Looking Back at Napster Hype

Back in 2016 I left video games behind and stumbled into the amazing world of music and was the Social Media Manager at Napster. Yes, Napster. Music has always been a passion of mine and really defined who the person I am, so working in the music industry was a real treat.

I got to do many cool and innovated things, such as Napster Live! which was our own version of Tiny Desk from the 44th floor in the Columbia Tower in Seattle, but one of the things I am proud of was Napster Hype. This was ME picking 22 artists that you should be on the lookout for going into 2017. I listened to everything. I talked with A&R people. I talked to friends in and out of music. Broke away from the genres I personally love and I narrowed down to a list I was proud of. Recently I was curious how my picks turned out six years later. Did they become stars? Do they have successful careers? Did they fizzle out? Let's take a look!

Let's start out with the Mega Million Pick, Billie Eilish! Looking back, no one could have ever guessed just how big Eilish would become. I first took notice of Eilish when I heard Ocean Eyes back in late 2016. It instantly stuck with me with is haunting vocals and amazing chorus, it quickly was in my rotation, so much so that I highlighted it as Napster's Song of the Day. This was MONTHS before Don't Smile at Me, her first EP, was to be released. I don't even think she played tens shows and she had one released song when I picked her for HYPE, but something clicked for me. Over the next couple months, it was clear that Eilish would find an audience, which I got see first-hand. First during a A&R trip to Los Angeles, I got to see Billie and Finneas play a showcase at Soho House in West Hollywood. Thinking back, this was crazy. There might have been 70 people there and Eilish wasn't even the headliner of the showcase. I just remember her playing her ukulele in a puffy coat with Finneas on keyboard. Maybe 15 people were paying attention. This is where I heard Bellyache for the first time. I remember talking to Billie, Finneas and their mom after they were done. A couple weeks later while in Austin for SXSW, I was standing on the corner of 7th and Red River waiting to cross the street and as I turn around there is Billie, Finneas and a bodyguard! I was able to snap a quick photo.

A couple hours later I saw her perform at Central Presbyterian Church, but this was different than any other event I attended at SXSW that year. There was a buzz in the room. I remember walking in and seeing actors and celebrities just casually sitting. Billie and Finneas put on an incredible set.

One place that breaks my heart is during that A&R trip to LA, we spoke with the label about if she was coming to Seattle and if they would be interested in playing Napster Live! and there we had an "absolutely" from the label and a couple months later after SXSW we started exchanging emails for the planned tour in October. It was comical as they booked the Back Bar at The Crocodile for her show. The same stage used for karaoke on off nights, however by the time the tour started they quickly moved to the main room. Sadly, I and many of my co-workers got laid off in May, so the in-office performance never happened. Talk about a what-if!

Looking back, I never in a million years would have guessed that in 18 months Eilish would be selling out stadiums around the world and go on to being one of the most influential and successful artists of the last five years.

The next group of artists have seen all sorts of success, but perhaps still unknown to some.

First, we have Khalid, who released his first album American Teen a few months after highlighting him on HYPE. This album was EVERYWHERE that summer with hits like Location, Young Dumb & Broke and Saved. American Teen went on to reach 4x platinum and Khalid continues today with an upcoming album Everything Is Changing.

Next, we have 6lack, who released an absolute banger with PRBLMS and Ex Calling of his album "Free 6lack" in 2016. The album was dark and complex, not something you would hear on the radio. 6lack has gone on to release East Atlanta Love Letter in 2018 reaching #1 on US R&B charts and Since I Have a Lover in 2023 along with two Endel Study Soundscapes which heavily features his partner QUIN.

Staying in the world of hip-hop, we have A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, who has honestly become a massive artist with his debut studio album The Bigger Artist hitting #1 on the US R&B and Rap. His sophomore album in 2018, Hoodie SZN, went on to hit #1 on Billboard 200, US R&B, Rap and Canada later going double platinum. Continuing with the massive success with Artist 2.0 in 2020 and Me vs. Myself in 2022.

Now two artist that are huge, but still largely unknown in the United States.

First, we have Anne-Marie from England. Anne-Marie was getting some attention with Alarm and the infectious Ciao Adios, the pop time trip 2002 and collab with Marshmello FRIENDS off her first studio album Speak Your Mind released in April 2017 going platinum in the UK, Canada and US. While Anne-Marie hasn't become that pop star in the United States, she has built a strong following in Europe, a coach on The Voice UK, touring with Ed Sheeran. Her second album, Therpy, had multiple charting singles, and her 3rd album, Unhealthy, drops in July.

Now cross the North Sea to find Swedish pop-star Zara Larsson. Now Larsson was already famous having won the Swedish version of "Got Talent" in 2008 at the age of 10. Within a couple years she released her first song, Uncover, which went on to be #1 in Sweden and Norway. Later releasing her debut album in 2014, 1, which had every trapping of a teen pop artist. But her follow-up in 2017, So Good, was huge with multiple charting singles including Lush Life, Never Forget You, Ain't My Fault, I Would Like, and the song that broke in the US, So Good featuring Ty Dolla Sign. Larsson continues with the 2021, Poster Girl and have her 4th studio coming out releasing the first singles, Can't Tame Her and End of Time already hits in Europe.

Now we get into what I call the scene successes. While not huge names, each of these artists have gone onto successful careers with sold out shows around the world.

Released in 2016 as a single for his first studio album, I don't know many songs that got as much airplay as Human from Rag'n'Bone Man, it was everywhere! It has 1.7 BILLION views on YouTube! The neo-soul sound from this British singer caught everyone off-guard as the hook got you and his voice! The album titled Human, went on to be a massive hit going platinum in multiple countries. The second single, Skin, had that anthem chorus with a full church choir feel. It took a couple years before we would hear anything new from Rag'n'Bone Man, with the first being Giant, a collab with Calvin Harris in 2019, and then in 2021 he released his second studio album, Life by Misadventure, to a favorable reception.

Now one that is a little confusing as all the signs were there for a massive global star, Declan McKenna. At the time, McKenna was a 16-year-old pop-rock savant. He plays all his own instruments, writes his own songs. The first time I heard Brazil, I was dumbfounded that it was written by a 16-year-old. His first studio album, What Do You Think About the Car?, went on to have a number of solid singles including Humongous and The Kids Don't Wanna Come Home. As McKenna aged, he experimented more and more with his second album 2020's Zeros, which shows a growing maturity well beyond his years. Sadly, the album was tied up due to COVID, which also made touring impossible. Now in 2023, McKenna has been able to tour and reach fans with sold out shows.

Next up is a little out of my comfort zone into country music. This took some homework and talking to some others, but everyone who I trusted said that RaeLynn had everything to make the next step. A successful stint on The Voice with Blake Shelton as her coach and later tour with Shelton in 2016 supporting her EP Me and her upcoming studio album WildHorse, which later went on to be chart #1 on US Country charts. Like many artist COVID threw things around and ended up changing labels and releasing her second studio album Baytown in 2021.

Now a pick that was a suggestion from a friend, JOHNNYSWIM, a husband-and-wife duo that ooze blues & soul with a bit of folk. The duo was on the verge of releasing their second album Georgica Pond after positive debut album Diamonds in 2014. The duo continues to make music and have had two reality TV shows about their life on the road with their children. JOHNNYSWIM is one of those bands that found a niche and continued to build a brand and have become very successful duo in and out of music.

Going back to country, but old country via Nikki Lane. Lane is someone I've heard about for a bit with Walk of Shame from 2011 and All Or Nothin' in 2014. Lane sound has that classic country twang, and after hearing the title track Highway Queen from her third studio album with the same name, it was clear that Lane was putting it all together and ready to take the next step, with Highway Queen reaching #2 on Hot Country charts. After touring to support Highway Queen, Lane returned with 2022 Denim & Diamonds and has found her niche in the old country sound.

Back in 2016, Hot Topic Pop was all the rage and Hey Violet!, appeared to be on their way. A little darker and more adult lyrically with a heavy electronic sound, Hey Violet! got attention with Guys My Age, and later toured with 5 Seconds of Summer. The band went through some changes with members leaving and being kicked out, Hey Violet! continues as a three piece today and continues to release music.

Now moving into probably my favorite group of artist. All of them have had their moments, and all of them have put out amazing music. While not mega names like some of the artists above, I personally find them all to have built passionate fans, with me being one of them.

First, we have Maggie Rogers. I still remember the video of Pharrell hearing Alaska while Rogers was attending NYU Clive Davis Institute, and I honestly can relate of just being blown away with the mixture of sound and harmonies. The release of her first EP, Now That The Light Is Fading, in early 2017 released to a huge amount of buzz and it totally delivered with Alaska, On + Off and Dog Years all being hits around the world. The rapid attention perhaps was a bit too much as Rogers took almost two years for her first full length album, Heard It In A Past Life, which debuted at #2 in the US.

Another personal favorite, Bishop Briggs. Like many artist, Briggs was releasing singles as she built up songs for an EP and later a full studio album. These first handful of singles were all over the summer and fall of 2016. While Wild Horses was a fun song, it was River that catapulted Briggs onto all the tastemakers playlists and major radio airplay. The massive vocals and gut punching beats made it a powerful song to listen too. With a handful of songs, Briggs released her self-titled EP in early 2017, which continued her powerful sound and toured extensively in preparation for her first studio album, Church of Scars, in 2018. Briggs released her second studio album, Champion, quickly in 2019, likely due to many of the songs from Church of Scars being from singles and EPs. I'm always excited to hear new music from Briggs, and excited to see her on a co-headlining tour with MisterWives.

I remember hearing some songs from Lucy Dacus and I really liked what I heard and her solo work continues to be excellent, but little did we all know that she would team up to form Boygenius with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers. Dacus has gone on to release Historian in 2018 and Home Video in 2021.

I really like The Regrettes. Their songs are super fun while being still talking about important topics. I remember seeing them open for Sleigh Bells and was just blown away. They are just such a fun band with some great records so far and I look forward to seeing how they evolve.

Last in this group is MUNA, who took a while to get going. I really enjoyed some of the early songs like I Know a Place, with its 80's vibes and they put on a great show. The release of About U in 2017 was a good record, but felt like they didn't break as I thought they would. They have gone on to release some solid records with Saves The World in 2019 and their self-titled album in 2022.

Here was some flyers and artist that felt like they would find success, but it just hasn't worked yet.

The Big Moon is a fun indie rock band from England. Fun songs. Great live. They have built a strong fanbase in Europe, but it just hasn't clicked here in the States.

On the list is Amber Coffman, who felt like everything was set. Member of Dirty Projectors with an amazing voice, but it felt like nothing happened.

Another artist that felt like they had a path ahead of them is QUIN, who had this very cool fantasy soul sound. She has continued to make music and collaborate with tons of artist, including her partner 6lack, who is listed above.

Jahkoy is another singer that felt like they had the road ahead of them. Solid songs. Good collabs. Opened for Kehlani.

Last we have Mark Johns, who signed to Skrillex's OWSLA imprint. Had a song with Glitch Mob. Had some buzz in the Soundcloud world. I haven't heard anything since.