Here is how the artists on the BBC Sound Of 2012 list performed in 2012:

 

Note: a lot of chart positions are based on Wikipedia, and thus may be inaccurate.

 

1 – Michael Kiwanuka. Having released a few EPs in 2011, Michael Kiwanuka’s debut single Home Again peaked at #29 in January (and reached #3 in Flanders). Follow-up I’m Getting Ready only reached #187. He did have a couple of other minor hits in Flanders. The album Home Again reached #4 in the UK, #1 in the Netherlands, and top 10 in Flanders, Norway and Sweden. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize.

 

2 – Frank Ocean. Despite relatively little singles chart success (his biggest UK hit in his own right was Lost which reached #86, although he did feature on Jay-Z & Kanye West’s #37 hit No Church In The Wild), the album Channel Orange was a success, reaching #2 in the UK (despite being download only initially), #1 in Norway, and top 3 in 3 other countries. He won Best Urban Video – International at the UK Music Video Awards for Novacane (as well as several other awards).

 

3 – Azealia Banks. Currently a one-hit wonder, her hit 212 peaked at #12 in the UK in April (but spent 32 weeks on the top 75). It also reached #7 in Ireland and top 20 in Flanders and Netherlands. Her EP 1991 reached #79 in May. The album Broke With Expensive Taste is due for release in February 2013. She won NME and Billboard awards in 2012.

 

4 – Skrillex. Having released EPs since 2009, Skrillex reached #32 in February with Breakn’ A Sweat. Then came Bangarang, which reached #24 in June (spending 28 weeks in the top 75), and Make It Bun Dem (which charted at #66 around about the same time). He also reached #175 with Kyoto. The Bangarang EP reached #31 in the album chart. He also won 3 Grammys (and was nominated for 2 others).

 

5 – Niki & The Dove. Album Instinct reached #60 in May (equalling its peak in their native Sweden). Single DJ, Ease My Mind reached #103.

 

A$AP Rocky – Single Goldie reached #98, and f***in’ Problems reached #91 (the latter reached the top 25 in the US). Album Long. Live. ASAP is due for release in January 2013.

 

Dot Rotten – Having reached #24 as part of The Collective in 2011, Dot Rotten had 3 hits in 2012 – Are You Not Entertained? (#53 in March), Overload (#15 in June), and Karmageddon (#67 in December). Album Voices In My Head is yet to be released.

 

Dry The River – Album Shallow Bed reached #28 in March, but none of the singles charted.

 

Flux Pavilion – Having reached #56 and #61 with his 2011 singles Bass Cannon and Superbad, Flux Pavilion reached #39 in May with Daydreamer (featuring Example). EP Blow The Roof is due for release in January 2013.

 

Friends – Album Manifest! reached #100 in June. No singles charted.

 

Jamie N Commons – does not even have his own Wikipedia entry.

 

Lianne La Havas – Album Is Your Love Big Enough? reached #4 in July (it reached #3 in the Netherlands). The highest-charting single was the title track which reached #103 (and #17 in Flanders). The album won Album Of The Year at the iTunes Best of 2012 awards.

 

Ren Harvieu – Album Through The Night reached #5 in May, with single Open Up Your Arms reaching #108 (the title track having reached #178 in 2011). She reached #1 as part of The Justice Collective with He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.

 

Spector – Album Enjoy It While It Lasts reached #12 in August. No singles charted.

 

Stooshe – Stooshe managed 2 top 5 hits – Love Me (#5 in March), and Black Heart (#3 in June, also #4 in Ireland). A cover of TLC’s Waterfalls reached #21 in November. Self-titled album is due for release in March 2013.

 

Ones that got away:

 

Conor Maynard

fun.

Lawson

Rita Ora

Rudimental

Did Rita Ora get away? She already had a massive #1 single. Out of the ones that got away I'd only say fun. were, and I don't know how many people would have expected them to have the success they've had!

 

In terms of the 2012 poll while very few of them set the charts on fire I'd say Frank Ocean and Skrillex had the best years. I don't think there's a gig in the UK that both of them would do that wouldn't sell out..

14/15 at least reached the top 100 of one of the charts (Friends only by the skin of their teeth). That must be a record? Poor Jamie N Commons :P

 

Top 100 success of Sound of 2013 artists to date:

A*M*E - N/A

AlunaGeorge - single 'Your Drums, Your Love' #50

Angel Haze - single 'New York' #58

Arlissa - N/A

CHVRCHES - N/A

Haim - single 'Don't Save Me' #74

King Krule - N/A

Kodaline - single 'All I Want' #74

Laura Mvula - N/A

Little Green Cars - N/A

Palma Violets - N/A

Peace - N/A

Savages - N/A

The Weeknd - single 'Crew Love' (Drake feat. The Weeknd) #37; album 'Trilogy' #37

Tom Odell - single 'Another Love' #98

 

Did Rita Ora get away? She already had a massive #1 single. Out of the ones that got away I'd only say fun. were, and I don't know how many people would have expected them to have the success they've had!

 

I think by 'got away' he means the big artists of the year that did not appear on the Sound of 2012 list.

Edited December 29, 201212 yr by Bré

Skrillex's name stands out as the biggest success story of 2012 - "Bangarang" was HUGE; and still very much is. I feel Azealia Banks' success will come in 2013 (though "212" is still very much a big success) - collaborations with Lady Gaga, if singles, are sure to go down a treat.

It seems Michael Kiwanuka's chart success relied on winning Sound of 2012, but they've got Skrillex, Azelia Banks and Frank Ocean spot on.

I got Frank Ocean, Michael Kiwanuka, Dry the River, Friends and Lianne La Havas albums from that list. Im tempted to buy Spectors album too in the sales, anyone got it?

Stooshe appear to have been the stand out success from the 2012 list, but one comparative flop single and people were saying they're already through

Stooshe appear to have been the stand out success from the 2012 list, but one comparative flop single and people were saying they're already through

 

It depends how you judge success. Stooshe have had a lot of money thrown at them, and have done pretty well, certainly the best chart wise. But in terms of carving a successful career? Well who knows. I think there are 2/3 others on the list who have had half the success they have had in the charts but have a 10x better chance of having a successful career.

Ah, well since it's a Sound of 2012 list I was looking at success in 2012, not some predicted/possible/likely success in the future

Ah, well since it's a Sound of 2012 list I was looking at success in 2012, not some predicted/possible/likely success in the future

 

Well yes of course. But chart success is not the be all and end all of success. Take someone like Skrillex. He probably doesn't sell as many records as Stooshee, but sells out more venues. So who can be judged to be more successful?

Fair point

Friends – Album Manifest! reached #100 in June. No singles charted.

 

Lianne La Havas – Album Is Your Love Big Enough? reached #4 in July (it reached #3 in the Netherlands). The highest-charting single was the title track which reached #103 (and #17 in Flanders). The album won Album Of The Year at the iTunes Best of 2012 awards.

 

Both artists produced great singles and albums this year. Really love 'em. We should blame modern Charts for the fact that their singles didn't even reach Top 100.

 

 

Or a lack of support by radio!

14/15 at least reached the top 100 of one of the charts (Friends only by the skin of their teeth). That must be a record? Poor Jamie N Commons :P

 

Every artist in the BBC Sound of 2004 had top 40 hits, with 8 of them going on to "lasting" careers. That one will struggle to be beaten:

 

Keane

Franz Ferdinand

Wiley

Razorlight

Joss Stone

McFly

Scissor Sisters

The Ordinary Boys

Tali

Gemma Fox