Reactions shared to BBC Sound of 2025 list: “Every name is good” but “a kick in the teeth to any genuinely new act”

21 November, 2024

BBC Radio One have released the Sound Of 2025 list. Credit: BBC/Press

Artists and music fans have been posting their reactions to the newly shared longlist of artists selected for the BBC Sound of 2025.

The 11 artists in the running for the title were shared earlier this morning (November 21), and chosen by a panel of industry experts and artists that included Elton John, Dua Lipa, Jorja Smith, The Blessed Madonna and Sam Smith.

The Sound Of list comes yearly, and sees the BBC rundown the rising artists they believe have “the best chance of mainstream success” in the year ahead.

Among the artists named for next year are pop pioneer Chappell Roan, who has been enjoying huge global success following the release of her 2023 debut ‘The Rise And Fall of a Midwest Princess‘ – an album that hit Number One back in August and has seen her attract millions of streams and rise to the rank of festival headliner.

Chappell Roan (Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage)
Chappell Roan (Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage)

The inclusion of Chappell Roan on the list comes as new rules have been implemented for 2025. Previously, an artist would not be eligible if they had been the lead on a UK Number One or Number Two album by the cut-off point. However, this year that rule has changed so that an artist “cannot have had more than two Top 10 albums in the UK Official Albums Chart” by 30 September 2024.

Other rules include that an artist cannot have had two Top 10 singles in the UK Official Singles Chart by September 30, 2024, and that “they also must not already be widely known by the UK general public or have appeared on the Sound Of list before.”

Asked about the change to the rules, a BBC Radio 1 spokesperson told NME: “The Sound Of list has a strong track record of predicting future superstars and we periodically review the criteria to better reflect how audiences consume music.”

Elsewhere in the list are Mercury Prize winners English Teacher and Ezra Collective (who recently headlined Wembley Arena), as well as Irish-language rap trio Kneecap. The latter are currently embarking on a sold-out UK tour in support of album ‘Fine Art‘, and tipped to be nominated for an Oscar next year for their self-titled 2024 biopic.

Others listed include Australian dance-pop duo, Confidence Man (now on their third album), US singer-songwriter and recent SNL guest Mk.gee, NME 100 2023 alumni Doechii, and next year’s All Points East festival headliner Barry Can’t Swim.

Newer longlisted names include TikTok success story Good Neighbours, Luton singer-songwriter and BBC Introducing Artist Of The Year winner Myles Smith, and Croydon drill star Pozer (the first UK rapper in history to have their two debut singles chart in Top 40).

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.”

“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.

They also added: “It’s a MASSIVE kick in the teeth to any genuinely new act. It’s almost like you’re expecting them now to go through all these additional hoops to be recognised by ‘the best in new music’.”

One of NME‘s Instagram followers wrote: “Although every name on the list are really good I believe Sound Of was always good place for newer more emerging sounds, not tops of the UK’s music list. Kneecap or English Teacher should win!”

Another added: “Some great acts this year. But if you’ve seen Ezra Collective live, you’ll know they are the only act that can win this. No question.”

Find more responses below.

 

A countdown of the top five from the list will commence across Radio 1 on January 6, before the winner is revealed on January 10.

Last year’s winner was The Last Dinner Party, with the list having previously championed the likes of FLO, Celeste, Stormzy, PinkPantheress, Adele, Lady Gaga, RAYE, The Weeknd, Blossoms, Sigrid, Billie Eilish, HAIM, 50 Cent and Lewis Capaldi.

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