Adele named Billboard top artist of 2012

US: Adele has been named Billboard’s top artist of 2012, while her hit record 21 was named top album of the year in the music magazine’s annual review.

The 24-year-old is the first to receive both accolades two years in a row.

Londoner Adele was also named top female artist, with hip hop star Drake named top male artist.

Former X Factor contestants One Direction rounded off a successful year of US invasion after being named top new artist and Maroon 5 were top group.

The honours for Adele come in a year which saw her win six Grammy awards and dominate the US charts.

Her second album 21 went straight to number one when it was released in March 2011 and did not leave the top 10 until the beginning of September this year. During that time, it spent 24 weeks at the top spot.

BBC NEWS