Justin Bieber tops Billboard’s list of young artists

For the second year in a row, Justin Bieber has topped Billboard's list of music's top 21 artists under 21 years of age.

The magazine's list was based on its entertainers' "potential to rule the pop culture zeitgeist" over the next year.

The 18-year-old from Stratford, Ont., narrowly edged out the suddenly ubiquitous youngsters of the British boy band One Direction to reclaim his hold on the annual list.

Explaining the choice, Billboard praised Bieber's "adorable, now-legal good looks" and called the singer a "supernova of teen pop stars."

Rounding out the top 5 were X Factor judge Demi Lovato, American Idol champ Scotty McCreery and Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller.

Bieber's long-time girlfriend Selena Gomez — who just whisked through the Toronto International Film Festival promoting three films including Spring Breakers and Hotel Transylvania — fell to sixth after placing third last year.