Music’s top 5 guys of 2014

Women may have dominated the music scene this year (click here to see the 10 women who ruled the music scene in 2014), but a few good men had their share of success, too. Here are five guys who had a pretty epic year.

Childish Gambino

What started as a cult following transformed into mass appeal this year for rapper (and “Community” actor) Childish Gambino, who got a Grammy nod for his song, “3005.”

Nick Jonas

2014 is the year Nick Jonas officially became a man – at least to the public’s eye. Unlike brother Joe Jonas (who’s solo career flopped) Nick is garnering success with his hit “Jealous,” which reached number 8 on the Billboard top 100 and generated over 14 million views on YouTube.

Pharrell

If “Happy” seems like the most played song of the year, it was: the song held the number one slot on the charts longer than any other song this year. No wonder he’s up for four Grammys.

Sam Smith

Sam Smith was another of 2014’s newly minted stars, with his heartbreaker “Stay with Me” filling the Adele-shaped hole in our hearts (for now). Just how successful is he? He popped up in pictures from Taylor Swift’s 25th birthday party alongside Jay Z, Beyonce, and the rest of Swift’s famous posse.

Ed Sheeran

The British crooner can do no wrong these days. 2014 saw him release both “Sing” and “Thinking Out Loud,” as well as contribute to the “Fault in Our Stars” soundtrack and win an MTV Video Music Award for the video for “Sing.”