Shazam announces user statistics for the UK Sound of 2009

Millions tag their top acts for 2009

London, 19th January 2009 - Shazam, the world's leading mobile music discovery provider, today announced its prediction for acts to watch in 2009. Unlike the BBC's "Sound of 2009" poll and other subjective opinions on the acts to watch in 2009, Shazam's millions of users have already spoken via the acts they have been tagging as the ones most likely to do well in 2009. The people would appear to both agree and disagree with the pundits.

In contrast to Little Boots topping the BBC's poll, Kid Cudi sits atop Shazam's sound of 2009 with the runaway success of his 'Day & Night' track and his guest spot on Kanye West's album. Lady Gaga also gets in high at number two with 'Just Dance' resonating with the public.

However, the BBC and Shazam users do agree on some of the acts set to do well in 2009, with both listing Australian psychedelic rock/electronica outfit Empire Of The Sun, doom rock merchants White Lies and art pop singer Florence and the Machine. Little Boots also looks to be one to watch in 2009, although she is further down Shazam's list at number nine.

Acts off the BBC's radar but hitting home with Shazam's users include Mark Ronson's cohort Daniel Merriweather, alternative rocker's Airborne Toxic Event, UK grime collective Boy Better Know and Jamaican dancehall crooner Mavado.

Shazam's Head of Music, Will Mills, says; "With music discovery services like Shazam, music fans are making their voices heard and are as important as the critics in deciding which acts will do the business in 2009. Indeed Shazam's users do validate some of the critic's choices but they also show much more diversity in the acts they're tipping for success."

Shazam's Sound of 2009:

Shazam's user statistics on the Sound of 2008 picked out The Ting Tings and Duffy as the two top acts to watch.