BBC announces Sound Of 2009 longlist

The Sound Of 2008: Adele
The Sound Of 2008: Adele

The Beeb has announced a 15-strong longlist for its Sound Of 2009 prize. More than 130 critics and broadcasters vote for the winner, unveiled on 9 January. 2008's triumphant act was guitar-wielding songstress Adele, closely followed by Duffy, The Ting Tings and Glasvegas.

Now in its seventh year, the competition's other previous winners include: 50 Cent (2003), Keane (2004), The Bravery (2005), Corinne Bailey Rae (2006) and, err… Mika (2007).

BBC Sound Of 2009 longlist

The Big Pink
Frankmusik
Master Shortie
Dan Black
Kid Cudi
Mumford And Sons
VV Brown
La Roux
Passion Pit
Empire Of The Sun
Lady GaGa
The Temper Trap
Florence And The Machine
Little Boots
White Lies

You can hear a track from each hopeful act, and a taste of what to expect in 2009, right here.

Tom Porter worked on MusicRadar from its mid-2007 launch date to 2011, covering a range of music and music making topics, across features, gear news, reviews, interviews and more. A regular NAMM-goer back in the day, Tom now resides permanently in Los Angeles, where he's doing rather well at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB).