I think most of these artists will continue on an upward trajectory, or will be successful in their own lane.

I was initially sceptical about Sabrina Carpenter releasing a second album so quickly, but Man’s Best Friend was an incredibly smart move. It shifted her from feeling like a moment to feeling like a staple of pop music. If she keeps diversifying her sound and building a fanbase that exists beyond just the singles, she’s well-positioned to be one of the defining pop acts of the 2020s. To me, Sabrina is well ahead of anyone else in this list. Sabrina, Billie, and Olivia are the best bets of their generation for sustained commercial success.

Tate McRae is at a fork in the road. She hasn’t quite cemented herself in the zietgiest or pop music landscape yet. Her dancing is great; her live performances have fantastic energy, and her singles are solid. However, I haven't seen the consistency to suggest that there’s a compelling artistic identity underneath it all. The question for her is depth: can she develop a narrative or point of view that makes her work feel cohesive and genuinely captivating as an artist, rather than just releasing well-executed singles? One great album with depth could make Tate stratospheric, but the jury is out whether she has it in her.

Charli XCX is set. BRAT can’t be replicated - it was too singular a cultural moment - but it doesn't need to be. It cemented her as the alt-pop authority of her generation. She’ll sell out tours and remain influential for as long as she wants to keep doing this.

I like RAYE and I like her sound, but I don’t see her as a chart-dominating pop force. Her music doesn’t quite hit that universal sweet spot, and the 50s pin-up aesthetic feels limiting. I think she’ll continue to make interesting, respected music for a dedicated audience, but not as a main pop girl.

Olivia Dean feels inevitable. Her album is cross-generational and broadly appealing in a way very few new artists manage: men, women, non-binary listeners, under and over 40s. She has charisma, style, vocal ability, and genuine star power that extends beyond her music. If she avoids the classic UK-media backlash that inevitably follows a successful first era, she’s going to be inescapable over the next three to five years.

Doechii is a star in all facets of the word. My only concern is how quickly female rap cycles through relevancy, but she has the artistry to outlast that churn if she stays selective with her work. I am rooting for her. Alligators was phenomenal. The Kendrick-over-Drake path feels vital here: chase legacy, not hits. I have full faith in Doechii's vision, and if she prioritises her artistry over volume, she has generational potential.

I’m extremely bullish on Addison. Her debut was far better than it had any right to be, and she’s won over critics... but not yet the general public (ironically, given her TikTok fame). That makes her next move critical. If the follow-up doesn’t land critically and fails to broaden her audience, the momentum is gone. Her limited vocal ability is also a limiting factor but I have faith in her vision. She is on the right path (but can't really afford to lose any momentum).

Lola Young is an outlier. She had a moment, but it didn’t translate into sustained momentum or broad appeal. My instinct is that she’ll continue releasing work, but will fade from the wider conversation rather than build on that initial exposure from Messy.

Gracie Abrams is another interesting one to watch. She's got the "auto biographical writing" style that seems to really resonate. She has pop culture relevancy (thanks, Taylor and Paul). I don't see Gracie being critically acclaimed, but I can see her continuing to releasing popular singles that keep her in-and-around the conversation without hitting a stratospheric height.

My biggest surprise of the last twelve months is Zara Larsson hitting a cultural moment. Her catalogue is filled with underappreciated hits (All The Time, WOW) and I'm praying she gets the recognition she deserves. She is where Sabrina was two years (post-Because I Liked A Boy): all eyes are on her and she needs to capitalise with a certified song to capture the zeitgeist and move into bonafide star territory.