Each year the BBC do their 'Sound of' poll where they ask numerous music bloggers, journalists and more who they think will be the upcoming stars of 2017, and you can find their 2017 longlist online. Each year we also do a similar thing and reveal our top fifteen tips for the top. We really shoot blindly with this list as we are just one magazine with our own thoughts but even if these artists don't chart next year at least you will have discovered fifteen new brilliant acts to enjoy. Betsy https://www.facebook.com/betsymusic/
This Welsh artist has a very distinctive voice, a bit like a more operatic Cher. Her single 'Wanted More' got played on BBC Radio 2 so expect to hear more from her in 2017. Everywhere https://www.facebook.com/everywheretheband/
With new single 'Heroine' on promotion now, it was their breakthrough song 'Some Other Dude' that first grabbed our attention in 2016. Poppy, catchy and very radio friendly, both songs have been great and this band from London deserve bigger exposure in 2017. Florrie https://www.facebook.com/florrie.music/
Florrie last released a single about nine months ago ("Real Love", above) which was played on mainstream radio following a couple of years releasing EPs of very high quality. She's disappeared a little from social media recently but there are few others on this list that deserve big success based on her ability to write a great pop tune. Glass Animals https://www.facebook.com/glassanimals/
Based in Oxford, Glass Animals released the incredible 'Life Itself' back in June as well as a follow-up single and album. You'll be hard pressed to find a catchier indie-pop song from 2016 with such a bouncy chorus. Hannah Trigwell https://www.facebook.com/hannahtrigwellmusic/
Regularly broadcasting live performances to her increasing number of social media follows, Yorkshire-based Hannah Trigwell has a great clutch of her own songs and a voice that can tackle lots of covers. Throw in a very strong promotional strategy from the singer and 2017 should be huge for her. Janet Devlin https://www.facebook.com/thejanetdevlin
Ranking highly back in 2011's X-Factor competition since then young singer-songwriter Janet Devlin has built up a fanbase through her distinctive covers of songs from all ages. Recently she released her original tune 'Outernet Song' which is one of the catchiest pop songs of the year, plus a beautiful EP of original Christmas songs and chosen covers. A unique voice and a keen ear for her fans, Janet Devlin deserves a big 2017. Jazz Mino https://www.facebook.com/JazzMinoUK
A dedicated performer live both in traditional venues and on the busking circuit 2016 saw Jazz Mino release a succession of great singles such as 'Superwoman', 'Suffocate' and 'Hurt' and if the quality of these records continues into an album we're sure the bright-haired singer from London will score highly. Kerri Watt https://www.facebook.com/KerriWattMusic
Recently touring to much acclaim, Kerri Watt has had success with her songs on national radio and it's difficult not to be impressed by her continuously quality singles. A great voice, strong songs and a fun live act, we'd love to hear more releases from Watt in 2017. Lady Lykez https://www.facebook.com/LadyLykezArtist/
It's impossible to ignore the rise of urban and grime music and one of my favourites is the slightly more tongue-in-cheek Lady Lykez, who is great musically whilst also doing something more interesting than falling back on the tired tropes wheeled out from some other artists in the field. MIAMIGO https://www.facebook.com/miamigomusic/
Catchy dance tracks are the order of the day from MIAMIGO as showcased on the track above. A great duo, we look forward to more from them. Ms. Henrik https://www.facebook.com/MsHenrik/
Hailing from Sweden we had the pleasure of listening to their full album and it's choc-full of radio-friendly pop tracks. Quirky, poppy, electronic, the music is great and should burst through in 2017. Rat Boy https://www.facebook.com/RatBoyRatBoy/
Rat Boy may not have quite hit the heights of breakthrough Beastie Boys-esque single 'Move' but an energetic Glastonbury performance and several singles throughout 2016 suggest big things are just around the corner. The Strumbellas https://www.facebook.com/thestrumbellas/
Based in Toronto, breakthrough single 'Spirits' is one of the catchiest songs of 2016 so far, taken from an album. Hopefully 2017 will be big for them on this side of the pond. Throttle https://www.facebook.com/throttleofficial/
Young producer Throttle teemed up with Lunchmoney Lewis and Aston Merryhold on this cheeky, funky, seventies throwback. If there's more where this came from then send it our way!
