Thanks to brand new songs by pop's shining lights, including Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Nine Inch Nails, this midsummer week unexpectedly became the beginning of a new hit cycle.

Three black musicians 鈥� a punk bassist, an L.A. rapper and a part-time guitarist 鈥� took on a name with ugly associations to make music that can't be categorized.

The range in the Best New Artist category dissolves the idea that mainstream music sounds the same.

How much money did Katy Perry's label make last year? We did the math.