BBC reveals Sound of 2012 list

Fifteen rising stars have been named on the BBC Sound of 2012 longlist, which aims to highlight music's most exciting new artists for the year ahead.

The list, now in its 10th year, was compiled using tips from more than 180 influential UK tastemakers, who were asked to name their favourite new acts.

The Sound of 2012 winner and top five will be unveiled in January, according to BBC News.

Jessie J topped last year's list. Other previous winners include Adele, Ellie Goulding, Corinne Bailey Rae and Keane.

The emerging artists on this year's longlist range from UK hip-hop and grime MC Dot Rotten to blues singer-songwriter Jamie N Commons and attitude-filled female pop trio Stooshe.

Twenty-year-old rapper and singer Azealia Banks and rapper A$AP Rocky, both from Harlem, New York, are included alongside dubstep producers Flux Pavilion and Skrillex.

Three British soul acts have made it onto the longlist - Michael Kiwanuka and Lianne La Havas, both from London, and Ren Harvieu, who hails from Salford.

UK guitar bands Spector and Dry The River are listed, along with Brooklyn-based indie-pop band Friends and Swedish dance duo Niki & The Dove. US singer-songwriter and rapper Frank Ocean completes the top 15.

The tastemakers included critics, radio DJs and producers, TV presenters and producers, magazine and website editors and respected bloggers.

All participants were asked to name their favourite three new acts, who could be performers from any country and any musical genre.

George Ergatoudis, head of music at BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, said: "The Sound of 2012 will be the 10th year of predictions compiled by BBC News - a project now established as the definitive annual list of exciting new artists to watch out for.

"The list will inspire debate for sure, but most importantly, it will lead to discovery of artists and musicians trying to stand out from the ever-expanding crowd, and that can only be a good thing."

The top five will be revealed in the week commencing 2 January. The acts from the top five will be revealed on the BBC News website and BBC Sound of 2012 website in reverse order every day that week.