"We’re taking bold swings on artists that are the next superstars in the making," says the label's senior vp of A&R Julian Swirsky.
At the event, held at L.A.'s Millennium Biltmore Hotel, entertainment professionals also explored the business of diversity and innovation in marketing in a series of conversations.
The company, which works with artists including Machine Gun Kelly and Avril Lavigne, will build out its country presence in Music City.
Analytics can predict hit singles, but skeptics say it’s far less effective at identifying enduring artists.
The accelerator program will spotlight six to 12 artists over the next year via focused programming on SiriusXM and Pandora stations and playlists.
While hip-hop/R&B remains the industry's best-performing genre, its growth is slowing and execs are concerned excitement is stagnating.
Execs say that a deluge of new music — and the difficulty of influencing TikTok's algorithm — has made building an audience harder than ever for new acts.