Big ‘10

By Blake Hannon St. Joseph News-Press

A year in music will have some artists plummeting in popularity, taking a hiatus to regroup for the next big move or simply maintaining a current level of awareness with listeners.

But for some, they use those 365 days to carpe diem — to make a statement, a comeback or a declaration that they have arrived. In 2010, these were a few of those artists.

LADY GAGA

Technically, she didn’t even release an album in 2010, but between her head-turning fashion, a sold-out tour, visually stunning music videos, continued sales of 2009’s “The Fame Monster” and dance singles that sunk their talons into radio playlists, Lady Gaga used 2010 to become the biggest pop star on the planet.

“It was a continuation from ’09 to ’10,” says Tina Phillips, manager of Record Wear House in St. Joseph. “She was strong last year and continued to be strong this year.”

EMINEM

After a long hiatus and widely publicized pill addiction, hip-hop superstar Eminem gave listeners a double dose of new music in 2010. While “Relapse” was a commercial success, it was widely regarded as a bit of a letdown for Em’s fans. But the follow-up, “Recovery,” went on to be one of the biggest selling albums of 2010 on the strength of singles like “Not Afraid” and the Rihanna collaboration “Love The Way You Lie,” earning multiple 2011 Grammy nominations and re-asserting Eminem’s status in popular music.

“I think we think, ‘Is this the last big album?’ and he comes back and does another one,” Phillips says.

TAYLOR SWIFT

After her sophomore release, “Fearless,” became the top-selling album of 2009, country’s sweetheart singer/songwriter Taylor Swift didn’t stay quiet in 2010.

She started the year by becoming the youngest artist to ever win an Album of the Year Grammy when “Fearless” captured the prized award. But it was her follow-up, “Speak Now,” breaking the 1 million mark in sales in its first week that sealed the deal, making Swift a dominating force in the music industry.

“She is more of a country star, but she has definitely crossed over into the Top 40 scene,” says Brodie, assistant program director and mid-day talent for 95.7 The Vibe in Kansas City. “She’s just taken the ball and ran with it.”

JUSTIN BIEBER

He may have started out as a YouTube sensation and Usher’s protege, but in 2010, Bieber fever spread like the common cold.

On the strength of hit singles like “Baby” and “U Smile” from his smashingly successful debut LP “My World 2.0” and his Tiger Beat looks, the 16-year-old became a teen pop phenomenon.

“Justin Bieber obviously just blew up … kind of like the new New Kids on the Block,” Brodie says.

KATY PERRY

If anyone believed that pop tart Katy Perry was going to be a one-hit wonder after the success of the catchy, bi-curious single “I Kissed A Girl” in 2008, they were proven wrong in 2010.

Perry’s earworm single “California Gurls” from her 2010 release “Teenage Dream” became the song of the summer, and follow-up No. 1 singles like the album’s title track and “Firework” showed Perry wouldn’t be easily dismissed.

“She’s kind of that goofy girl next door that pops out some pretty good hit songs,” Phillips says.

LADY ANTEBELLUM

Country trio Lady Antebellum had a breakout year in 2009. But in 2010, the group broke through to the upper echelon of country superstars.

The band’s second album, “Need You Now,” became one of the highest-selling albums of 2010 thanks to the title track being one of the most ubiquitous singles of the year. It all helped the group score high on Billboard country and pop singles charts, earning multiple country music awards and 2011 Grammy nods.

ZAC BROWN BAND

Technically, listeners were introduced to the jammy country quintet Zac Brown Band in 2009, but 2010 was a year that indicated the band’s quick rise.

The band earned Best New Artist honors at the 2010 Grammys. Its second major-label album, “You Get What You Give,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album charts and contained the No. 1 country single “As She’s Walking Away,” featuring Alan Jackson. But an easier way to track the band’s ascent would be to track its recent performances in Kansas City area venues — moving from the Independence Events Center in November 2009 to headlining a show at the Sprint Center one year later to the announcement the band would co-headline with country superstar Kenny Chesney when he performs at Arrowhead Stadium in July 2011.

“It’s just a different sound, and I think people really dig the Zac Brown Band,” says Travis Dodge, afternoon on-air talent for Q Country 92.7 in St. Joseph.

“They’re much more down to earth. They’re kind of the band that can show up playing at any tavern,” Phillips adds. “I see longevity in them.”

KANYE WEST

After the speech-interuptus incident when he snatched the mic from Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, hip-hop star Kanye West retreated for much of 2010 for self-reflection and work on his next album. It wasn’t until much later that West would take action to make 2010 a defining year.

While not as commercially successful as his pop music peers, West’s album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” was universally praised by critics and was named Album of the Year by publications like SPIN and Rolling Stone. But it was other tactics — whether it was the weekly release of new tracks on his website, his strange long-form music video for the single “Runaway,” his frequent rants on his Twitter page or his controversial television appearances — that kept West in focus.

“Everybody might have hated him for what he did, but he knew how to keep his name in everybody’s mouth,” Brodie says. “I would say, all and all, yes, he did have a successful year. Any press is good press.”

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few other artists worth mentioning that made a bit of a splash in 2010.

KE$HA

The trashily dressed pop diva had a breakout year thanks to the bouncy party single “Tik Tok” and other tracks off her debut album “Animal.”

DRAKE

The Lil Wayne protege seemed to borrow the torch while Wayne was incarcerated in 2010. His debut full-length album “Thank Me Later” blended elements of hip-hop and R&B and announced the arrival of one of rap music’s next big things.

NICKI MINAJ

The wildly outfitted, schizophrenic flowing MC created plenty of buzz with mixtapes and tons of heralded guest spots in 2010. But her debut album “Pink Friday” officially established Minaj as hip-hop’s fiercest female MC.

TRAIN

Don’t call it a comeback. After a three-year hiatus, the pop rockers released the album “Save Me San Francisco” in Oct. 2009. But it was the single “Hey, Soul Sister” that became omnipresent, becoming the best-selling single of 2010 in the U.S. and reaching No. 1 in 16 countries.

MIRANDA LAMBERT

The blonde firecracker has country songwriting chops to match her looks. In 2010, she proved it. Her album “Revolution” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 2009 but went on to go platinum and win numerous CMT, CMA and ACM awards in 2010.