BBC music bosses have been blasted after no Scottish act made the corporation’s coveted Sound of 2017 longlist of the UK’s most promising bands, singers and musicians.
One industry boss from north of the border said the omission made the list “meaningless”.
Every year since 2003, the BBC has produced a “sound of” list made up of bands and acts who they think will make the biggest impact in the following year. They’ve a pretty strong track record, having previously picked out Adele, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith and Years & Years. Last year the winner was Jack Garratt.
The last time a Scottish band made the annual list of the “most promising rising musical acts for the coming year” was four years ago when Chvrches came fourth.
The corporation this year asked 170 influential music industry experts, bloggers, DJs, critics, broadcasters to pick their favourite three new acts from any genre.
But when the longlist of 15 was published last week, Creative Scotland’s Head of Music Alan Morrison (below), tweeted his surprise that Dundee’s Be Charlotte, a three-piece band, fronted by 19-year-old Charlotte Brimner hadn’t made the cut. “No Scots on #SoundOf2017 list? The fact that @iambecharlotte for one isn’t here renders it meaningless,” Morrison wrote.
The influential Tenement TV blog said it was a “travesty” that the BBC’s hadn’t included any Scottish acts.
That site’s assistant editor Robert Blair wrote: “Although polls of this nature aren’t the be all and end all by any stretch of the imagination, this sort of accolade can go a long way to legitimising a burgeoning band in the eyes of the casual listener and to entirely neglect Scotland and its fiercely expanding scene is a complete travesty.”
Dougal Perman from the Scottish Music Industry was more sanguine, pointing out that the BBC’s list didn’t include any acts from Wales or Northern Ireland either.
“I don’t think you can read too much into the locations of the artists,” Perman told the National. He added: “I think the Scottish music scene is in great health. There are always new, exciting artists, in all scenes.
“The Sound Of poll is compiled from recommendations by a diverse panel of pundits, which is a similar process to the Scottish Album of the Year Award. I don’t think the artists on the longlist are better or worse than any emerging Scottish artists, it’s just a matter of opinion by the pundits.”
This year’s list was dominated by hip-hop and grime, newcomers Ray Blk and Nadia Rose among those tipped for success.
Announcing the list, BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ MistaJam, said: “The BBC Music Sound of 2017 longlist shows that next year is already shaping up to be a big one filled with amazing music from homegrown talent that are already being supported across Radio 1 and 1Xtra.
He added: “From the driving rock of The Amazons to Dave’s 18-year-old inner city street tales via Maggie Rogers’ folk meets electronic soundscapes, the list shows the breadth and quality of what we can expect next year.”
A BBC spokeswoman said: “The Sound Of list is picked by 170 experts from across the music industry in the U.K. and internationally who choose the acts they judge the most exciting for 2017. They can pick acts from anywhere in the world.”
The top five will be revealed in January, with one artist announced each day from Monday January 2.
The National’s Alternative Sound of 2017
Sad City
Irish producer Gary Caruth makes “deep, subtly deconstructed house music”. Album Shapes In Formation got great reviews.
Denis Sulta
Hector Barbour only learned to DJ five years ago. Over the last year he’s become one of the most popular, and exciting producers and music makers in the country.
Cleoslaptra
Sophie Reilly, a student, library assistant and sci-fi fan is resident DJ at the Glasgow School of Art. Has become much in demand, playing all over Europe.
Kelora
Benedict Salter and Kitty Hall released their stunning new single BOY just a few weeks back.
Kvasir
Described as “possibly the most sublime music being produced in Scotland right now”, his self-titled EP this year excited many.
Zyna Hel
The alter-ego of visual artist Elisabeth Oswell taker her inspiration from Britney Spears, Kate Bush and Goldfrapp, the results are incredible.
Be Charlotte
Surely there is no more exciting musical prospect in Scotland right now than Be Charlotte? Sings, raps, beatboxes and creates some of the finest pop this country has ever produced. Expect big things.
Bossy Love
Rising from the ashes of Aussie popsters Operator Please and Glasgow cultish electronic band Danananankroyd, Bossy Love are one of the most talked about bands in Scotland. Their live shows are very special.
Man Of Moon
According to NME, the two 20-year-olds from Edinburgh would be much bigger if they lived in London. That depressing thought aside, their debut EP Medicine won them a lot of new fans this year. Except much more.
Kloe
It’s mindblowing Clydebank’s Kloe is not on the BBC list. She’s spent the last year touring the US, building up a bigger fan base and getting regular Radio 1 play. She will be a star.
Catholic Action
Unashamedly poppy, This four piece merges classic pop songwriting, art rock and glam.
Modern Studies
Scot-Yorkshire chamber pop band playing lovely songs using cello, double bass, drums, guitars, a wine-glass orchestra and a Victorian pedal harmonium.
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