In May this year, Forbes magazine ran a story titled Hip-Hop’s Unlikely New Star: A White, Blonde, Australian Woman. 

Said woman was Sydney rap star Iggy Azalea, the 24-year-old singer who has taken the music world by storm.

· Iggy Azalea and 5SOS win big at US awards
· Year of the newcomers? The 10 best songs of 2014

On Monday, her dominance was confirmed when she won both the Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favourite Rap/Hip-Hop Album at the 2014 American Music Awards.

Alongside Azalea at the American awards show were fellow Australians from the band Five Seconds of Summer, a favourite among teens, who took out Favourite New Artist.

Azalea and the four boys from Five Seconds of Summer are all under 24 and are part of a new generation of musicians rising up the ranks.

Where do they fit into the current music class of 2014?

Iggy Azalea

Age: 24
Hometown: Mullumbimby, NSW, Australia
Album: The New Classic
Songs you need to know: Fancy (ft. Charlie XCX), Beg For It, Black Widow (ft. Rita Ora), Problem (with Ariana Grande)

While Iggy Azaela has been busy making a name for herself as a rapper in the US since she was 16, she officially burst into the collective consciousness in February this year when she released her single Fancy, which made it to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. When Ariana Grande’s smash hit Problem, which featured Azalea, was also released and made it to No.2, Azalea became the first artist since The Beatles to hold the US chart’s one and two spots. She’s also courted controversy for appearing cheek to cheek with Jennifer Lopez in the US singer’s song Booty, as well as for refusing to take any nonsense from rappers Eminem and Snoop Dog, and singer Drake, who have all had a go at her this year.

Five Seconds of Summer

Ages: Luke Hemmings is 18, guitarist Michael Clifford is 18, bassist Calum Hood is 18 and drummer Ashton Irwin is 20
Hometown: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Album: Five Seconds of Summer (EP)
Songs you need to know: She Looks So Perfect, Amnesia

Five Seconds of Summer, better known to their fans as 5SOS, found fame singing covers on YouTube before causing teen hysteria while touring with British boy band One Direction in early 2013. The international fame they received as a result of the tour, and some friendly One Direction members, saw the band sell out their first North American tour in just five minutes. On Monday, their newfound success was cemented when they beat UK singer/songwriter Sam Smith, All About That Bass singer Meghan Trainor and band Bastille for Favourite New Artist at the American Music Awards.

Troye Sivan

Age: 19
Hometown: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Album: TRXYE (EP)
Songs you need to know: Happy Little Pills, The Fault In Our Stars

An unlikely international star, like 5SOS, South African-born, Perth-raised Troye Sivan also started his career on YouTube, but the similarities stop there. Sivan is a bona fide internet sensation. As well as starring in two X-Men films, alongside Hugh Jackman, he has recently signed with EMI Australia to release a five-song EP entitled TRXYE. His YouTube channel, in which he uploads video blogs and songs, is the second most popular in Australia with 2.8 million subscribers and more than 135 million views. Watch this space.

Other kids in the class:

Sam Smith

Age: 22
Hometown: London, UK
Album: In The Lonely Hour
Songs you need to know: I’m Not The Only One, Stay With Me

Sam Smith is the breakout artist of 2014. His incredible voice has seen R&B legend Mary J. Blige compare him to soul crooner Luther Vandross and be called “far and away one of the purest and most refined in recent memory” by Time magazine’s music critic Sheldon Pearce. His debut album, In The Lonely Hour, received mixed reviews from international critics but there’s no doubting the power of his talent when you hear the ballad I’m Not The Only One.

Ariana Grande

Age: 21
Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida, US
Album: Yours Truly, My Everything
Songs you need to know: Problem (ft. Iggy Azalea), Break Free (ft. Zedd)

Winner of the 2013 Favourite New Artist at the American Music Awards, Ariana Grande’s vocal range has been compared to Mariah Carey’s, meaning it’s big. The former Nickelodeon star of Victorious released her second album this year, My Everything, and has seen the first single, Problem, with Australia’s Azalea, soar to the top of international music charts. While this young starlet might be pint-sized, she has diva tendencies to boot. A recent whistle-stop tour to promote her album in Australia saw her face a barrage of criticism for dramatic behaviour.

Meghan Trainor

Age: 20
Hometown: Nantucket, Massachusetts, US
Album: Title
Song you need to know: All About That Bass, Lips Are Movin

One of the catchiest tunes released this year, All About That Bass launched Meghan Trainor’s career to unexpected heights. The American singer, songwriter and producer started writing her own songs when she was 11 and by 2011 she had self-released two albums. All About That Bass was released in 2014 and went to No.1 on the US Billboard chart. Her second single, Lips Are Movin, from the album Title is currently No.4 on the Apple iTunes Australian chart.