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Sam Smith performs in concert during the Q102 Jingle Ball at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014, in Philadelphia. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP) Image Credit: Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP

This year’s breakthrough new singer, Sam Smith, went from an artist to watch to MTV’s best artist of 2014 and beat out megastars like Beyonce and Taylor Swift.

The 22-year-old Smith performed his soulful song, Stay With Me, at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards from his debut album, In the Lonely Hour.

But Smith could not beat Iggy Azalea’s catchy hit song Fancy, which topped the list for MTV’s best songs of 2014 and whose video was nominated for four awards at the VMAs. MTV’s best movie of 2014 was The Lego Movie, a kid flick featuring the voices of Chris Pratt, Will Arnett and Elizabeth Banks.

The lists are selected by MTV executives based on influence and pop culture impact.