´óÏó´«Ã½

Just to clarify, my suggestions weren't names I think should have been on the Sound of 2012 list. I think the list is (mostly) a gauge of what is potentially going to move from Radio 1's specialist shows to the daytime playlist over the next 12 months. That doesn't hold any interest for me, in all honesty. Certainly not personally. And neither should it; I haven't been part of Radio 1's demographic for a good few years now.

My main observation is that this is still an industry dominated list. Most of these artists have the weight of a major behind them - that still counts for something when it comes to getting press / radio momentum behind an artist. Especially, I think, with the likes of Radio 1.

I'm reluctant to criticise the thinking behind the list because I feel that anything that draws people towards interesting artists is a good thing. However it strikes me that, as a concept, it's rather self satisfied and makes the ´óÏó´«Ã½ vulnerable to accusations of nepotism. Given that this is a ´óÏó´«Ã½ touted list, how much influence is this going to have on Radio 1's playlists, who they choose for sessions and who they choose to support at the summer festivals? There's a danger that this list turns into a self fulfilling prophecy - i.e. the listed artists get more attention simply because they're on the list, not necessarily because they're the best / most interesting artists that will produce music in 2012.

The fact that there are no Welsh artists on the list is neither here nor there, really. How many 'tastemakers' within Wales got to contribute towards the list? How many Welsh record labels have got the financial clout to pay pluggers to constantly remind those who do contribute towards the list about their artists?

I'm not really sure who (other than the media who are currently recycling this story) pays attention to the Sound Of... list. It'd be interesting (but nigh on impossible) to audit that. If it's the ´óÏó´«Ã½ who are most influenced by the shortlist then I'd say that questions about its impartiality would have to be asked, given that there is a disproportionate amount of major label artists on the list at a time when more 'interesting' music than ever before is being made independently, frequently without the support of any label at all.

One other point: it's interesting that James mentions Islet. Without a doubt, one of the most interesting bands in the UK at the moment. But also a band who've been carefully rationed as far as the press / media are concerned. I think it has been a wise strategy, allowing word of mouth from their incredible live performances to spread their name. But perhaps in this instance (and it's not necessarily a bad thing) the fact that they haven't been gladhanding every blogger / radio show / journalist for the last 12 months (or had a plugger doing that for them) has counted against them.

Similarly, they weren't in my shortlist of recommendations because I haven't been sent any promos off the forthcoming album. I just plain forgot about them.

Woah, what do you mean "This type of music has never been 'cool'"?!

i haven't heard of any of these acts, being slightly aged. However just looking at the names ( i know, what's in a name), they seem frighteningly similar to previous ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sound of... acts. I have a feeling the concept is creating its own homogenized form of music. Perhaps an X Factor for original music

@HappyMidget
Fairly standard guitar-based rock music has never been cool. Honest.

Pretty sure that whatever the gauge for cool has been over the years that have been few cooler than: Gruff / Cerys / Huw Pooh / Nicky Wire / Andrea Darling Bud / Mike Cole / High Contrast / Benjii Skindred / Steve Strange / underworld...

I shan't use that vile vile phrase that still lights up my occasional nightmares... you know... the Cool Cy... nah, can't do it. Yuk.

That Skrillex pic is hilarious. In fact, the only rational response is to swear loudly, and we can't do that here.

Bah.

That Skrillex pic is hilarious. In fact, the only rational response is to swear loudly, and we can't do that here.

Somewhere there's a student's union without it's ents officer. Possibly in 1992 judging by that haircut.