BBC Radio 1 has unveiled the first six artists to grace its new Brit List: Anne-Marie, Declan McKenna, JP Cooper, Sampha, Stormzy and The Amazons. The initiative is aimed at providing up and coming talent with long-term playlist support.
Launched at the start of 2016, the Brit List guarantees each of the six selected artists three consecutive Radio 1 playlist appearances, vaulting them to the A-list if they haven’t previously appeared there. In addition to the playlist commitment, Radio 1 has also pledged to assist each artist in securing other editorial and live opportunities.
The six chosen acts were deemed to be at ‘just the right tipping point in their early careers to truly capitalise on the sustained support that the Brit List offers’.
“We want this project to have teeth, we want to look back in 18 months and say that we really helped make a difference to six exceptional artists,” BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra head of music told Music Week in his recent Big Interview.
Anne-Marie said: “I am so happy to be chosen as part of Brit List. Radio 1 supported my journey with Rudimental right from the start, and are now supporting my solo career, starting with a lot of airplay on my earlier singles on specialist shows through to A List rotation on Alarm. I have had the privilege of performing at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and doing the Live Lounge twice now and I still absolutely love every time I hear one of my songs on the radio. 2017 is going to be a busy year and I look forward to sharing my debut album with everyone. Thank you all so much!”
“I’m really excited to be picked as part of Brit List, I've been really fortunate in having the support of BBC Introducing since the beautiful team at Three Counties started spinning ‘Brazil’ in 2015 before anybody else knew or cared who I was,” added McKenna. “They then added it to the Introducing playlist at Radio 1 before I got signed. To now have the support of Radio 1 and subsequently many more people is a fantastic achievement for me having started out not all that long ago in the grand scheme of things, and I’m really excited about what the rest of the year is going to bring - through album one and beyond.”
JP Cooper added: "It's a huge honour to be included in Brit List. The support so far has been incredible and to have this level of commitment from Radio 1 means so much to me, I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store.”
“Thank you so much for selecting me to be part of the very first Brit List,” commented Sampha. “Radio 1 have been such a great support over the years, it’s a real honour to be included."
Stormzy, who is set to release once of the biggest UK debuts of 2017 next week, added: "Honoured to have made Radio 1's first ever Brit List ... Thank you for supporting my journey and big up 1Xtra too who have been there from the beginning."
“We are honoured to be included on the first ever Radio 1 Brit List, as much as we have been honoured to be supported first by BBC Introducing in Berkshire and then to having our first plays on Radio 1 from the likes of Annie Mac, Huw Stephens, Daniel P. Carter, MistaJam and Greg James,” said The Amazons. “We recently had our first live Radio 1 experience at the Future Festival and it was awesome. Being included on the Sound of 2017 long list was a huge deal for us, but this feels even more special. Huge thanks and respect to Radio 1!”
