awardiscary

I know it's just August but these last 12 months or so have really seen a significant slowdown of UK Chart music to the point where it's almost as expensive to licence hits as it is to release a 2 Disc compilation of 40+ songs from the current era since the last volume. The lack of new UK #1 singles together with multiple recharting hits of yesteryear are the reason why new music fails to make any impact unless it goes significantly viral on TikTok or the next big social media platform. To continue putting out compilations of 120+ songs a year is challenging and virtually impossible to do with such little movement in the charts. As trends change, so does the popularity of genres. Very little R&B or rap music inside the Top 40, same for any indie or rock music. These are fundamental genres that have served the Now series well for decades. Not only that, but the majority of artists that have success these days are solo artists. There's no room for bands or groups in the charts like there once was. The only resort is to go for songs from artists and genres that barely see the singles charts ever again. It means there is a lot of "filler" and this often gives the series a perceived look of poor value, especially when they have two discs of 20+ songs per disc, three times a year. In a digital world of streaming, there really is little point in the series continuing under the current premise, it just feels like they are prolonging the inevitable by continuing the release of compilations that offer little value overall, often with major artists absent such as Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Madonna and more. As we look towards Q4 of 2026, there is little sight of a major artist releasing new material that could really trouble the charts and so the narrative will continue right up until the Christmas rush when we know what happens. More chart stagnation and re-peaking festive songs from yesteryear denying any new festive releases from making a serious impact. It's very early to be making a prediction for the next volume, but given what we do know already, these are the songs I could see being considered; CD1 Olivia Rodrigo – the cure STELLA LEFTY – Boston Ella Langley – Be Her Alex Warren – FINE PLACE TO DIE SIENNA SPIRO – Great Expectation Ariana Grande – petal Tame Impala – Loser Temper City – Self Aware Fontaines D.C. – Marianne Noah Kahan – Orbiter Phoebe Bridgers – Lost Weekend Gracie Abrams – Look At My Life Teddy Swims – Break Up In Reverse Myles Smith – My Mess Take That – Sweet July Snow Patrol & Kylie Minogue – These Alarms Jessie Ware – Sauna KATSEYE – Animal Steve Lacy – oh yeah? Alex Warren – PASSENGER Benson Boone – The Time Of My Life CD2 Shakira x Burna Boy – Dai Dai HUGEL, Imael Angel & Ultra Naté – Movin' To The Sun Silva Bumpa – On 2nite ANOTR feat. 54 Ultra – Talk To You Prospa feat. Cloonee – Free Your Mind Josh Baker & Poppy Baskcomb – My Place Jonas Blue feat. Malive – Edge Of Desire MK feat. Poppy Baskcomb – Zone Sonny Fodera feat. Becky Hill – Say Something Jazzy & Chris Lorenzo – Invisible Bruno Mars – Risk It All Olivia Rodrigo – stupid song Audrey Hobert – Sue me Belly Kay – iloveitiloveitiloveit ADÉLA – Ain't It L.A. KATSEYE – Hootie Frutti Aitch – RMB (Ring My Bell) Morgan Wallen – Been By Now Alyssa Grace – bloodstream Sam Smith – When He's Gone I don't know what to think anymore. I know a lot can change in three months but will the quality of what is offered anything better than this example of what could happen? I think @gooddelta has said it before, but I think they're just going to finish the Yearbook series and then they will be done. There's nowhere left for them to go after that, they've overly exhausted the 80s and it's pretty clear that apart from this Yearbook series that anything from the 90s is now off limits and there's just no point splashing the money on any compilations from music from the 00s or the 10s. So make the most of it while we can because we won't know what we've lost until it's gone.

Freidland are so much fun, they're often one of the first countries I look for when new entries are revealed! Always in for some sort of treat when I get to their song, and they are consistently hitting the right spot for me!

Ok i listened to the original version of the third song and its basically begging for my 18 points!

That would be good for me if it's tomorrow, I still need to listen and vote in this, so I'll do it then.

