It All Comes Down To This: Here Is Our Artist Of The Year For 2017

Each year, our writers and editors sit down, cast their memories back and think about the year that was — in music, of course. We took a vote and here's who made the cut for our Artist Of The Year.

Also topping our Album Of The Year list with DAMN. and coming in at #2 on our Song Of The Year list with HUMBLE.​, it's not that much of a surprise that Kendrick Lamar has also come out on top as Artist Of The Year.

The guy had a massive year with DAMN., winning six of the eight VMAs he was nominated for. He was also nominated for eight BET Awards, five AMA Awards, and seven Grammy nominations. He kept busy performing at Coachella and Day N Night Festival, among others, and played 36 arena shows in the US in support of DAMN..

Many refer to Lamar as the defining hip hop artist of our generation, and his ascent to the throne has been extraordinary. Lamar's debut album, Section.80, was released in only 2011, and it wasn't until 2012's Good Kid, M.A.A.D City that the industry really started taking notice.

For Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Lamar received seven Grammy nominations - second only to veteran rapper Jay Z - and for universally lauded To Pimp A Butterfly last year, he received the most nominations out of everyone at the Grammys, 11 in total, taking home five. He lost Album Of The Year to Taylor Swift's 1989, a move that was highly criticised and questioned, but it couldn't be argued that K-Dot won the night. And if DAMN. cleans up again next January at the Grammys, we certainly won't be surprised.

Following Lamar closely is Australian rocker Alex Lahey, who had an outstanding year releasing her debut album, I Love You Like A Brother, which was both a triple j Feature Album and nominated for a J Award for Album Of The Year. She made her US TV debut on Late Night With Seth Meyers, took her album on a mammoth tour of the US and Europe and got added to nearly every Australian festival there is. At #3, Gang Of Youths also had a stellar year with Go Farther In Lightness, as did Lorde - so it's fitting she tied for third (after winning in 2013) - and AB Original, who are at #5. Our top ten this year is also a 50/50 male/female split - just a bit more, actually, when you take into account that Camp Cope is triple-tied at #10 with Kirin J Callinan and sleepmakeswaves.