BBC Sound Of 2015 longlist announced

The top five will be unveiled come the new year, with one each day getting showcased from 5 January, with the winner announced proper on 9 January.

George Ergatoudis (Head of BBC's Music, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra), said in a statement: “If you want to embark on a journey into the future of music, BBC Music’s ‘Sound Of 2015’ is a brilliant starting point. With around 140 of the UK's key tastemakers taking part, the longlist is wide ranging, including grime artists, singer-songwriters, an electro-pop band, a garage punk duo and a poet amongst others. It’s a list full of talent and promise and I very much look forward to seeing how each artist’s story unfolds over the coming year.”

Previous winners include Sam Smith, Haim, Adele and 50 Cent.

The list in full:

George The Poet
James Bay
Kwabs
Låpsley
Novelist
Rae Morris
Raury
Shamir
Shura
Slaves
SOAK
Stormzy
Sunset Sons
Wolf Alice
Years & Years

To be included on the list the act "cannot have been the lead artist on a UK top 20 single or album before 27 October 2014. They must not already be widely known by the UK public (for example, a member of a hit band going solo or a soap star). They must not have made it to the semi-final or final rounds of UK talent search shows such as X Factor or The Voice in the last 3 years (i.e. 2012 onwards)."