The Saturdays
It's been a great year for pop music, with old favourites such as McFly and Girls Aloud doing great. But as 2009 approaches, the time has come for FemaleFirst to look ahead as we predict who will make it big.
The Saturdays are definitely one to watch out for. This fab fivesome supported Girls Aloud during their 2008 Tangled Up tour, and had a top ten hit in July this year as their debut single, "If This is Love," charted at number eight in the UK.
The girls, Mollie King, Una Healey, Vanessa White, Frankie Sandford and Rochelle Wiseman, released their album, "Chasing Lights" peaked at number 11 in the UK Album Chart, selling over 22,000 in its first week.
Of course, a main contender for 2009 will be Alexandra Burke.The X Factor winner already looks set to take the Christmas number 1 spot, with her single, a cover of Leonard Cohen track 'Hallelujah,' being the fastest selling download ever in Europe, it was downloaded 105,000 in one day beating Leona Lewis' previous record of 82,000.
The Mail reports that Simon Cowell told friends he was going to turn Alexandra into a bigger star than Leona, and that the X Factor winner is'more versatile'.
Vegabond, an international four-piece are set to burst onto the scene in 2009. With a pop/rock sound like no-one else around, the band have recorded their forthcoming debut album, and are the first band signed to the newly-revived Geffen label.
Debut single Sweat (Until The Morning) will be released in the spring and should give us a fantastic first taste of Vagabond. The group’s debut album will be released summer 2009. Listen out for news of a first full UK tour in the New Year
Another one to watch is The Script, a three-piece Irish pop rock band from Dublin, Ireland. Their debut album The Script was released in August 2008. The band are Danny O'Donoghue, Marc Sheehan and Glen Power.
Their debut single "We Cry" received "Single of the Week" on RTÉ 2FM, Today FM and by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1, and was Kevin Hughes' tune of the week on GCap Media's The One Network show Music Control. Their second single, "The Man Who Can't Be Moved," was Kevin Hughes' "Tune of the Week" on Music Control Radio, as well as Jo Whiley's pet sound.
Their debut album The Script reached number 1 in the UK and Ireland the week it came out. The band has confirmed that they plan to write a track for Leona Lewis's second album.
Our last top act for 2009 is Karima Francis, a 21 year-old singer-songwriter from Blackpool. Karima's songs have earned comparisons with Joan Armatrading, Tracey Chapman and Jeff Buckley. BBC online have described her voice as 'amazing...even if she sang the phone book, we'd be excited'.
Karima's album 'The Author' is due in March 2009 with a limited edition 7" and digital download single 'Chasing The Morning Light', released on Kitchenware.
Forget the super skinny Indie kids, the baggy-jeaned moshers, whatever happens with these guys, I’m pretty sure that 2009 is going to be the year for pop music.
Harriet Watson