Jackie Evancho, 11, has sold more than 1.5 million copies of her Christmas EP and debut album and has another Christmas project on the way; Willow Smith had grown people dancing in the clubs with her song “Whip My Hair’’; and even 14-year-old Rebecca Black had a viral hit with her song and music video “Friday.’’
Taylor Swift was only 16 when she released her 2006 self-titled, now multiplatinum debut.
Here’s a look at three emerging acts poised to follow in Bieber and Swift’s footsteps.
CODY SIMPSON, 14: Simpson was already a star on the rise, but the addition of Bieber’s manager makes his ascension seem guaranteed.
“I’m really excited that we have someone with so much influence, and he definitely, really believes in me,’’ Simpson said of manager Scooter Braun.
Simpson released his first EP last December and dropped another last month.
“When I put out a full-length album, I want to it to be like, ‘Bam!’ ’’ he said.
MINDLESS BEHAVIOR (Prodigy, Princeton, Ray Ray, Roc Royal), 14: For Mindless Behavior member Princeton, being in a boy band is more than just a career opportunity.
“It’s really cool to me because growing up as a child, my mom didn’t have any other kids, so being in this group, it’s like I have three brothers,’’ he said.
Prodigy, Ray Ray, and Roc Royal round out the Los Angeles-based quartet. Roc Royal says the boys have been influenced by the Jackson 5, New Edition, and B2K.
“Most of our songs talk about girls, and everyone can relate to our songs,’’ Roc Royal said.
DIONNE BROMFIELD, 15: What Dionne Bromfield learned from her godmother - the late Amy Winehouse - was to write her own songs. But Bromfield was only 12 when she started to work on her first album.
“There would have been nothing to write about apart from getting on the bus and going to school,’’ she said, adding with a laugh: “Pretty boring.’’
Her 2009 debut, “Introducing Dionne Bromfield,’’ was full of Motown covers like “Mama Said’’ and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.’’ Now Bromfield has released an album full of songs she mostly co-wrote. She described the recording of “Good for the Soul,’’ done during after-school sessions, as “intense.’’
