MAJOR MAESTRO: Most Influential Artists/Bands of 2014

Attention!!!

Influence can be defined as the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something. In the music industry this is quite significant as the trends are determined by the musicians as well as their record labels. One hit single could spark off and lay the foundation for an entire genre of music.

2014 was indeed an interesting year as there was less controversy in the industry with Bieber and Gaga on the down low, and there were no really controversial songs as such, with the exception of Meghan Trainor's All About That Bass. Whilst the influence exerted by some artists/bands is positive, others are detrimental to those fans who are highly influenced by these artists/bands. For instance when Miley Cyrus twerks or lights a joint of weed on stage, that sets a negative standard for young girls.

However, out of all the artists and bands this year, country crossover artist Taylor Swift who entered the mainstream pop industry takes the crown as the most influential artist of 2014. She has also been shortlisted for this year's TIMES Magazine Person of the Year. #Swiftmania has affected from prepubescent teenage girls to old grandfathers who now love to Shake It Off. She has harped on and usurped her widely publicized break ups with prominent singers such as One Direction's Harry Styles and John Mayer.

The British boy band One Direction is the second most influential, as they are now considered the next best thing to enter the music industry from the United Kingdom after The Beatles and Spice Girls. Television stars who have entered the music industry are also quite influential such as Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez. However, older artists/bands such as Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and OneRepublic also still wield quite a great deal of influence. So here are the 20 Most Influential Artists/Bands of 2014: