Here are the ‘Artists to Watch’ in 2017, according to Google

Google Play Music Australia has revealed its ‘Artists to Watch’ in 2017 playlist.

The ten “head-turning artists” are ones that Google’s real life humans and futuristic robots predict will make a big splash this year.

The top 10 are:

1 Tash Sultana (independent)
2 Bebe Rexha (Warner Music)
3 Maggie Rogers (EMI)
4 Golden Features (Warner Music)
5 Sampha (Remote Control Records)
6 Jess Kent (EMI)
7 Rag’n’Bone Man (Sony Music)
8 Cloves (Universal Music)
9 Alex Lahey (Caroline/Universal Music)
10 Manu Crook$ (independent)

Topping the list is Melbourne’s very own Tash Sultana, who made a stellar debut in September with her ‘Notion’ EP and its breakout track ‘Jungle’. She has already sold out shows from London to LA on her upcoming world tour.

“I’m stoked to be Google Play’s Artist to Watch for 2017,” says Sultana.

There are three more female Australian artists on the ‘Artists to Watch’ list. These include Jess Kent, who recently opened for Coldplay on the British band’s stadium tour of Australia, and Cloves, whose track ‘Don’t Forget About Me’ last year enjoyed a high-profile feature on a major film soundtrack (‘Me Before You’).

As for overseas talent, Google Play has it’s eye on Bebe Rexha and Maggie Rogers from the US, and Brits Sampha and Rag’n’Bone Man, as rising stars.

According to Google, ‘Artists to Watch’ has been compiled using a range of factors including track performance on Google Play Music Australia’s new music playlists, popularity on Google Trends and YouTube, as well as specialist GPM Australia editors’ recommendations.

Google Play Music said it “uses machine learning to figure out what music you like and then mixes in signals such as location, activity and the weather, along with hand-picked playlists”, all in an effort to “personalise music for wherever you are and whenever you want tunes”.

All of the Top 10 Ones to Watch in Australia, as well as the longer list of suggested artists, feature in Google Play Music’s Artists to Watch 2017 playlist.

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