘Stay’ – and then nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist.

These came after he took out Artist of the Year at the Indigenous Music Awards – a significant accolade for Sydney-born Howard, who took his stage name from his mother’s Kamilaroi people.

He also won the coveted APRA Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year award in April this year.

The Kid, who turned 18 in August, told one magazine about coping with success and living in the faster pace of life in his adopted home of Los Angeles.

“It’s kind of weird coming from Australia and being thrown into the mix in L.A., but at the same time I feel like, ‘this is what I was always meant to do.’

“So it kind of comes naturally for me.

“I do sit back sometimes and say, ‘Damn, this shit is crazy,’ but I’ve kind of been wanting to do this my whole life, so it’s amazing to finally get the opportunity to do this because not a lot of people where I’m from get this kind of opportunity.”

The Kid made chart history in Australia this year when the F*CK LOVE mixtape project hit #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and made him the youngest ever Australian solo artist to reach the top spot.

The project also hit #1 on US Billboard charts and went Top 40 in 17 countries.

LAROI has six Platinum-certified singles and eight Gold-certified singles in Australia, including hits ‘Without You’ (5x Platinum), ‘Stay’ (4x Platinum), ‘So Done’ (3x Platinum) and ‘Go’ (2x Platinum).

Also this year, he broke the record for the longest non-consecutive weeks ever in the #1 Australian radio airplay slot with ‘Without You’.

The Kid LAROI finished off 2021 by stamping his authority all over the end of the year (EOY) charts from Spotify, Apple Music and Shazam.

The teen phenomenon entered the Spotify EOY global chart for the first time at #3 with ‘Stay’.

Through the year, he grew his monthly Spotify listenership to 27 million, while monthly streams grew by 176% and programmed streams by 262%.

Earlier in the year, Spotify estimated his songs have been added to 485 of its editorial playlists and almost 20 million user-generated playlists.

By mid-2021, he owned Apple’s charts with #1 song ‘Stay’ and #1 album F*CK LOVE 3: Over You.

‘Stay’ went on to become his biggest hit, also debuting #3 on the US Hot 100 and clocking up 28 million YouTube views in its first month.

According to Apple Music, he had the most-streamed album in Australia on its platform in 2021, and with three entries each in the Top 25 (Australia) most streamed songs and most-read lyrics.

‘Without You’ was the most Shazamed song in Australia.

Globally the rapper has generated three billion global streams across his catalogue.

This year he appeared on Jimmy Fallon, Ellen and SNL, and performed at the Reading festival.

Sales are expected to recharge when the young rapper launches his End of the World Tour in mid-January in the US before returning home in May for the eight-date Australian leg.