A 17-year-old rookie K-pop singer has been chosen by Billboard as one of the hottest young singers this year.
Billboard has released its annual 21 Under 21 list, which ranks music’s most powerful minors.
One of these talents is none other than Lee Hi, an artist under YG Entertainment. Lee Hi’s entry into the entertainment scene was through the first season of the SBS talent search show K-pop Star, which ran from December 2011 to April 2012.
Topping this year’s list is boy band One Direction, followed by Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Earl Sweatshirt, Lorde, Austin Mahone, Scotty McCreery, Cody Simpson, Cher Lloyd, Chief Keef, Miguelito, Joey Bada$$, Tori Kelly, Martin Garrix, Mindless Behavior, Matty B, Lee Hi and Fifth Harmony.
Billboard added, “They’ve got hit records, millions of fans, and the kind of success most musicians only dream of – and they can’t even legally uncork a bottle of champagne to celebrate their success.”
Lee Hi finished runner-up to Park Ji Min in the K-pop Star show and was signed by YG Entertainment.
She was supposed to be in the K-pop group Su Pearls but when she became successful as a solo artist, YG Entertainment decided not to launch the girl band.
