FEATURE:
Stargazing
IN THIS PHOTO: Ezra Collective
Does the BBC Sound Of Give Enough Spotlight to Newer Artists?
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IT is exciting…
IN THIS PHOTO: Chappell Roan
at this time of year, as we get the shortlists and longlist of artists tipped for success the following year. Most music websites and magazines project their forecast. They compile lists of artists who they deem worthy of following. There are bigger and established acts, though you get a good amount of upcoming artists. The BBC Sound Of 2025 has been announced. There has been a division of opinions when it comes to the names announced. I know it only one poll and list, though it is telling that a lot of their artists are more established rather than new. Although the BBC Sound Of poll is not exclusively for new artists, it should clear more way for fresh blood. One might argue that ‘sound of’ is not exclusive. It is an artist who is going to define the year ahead. There does need to be a division between artists making big strides and those newer artists who are worth seeking out. It seems this year’s list of contenders is not as fresh and unknown as previous years. Though, if you look back through previous years, you have to ask whether the BBC should be doing more for newer acts:
“BBC Radio 1's Sound of 2025 longlist has been announced, with breakout stars like Chappell Roan and Barry Can't Swim joined by newcomers including Myles Smith and Good Neighbours.
The award is given to rising artists with "the best chance of mainstream success" in the next 12 months. Past winners include Adele, Sam Smith, Michael Kiwanuka, PinkPantheress and Haim.
Last year's winners, The Last Dinner Party, went on to score a number one album and a Mercury Prize nomination for their debut release, Prelude To Ecstasy.
This year's longlist also includes indie band English Teacher and Northern Irish rap act Kneecap. The winner will be announced on BBC Radio 1 and BBC News in January.
The 11 acts in the running are:
Barry Can’t Swim
Chappell Roan
Confidence Man
Doechii
English Teacher
Ezra Collective
Good Neighbours
KNEECAP
mk.gee
Myles Smith
Pozer
The nominees were chosen by a panel of more than 180 music industry experts and artists including representatives from Spotify, the Glastonbury Festival and the BBC; as well as musicians such as Sir Elton John, Dua Lipa, Jorja Smith, The Blessed Madonna and Sam Smith.
US pop star Chapell Roan is the clear frontrunner, after an electrifying year that saw her go from Olivia Rodrigo's backing vocalist to breakout pop star.
Rejecting the trend for whispery bedroom pop, her songs are full of cheerleader chants and exuberant hooks that document her coming of age and the discovery of her sexuality.
Last week, she was nominated for six Grammy Awards, including best new artist and album of the year, for her debut The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess.
Also hotly-tipped are London jazz ensemble Ezra Collective, who won the Mercury Prize in 2023 for their soulful and ebullient album Where I'm Meant To Be”.
It is a shame that there were not one or two more spaces for acts that have perhaps had less exposure as larger artists such as Confidence Man, Ezra Collective or Barry Can’t Swim. I would have thought there would be one or two more women in the shortlist. One can certainly see why Chappell Roan was longlisted. She is one of the biggest artist in the world at the moment and she is creating a lot of conversation. You would put good money on her winning easily. I wonder about some other choices. English Teacher are a smart choice and should take one of the top three placings. It is hard selecting artists that make the longlist. There is so much debating and discussion. It is a tough choice as you are going to exclude some many people and can never please everyone! Although there is some vital new energy and some lesser-known artists in the running, I do worry that the top three will be filled out by artists who have already been around for a while and are perhaps not going to ‘define’ next year. I did think that a group like FLO might make the cut. There are many artists I could add to the mix, but you have to respect it is impossible to really get a true impression of artists who will define 2025 when you only have eleven spots. However, there has been some consternation and backlash against the longlist. How there are popular artists taking up space that could be reserved for newer artists who are going to break through next year.
