Today, Music Week celebrates all that is brilliant about emerging artists, as Grace Carter and Freya Ridings star on the cover of our new music issue.
Pick up the magazine, out now, to find out who else we’re tipping for big things this year.
Alongside our selection of new talent – which stretches from Amyl And The Sniffers to Mahalia, Loski to Madsion Beer – we’ve quizzed a host of top names from across the industry to find out who they believe will be the new stars of 2019.
We’ll be running the industry’s tips online throughout the week, read on for the first wave…
Clara Amfo, presenter BBC Radio 1
“Joy Crookes. I've always been a sucker for a very honest, soulful British voice and I just think she's really cool. There's also this band that I really like, they're a duo called St Beauty on Janelle Monae's Wondaland label.”
Alex Boateng, president of urban, Island Records
“Miraa May. Music is sick of course, but she'll be an important voice for this generation.”
Ted Cockle, president, Virgin EMI
“SG Lewis. Not super new, but about to make some serious strides forward in 2019. Rooted in the dance floor, but cleverly bringing in so many other elements. Major personality led dance music.”
Negla Abdela, head of digital marketing, Ministry Of Sound Recordings
“Hamzaa – she’s a genuine talent and I think will be the next UK artist to break globally.”
Katie White, GM, Atlantic
“Maisie Peters, who writes phenomenal lyrics and has an amazing connection with her fans. Maisie gets young people excited about being young!”
Richard Davies, founder, Twickets
"Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, leading a new charge of Aussie acts."
Dan Ealam, director of live, DHP Family
"I’m really excited about Easy Life, a new band from Leicester. Like no else they mix hip hop, jazz and indie in the best way possible and they are an amazing live act who I know will go on to do great things."
Megan Page (co-oordinator, Record Store Day UK & National Album Day/Entertainment Retailers Association)
"Jade Bird. She has a unique, confident sound for such a young artist that I really admire. I like the Americana/ folk influences and am looking forward to seeing what’s in store for her next year.”
Sulinna Ong (global VP of artist marketing, Deezer)
I think Lewis Capaldi is set for a big year in 2019. He’s been on our Deezer Next UK 2018 list and we’ve seen ‘Someone You Loved’ just grow and grow in our playlists. Lewis is also incredibly funny, with a real sense of self and identity that comes across in everything he does; in his music, interactions with fans on social media as well as his live performances."
Louis Bloom, president, Island Records UK
“Dermot Kennedy. An exceptional, unique artist who is building a large and legitimate fanbase. Very special things to come from him in 2019!”
George Ergatoudis, head of Apple Music UK
“Maisie Peters. She’s an incredible songwriter and a gifted lyricist and still so young. I look forward to watching her story grow in 2019.”
Paul Firth, Director Amazon Music UK
“Grace Carter has great musical talent. She is a singer that I’m a fan of personally, as well as being an act that Amazon Music as a streaming service have championed this year.”
Emma Bownes, VP of programming, AEG Europe
"The Murder Capital and King Princess."
Vanessa Reed, CEO, PRS Foundation
“Flohio. I love her fast pace, experimental beats, powerful stories and the fact that she defines her MC status on her own terms.”
Jo Whiley, presenter, BBC Radio 2
“Sam Fender and Jade Bird – they played the BBC Introducing Stage for us at SXSW last year. They’ve both been around a little while but getting them into everyone’s consciousness is important. I’d also put money on Grace Carter coming through with something great this year.”
Mike Smith, MD, Warner/Chappell Music UK
“Au/Ra and Celeste. Two incredible and unique new voices to have emerged this year, both passionate and original songwriters and both filled with ambition and righteousness.”
Guy Moot, managing director, UK and president, worldwide creative, Sony/ATV Music Publishing
“Octavian and Rosalía. Octavian is a true artist who can take elements of grime and UK urban music but he is more international, with a unique style and flow. Rosalia is steeped in culture but with a modern twist and incredible vocals and video.”
Glyn Aikins, co-president, Since ’93
“Fredo. One of the most exciting new rap artists for years to come from the UK. His Tables Turn mixtape was the fourth biggest debut release of 2018. With an album set for February, there are only exciting times ahead for Fredo.”
Jo Charrington, co-president, Capitol Records UK
“Mae Muller. We sign very little so when we do, the artist has to be super special. Mae has a strong identity, brilliant voice and lyrics that are as unique as she is. Artists like Mae are why I love what I do.”
Rebecca Allen, president, Decca Records
“There are so many young artists to feel excited about across our roster and our affiliate labels. JS Ondara is an incredible Kenyan-born artist signed to Verve. His voice is sublime, a rarity! Jacob Collier, a disrupter, a musical genius, a visionary signed as a JV with Decca and Geffen. Then there is Jess Gilliam, a young classical saxophonist breaking down barriers and an exciting Norwegian jazz/soul collective called Fieh.”
