Yes, we’re very proud in The Netherlands for winning the Eurovision Song Contest this year, for the first time since 1975. But who might have expected newcomer Duncan Laurence in the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards nominations, might be a bit disappointed. According to the rules, Eurovision participants do not qualify for the awards…
Duncan Laurence is currently charting at #3 in the weekly Music Moves Europe Talent Top 100 chart, for which he does qualify as the chart represents the overview of all European emerging artists. We also see some impact in the weekly for Norwegian Eurovision entry Keiino with Spirit In The Sky (Hugoworld) and Slovenian duo Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl with Sebi (Universal) at #82. Italian singer Mahmood and Swiss singer Luca Hänni also enjoy airplay in Europe, but they released other songs internationally more than three years ago, so they are not counted in anymore.
Getting back to the monthly Music Moves Europe Artist chart, we notice two climbers inside the top 10. At #4 appears British singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, who just released his debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent (Universal). Lead single Someone You Loved is still accountable for 78% of his success, but currently, he has radio airplay on two tracks and streaming activity on no less than twelve tracks. The other climber inside the top 10 appears at #9, where Italian dance outfit Meduza is riding high with Piece Of Your Heart (Universal). Both acts are currently fighting for the weekly #1 position.
These are exciting times, if you’re one of the 179 professionals from 31 different countries, as you can bring forward your top European talent tips at the moment. Together with the ETEP results and the chart results, the recommendations will provide us with 16 Music Moves Europe Talent Awards nominees. These will be presented during the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg in September. In January during the ESNS Festival in Groningen, eight winners will be revealed, together with a Public Choice winner.
Maybe some of the next acts will make a chance. It was a good month for Belgian artist Charlotte Adigéry, who moves up to #26 thanks to British airplay on her new track Cursed And Cussed (PIAS). Also doing well at #30 is Swedish pop/reggae singer Kiddo, who is hot in Germany with Coming Down (Four Music).
Also, Swedish pop producers Decco, British indie band Sorry, Dutch indie band Altin Gün, British dance producers Prospa, Austrian pop singer Mathea, Ukrainian pop group Kazka and British indie supergroup Piroshka are gainers this month.
The only newcomer in the monthly chart at #68 is a true European story. Irish born poppy hip-hop singer Barry Moore busked the streets of Spain and France until he was finally picked up by Spookland, the Sony label that signed French singer Jain. Now Jain and Barry Moore are touring together, while his whistling song Hey Now is currently a hit in Italy, Switzerland and Romania…
Menno Visser
Music journalist and radio professional from The Netherlands
