VH1 is pretty proud of the performers it lines up for its annual You Oughta Know concert, where the network presumes to "introduce" us to tomorrow's next big stars. For example, during the 2013 event "introduced up-and-coming new talent, including Lorde, HAIM and the Lumineers" (we acknowledge that description comes from Billboard, not VH1 itself. VH1's site tells us similar things however).
Of course, by "introduced" we mean Lorde had already debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 with her first album and "Royals" had long since dominated the airwaves. In other words, the You Oughta Know concert series won't introduce active music fans to any new acts...it's basically another XXL "Class Of ____" issue. If the act is there, you've already known about them for a while now.
Eleven music groups will perform at this year's show on November 13. We count down from the acts that need the most exposure to those that need it the least.
11) Echosmith
L.A. pop act Echosmith has gotten halfway to where it needs to be in order to be a fixture in the minds of SPIN readers: The single "Cool Kids" got to no. 19 on the Hot 100. The problem is that modest recognizability didn't translate to album sales as its debut record peaked at no. 127 on the Billboard 200 last October. They could use the boost that VH1 offers.
10) Mary Lambert
Yes, Mary Lambert is the vocalist who delivered the massive hook for Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's double-platinum single "Same Love." So why does she need more attention? Because no one has bothered to check out her own work! Her first album Heart on My Sleeve is dropping next week and we haven't heard a single yet ("Secrets" is out there...it's just tough to find on Top 40 radio) so obviously she needs more help than just one smash guest appearance. And a voice like that deserves it.
09) Vance Joy
Vance Joy is an example of a performer that's already huge in his homeland but might need a kickstart to land in the States. Not too much of a kickstart however. His single "Riptide" was perhaps the biggest alt-rock track of the summer and it peaked at no. 1 on the Alt charts. Plus he (and we) enjoyed his time onstage at Lollapalooza. His first album Dream Your Life Away debuted at no. 17 on the Billboard 200. There's still room to grow but it'd be a stretch to label him as "undiscovered."
08) American Authors
Another act that has piqued your ears at least once via a single even if you haven't put a name with the tune. "Best Day of My Life" peaked at no. 11 on the Hot 100 and has gone double platinum since dropping during March of 2013. Sometimes if nothing else, the You Oughta Know concert helps viewers figure out who sings that song they've heard all over the place.
07) KONGOS
KONGOS isn't exactly anything new...it's just been a long time coming. Single "Come With Me Now" has just gone platinum (despite its initial 2011 release), amping up curiosity for the band. However its album Lunatic has been out for quite a while. It was first released overseas during 2012 before landing in the States in October 2013. Then it got released for the first time on iTunes in January. Then the whole album got rereleased again during February. So if you haven't heard of KONGOS yet, it isn't because they aren't trying.
06) Chvrches
Chvrches isn't exactly struggling in the United States—after all, debut album The Bones of What You Believe debuted at no. 12 on the Billboard 200 last year—but it definitely has room to grow. It's interesting to note that Glassnotes label head Daniel Glass used the band as an example of knowing one's market while speaking at this year's New Music Seminar, suggesting that it might be more profitable for the group to stick to the regions where it's already got an established fan base rather than go worldwide too quickly. We shall see if he was right.
05) Tove Lo
Tove Lo is admittedly at the point where she should seize the reins of media and direct all attention to herself. Her single "Habits (Stay High)" has already gotten to no. 4 on the Digital Downloads chart and gone platinum accordingly. She's way beyond planting a seed...she needs to be watering it. Maybe she should rub elbows at the event and figure out whose single she's going to sing the hook for. In other words, we think she fits into the Charlie XCX category.
04) Bleachers
Bleachers is one of the few acts on this list that hasn't cracked into the Hot 100 with a single yet. On the other hand, it's the only act on the list (so far) that features a member who's won a Grammy for Song of The Year. Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff is also the guitarist for fun. and that comes with a bit of spotlight, even if you don't feature Janelle Monae in your singles. It'd be like if VH1 though The Throne needed introduction just because it wasn't Jay Z or Kanye West's normal act. That was a huge exaggeration but you see what we're saying.
03) A Great Big World
This won't be A Great Big World's first television appearance. The other was The Voice, which tends to make stars out of anyone who performs. Between their collaboration with Christina Aguilera on single "Say Something" the pop duo has gone on sell nearly 4 million downloads of the aforementioned track plus it peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard 200 with debut album Is Anybody Out There? The group won't need to say anything when it takes the stage in November...everyone will already know.
02) Aloe Blacc
No brand is more influential right now than Beats Audio. So when Aloe Blacc's "The Man" ended up on a slew of the headphone brand's commercials he was about as recognizable as the NFL/NBA stars wearing them in the spots. It helps that his single "Wake Me Up" was picked up by Avicii and became one of the bestselling downloads of 2013, mounting the longest run by an EDM single in Hot 100 single. Between those two tracks he's gone platinum six times and doesn't need any help from VH1 keeping the streak going.
01) Sam Smith
Sam Smith has been beyond one of the bestselling new performers of 2014...he's been one of the bestsellers in general. His first album, In The Lonely Hour, has been the ninth bestselling album of 2014 thus far and that's with plenty of time to go. For context, he's sold more albums than Pharrell Williams has this year. Yeah. Plus that album spent its first 12 weeks in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, a streak that's second only to the Frozen soundtrack in 2014. Oh yeah, and single "Stay With Me" peaked at no. 2 on the Hot 100, and it seems "Money on My Mind" has been the most streamed song of the year across the pond in his homeland of the UK. If you haven't heard him, who have you heard exactly?
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