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And Finally Artist News Awards Media
BBC announces Sound Of 2020 longlist
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 12 December 2019
The BBC Sound Of 2020 longlist is out, and my word is it long. So long! I mean, no longer than usual, and, in the grand scheme of things, not actually that long. But you’ve got to build some drama into these things, haven’t you? I’m pretty sure that’s my job. Maybe I should have built up some suspense by alluding to the artists who appear on the list. Oh well, I’ll get the hang of this one day.
Of the ten acts who made this year’s list, all three nominees for the BRITs Rising Star Award appear. And while that makes sense, it’s also always a little disappointing.
I suppose the variety comes from having more artists on the BBC list, and also allowing international acts to appear. Although the only non-UK act in the BBC list this time are Inhaler from Ireland. Which either means new music is thriving in the UK, or non-UK new music is rubbish at the moment, or Brexit is making people look ever more inwards.
Or something else, I don’t know. Did I mention it’s a long list? Though no longer than normal. And not that long in the grand scheme of things.
Anyway, the nominees are:
Arlo Parks
Beabadoobee
Celeste
Easy Life
Georgia
Inhaler
Joesef
Joy Crookes
Squid
Yungblud
You know what? That’s not a bad list. Even if there is a Bono connection in there. Let’s ignore the Bono connection. Let’s all just rejoice in the exuberance of youth and the continued turning of the wheels of great new music, created with passion. Music’s not a competition, it’s a never-ending bringer of joy that we should all be thankful for.
Ha! Just kidding, of course it’s a competition. The five finalists will be announced in the new year, starting on 5 Jan, with the overall winner revealed on 9 Jan. Those who don’t make the final five will then be forced to leave the music industry in shame, while the four runners up will have their royalty percentages slashed in half for not trying hard enough.
“2020 is shaping up to be such an exciting year for British music”, says BBC Head Of Music James Stirling. “BBC Music is proud to play a role in so many of the incredible musical journeys, from Yungblud’s first session for BBC Music Introducing in West Yorkshire back in 2017, to debut Glastonbury performances from Arlo Parks, Celeste and Easy Life on the BBC Music Introducing Stage earlier this year. Congratulations to all the longlisted artists and I am really looking forward to seeing what they have in store for 2020”.
The BBC’s gone and made a whole bloody website for this thing. Have a look at that here. Quickly. Before Boris Johnson wins this fucking election and shuts the BBC down.
