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Sam Smith named as winner of 主播大秀 Sound of 2014

Sam Smith has been named as the winner of the 主播大秀 Sound of 2014 list of the hottest new music acts for the year ahead.

Published: 10 January 2014
I'm completely speechless. The shortlist is full of so many talented artists and it's a huge compliment to be recognised by the industry and the 主播大秀 in this way. I'm completely overwhelmed!"
— Sam Smith

The 21-year-old singer hit the number one spot on the charts in May last year, as vocalist on Naughty Boy’s single La La La. He’d previously worked with Disclosure on their Top-20 hit Latch.

Sam released his first solo EP, Nirvana, in October, which further increased the buzz around the soulful vocalist, and the lead track, also called Nirvana, was named as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record in the World. He is set to release his new single, Money On My Mind, in February with an album, In The Lonely Hour, expected in the spring.

Sam says: “I'm completely speechless. The shortlist is full of so many talented artists and it's a huge compliment to be recognised by the industry and the 主播大秀 in this way. I'm completely overwhelmed!”   

170 UK tastemakers, including DJs, critics and bloggers, voted in this year’s list. They were asked to name their three favourite new acts by 主播大秀 News Online.

Rob Copsey, Music Editor at Digital Spy says: "There aren’t many male singers who can command the kind of pull Sam Smith can. He may have scored his big breakthrough on last year’s La La La with Naughty Boy, but his rich singing voice and a knack for tapping into real matters of the heart will undoubtedly see him come into his own in 2014."

A longlist of the top 15 artists for 主播大秀 Sound of 2014 was published in December and the top five acts have been revealed each day this week.

R&B singer Ella Eyre, from West London is at number two, followed by LA-based songstress BANKS at number three. Vocalist and producer Sampha, from South London, took the number four spot with Bristol’s George Ezra at number five.

George Ergatoudis, Head of Music for 主播大秀 Radio 1, says: “Sam Smith is blessed with a distinctive mellifluous voice that imbues his lyrics with real emotion and soul. The public are looking for authentic artists with genuine talent and Sam more than fits the bill. He is going to enjoy huge success this year.”

The list was started in 2003 and has a history of predicting the acts that will make it big. Last year’s winners were LA pop band HAIM, who went on to have a number one in October with their debut album Days Are Gone. Previous winners have included Adele, Ellie Goulding and Jessie J.

This year, 主播大秀 Sound of 2014 has teamed up with 主播大秀 Playlister to create a playlist with full-length tracks featuring all the artists in the Sound of 2014 longlist. The playlist is available in the 主播大秀 Playlister app on Spotify:

A range of music, video, interviews and biographies from each of the Top 15 acts can also be seen on the 主播大秀 Sound of 2014 website at bbc.co.uk/soundof2014


Notes to Editors

Any use of the information in this release must credit 主播大秀 Sound of 2014.

Twitter hashtag #soundof2014

The full top five:

  1. Sam Smith
  2. Ella Eyre
  3. BANKS
  4. Sampha
  5. George Ezra

Also on the longlist (in alphabetical order)

Chance The Rapper   
Chloe Howl     
FKA twigs        
Jungle
Kelela
Luke Sital-Singh          
MNEK
Nick Mulvey   
Royal Blood    
Say Lou Lou

Last year, HAIM were joined in the Sound of 2014 top five by AlunaGeorge, Angel Haze, Laura Mvula and CHVRCHES.

The previous winners are Michael Kiwanuka (2012), Jessie J (2011), Ellie Goulding (2010), Little Boots (2009), Adele (2008), Mika (2007), Corinne Bailey Rae (2006), The Bravery (2005), Keane (2004) and 50 Cent (2003).

Other artists in the top five in previous years include Frank Ocean, Azealia Banks, (Sound of 2012), James Blake and The Vaccines (Sound of 2011), Hurts (Sound of 2010), Florence And The Machine and La Roux (Sound of 2009), Duffy (Sound of 2008), Klaxons (Sound of 2007), Plan B (Sound of 2006), Bloc Party (Sound of 2005), Franz Ferdinand (Sound of 2004), Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Dizzee Rascal (Sound of 2003).

The list was compiled using recommendations from 170 influential UK taste-makers, who were asked to name their favourite new acts.

The taste-makers included radio DJs and producers, TV presenters and producers, newspaper critics, magazine and website editors and respected bloggers.

All participants were asked to name their favourite three new acts, who could be performers from any country and any musical genre.

They must not have been the lead artist on a UK top 20 single or album by 4 November 2013. Featured guest vocalists are eligible.

They must not already be famous: i.e. generally known by the UK public, (e.g. member of a hit band going solo, or soap star). They must not have got through to the quarter, semi or final rounds of UK reality shows such as X Factor or The Voice in the last three years (i.e. 2011 onwards).

Further details of the taste-makers and how the list was compiled are available on the 主播大秀 Sound of 2014 website.

主播大秀 Playlister is the new music service from the 主播大秀 that allows users to remember tracks that they hear from across the 主播大秀 and export them for full playlback on our external partners, YouTube, Spotify, or Deezer. Find out more at bbc.co.uk/music/playlister

MH

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