Top 10 Recording Artists Who Started on YouTube
Remember when music was all about getting record contracts? Well, it still is, but not in the same way as before. These days, anyone with a webcam and a little bit of skill can create their own YouTube channel, allowing the public to decide directly who is worthy of attention and who isn't.This public attention, in turn, attracts record executives who still have the money and power to turn internet stars into international sensations. Here are ten artists who got their start with YouTube videos.
Jacqueline Marie "Jackie" Evancho is an American classical crossover singer who gained wide recognition at an early age. Since 2009, she has issued an EP and eight albums, including a platinum and gold album, and three Billboard 200 top 10 debuts. Evancho's latest album, The Debut, was her eighth consecutive... read more Jackie started out at age 8 with her own channel called "Just a Little Girl on YouTube." Because of that channel, she was voted onto the "America's Got Talent" special YouTube show, where she stunned all of America.
She subsequently broke Michael Jackson's record as the youngest artist in US chart history to have a top 2 and Platinum CD. To date, she has three Top 10 CDs and has had her own PBS "Great Performances" TV special twice.
YouTube videos of Jackie have proliferated continuously since she first won the YouTube competition on AGT four years ago. Definitely a YouTube star, she shines more brightly with each passing day.
Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada, and is Christian. He is the son of Pattie Mallette, an author... read more
Megan Nicole Flores, known professionally as Megan Nicole, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and model. She gained popularity in 2009 by posting cover songs on YouTube, which led to a recording contract and original music releases. Nicole has since released singles, performed live, and acted... read more "Summer Forever" was my go-to song last summer. I think Megan Nicole is the best thing I have heard in music since Taylor Swift.
She's a gem in our music industry. She has a lovely personality and is entirely perfect.
She is so talented and awesome!
Jake Zyrus, born Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco, is a Filipino singer who gained international attention through YouTube. He was previously known by the mononym Charice before coming out as a transgender man. Zyrus has appeared on international television programs and released several albums. Philippine singer Charice Pempengco had some minor success as a child singer, but that exploded into international success when Ellen DeGeneres discovered her YouTube channel and featured her on the Ellen show. That exposure led to a recording career for Pempengco, as well as a gig judging other hopefuls on the Philippine version of the show X-Factor.
Pyramid, argh, I love that song! You must hear her voice on A Whole New World!
Greyson Michael Chance is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He gained national attention in April 2010 when his performance of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" at a sixth-grade music festival went viral on YouTube. The video quickly gained millions of views... read more Part Justin Bieber and part Lady Gaga, Greyson Chance is at the forefront of the next generation of YouTube sensations who have been turned into pop stars. Ryan Seacrest featured Chance's video on his website, and on the strength of the video's popularity, he got a record contract with Eleveneleven.
Greyson Chance is the most amazing artist ever. He takes his music to a whole new level. With his passion and dedication, he'll be able to do anything and expand his fandom even more.
Christina Victoria Grimmie (March 12, 1994 - June 10, 2016), known on YouTube as zeldaxlove64, was an American singer-songwriter. She rose to prominence by posting covers of popular songs and gained wider recognition as a finalist on season 6 of The Voice in 2014... read more Finalist on The Voice, two EP albums, signed to Island Records, etc.
This girl was doing R&B karaoke on her YouTube channel when Justin Timberlake noticed her. Now, she has released her own album on his label and has also toured with some big names like Enrique Iglesias.
DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990), known professionally as Soulja Boy Tell 'Em or simply Soulja Boy, is an American rapper and record producer. In September 2007, his debut single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" peaked at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for seven non-consecutive weeks. The single... read more Soulja Boy's music is even older than YouTube, tracing his internet music roots back to MySpace. He was one of the early YouTube success stories, and his first single was a worldwide hit.
Dondria is a YouTube veteran, starting her channel way back in 2006. Initially, she was not looking for a recording contract, just some feedback on her voice, but the feedback was so good that she ended up with a record contract on the So So Def label.
The Newcomers
Lucas Alan Cruikshank is an American actor and YouTube personality. He created the character Fred Figglehorn and launched the Fred series on YouTube in late 2005. The series centers around Fred, a hyperactive six-year-old boy with a dysfunctional home life and frequent emotional outbursts, which became... read more
Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist. He gained recognition in 2015 with his debut single White Iverson. Since then, he has released multiple chart-topping albums and won several music... read more
Lindsey Stirling is an American violinist, dancer, performance artist, and composer. She presents choreographed violin performances both live and in music videos on her self-titled YouTube channel, which she launched in 2007. Stirling is known for blending classical violin with electronic dance music... read more Best violinist ever! Mixing a classical instrument with electronic music is absolutely amazing. She is constantly releasing new songs and has done a number of pieces of work, including stuff for video games, other musicians, and more. Definitely the best musician out there by far!
5 Seconds of Summer are an Australian pop-rock band from Sydney, Australia, that formed in 2011. The group were originally YouTube celebrities, posting videos of themselves covering songs from various artists during 2011 and early 2012. They rose to international fame while touring with One Direction... read more They should definitely be number one because they started off on YouTube when they were 14 or 15. Who even is Megan Nicole?
They are amazing, play instruments, write their own songs, and went on tour with 1D. They deserve to be number one.
They're my favorite band. They've brought me joy for a long time now. Incredible band with true talent.
Even if you think most YouTube sensations are based on hype, you can't deny that guitarist Andy McKee has some serious talent. He's now on tour and has released a new album.
The girl with an unusual name and an even more unusual voice, Ysabella Brave now has a contract with the Cordless label, after her unique YouTube performances helped gain her some much-deserved attention from viewers.
Opening for Ben Folds is probably a common dream for most aspiring independent artists, and Julia Nunes has done just that. She has also released three albums on her own, comprising both original songs and some well-chosen covers.
Matthew David Morris, born on January 6, 2003, is better known by his stage names MattyB or MattyBRaps. He is an American singer, rapper, and dancer who rose to fame by posting remix videos of popular songs on YouTube. His early online success helped launch a broader entertainment career.He speaks the truth and is one of the fastest rappers to date.
Rebbeca Marie Gomez (born March 2, 1997), known professionally as Becky G, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress. Born in Inglewood, California, to Mexican-American parents, she rose to fame starting in 2011 through YouTube covers. She signed with Kemosabe and RCA Records shortly... read more This girl owns what she's got! She's totally NBT material. Sure, some of her cover videos were made with the help of 'JAM,' but this girl brings it to a whole new level.
To have worked through a financial crisis that led to her family moving into her grandparents' garage, to musical collaborations with J-Lo and will.i.am - this singer, rapper, and songwriter may not be really famous now, but trust me, she's going places.
Most YouTube stars get famous because they tried to, but in Chantelle Redman's case, she wasn't even aware she was being filmed. Her dad secretly recorded one of her karaoke performances and uploaded it to YouTube, which eventually landed her a record contract and tens of thousands of subscribers.
Austin Carter Mahone is an American singer and songwriter. He gained fame on YouTube in 2010 and has since released EPs and singles. As of July 2025, he's an independent artist following his previous association with Interscope Records and is no longer signed to Young Money, Cash Money, or Republic... read more