In their article from yesterday (20th November), CLASH highlighted how bizarre the eleven names are. A random list with only three names that could be seen as new. They ask what is the purpose and point of the BBC Sound Of longlist each year when they are not interested in representing and highlighting newer artists. Established and already-popular artists do not really need to be on a list like this. It creates this monopoly that needs to be addressed:
“Ezra Collective are on there – a Mercury-winning jazz group who CLASH have supported for almost a decade across three studio albums. Having sold out London’s OVO Wembley Arena a matter of days ago, do they truly need that spot? Barry Can’t Swim is on there. Nominated for the Mercury, the SAY Award, and a BRIT, he caused a road-block at Glastonbury and sold out O2 Academy Brixton three times over without breaking a sweat. By what metric is he ‘new’
Then there’s mk.gee, who has been making music for a decade; English Teacher, who won the Mercury live on BBC 6Music a few weeks back. Confidence Man, who are now building their fourth studio album, and Chappell Roan – who is already a globally recognised icon, a figure re-shaping culture.
It’s a truly bizarre list. Indeed, the only artists who might genuinely be considered ‘new’ or ‘emerging’ are UK rap trailblazer Pozer, Myles Smith, and viral pop duo Good Neighbours. That’s essentially three names, from 11.
That isn’t to say the music picked is bad, per se. CLASH have supported each and every artist on this year’s Sound Of 2025 list – from gaelic rap vagabonds Kneecap through to Stateside queen Doechii. It’s more than the long-list placed the platform as a whole into sharp context – what is the Sound Of poll even for, anyway?
The reactions online have been equally strong. “Did you publish last year’s list by mistake?” asked one wag on social media. Terry Charleton said “this is a joke” while another user summed it up: “It was always supposed to be about championing new acts who hadn’t had a breakthrough yet… instead we’ve got festival headliners and multiple Mercury Prize winners. What a joke!
Ultimately, CLASH fully understands that predicting the year in music is a fool’s errand – critics are waiting with the same barbs year-on-year. It’s just that this list makes no sense at all – it doesn’t serve anyone, least of all emerging artist. Furthermore, it has to be seen against a broader context – less and less music is coming through. If we look at the BBC, the shrinking of their Introducing strand means its undeniably effective (and often inspiring) new music champions are hamstrung. DJ, label owner, and conversation starter Elijah has also pointed out the flaws in 1Xtra’s programming, with the drive-time schedule more interested in revisiting Lil Wayne & Chris Brown hits than championing homegrown talent.
There is a chokehold on new music in this country – the BBC Sound Of poll feels broken”.
I will round up very soon. Before that, NME also published a feature that collated some fan response to the latest BBC Sound Of list. Perhaps the most divisive in many years. It is clear that next year’s list needs to redress big issues this year. We do not need award-winning artists to be so heavily represented. If the BBC are keen to foster new artists who could make waves through the coming year then they need to stop being lazy and make easy picks of big artists who are obvious going to be successful next year – as they are already successful! It is quite worrying:
“Following the announcement, fans have been taking to social media to weigh in on the list – with many arguing that while the artists are all of a high calibre, a number of them have already experienced significant success, and that they hoped to see newer names highlighted.
“’The Sound Of list has a strong track record of predicting future superstars..’ by picking acts that have – checks notes – had films out at the cinema, headlined Wembley Arena, been nominated for numerous Grammys, won the Mercury Prize,” wrote Benefits on X/Twitter. Another agreed in the comment section, writing: “Does that mean that headlining Wembley is now just a stepping stone on the path to fame and glory? I always assumed it was headlining the Dover Castle in Camden.”
“Every single artist on the BBC Sound of 2025 list is already doing pretty well. This is their most lazy list yet,” a third shared, while another added: “Sad to see the Radio 1’s full Sound of 2025 longlist. It used to champion new acts & at least half of these are well established.
"The Sound Of list has a strong track record of predicting future superstars..” by picking acts that have – checks notes – had films out at the cinema, headlined Wembley Arena, been nominated for numerous Grammys, won the Mercury Prize.
“I thought the inclusion of Peggy Gou on last year’s list was a bit embarrassing, but sheesh the Sound of 2025 list is utterly insulting to any genuinely new act who HASN’T won a Mercury or spent four months at Number Two. It’s sending out a really shitty message too,” someone else wrote”.
It is sad that a longlist that should be all about including exciting new acts has been attacked because it is tired and seemingly interested mostly in big artists. The random mixing of artists. There does not seem to be as much thought and logic from this year’s longlist as there should be. You know Chappell Roan will win. Even if English Teacher win, they have a Mercury Prize, so there seems to be this entry requirement that you need to have won an award or be established to win! The few new acts on the longlist will be out of the medal places. It is clear that the BBC need to do better…
IN 2025.