Billboard Spotlights 15 Artists to Watch

- Previous editions of Billboard's "Artists to Watch" have successfully identified future stars. The "Class of 2025" included G3LO, who later won a Billboard Rookie of the Year award and scored a top 30 hit, and Sailorr, whose breakout single "Pookie's Requiem" led to a remix with Summer Walker. - The selection process for such lists often goes beyond simple chart metrics, considering factors like cultural importance, industry influence, and overall omnipresence in music conversations. - The inclusion of Caribbean artists reflects the region's growing impact on global music. Billboard's 2025 "10 Caribbean Artists to Watch" list featured artists from Haiti, Jamaica, French Guiana, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. - Many of the highlighted artists have already built a significant buzz through independent releases and strong social media engagement before making the list. For instance, Jamaican artist SkiMask, featured in the 2025 Caribbean list, had already gained over 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify from his debut single. - The list often showcases a blend of sub-genres, from rage rap and alternative R&B to modern dancehall and zouk, indicating current trends within the broader categories. - Being featured on the list can lead to significant career boosts, such as increased radio play, higher streaming numbers, and collaborations with established artists. - Last year's list featured several artists who went on to become contenders for Rookie of the Year, including Samara Cyn, who collaborated with artists like Smino, and Zeddy Will, who energized the New York scene with viral party tracks.