Zanmatony wishes to take part in ranking/voting for the Deandrian entries of the past, so here's our findings so far with the entries shared; BJSC 11: Ladytron – Destroy Everything You Touch ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This sounds like a nice enough entry to introduce us to the world of Deandria. I have always liked Ladytron as an artist and this debut entry is a nice way to make yourself known and finish just outside of the podium! Great start and we thank Sabrewulf for his introduction too haha. BJSC 12: Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An utter classic from Bristol based Massive Attack which would have garnered big points from me if I had entered at the time. Its overall result is disappointing but perhaps the remarks you shared explained the reasons. Still it's lovely to see a Trip-Hop legend like this artist in your entry history! BJSC 13: Hooverphonic – Mad About You ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ More wonderful trip-hop! I hadn't realised you started sending this genre so early on! It's great to see and there are still some beautifully produced sounds within your rich history. The fact this came last place is utterly disgraceful, and I wish I could have done something about that! The video of that massive claw thing is spellbinding haha. BJSC 14: Alanis Morissette – Straitjacket ⭐️⭐️ This one didn't grab me sorry. Perhaps it needs a few listens but I also do appreciate you changing up your sound too and not being a one trick pony! This is another example of an artist I know you have strong feelings for and it's great to see her make an appearance. I wouldn't have given this any points at the time though, at least I don't think so. BJSC 15: Au Revoir Simone – Dark Halls ⭐️⭐️⭐️ A nice little uptempo pop song. Quite fun actually and another slight alteration to what people were starting to get used to from Deandria! I think this is good enough to do well even in 2026, so kudos for finding it way back then, it's rather pleasant. Indie Pop was certainly a new way to go for you and I'm sure we will be seeing this again in the entries to come! BJSC 16: Harlou – Political ⭐️⭐️ Ah back to the trip-hop again! The results suggest it wasn't a popular one but I think the current alt-bloc would eat this sound up and it would come Top 10. It's just a little too trippy for my liking. I think I could get behind it but I do prefer the other trip-hop entries so far, they do more for me. BJSC 17: Regina Spektor – Samson ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is what's missing from BJSC now, people reluctant to send a ballad because of the backlash or expected failure of it to qualify, but it really changes the pace and feel of a contest when a lovely well written song like this shows up. It's a lovely piece from Deandria and deserved more. BJSC 18: Röyksopp – This Must Be It ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Moving into the electronic sound with this entry and of course it's everyone's favourite Röyksopp, whose album Melody A.M. is a long-time fave in my collection. This definitely does sound of the mid 00s electronic era they had, and it's quite a nice change up for Deandria, and the vocalist definitely sounds very familiar even from songs not mentioned.

Electro pop we want to see.

I predict New Helvetica will be the next new winner.

Can I have my 24th position back please. 🙏🏼

So what's the confirmed final scoreboard after the final checks?

One thing I've learnt over the years is never visit the "What final positions do you have" thread until Professor Bré has done his business.

Can we have a list of longest participating nations without a win so far (not to make them feel bad but to manifest the next overdue nations win).

Reconfirmed in the final hour.

Sorry it's late, of course I forgo my prediction for the game earlier this evening, but I can try for the rest at least; Opening weekend (All kick of times are 15:00 BST unless stated otherwise) Friday 21st August Arsenal Vs Coventry City (20:00) Saturday 22nd August Hull City 0-2 Manchester United (12:30) Everton 1-0 Crystal Palace Ipswich Town 1-3 Sunderland Nottingham Forest 1-0 Leeds United Brentford 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (17:30) Sunday 23rd August Brighton & Hove Albion 0-3 Aston Villa (14:00) Manchester City 1-0 AFC Bournemouth (14:00) Newcastle United 0-1 Liverpool (16:30) Monday 24th August Fulham 1-2 Chelsea (20:00)

Well done Iz, I tried hard to get behind the entry but I just couldn't on this occasion. However, over the years I have supported many of your leftfield choices and admired the courage you show to always stand out with something unique knowing that someday you'd get your crown. Great work. I wonder if people will change up their entry plans now for a visit to the land down under if that's where they still are in the BJSC world map. I am rethinking my plans as we speak. Thanks for the votes to get Black Mighty Orchestra into the final and into the Top 30 in the final. 24th is a unique position for Zanmatony so we are glad to tick that one off our bucket list!

It's funny seeing Addy get excited! He's won every song contest there is, including many BJSC wins, and he still gets excited about getting lots of points! I love that his enthusiasm never dries out after all these years! ❤️

This is rather embarrassing but SOS to the host @Chez Wombat to remind me what song I had confirmed as I think I want to change it but I need to listen again to be sure.

Pestolia thank you so much for the hype this month!

Thank you Deandria and Danæviia for bronzes!

But also thank you @Houdini for continuing to host this year after year. 🙏🏼

Yeah that's fair, it would be a shame for this league to be ruined so maybe change the codes next time to avoid unknown non-BuzzJack from from joining.

I guess that answers that then. Next one.

Get well soon Mack! Hopefully mods will give you compassionate grounds to avoid a ban next contest. But for what it's worth thank you for introducing me to a lovely entry this month!

Me! I'm confident he won't do much the first week or two. Whose brave enough to use their triple captain on the opening week?

I predict the day will come again where Zanmatony have the ability to award Wholune some points in a BJSC final again. I hope it's not too long before their next attempt.

I was hopefully of Mack voting and having a good personal result too but now he will be docked a few positions.