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BBC Radio 1 crowned Skye Newman<\/a> as its Sound Of 2026 winner at the start of the month.<\/p>\n It follows a turnaround for UK talent at home and abroad in the past year, with a new generation of stars including Lola Young and Olivia Dean<\/a> building on the global impact of Myles Smith and Charli XCX in 2024.<\/p>\n In the latest edition of Music Week<\/em>, we report on the changing fortunes for UK music in the past year, from breakthrough stars to returning artists like Sam Fender<\/a>, who had the biggest album released in 2025 by a UK artist.\u00a0<\/p>\n While UK artists struggled on the domestic charts in 2024, last year saw a clear improvement in terms of No.1 singles \u2013\u00a0even amid the wave of US superstars<\/a>.<\/p>\n BBC Radio 1 has been at the forefront of the British talent revival, including its Brit List initiative. A new round of Brit List talent is set to be unveiled early this year.<\/p>\n Here, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra\u2019s head of music Chris Price<\/a> shares insights on the station\u2019s support for breakthrough stars\u2026<\/p>\n UK talent had a big year with former Brit List names \u2013 how has Radio 1 championed those artists including Sam Fender?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYes, UK talent really bounced back in 2025, and I\u2019m proud that Radio 1\u2019s Brit List played an important part in that. Sam Fender headlined Radio 1\u2019s Big Weekend in Liverpool last year, becoming the fourth Brit List act to do that, and cementing a strategy that very deliberately aims to create artist journeys from BBC Introducing all the way to the top of a festival bill.\u201d<\/p>\n How have you developed the Brit List?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIn 2024 we expanded the Brit List package and made it an on-air brand. Jack Saunders<\/a> is now the face of Brit List and, of course, an integral part of the selection process. Since those changes were made we\u2019ve added Lola Young, Myles Smith, Artemas, Olivia Dean and Sammy Virji.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition, we created several internal partnerships that would give Brit List artists access to more BBC platforms and extend their reach. For example, Myles Smith<\/a> reworked his song My Home for the BBC\u2019s Made of Here campaign, putting him into millions of homes nationwide. Myles also played the main stage of Radio 1\u2019s Big Weekend in May and joined the line-up of Live Lounge Month in October.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n UK talent has really bounced back in 2025, and I\u2019m proud that Radio 1\u2019s Brit List played an important part in that<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Chris Price<\/p>\n
\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n How has Radio 1 supported Olivia Dean in the past year?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Olivia is the standout story. We first playlisted her back in February 2023, A-listing Dive later that year. 2025 felt like the perfect time to consolidate that support with a Brit List commitment<\/a>. Her opening performance for Live Lounge Month was exceptional, and the numbers she delivered reflect the incredible impact she\u2019s had this past year. Olivia\u2019s success is all her own, but we\u2019re proud to be a small part of her story.\u201d<\/p>\n What are your hopes for UK talent in 2026 with the Sound Of\u2026 initiative?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI have really high hopes for British talent in 2026, and the UK names on the Sound Of longlist<\/a> give me every confidence that the pipeline of exceptional artists will continue well into 2027. Skye Newman is just getting started, but she has already smashed her Live Lounge debut off the back of four Radio 1 playlists last year and an unforgettable performance on the BBC Introducing stage at Big Weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n Do you have any personal favourites?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m super excited about Kwn, whose star continues to rise \u2013 helped by stellar support from 1Xtra during 2025 and now crossing over to Radio 1. And Jim Legxacy<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0 album [Black British Music] has been a personal favourite, demonstrating precisely why he\u2019s the artist everyone wants to collaborate with right now \u2013 it\u2019s an incredible time for British music!\u201d<\/p>\n Subscribers can read our new interview with Radio 1\u2019s Jack Saunders<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n