As we are now well past the half-way point of the year, here is our current countdown of the best 50 songs of the year so far, as chosen by KBPS!
50Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better (3rd June) 49The Allergies feat. Andy Cooper - Rock Rock (25th March) 48Jamie Lynn Spears - Sleepover (24th June) 47Lola Coca - GQ (22nd April) 46April Towers - Silent Fever (8th April) 45Louise Aubrie - Winter Delour (21st January) 44Skyler feat. Snoop Dogg - Fire (29th January) 43Sia feat. Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills (11th February) 42Richard Ashcroft - This Is How It Feels (1st March) 41Coldplay - Up&Up (16th May)
40Frances - Say It Again (30th June) 39Justin Timberlake - Can’t Stop the Feeling (6th May) 38Pink - Just Like Fire (16th April) 37twenty one pilots: Heathens (21st June) 36Taylor Swift - Out Of The Woods (12th January) 35Josef Salvat - Paradise (8th January) 34Rick Astley - Angels On My Side (9th June) 33Busted - Coming Home (3rd May) 32Holly Johnson - Ascension (18th March) 31Hannah Trigwell - Another Beautiful Mistake (15th April)
30Dagny - Backbeat (6th May) 29Will Joseph Cook - Girls Like Me (12th February) 28Walk the Moon - Work This Body (12th February) 27Teddybears feat. Gorilla Zoe - Best You Ever Had (8th January) 26Tegan and Sara - Boyfriend (7th April) 25MIAMIGO - Everyone I Know (18th March) 24Kirsty Churchill - Who You Gonna Call? (16th March) 23Juno im Park feat. Hannah Trigwell - Never Gonna Give You Up (28th July) 22Axwell Λ Ingrosso feat. Pharrell Williams - Dream Bigger (6th May) 21Elle King - Good Girls (3rd June)
20Florrie - Real Love (5th February) 19Jazz Mino - Suffocate (24th June) 18Ward Thomas - Guilty Flowers (29th July) 17Christine and the Queens - Tilted (26th February) 16Tiggs Da Author feat. Lady Leshurr - Run (12th January) 15Zara Larsson - Lush Life (15th January) 14DNCE - Cake By The Ocean (14th March) 13Bright Light Bright Light feat. Elton John - All In The Name (1st July 2016) 12Bastille - Good Grief (17th June) 11Rat Boy - Move (12th January) 10Tom Odell - Magnetised (15th April)
9Kaiser Chiefs - Parachute (20th June)
8Gwen Stefani - Make Me Like You (13th February)
7Nina Nesbitt - Chewing Gum (11th January)
6The Shires - Beats To Your Rhythm (29th July)
5The Strumbellas - Spirits (11th January)
4Aurora - Conqueror (11th March)
3Elle King - America’s Sweetheart (22nd April)
2Glass Animals - Life Itself (18th May)
1Travis - Magnificent Time (22nd March)
What do you think of our selection? Post your comments below and we'll follow them up in our next edition! We did ask a few of our fellow music lovers and there was love for some in our Top 50 including DNCE's 'Cake By The Ocean', Sia's 'Cheap Thrills' and Bastille's 'Good Grief' and lots for 'Tilted' by Christine and the Queens. For the rockier amongst you we had votes for Raise Your Horns - Amon Amarth; Master of the Land - Grand Magus, Suckerpuch - Delain (which got multiple recommendations) and Born to Die - Black Stone Cherry, and Sia made another appearance this time with 'Unstoppable'.
Jake Bugg appeared with 'On My Own' alongside Twenty One Pilots and 'Stressed Out', plus the collaboration between Mumford + Baaba Maa. Elsewhere was 'Once Again' by Mad Clown and Kim Na Young, Ruth B with 'Lost Boy' plus JME's 'The Very Best' and the eccentrically titled 'Party Metal' by Footprints In The Custard. So even you don't like many in my selection here are some more choices for you to check out!
