Laura Mvula scores her second #1, as Nile Rodgers-featuring “Overcome” passes former chart-toppers Adele and Cam to take the top spot, while the rest of the top ten holds steady. Kris Allen’s “Waves” is the highest debut at #14; below the top fifty, the chart also adds debuts by Céline Dion, The Knocks featuring Walk The Moon, Mayer Hawthorne (whose “Cosmic Love” also re-enters), Fleur East, Yuna, and Hannah Grace.

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The year’s first big debut comes from Laura Mvula, who recruits Nile Rodgers on new single “Overcome,” in at #5. Lucius continues climbing 9-7 with “Born Again Teen,” while new Good Grief track “Madness” also debuts at #66. The week’s biggest mover is Charles Kelley’s “Lonely Girl,” up 26 spots to #49; Grizfolk’s “Cosmic Angel” (#41) and “Bounty On My Head” (#59) each follow with a 24-spot jump (they also debut “Bohemian Bird” at #94 this week). Additional debuts include a new Lissie track, Wild Belle, Mree, Mayer Hawthorne.

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As the music industry wakes up from its holiday slumber and begins the new year, attention shifts to developing new artists whose careers are beginning to build. Below are forty hand-picked artists of varying genres and current levels of success. Some are completely independent, while others have already topped charts. Regardless, all of them show potential to be even bigger names, particularly in America, in the coming year. Listen to the artists through this SoundCloud playlist, and check back later in the year to see how these predictions turned out. Continue reading “Class Of 2015: 40 promising artists to watch this year”