Shazam reveals the Sound of 2010

Millions tag top acts for the new decade

London, UK - December 21, 2009 - Shazam, the world's leading mobile music discovery provider, today announced its predictions for acts to watch in 2010. Unlike the more subjective tastemaker polls such as the BBC's "Sound of 2010", and Spin magazine's "10 Artists to Watch in 2010", Shazam's chart is derived from the behaviour of its 50 million users who have been using the Shazam service to tag the artists most likely to do well next year. Shazam users would appear to agree with the music pundits but have also identified a few up-and-coming acts of their own.

Shazam's Music & Content Director, Will Mills, says; "User generated data from Shazam has for the last two years picked out some of the most successful acts mooted for stardom by the critics from Duffy to Empire of the Sun. Our 50 million users have spoken and this year have picked out acts like The Drums, Nicki Minaj and Delphic as ones to watch in 2010."

The Drums currently sit atop Shazam's Sound of 2010 chart thanks to the success of their debut EP, Summertime!, to be shortly followed by the release of their first album in January. Shazam users have really got behind this explosive band, who mix the pop sensibilities of the Beach Boys with the post punk output of Factory Records. Acts like the Mancunian electro-influenced guitar band Delphic also made the Shazam top five with users across the globe forecasting big things for them next year. Recently signed to Polydor, Delphic produce harmony laden electro pop tunes and have already appeared on Jools Holland in the UK.

Music pundits across both sides of the Atlantic seem to be betting heavily on soul and rock next year. The BBC is predicting the half Jamaican soul singer Rox to take the music world by storm in 2010 and US-based Spin magazine is rating rockers like Free Energy and Final Fantasy as the next big thing. However, Shazam users have shown a little more diversity in their musical tastes and predictions, tagging breakthrough acts like Queens-based rapper Nicki Minaj and smooth crooner Chase Coy as just two of their preferred sounds of 2010. A teenage acoustic troubadour, Chase Coy has been wowing his MySpace followers with a clutch of songs already this year, whilst Nicki Minaj is the latest discovery by Lil' Wayne's record label Young Money Entertainment.

The pundits and the public do agree on some of the acts set to do well, with both the BBC pundits and Shazam users rating Brit Award-winning Ellie Goulding as a rising star for 2010. Born in Wales, this singer songwriter completes Shazam's Sound of 2010 - fronting an eclectic mix of styles with her enchanting voice Ellie Goulding has attracted a wealth of hype with her single Under the Sheets.

Shazam's Sound of 2010:

1	The Drums
2	Nicki Minaj
3	Ellie Goulding
4	Chase Coy
5	Delphic

Shazam's Sound of 2009 Chart predicted the success of Kid Cudi, Lady Gaga and Empire of the Sun while the Shazam 2008 Chart picked out Duffy and The Ting Tings as the top two acts to watch.

Shazam's weekly pre-release tag chart is widely recognised in the industry as an accurate barometer of future hit records.