Meteoric rises in popular music are nothing new, but the speed of some ascents in 2019 would leave even Usain Bolt trailing in their wake.

Scottish phenomenon Lewis Capaldi provides a textbook example: the singer sold out a handful of 2020 UK arena dates in the spring before releasing his debut album and is already a household name. Elsewhere, another new sensation, Billie Eilish, attracted one of the biggest crowds in Reading Festival history and is being tipped as a ...