Brussels, 29th March 2022,

IMPALA is launching a new programme to boost diversity in the European independent music sector in partnership with YouTube. “100 Artists to Watch” will put the spotlight on key independent artists across Europe. A new set of participating artists will be announced each Spring. This new programme replaces IMPALA’s annual European Independent Album of the Year Award, which had a great roll of 10 years.

Curated by IMPALA’s members and its broader network, 100 Artists to Watch is designed to highlight artists at different stages in their career. Members are free to propose artists based on various factors such as diversity and innovation, as well as commercial success.

IMPALA’s very first list includes artists from 30 different countries and features more than 30 music genres, from Blues-Stoner to Hip-Hop, Jazz to Dance, Hyperpop to Alternative Rock… 100 great European independent artists to look out for this year. Hit play to embark on an amazing musical journey here and discover the complete list of artists below.

Helen Smith, Executive Chair, IMPALA commented: “IMPALA’s remit is to boost diversity across Europe, so it’s great to be introducing this new programme with YouTube. The idea is to help shine a light on the range of talent the independent sector works with in Europe.”

Dan Chalmers from YouTube added: “The independent sector is a key partner for YouTube and we are really excited about our collaboration with IMPALA on 100 Artists to Watch in Europe. YouTube gives creators and artists a platform to reach the world and enables them to get noticed across borders”. 

100 Artists to Watch (by alphabetical order by artist/record label/country):

• /A\ – Hummus records – Switzerland
• 21 vek – Password Production – North Macedonia
• A Garota Não – Self-released – Portugal
• AJ Tracey – Revenge Records – The UK
• Alejas – Self-released – Latvia
• Amelie Siba – Self-released /Teargarten distributed by Warner – Czech Republic
• Annet X – Self-released – Czech Republic
• Arlo Parks – Transgressive Records – The UK
• Bad Daughter – LAA – Croatia
• Balstyrko – Fake Diamonds Records – Denmark
• Besides – Self-released – Poland
• Blanks – Excited About Music – The Netherlands
• Blind Channel – BloodBros Oy under exclusive licence to Century Media Records Ltd – Finland
• Brodka – PIAS recordings – Poland
• Buč Kesidi – Kontra – Serbia
• Camille – CNR Records – Belgium
• Cem Adrian – PASAJ & GARAJ distributed by Sony – Turkey
• Circus Mircus – Stockton Records – Georgia
• CMAT – CMATBABY under exclusive licence to AWAL – Ireland
• Coez – Carosello Records – Italy
• Coma Cose – Asian Fake – Italy
• Danger Dan – Antilopen Geldwäsche – Germany
• Denise Chaila – Narolane – Ireland
• Dubioza kolektiv – Menart – Bosnia and Hercegovina
• Eesah Yasuke – Banzaï Lab – France
• El Kanka – A Volar Music – Spain
• Erekle Getsadze – Leno Records  – Georgia
• Evelinn Trouble – Evelinn Trouble/Mouthwatering records – Switzerland
• Ezhel – Koal Arts – Turkey
• Ferran Palau – Hiddentrack records – Spain
• Florence Arman – Self-released distributed by AWAL – Austria
• FO SHO – Best Music LLC – Ukraine
• good job nicky – Cobalt Music Helladisc – Greece
• Gurt [O] – Masterskaya – Ukraine
• Hellwana – Ty Nikdy Label distributed by Warner – Czech Republic
• Hilma Nikolaisen – Self-released under licence to Fysisk Format – Norway
• Ifi Ude – Self-released – Poland
• Jesse Markin – Jesse Markin under exclusive licence to VILD Music Oy – Finland
• Kabloonak – Tilto Namai – Lithuania
• Karmento – El Tragaluz Records – Spain
• Kira Skov – Stunt Records/Sundance Records – Denmark
• Koala Voice – Nika Records – Slovenia
• KOIKOI – Moonlee Records – Serbia
• Kojaque – Soft Boy Records under licence to PIAS – Ireland
• L’impératrice – Microqlima – France
• La Rappresentante di Lista – Woodworm Music – Italy
• Lelee – Moonlee Records – Slovenia
• Linda Fredriksson – We Jazz – Finland
• Linn Koch-Emmery – Boys Tears – Sweden
• Little Simz – Age 101 under licence to AWAL – The UK
• Love ‘n’ Joy – Self-released – Ukraine
• Lucia – Overground Music – Romania
• Maan – 8ball Music – The Netherlands
• MAD (Mars and Daemons) – Self-released – Romania
• Madame – Sugar – Italy
• Marčelo – Lampshade Media – Serbia
• Marja Mortensson – VEADTA – Norway
• Mart Hoogkamer – NRGY Music – The Netherlands
• Masha Qrella – Staatsakt Rec. GmbH – Germany
• Mavi Phoenix – LLT Records – Austria
• Maxida Märak – Snafu Records – Sweden
• Melek Mosso – Piu Sound / Kalan Muzik – Turkey
• Miguel Araújo – Estúdio Chiu – Portugal
• Mira Lu Kovacs – Play Dead Records – Austria
• Lee & IvaneSky – Dallas Records – Croatia
• Muthoni Drummer Queen – Irascible Music / Yotanka Records – Switzerland
• Namasenda – PC Music – Sweden
• Nekromantheon – INDIE RECORDINGS – Norway
• Nesen – Self-released – Latvia
• Nicu Alifantis – Alifantismusic – Romania
• Nivva – Bad Names Records – Czech Republic
• Noga Erez – City Slang – Germany
• Nova Twins – Marshall Records – The UK
• Nunki Bay Starship – Grapefruit Moon Records – Hungary
• O Gajo – Rastilho Records – Portugal
• Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp – Bongo Joe Records – Switzerland
• OrelSan – Wagram Music – France
• Pillow queens – Self-released – Ireland
• Rina Sawayama – Dirty Hit Records – The UK
• Savages y Suefo – Mana Mana Records – Hungary
• School of X – Tambourhinoceros – Denmark
• SEIVA – Repasseado – Portugal
• Sharktank – Ink Music – Austria
• Siri Neel – Empress Music – Denmark
• Smith & Thell – Playground Music Scandinavia – Sweden
• Snelle – ROQ ‘N Rolla Music – The Netherlands
• Sofia Portanet – Duchess Box Records – Germany
• Stoned Hedge – Password Production – North Macedonia
• Suistamon Sähkö – Nordic Notes – Finland
• SYNONYMS – Pluto Sound – Hungary
• TAMADA – Souq Records – Georgia
• The Liminanas and Laurent Garnier – Because Music – France
• Urban & 4 – Croatia Records – Croatia
• Vianney – Tôt ou tard – France
• Voodoocat – Hebra Records – Belgium
• Whispering Sons – PIAS Recordings – Belgium
• Woodstock Barbie – NOW Books & Music – Hungary
• Ykons – Blue Milk/T4A / Check Check Productions – Belgium
• Yüksek Sadakat – Doğan Müzik Yapım – Turkey
• Zahara – G.O.Z.Z. RECORDS – Spain

