However, the top 5 artists were announced a few days ago; all 5 were on the list above. I’m not going to read into it too much, but it seems to have at least pointed out that this was worth doing, whatever conclusions you wish to draw from it.

Yeah, I quite enjoyed this whole slightly crazy, slightly correct experience and I’ll definitely be trying again next year. Until then, I guess we’ve just got to see how this year’s artists turn out….

I am guessing you have mixed feelings about the list – in fact, you should be genuinely pleased it’s not as contrived as you suggested.

Anyway, I scoured your list (not a big music blog fan – no time!) and discovered a shit load of great music I’ve not heard before. Thanks for your pre-emptive list, and I hope you make another one next year

Thanks for commenting Mike! Haha I guess you’re right. These sort of lists are just like end of year lists – all we do is complain about other people’s, but we can’t help reading them!

You are right though, the BBC has brought a lot of exposure to great bands. Especially in a society where charts and listening trends are increasingly influenced by a glorified karaoke competition on the telly, we should definitely be grateful for the BBC Sound Of competition getting great artists like Marina, Hurts, Everything Everything et al listened to.

I’d also be interested to hear who you voted for, Mike?

The BBC producing a list like this is a little like the Mercury Award I guess; nothing to do with the underground, nothing to do with Simon Cowell either, but ultimately a massive lift to all those who receive it’s publicity-creating boost.

I don’t take it much more seriously than that to be honest. It’s no promise of quality either.

Our blog’s selections, and yes they did officially ask The Recommender too, are covered in your Dead Certainty and Outside Chance lists, although I’m pleased to say that one of my three selections isn’t on any of your above categories, so we will see. At least they’re asking blogs this year.

Like it or not, I suppose these things get all of our attentions when they come out, whether we like it or not. I guess that’s my point…

Mike

And… thanks very much Coward, I’ve been aiming for recognition in that category for years.

You may be interested to know that when you are asked to vote you are not asked who you expect to be haemorrhaging gold bullion this time next year, but simply to vote for 3 artists that you consider to be the best and most exciting new artists, irrespective of record label deal, hype etc.

Inevitably the acts who get on the list have had some degree of exposure (such as on blogs) because they have to gather enough votes to get on the list. Hence when panel members vote there is bound to be an element of thinking about acts that are likely to receive votes from other panel members, because if you vote for an act that no one has heard of your vote will be wasted (it’s a bit like voting a minority political party in a general election….)

Hence there is a an (almost) inevitability that acts such as Ellie Goulding and Marina and the Diamonds will get on the list (who were featuring on blogs ages ago, I first posted about Ellie last February and put Marina in my own blog’s Ones To Watch list this time last year). However, having said that two of the artists I voted for are not on your list at all, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of them gets on it.

Irrespective of what you think of the BBC Sound Of List it is a great way for new acts to get mainstream exposure in a world dominated by X Factor blandness, and for that we should be grateful to the BBC for running it. It may not be perfect, but it has to be better than the Cowell run music state that the UK is becoming.

Some good names on your list there though, I’d love to see Samuel and the Dragon, Mirrors or Yes Giantess get voted on the list, but as you say, outside chance at best. (I didn’t vote for any of those, although did consider them)

For clues as to who I voted for I’m currently listing my Ones To Watch for 2010 on my blog Breaking More Waves – 1 a day for the next week or so, we’re up to number 4 at the moment.