As 2015 draws to a close, we are looking to next year and the artists we think you will definitely want to check out. These artists range in musical style – there is a mix of indie, hip hop, alt rock, electronic, country, pop and more and they were selected based on a combination of Pandora’s own music industry expertise and data insights. Read more below to learn about the 25 artists who made the list and be sure to add their stations. Who are you looking forward to hearing more from in 2016?

BJ the Chicago Kid

BJ the Chicago Kid takes you to church singing the soulful sound of Chicago. Blowing up off studio sessions with Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q and Kanye West, BJ brings the classic throwback sound of his ‘Pineapple Now-Laters’ to his new home on Motown.

Post Malone

Post Malone drip drops his singsong syrup sounds from Dallas, Texas to LA with a couple White Iverson dunk shots. Ballin with FKi Music, his trippy vibes have taken him from Teamcrafted to the world.

Wet

Brooklyn Trio Wet make hypnotic, delicate music that walks the line between so-called “indie R&B” and the chilly electronica of MO and Broods. They’ve opened for CHVRCHES and head out on their own headlining tour in 2016.

Cam

Country singer Camaron Marvel Ochs helpfully shortened her name to Cam, and while she’s originally from San Francisco, not Nashville, she grew up with the music of classic country stars like Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson. Her debut album as Cam comes out on 12/11/2015.

Ruth B.

A true artist of the digital age, Ruth B. got her start on social media, becoming a huge star on Vine while still living in her native Edmonton, Canada. She says she wants her music to tell stories and admires emotive artists like Adele and Ed Sheeran. Her self-released debut single ‘Lost Boy’ became a surprise smash this year.

Bryson Tiller

Bryson Tiller carved out his own genre with his debut, T R A P S O U L. The Kentucky native combines R&B and hip hop to create a sexy blend of rhymes, soul and bass. Nods from Timbaland and the OVO camp has given this rising star major cred.

Daya

Pittsburgh native Daya is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter following in the footsteps of breakout artists like Lorde and Halsey, blending pop production with personal lyrics and individualist pride.

Tory Lanez

Rapper Tory Lanez was born near Toronto, Canada but has lived all over the United States. While fellow Torontonian Drake was an integral part of his early career, Lanez pledges allegiance to no specific style, even coining the term “Swavey” to refer to his own stylistic fusion.

Rudimental



Rudimental has achieved a series of smash hits in their native UK with pop and gospel influenced drum ‘n’ bass, but they expand it’s stylistic palette on it’s latest album “We the Generation” which includes an attention-grabbing and deeply soulful house number with Ed Sheeran on vocals.

Alessia Cara

Canadian singer/songwriter Alessia Cara exemplifies the new edgy soulful style referred to (sometimes playfully) as “PBR&B.” Her breakout track ‘Here’ samples a haunting loop from Isaac Hayes (also used famously by Portishead). She recently performed the track on stage with Taylor Swift, making her an official Swiftie.

Jess Glynne

Jess Glynne burst onto the scene as the featured singer on Clean Bandit’s international smash “Rather Be.” Her solo debut “I Cry When I Laugh” updates piano-led house music for the 21stcentury.

Gallant

Maryland-born singer Gallant walks the line between avant-electronica like Odesza and new R&B like Majid Jordan. He guests up-and-coming producer ZHU’s (another of our Artists to Watch) latest release as well.

Lawrence Taylor

Birmingham, England native Lawrence Taylor may be just 22 years old but looks back to classic rock legends like Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan for inspiration. He paid his dues on the London open mic scene but has since garnered accolades from Q Magazine and the BBC.

Dorothy

Like PJ Harvey, Dorothy is both the name of a powerhouse LA singer and the name of her band. She credits Nirvana and AC/DC for inspiration, and her latest single ‘Raise Hell’ fits in with the raw, bluesy stomp of artists like The Black Keys.

Hermitude

Hermitude is an Australian electronic duo, who like their fellow countryman Flume, are exploring post-dubstep and chilled trap sounds as well as their intersection between hip hop and R&B. Witness their hit ‘The Buzz’ which layers quirky electronic blips under rappers like Big K.R.I.T.

Ty Dolla $ign

Ty Dolla $ign has matured and proves he can keep the hits coming on “Free TC”. From LA to the Bay and all the way to the A, Ty sings and raps alongside everyone from Future to Babyface, SA-RA and R. Kelly. His ability to cross genres and combine live musicians with club beats will ensure his career will continue to blow up.

The Struts

UK four-piece The Struts call themselves “unabashedly over-the-top” in their approach to classic rock, and you can hear the influence of artists like Queen in their sing-along, stadium-sized hit ‘Could Have Been Me.’ Last year they even opened for the Rolling Stones.

William Michael Morgan

William Michael Morgan is in his early 20s, but his voice resonates with the flawless timbre of someone who has been singing country music for decades beyond his years. Inspired by the traditional crooners of the early ‘90s, Morgan specializes in the amorous country ballad.

ZHU

Producer ZHU created a sensation when he released his “Faded” EP anonymously in 2014, but he’s since revealed himself to be Californian Steven Zhu. His mix of dark atmospherics and deep house vibes put him at the front line of dance trends.

Roam

Roam brings Punk-Pop from the English seaside town of Eastbourne. Their energetic sound is comprised of angst-ridden vocals, winding guitars and barbed pop hooks that are so catchy, it could only hail from the United Kingdom.

Blackbear

Blackbear is the project of R&B and pop sophisticate Mathew Musto, who gained some buzz after writing Justin Bieber’s #2 Billboard Hot 100 hit ‘Boyfriend.’ As Blackbear, Musto’s own recordings display a darker side of hitmaker savvy.

Hinds

Hinds is a Madrid-based, all-female, rock ’n’ roll quartet. Darlings of the garage rock scene, their sound blends bygone bubblegum pop with tinges of psychedelic rock and ‘60s flavored surf guitar.

Tor Miller

Tor Miller is a singer/songwriter specializing in piano-driven pop with a knack for intelligent lyricism. The Brooklyn native grew up on the music of Billy Joel, David Bowie and Elton John while carpooling to and from school – and these influences are salient in his recordings.

Jacob Whitesides

Jacob Whitesides gained some buzz online after posting his unique covers of popular songs on YouTube, but this Knoxville singer/songwriter is a skilled tunesmith in his own right. After doing fairly well on the second season of The X Factor, Whitesides released two EPs of all-original songs. His debut album is due out next year.

Conrad Sewell

Conrad Sewell is a Brisbane, Australia native who specializes in crafting infectious, danceable R&B songs. His first solo singles ‘Hold Me Up’ and ‘Start Again’ reveal a young man with a soulful voice that taps into influences well beyond his years.