Read more about these artists on our dedicated webpage here.

Listen to them here (all 100) or check out our genre playlists instead:

• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Alternative
• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Rock
• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Pop
• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Hip hop & Rap
• IMPALA’s Artists to Watch – Fusion

YouTube partnering up with the independents
YouTube will work with IMPALA on its 100 Artists to Watch programme to help build awareness of the diverse European independent sector. YouTube will help the independent community by spotlighting talent from different markets and at different stages in their career. Promoting diversity is a priority for YouTube, encouraging music fans to discover artists they might never find otherwise. Further support may include marketing and promotion for a shortlist of artists later in the year.

More about IMPALA
IMPALA was established in 2000 and now represents nearly 6000 independent music companies. 99% of Europe’s music companies are small, micro and medium businesses and self-releasing artists. Known as the independents, they are world leaders in terms of innovation and discovering new music and artists – they produce more than 80% of all new releases and account for 80% of the sector’s jobs. IMPALA’s mission is to grow the independent music sector sustainably, return more value to artists, promote diversity and entrepreneurship, improve political access, inspire change, and increase access to finance. 

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

More about “100 Artists to Watch”
The 100 Artists to Watch award was launched in 2022 to promote diversity in the European independent music sector. The project puts the spotlight on a more diverse range of amazing artists through a list curated by our members all across Europe. It is a natural evolution of IMPALA’s album of the year award which ran for ten years.

Check out our dedicated webpage here with a card on each artist.

More about YouTube
Launched in May 2005, YouTube’s mission is to give everyone a voice and show them the world. We believe that everyone deserves to have a voice, and that the world is a better place when we listen, share and build community through our stories. YouTube is a Google company.
More here.