10. Metric
Emily Haines and Metric have been adored by Canadian fans for years. After they recorded a song for ECLIPSE, new fans worldwide began paying attention to the Toronto rock group.
9. Taio Cruz
This London artist has written songs for the likes of Usher and Britney Spears, but this year was all about his music. Taio’s single “Dynamite” is simply explosive (pun intended).
8. Marianas Trench
They hail from Vancouver, but their fan base stretches from coast to coast. Their sophomore release included the stuck-in-our-heads singles “Beside You” and “Celebrity Status.”
7. Selena Gomez
Just call her the Scene Stealer. Selena was a TV star turned movie star, and now she’s an artist who has a hit-making sophomore album under her belt with her band, The Scene.
6. Arcade Fire
International praise and numbers don’t lie: ‘The Suburbs’ gripped the top spot on the Billboard albums chart, securing the band’s name on our list, too.
5. Katy Perry
Proving that she’s more than a one-hit wonder, this “California Gurl” turned her single into this year’s summer anthem and proceeded to invade our speakers with her infectious hits.
4. Taylor Swift
She made a splash in VALENTINE’S DAY, but with the sale of over 1 million copies of ‘Speak Now’ in its first week, Taylor’s message was crystal clear: she’s here to stay.
3. Drake
Would he be a victim of the hype machine? Fear not, because this Canadian performer used his monster debut record to confirm that he was more than worth the wait.
2. Lady Gaga
On or off stage, Gaga always puts on a show. Can you really think of any other artist whose persona and outrageous style have made her an international icon?
1. Justin Bieber
Love him or loathe him, there’s no denying The Bieber phenomenon. He came from YouTube obscurity, dominated airwaves with his first album, wrote a book and signed a movie deal, leaving his unmistakable mark on 2010.