Shazam Unveils Fast Forward Class of 2026
Shazam has revealed its Fast Forward Class of 2026, spotlighting 65 rising artists expected to break through over the coming year. The annual program combines Shazam’s discovery data with Apple Music’s global editorial insight to identify emerging talent showing strong early momentum.
The 2026 class spans 20 genres and 22 countries, highlighting the increasingly global nature of music discovery. Artists this year come from markets including the UK, South Korea, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Ireland, and the United States, with sounds ranging from Afrobeats and K-pop to grunge, urbano, and country-soul.
Fast Forward has built a solid track record as a predictor of growth. Artists selected for the 2025 class recorded an average 67% year-over-year increase in Shazam discoveries, while their collective radio spins rose by 70%. On Apple Music, the same group saw plays increase by more than 100% year-over-year.
Among this year’s highlighted artists is UK pop singer Alessi Rose, whose single “First Original Thought” reached No. 22 on the UK charts and capped a breakout year that saw her Apple Music plays grow 440% year-over-year. South Korean boy band CORTIS also stands out after debuting in August and quickly reaching No. 1 locally with “GO!”, while placing multiple tracks in the Global K-pop Top 10.
Other notable names in the Class of 2026 include Harlem rapper Liim, Irish alt-rock band Florence Road, Alabama-based singer-songwriter Kashus Culpepper, Nigerian Afrobeats artist Kidd Carder, and Puerto Rican urbano artist Clarent, all of whom recorded strong growth across Shazam and Apple Music in 2025.
To spotlight the new class, The Travis Mills Show on Apple Music 1 will feature exclusive interviews with selected Fast Forward artists throughout the week, beginning with Alessi Rose.
The full Fast Forward Class of 2026 is now available on Shazam, alongside the official Shazam Fast Forward 2026 playlist on Apple Music.
