One Direction named music's most powerful minors

The Little Things hitmakers topped Billboard.com's 2013 edition of 21 Under 21 - beating Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber - to be recognised for their achievements in the music industry over the last 12 months.

The hunky boy band - made up of Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Liam Payne - have become the only British group in history to have their first two albums, Take Me Home and Up All Night, debut at Number One on the US Billboard 200 chart.

In the last year, the Best Song Ever singers have topped the charts in 35 countries with Up All Night and even found success in cinemas with their 3D concert movie 'One Direction: This Is Us' which grossed an estimated $58m worldwide in its opening week.

The five-piece stole the top spot from Justin, who dropped to Number Two in the rankings, despite becoming the first artist in history to score five Number One albums in the US before the age of 19.

Miley - who has dominated the press recently after her controversial performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last month - came in third on the list after her latest single Wrecking Ball, which sees the star licking a sledge hammer and swinging around completely naked - stormed into Number One on the Hot 100 charts as well as breaking Vevo's record for the most-viewed clip in 24 hours.

Billboard Magazine's 21 under 21, 2013:

1. One Direction
2. Justin Bieber
3. Miley Cyrus
4. Ariana Grande
5. Earl Sweatshirt
6. Lorde
7. Austin Mahone
8. Scotty McCreery
9. Cody Simpson
10. Emblem3
11. Cher Lloyd
12. Chief Keef
13. Bridgit Mendler
14. Miguelito
15. Joey Bada$$
16. Tori Kelly
17. Martin Garrix
18. Mindless Behavior
19. Matty B.
20. Lee Hi
21. Fifth Harmony